Welcome back to the IHC Craft Room! I’m kicking off the first live stream of our Mother’s Day Masterpiece series with a project that is perfect for any mama who loves her “mama juice.” We’re making beautiful wine glass candles using crackling wood wicks that sound just like a tiny fireplace.

These candles are beginner-friendly, budget-friendly, & look stunning as home decor or gifts. If you want to see the process happen in real-time, you can watch the full tutorial below.

What You’ll Need

I picked up these 16oz wine glasses at the dollar store for about $1.75 each & they have a lovely, substantial shape. Here is everything else you’ll need:

• 2 x 16oz Wine Glasses (Check Dollarama or Dollar Tree)
• 658g Container Soy Wax (I’m using American Soy Organics Freedom Soy pellets)
• 60g Fragrance Oil (30g for Red Wine scent & 30g for White Wine)
• 2 Large Crackling Wood Booster Wicks & Wick Clips
• Wick Stickums (Double-sided sticky dots or hot glue)
• Liquid Candle Dye: Red, Purple, Brown, & Golden Honey
• Digital Kitchen Scale
• Heat Gun
• Parchment paper & Paper towels
• Glass Cleaner (Like Windex)

Step 1: The Maker Math & Melting

For this project, we’re targeting a 9% fragrance load. Each 16oz glass will hold about 329g of melted wax.

1. Measure: Use your digital scale to measure out 658g of soy pellets.
2. Melt: Use a double boiler (or the microwave if you’re impatient like me!) to get your wax up to 185°F.
3. The Temperature Rule: We hit 185°F because it allows the wax molecules to open up & bond with the fragrance oil. This ensures a great scent throw & prevents “sweating.”

Step 2: Prep & Clean Your Vessels

It’s a best practice to always start with a clean surface. Even brand-new glass can have dust that interferes with your wick sticking.

1. Clean the Glass: Spray the inside with a little glass cleaner. I love Windex because the alcohol content means it evaporates in two shakes.
2. Prep the Wicks: Slide your wood wicks into the clips. We’re using “boosters,” which have a second layer of wood laminated to them. This helps them pull up heavy natural waxes like soy & gives you that beautiful crackle.
3. Secure the Wick: Apply a stickum to the clip & press it into the bottom. Note: Most wine glasses have a “divot” or dip where the bowl meets the stem. This means the bottom isn’t perfectly level, so your wick might lean a bit. Don’t worry, we’ll fix that later!

Step 3: Fragrance & Colour

Once you hit 185°F, take the wax off the heat. I then split the batch into two warm vessels so we can do different colours & scents in each vessel.

1. Add Fragrance: Pour 30g of oil into each batch.
2. The 3-Minute Rule: Stir for three whole minutes. This is the golden equation for soy candles to ensure the oil & wax bond properly.
3. Add Colour:
   • For Red Wine: I used 10 drops of red, 3 drops of purple (for burgundy depth), & 2 drops of brown.
   • For White Wine: I used 2 drops of Golden Honey. If you don’t have that, try a 3:1 ratio of yellow to brown. Stir the dye for about 30 seconds.

Step 4: The Pour

Before pouring, use your heat gun to warm up the wine glasses. If you pour hot wax into cold glass, you’ll get “wet spots” or frosting. We want the glass & wax to meet in the middle!

1. Temp Check: Pour between 135°F & 145°F.
2. The Slow Pour: Fill the glasses to about an inch or two from the top – just like you’d pour yourself a real drink!

Babysit the Wicks: If the wick starts “leaning” because of the curved bottom, wait until the wax gets to a “slushy” stage. Then, use a wooden dowel or skewer to nudge it back to center.

Step 5: Fixing Sinkholes & Trimming

Soy wax is a natural product, so it’s normal to see a few sinkholes or air pockets around the wick.

1. Heat Gun Magic: Use your heat gun to melt the top layer of the candle. This will fill in those gaps & leave you with a smooth, level finish.
2. The 10-Day Cure: If you have the patience, let these sit for 10 days before lighting. It’ll give you the absolute best scent throw.
3. Trim the Wick: Trim your wood wick to about 1/4 inch. I will show alternatives using household items for trimming, but a sharp pair of wick trimmers works best. Mary’s Tip: You can sharpen your trimmers by “cutting” a piece of folded aluminum foil!

Time to Relax!

Once trimmed, it’s time to light up & listen to that crackle. It sounds just like a fireplace. Whether you’re making these for yourself or as a gift, they are a wonderful way to enjoy some “me time.”If you want to see the finished candles in action or hear that crackle, watch below:

I’m so glad you joined me for this pour-along! If you’re just starting out, don’t sweat the small stuff. Every project is a chance to learn & I’m all about keeping things easy & fun here. If you’re looking for more beginner-friendly DIYs, I’m live every Saturday at 4 PM EST making a brand-new candle project. Grab your supplies & let’s get crafty together!