Photo Printed Candles DIY

So my best friend is getting married this week! I am so excited for her as she begins this new chapter in her life with the man God created for her.  

As a gift, I want to make her something memorable and something that she could treasure. So I went researching for unique gift for best friends wedding (yes I searched that phrase in Pinterest). After many days and weeks of steady searches I came across photo printed candles and new that would be perfect so I set off on trying to figure out the easiest and no budget way of making it happen. This is my tutorial for creating these beautiful candles.

The materials that you will need are:

White or light colored wax candles (Wal-Mart $5)

Double side tape (Wal-Mart $3)

White tissue paper (Dollar Store $1)

Card stock (Hobby Lobby $3)

Wax paper (Dollar Store $1)

Blow dryer (Every woman has this probably)

Dishtowel (Dollar Store $1)

Scissors (Dollar Store $1)

Computer

Printer

Step #1 Cut the tissue paper and 

card stock down to 8.5x11 or the 

size for your printer 

(I used card stock that was already 

the size and used that as a guide)

Step #2 Use double sided tape 

and place the tissue paper onto 

the card stock 

**HINT: It is important to pull the tissue 

paper tight to make sure 

your picture comes through the 

printer correct. 

The less wrinkles the better. 

Step 3: Edit the picture(s) you want to put on your candles. Black and white, Sepia or any color-contrasting picture work well.

Step 4: Prep and size your pictures depending on the size of your candle.  (If you know anything about me, you know I don’t believe in measurement but rather estimations so it took some trial and error to get the right dimension. If you are somebody that likes measure you may need a ruler.)

Step 4: Print the pictures and cut the tissue paper

Step 5: Use double sided tape on the back of pictures and place pictures evenly on the candle. **TIP: Use small piece of tape near the edges work best and make sure to pull the tissue paper tight on the candle to reduce wrinkles.

Step 6: Wrap the candle in wax paper and then in a towel to keep your hand from burning. Make sure the wax paper is tight over your tissue paper to ensure smoothness.

Step 7: Using your blow dryer as your heat source, turn it on and hold it about and inch from your candle. The wax will begin to melt and absorb the tissue paper picture.

It will become glossy and darker looking once it has melted into it. Be sure not to hold the blow dryer on once place for too long or you will indent your candle rather than a smooth even surface. Also you may have to stay on it longer where there is tape but it too will eventually melt into your candle. **TIP if you hold the blow dryer at an angle you can cover a larger area. Ste

Step #8: Pull off the towel and wax paper and run your hand over the candle to make sure it is smooth. Be careful in case it is still hot. TA-DA! You know have your finished project.

Here is my best friends finished gift. I found an antique looking candelabra and glass plate at Hobby Lobby to dress it up some.

"Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle. Happiness never decreases by being shared."