These bendy ghost candles are SO CUTE! Add a wickedly adorable touch to your Halloween decor with these budget-friendly creations. They’re perfect for a quick crafting session, taking just 20 minutes or less to make!
Bring a spooktacular glow to your space with these fun, handmade decorations. Whether you’re accessorizing the mantel or setting up a Halloween dinner party centerpiece, these ghost bendy candles are sure to shine. Use simple supplies from the dollar store and have fun making these trendy, ghost-themed candles that everyone will love!
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How to Make Bendy Ghost Candles
Materials:
Equipment:
- Hot water
- Taper candle holder (to display your ghost candles)
Watch the step-by-step video tutorial:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Let the candles sit in hot water
- Choose a baking dish that your candles will fit in. Fill it with hot tap water (about 120F).
- Carefully place the candles in the water and allow them to soak for 10 minutes.
Step 3: Bend the candles
- Once the water is cool enough to put your hands in, carefully bend one of the candles while it’s still in the water.Use firm pressure to shape it, but be aware of the candle’s natural resistance and don’t push it so much that it breaks.(We recommend having a spare candle on hand to test how far and in what direction you can bend your candles.)
- Remove the candle from the water once you’ve created the shape you want.
Step 4: Paint a ghost face
- Let the candle cool back to room temperature and allow to dry. You can pat it with a paper towel to make sure it’s completely dry.
- Paint a ghost face near the top of the candle with black acrylic paint.Allow the paint to dry.
- Your bendy ghost candle is complete!
- Repeat with the rest of the candles, creating a whole group of ghosts!
- Now light your ghost candles and enjoy watching the eerie glow.Read more below about candle safety with these bendy candles.
Helpful Tips:
- White candles create a perfect ghost vibe, but you can also make ghost candles with coloured tapers!
- Do not use boiling water to make your bendy candles. This water temperature is too hot and will melt the candles completely. (Ask us how we figured this out… oops!)
What candles make the best bendy ghost candles?
Others have said that non-coated paraffin candles bend the best. But it can be hard to find these specific candles, since not all candle labels tell you the type of wax.
Most inexpensive candles from the dollar store or craft store should work. We personally used the Ashland brand from Michaels and they worked very well.
We also recommend using candles that are a longer size (10 to 12 inches tall), since it makes it easier to create the bends and turns.
Can I burn these bendy ghost candles?
You can burn your candles, but keep in mind that they won’t burn the same after being bent. The gravity of the wax and flame will be different, and it won’t burn well where the candle is bent horizontally.
If you want to burn your ghost candles, ensure that an adult is always in the room with them. Place the candle holder on a washable tray to catch any dripping wax.
We recommend not burning your bendy candles and keeping these Halloween decorations as-is.
Do I need to bend the candles while they’re in the water?
The candles are a lot more malleable while submerged in the warm water, so we highly recommend bending them in the water.
The candles begin to harden as soon as they’re exposed to cooler air. This means your bending time outside the water is very limited, which in turn means they break a lot easier when bent outside the water.
This simple candle hack is popular on Tik Tok, and it’s easy to see why! With just a few supplies and a little bit of time you can create a frightfully fun homemade display that’s a little bit spooky and a whole lot cute.
Here’s even more fun Halloween craft ideas:
Our book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids is loaded with 72 fun and simple craft ideas for kids! The projects are fun, easy and most importantly low-mess, so the clean up is simple!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-A-Million | Indiebound | Amazon Canada
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