Instructions

1. Watch the video. Follow along with the video tutorial for a walkthrough on how to make your own ornament candles.
2. Prep Your Glass Bowls. Gather four small and two large glass bowls — enough to make three total ornament candles. Use a heat gun to remove the labels. If you run into sticky residue, use a rubber eraser or Goo Gone to clean it off completely.
3. Prime with a Dark Base Coat. Spray each bowl with a dark metallic spray paint — I used Hammered Dark Bronze by Behr. Apply a few light, even coats to cover fully. This dark base gives your metallic finish depth and dimension later on.
4. Apply Rub ’n Buff Finishes. Once the spray paint is dry, it’s time to add some metallic magic. Using a small piece of sponge, apply Rub ’n Buff in small circular motions, keeping your strokes even and consistent. Use Antique Gold for the two large bowls. Use Pewter (a silver tone) for two of the smaller bowls. Use Autumn Gold for the remaining small bowls. The combination of colors adds variety while keeping everything cohesive and elegant.
5. Create Ornament Hangers. Cut short lengths of decorative twine or gold-flecked cord. For small ornaments, make loops about 1–1½ inches long; for the large ornament, about 3 inches. Hot glue the ends of each loop together, then attach them to the top half of each ornament using E6000 glue. You’ll only add loops to three of the bowls (the “tops”) since each ornament will have one top and one bottom bowl. Use painter’s tape to hold the large loop upright while the glue dries.
6. Melt the Candle Wax. Preheat your oven to 250°F. Place your old candles — one large and two small — into heat-safe glass containers on a foil-lined baking sheet. Let them melt slowly (about 30 minutes for the large candle, longer for the small votives). Once melted, carefully remove the wicks — we’ll reuse them.
7. Pour the Wax and Set the Wicks. Place one wick into the bottom half of each ornament bowl (the one without the glued loop). Use bamboo skewers to hold the wick upright and centered. Carefully pour the melted wax into each bowl. The large bowl will need more wax, but don’t worry if it doesn’t fill completely — you’ll top it off later.
8. Use Leftover Wax. Once your smaller votive candles are melted and poured, combine any leftover wax and pour it into the large ornament candle. It’s the perfect way to use up every last bit — and if you’re lucky, the timing and volume will work out perfectly (mine did, by sheer luck!).
9. Let Cool and Trim Wicks. Allow all three ornament candles to cool and set completely before trimming the wicks. Once the wax is firm, wipe away any fingerprints, pair up each “top” and “bottom” bowl, and admire your handiwork!