We have all seen those beautiful canning jar candles with the pretty ribbon and potpourri. It is very easy to make your own canning jar candles with just a few inexpensive items. You will need wide-mouth canning jars, ribbon, potpourri, votive candles with holders, a hot glue gun and acrylic paints if you will be adding a painted design. Make your own canning jar candles to add charm to the dinner table as a center piece or gift them to family and friends.

To start, fill the jar with potpourri. If you desire, add some extras such as dried apples or cinnamon sticks. Fill the jar full enough that when you set the candle holder on top it is even with the top of the jar. Place the candle in the holder once you have gotten the fit right. Next glue the ribbon around the top mouth area of the canning jar. You can further personalize your canning jar candles by painting a design of your choice or by gluing on decorations. Canning jar candles are a great idea for Mother’s Day or as a child’s craft to take home.

Canning jar candles are great for all holidays as well. Add pumpkin cut-outs for Halloween, little bunnies for Easter, turkeys for Thanksgiving, and Christmas trees or small ornaments for Christmas. Canning jar candles make excellent fundraisers or items to sell at the next craft show. The internet offers many great canning jar candle décor ideas, especially for the holidays. Those of you who are more creative will have no trouble designing your own.

To save even more money when making canning jar candles, consider making your own votives. You can do this easily in your home. (See my page on Making Votive Candles.) You will need paraffin wax, wick, and votive holders. You can choose to use dye for colored votives or scents to add a wonderful scent to the candles. It is very easy to melt the wax and add in whatever you want the color and scent to be. Then simply pour the hot wax into the candles holders and allow to cool. To save even more, shop at thrift stores and yard sales for canning jars and votive holders at a very low price.

Canning jar candles are very easy to make and they are beautiful. You can make them in very little time and young children will be able to do this with ease as long as you help them with the glue gun. Make canning jar candles for your own personal use or as gifts. These cute candles are very inexpensive to make, attractive to look at, and last a very long time.