10 Ways to Get Creative with Candles

Retreating indoors now that the weather is colder? That doesn't mean your creativity has to go into hibernation. Get cozy with these creative candle ideas, starting with this eco-friendly project.

When you've shucked a few ears of corn, don't throw away the husks! Dry them out, then wrap them around a cylinder container that can hold a candle. Add a silky ribbon for a romantic touch. We have other candle craft ideas that make use of pumpkins and gourds, cored-out apples, and even eggshells.

(No textile skills necessary.) Restyle a smoothly sculpted pillar candle with a simple under-and-over weave design.

Preserve the autumnal glow with these glass cylinders. They're pressed with collected leaves in scarlet, orange, and golden hues.

Use an antique letterpress type to monogram a candle with your own initials or personalize candles as a charming gift for friends.

Some of the vibrant flowers of your outdoor garden are now out of season. Put those empty pots to good use indoors. A collection of small terra-cotta flowerpots lining your mantelpiece can add a rustic touch to your living space.

Melt your old down-to-the-wick candles in a small pan set over a large pan of simmering water and remove the wick with tongs. Repour into a set of teacups, bowls, or tiny teapots for a new candle.

This is designed for an outdoor patio, but you can easily bring this project indoors for a kitchen or dining room. Place votive candles in quilted jars -- you can play with different shapes and sizes for an eclectic look. The glass casts refracted candlelight onto the walls for a breathtaking display.

Stitch a delicate pattern (you can use one of our templates) onto a sheet of card stock. Then wrap around a glass cylinder for the candlelight to flicker through.

Squirrels might be on to something in collecting these nuts. Use them to design a woodland-chic candleholder. As an extra tip, if you want to enhance the color of the acorn caps, immerse them in a container of mineral spirits and, once saturated, strain through a colander (not one you use for cooking) and allow them to dry.