TRY something new
Discover the beautiful art of marbling with these gorgeous candles – a fun and easy way to add some colour and creativity to your table
Pretty marbled candles are the perfect addition to a stylish tablescape, setting the scene for relaxed dinners and lunches. This project uses water marbling with enamel paints. As with all water-marbling techniques, you’ll begin by making a water bath with distilled water, which can either be bought or made at home. Then add your paint
– enamel paints dry very quickly, so it’s best to pour them in spirals or circles to create instant patterns without any manipulation of the water. You can test the colours out in a smaller water bath first, to see how they disperse.
1 Make sure your space is well ventilated before starting the marbling process.
2 Using the cloth and a little rubbing alcohol, wipe the candles clean. This will give you a clean surface to marble onto.
3 Fill the tray with about 2.5cm of distilled water, or if using a bowl, fill it two thirds of the way up with water. Use scrap paper to skim the water to remove any lint or dust.
4 Shake and open all the paints before you get started to avoid delays during the process. Cover the bath evenly with the first colour, pouring as close to the water as you can.
5 Now work the remaining colours into this layer. Remember to pour in circles to create an instant pattern that requires no stirring.
6 When you are happy with your design, gently lower your candles into the water, making sure to catch all of the marbling ink. If you’re a beginner, try this out with a piece of paper first, as shown, before you marble the candles. Blow or gently pull away the excess ink on the surface of the water bath, before removing your candles. The ink will start to turn gloopy as it dries, so pull away these strands from your work if any start to appear.
7 Leave each candle to dry standing upright in a candle holder for a few hours, before you use them.