Nothing says Fall and October like pumpkins. So here is a fun craft for taking these orange harvests and turning them into beautiful candles. They make excellent autumn centerpieces, can line a walkway to create beautiful nighttime luminaries or simply set out and display for Halloween parties and trick-or-treating.

Supplies Needed:

Small Pumpkins or Gourds
Large Wooden Spoon
Knife or Pumpkin Carving Saw
Container Wax (Our choice is Soy)
Pre-Tabbed Wicks (Zinc or Cotton Core recommended)
Pumpkin Pie Spice or other Fall Fragrance Oil (optional)
Candle Dye (optional)
Pencil
Large Saucepan
Large Metal or Glass Cooking Bowl

Note: The wax, wicking, dye and fragrance oil can be found at your local craft store or on any candle making supplies website.

STEP 1 – Prepare the Pumpkin(s)

Select a small to medium pumpkin because it will have to be hollowed out and filled with wax. A large pumpkin will require a LOT of wax. Plus the small pumpkins are just easier handle and a great way to try this project for the first time.

For safety, your pumpkin should be stable and not prone to wobbling or leaning. Using a knife, cut a hole in the top of the pumpkin. The opening should be at least 2 inches across (for very small pumpkins) and no more than 4 inches across for larger pumpkins. Remove the seeds and pulp from inside the pumpkin. It is very important to clean the pumpkin out entirely to prevent any fire hazards.

STEP 2 – Add the Wick

Make sure the wicking will reach the bottom of your pumpkin plus be long enough to stick out of the top of the pumpkin. Anchor it firmly in the bottom center of the pumpkin. If it doesn’t stay in place, try using some tacky wick glue. Center the top of the wick in the opening at the top of your pumpkin and wrap it around the pencil to hold it in place. Sit the pencil across the top of the opening making sure the wick is lined up exactly in the middle.
Alternate Wicking Method: After the wax is poured, wait until the wax starts to harden slightly and place the wick in the center. It should stick to the bottom and hold in place.

STEP 3 – Melt the Soy Candle Wax & Fill the Pumpkin

Fill the saucepan about half full with water and bring it to a boil on the stove. Pour the soy wax chips or soy wax flakes into the metal or glass cooking bowl. Depending on the size of your bowl and the number of pumpkin candles you are making, measure out either one or two pounds of wax.

With a pot holder, place the bowl over the top of the boiling water (using it as a double-boiler) and stir the soy wax constantly with the wooden spoon until the soy candle wax is completely melted.
Alternate Melting Option: If you have a glass bowl, you can also melt the soy wax in the microwave. Just make sure to monitor carefully and stir often.

Once melted, remove the bowl from heat and mix in the color dye. Continue mixing until the dye is completely melted and the wax is a consistent color throughout. Mix the Fragrance Oil (approximately 1 oz. per pound of wax) into the melted wax. Stir for at least two minutes.

Carefully pour the wax into the opening at the top of your pumpkin. If your container is not easy to handle, you can pour the wax into a pour pot first, then pour the wax into the pumpkin. If necessary, repeat this process until the pumpkin is filled almost to the rim.

STEP 4 – Trim the Wicking

If you did not set the wick previously, after the wax has congealed a bit on the edges, place the wick in the center. After the soy wax has cooled and solidified, use scissors to trim the excess wicking off the top of your new scented soy candle. Leave about ¼ to ½ inch of wick exposed at the top. As the candle burns, be sure to maintain this length and to trim your wicks if the flame gets too big. Never leave the candles burning unattended.

Enjoy your beautiful new pumpkin candles!

Alternative Pumpkin Candle Ideas

For a simpler pumpkin candle, instead of cleaning the pumpkin and melting and pouring wax, a small hole can be carved in the top to hold a tealight. Another suggestion is to dig out a small, but deep hole and place a taper candle in the middle of the small pumpkin.

Pumpkins come in beautiful colors besides orange. A wide variety of colors such as green, yellow, red, white, and even tan can be found. Experiment with different colors and different shades of wax for very unique and one of a kind displays!