DIY Gilded Seashell Candles

diy gilded seashell candles craft tutorial pop shop america

These candles are so pretty they must be put on display! These DIY Gilded Seashell Candles are glammed up with just a bit of it’s gold luster (you could use silver or copper instead) and smell so refreshing! I might even think they are prettier than these Floral Smudge Candles here.

They are so darling that they would also make a great gift. The best part is, you won’t believe how easy they are to make.

supplies to make seashell candles with gilded edges pop shop america

Supplies:

Get All the Supplies in this Gilded Seashell Candle DIY Kit here.
-or-
Large, Wide & Flat Seashells
Soy Wax
Cotton Wicks
Scissors
A Hot Plate or Stovetop
A Vessel for your Candle Wax ✨we’ll discuss in depth below✨
Liquid Gilding
A Disposable Paint Brush
Optional: Essential Oils (here are some of my favorite recipes)
A Toothpick or Popsicle Stick for Stirring the Essential Oils

watch the video tutorial graphic pop shop america website

brittany bly pouring wax to make seashell candles diy

To get started, you will first need to melt your wax. You don’t have to use a wax pitcher like the one I used. If you don’t have one, you could double boil your wax instead. You can use a mason jar – as long as it’s a high quality brand or you could use a clean aluminum can. Here’s a blog post that shows how to use an aluminum can to double boil the wax.

cut the wick short to make seashell candles diy

Next, trim your wicks to about 1/2 inch to 1 inch higher than the top of the seashell. You can always trim it more, before you burn the candle. But for now you will want to keep it just a bit long.

fill the seashells with melted wax to make seashell candles

For the next step, I would actually recommend changing the order from what I did. I would first fill the seashell with wax and then set the wick in the center. Because the wicks are so tiny, they will move a lot as you pour the wax.

carefully pour the wax into the seashell - candle making instructions pop shop america

You can kind of get a sense of how much the wicks move here. But pouring the wax first and then adding the wick second will solve this issue!

diy making diy seashell candles craft pop shop america

Once your wax starts to cool and harden, it will become opaque from the bottom of the seashell to the top. Once your wax starts to turn from transparent to translucent, it’s time to add the essential oils. Of course, essential oils are not a must!

add essential oils to the seashell candle - candle making tutorial

Depending on the brand, you will want to add 5 – 20 drops total of your essential oils. You can mix and match or just use one. Here are some of my favorite Essential Oil Recipe Blends but I just used a simple lavender for these candles! After all, lavender is my favorite. Be sure to mix your essential oils thoroughly in the wax. Use a toothpick or something else to stir for at least a minute being careful to not spill the wax.

paint the edges of the seashells in gold gilding pop shop america

Now it’s time to dress up these Seashell Candle with a bit of metallic luster. I chose gold but liquid gilding also comes in silver, copper, and other metallic colors. It’s important to use a disposable brush, because the liquid gilding will absolutely destroy any paint brush.

detail of applying gilding to the candle diy seashell candles tutorial

Liquid gilding is a bit fumey, so be sure that you are in a well ventilated area. It’s also helpful to keep the lid on the gilding while you work. A jar of liquid gilding will last a long time, so if you want to use the gilding again, there’s something important to know.

close up detail of painting gold gilded seashell candles pop shop america

When liquid gilding gets on the thread of the jar, it is nearly impossible to reopen it, so be sure that you wipe the edges completely before you close the jar.

As far as how to paint the seashells, I just lined the edge of the shells in gilding. Nothing more. And your painting technique doesn’t need to be perfect! Liquid gilding is so beautiful that it will help you by making everything look super professional.

lighting the seashell candles diy tutorial pop shop america

Your gilding just takes around 30 minutes to dry. Once the gilding is dry, your DIY Gilded Seashell Candles are finished! And viola, you now have a gorgeously nautical decoration.

One thing to note is that fragrances in candles settle over several weeks. So if you want to maximize the fragrance, be sure to wait 2 weeks to burn them.

Looking for other things to make with seashells? Make these Tiny Seashell Terrariums here. Or make these Mermaid Perfect Hair Barrettes here.

And if you love the look of gilding try making these Gilded Animal Place Cards that I just love!

finished gilded seashell candles diy pop shop america

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5 thoughts on “DIY Gilded Seashell Candles

    • Brittany Bly says:

      It’s a great point. Liquid gilding can be flammable. These candles should not be left unattended. It’s best to just paint the edges and not paint the entire seashell.

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