As often as we want our home made candle projects to be bright and shiny and be ready for a gift to a family or friend, or maybe even to be ready to take to a craft show, sometimes we just want a candle for ourselves made from what we have on hand.
Or maybe you want a project that you can do from start to finish with your kids with items that can be found in your own home.
If that's the case then let's consider what household items we can recycle to use in our wax and oil candle projects.
Creativity is a bonus when looking around your house for found items but it's also very important to consider safety.
Wax and oil are flammable so make sure that you use containers that can handle the heat that you are requiring of them.
If you have any doubt, don't use it.
In some cases these might not be the prettiest containers but they could lend themselves to a rustic look or you could have your kids decorate them with paint or glitter or even ribbon.
But we're getting ahead of ourselves.
Let's take a tour of the kitchen first and see what items we might be able to use for wax candle containers:

• empty metal can [from soup, vegetables, etc]
• bowls
• drinking glasses
• coffee mugs and tea cups
• foil cupcake wrappers
• baby food jars
• jelly jars

Now, let's leave the kitchen and explore the rest of the house:

• previously used votive holders
• previously used candle containers
• vases
• champagne glasses

All oil lamps have the same basic construction - a container for the oil, a wick holder and a wick.
How elaborate you make your oil lamp is up to you.
A basic oil lamp can be constructed from found items in your kitchen.
A leftover jelly jar, stiff wire, and some cotton, along with vegetable or olive oil will make a serviceable oil lamp.
Some ideas for oil lamp containers include:

• mason jars
• jelly jars
• bowls
• drinking glasses
• vases

Remember, to make your own oil lamp lets start with the container.
As long as the container has sides deep enough to hold the oil it will work.
If you want to add a chimney to your oil lamp then you should probably buy your base and chimney together so that you know that they will fit properly.
Any container from can to a jar or a glass will work as an oil lamp is one of the most basic homemade candles.
Without too much difficulty we came up with enough options to keep us busy for many projects and all from items found at home.
There is no reason to find yourself at loose ends and unable to put together a home made candle project now that you have plenty of ideas for containers for both wax candles and oil lamps.
Enjoy!