How to Make Image Transfer Candle (Tracing Paper DIY)

How to Make Photo Transfer Candle (Tracing Paper DIY)

Learn how to make image transfer candles using tracing paper.

This fun DIY is an easy way to make a personalized candle using a plain candle and creativity.

These pillar candles make great handmade gifts, centerpieces and look amazing!

Let's get started!

It's that time of year to start thinking about making handmade gifts, special touches to the dining table and cozy weather vibes.

Making personalized candles is easy and fun, and there are a few ways to do it.

I'm using Tracing Paper from Koala and it's super high quality.

I love being able to add my own calligraphy to a candle, but this technique works using a laser printer and sending the tracing paper through the printer, to make a photo transfer of any image or picture.

SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR IMAGE TRANSFER CANDLES:

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• Pillar Candle
• Tracing Paper
• Heat Pen or Embossing Gun (or Hair Dryer)
• Wax Paper
• Speedball Brush Pen
• Scissors

This tracing paper is amazing and high quality.

It's 38 lb. so it has a sturdy weight to it, not thin and flimsy like printer paper or tissue paper.

Koala tracing paper makes this craft a success!

STEP 1: DRAW OR PRINT IMAGE

Begin by taking out one piece of tracing paper and either print your images, or write your desired text on the paper.

I used the Speedball brush pen because it's permanent ink.

You can have a template or guide, place the tracing paper right over it and trace the text...or just free hand it like me.

I'm using the small sized brush and love how the ink handles.

This is my newest favorite brush pen, I just ordered a bunch!

You can find the brush pens in a 3 pack at Michaels, and Amazon has the kit with colored brush pens as well...which I have not tested out.

NOTE: Be sure to draw or print the image to fit along side the candle as desired. If it is a full wrap, measure it to be sure it will fit. I didn't check the size before I added the holly berries and they were too big...but I cut them out and added them elsewhere.

STEP 2: CUT OUT IMAGE

Now use some scissors to cut out the image.

It does not need to be precise, and should have about a 1/4" border all the way around it.

STEP 3: WRAP IMAGE ON CANDLE

Place the pillar candle on a piece of wax paper, big enough to wrap around the entire candle and overlap a bit.

Now place the cut out tracing paper on the side of the pillar candle, exactly where you want it placed permanently.

Hold it in place and wrap it with wax paper, the wax paper should be enough to hold it all in place.

If you have multiple images to transfer, you may have to do them one or two at a time. 

The wax paper is the magic here, it will melt off a little of its wax onto the tracing paper...the candle will melt and the whole image will be fused into the candle.

STEP 4: HEAT THE WAX

Once the image is tightly in place with the wax paper around it, use the heat pen to begin to heat up the wax.

Use the heat pen in a circular motion and move back and forth over the image rather than focusing heat on one section at a time.

The wax paper will melt and the text or image will start to appear bolder and shiny. 

Continue the heating process until the entire image has become shiny...now the wax cools fast too, so just keep track.

STEP 5: REVEAL

Wait a minute or so for the wax to set up, then peel the wax paper from the candle.

Peel it off slowly and watch the edges of the tracing paper...if they lift up a bit, reheat and press them down.

The wax paper should remove easily and cleanly, leaving an embedded image in the candle.

After removing the wax paper, use the heat pen to heat up the image one more time.

This will even out the wax finish and make it all shiny again.

Now your gorgeous image transfer candle is ready to light up for a centerpiece, wrap up in cellophane for a warm holiday gift, or place on a candle stand and let the warm glow thrill you!

I love how this pillar candle transfer turned out!

You can't even notice the tracing paper lines, it looks like I just wrote gorgeous calligraphy on a waxy candle!

Imagine this with photographs, pressed flowers and other fun prints.

That's it!

Make image transfer pillar candles easily with tracing paper, wax paper and a heat pen.

Then make a whole bunch of them for neighbor, holiday and Christmas gifts.

You will love making a photo transfer candle and will immediately want to make more!

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