How to Make an Anthropologie Candle Dupe with Crayons
How to Make an Anthropologie Candle Dupe with Crayons
When it comes to home decor and accessories, Anthro seems to always get it right. Anthropologie is my absolute favorite store and I buy clothing from there all of the time! When I was perusing the website last week, I came across these candles and I knew I had to have them!
Photo via Anthropologie
However, when I saw the price tag, I decided to skip it. When I looked at how they were made, I realized I could totally make them. And...so I did. And guess what? This project only requires a few key supplies. The end result? $7.38 vs $36 at Anthropologie. Why pay full price when these high-end items can easily be made at home?!
If you love Anthropologie but hate the price tag, just know that you can make it yourself in just under an hour. Here’s a guide to finding the perfect Anthropologie candle dupe.
Materials needed to create the "Ghost Icon" Anthropologie candles
Pencil, pen or dotting tool, or any sharp object
Step by step instructions for making your very own Anthropologie Candle Dupe
Just know that for this tutorial I made ghost tapered candles. However, this technique can easily be applied towards any holiday or holiday icon.
For example, you can make candles for Christmas with trees, pumpkins for Thanksgiving, candy corn for Halloween or anything else. I tried making these a few times and failed and I learned a lot along the way. The key to this process is patience and layering. I will explain more below.
1. Prepare your workspace: Open up the windows for ventilation. Burning crayons don't have the best smell. Lay down a tablecloth to protect your table. Lay out all of your materials and supplies.
2. Place a tea light into your wax warmer
3. Peel your white crayon and add a few pieces of broken white crayon to the top. The candles will start to melt very quickly. Once the crayons look like they are liquid, you can begin to "paint" the tapered candles.
Sometimes the flame can get too hot and the wax starts to burn. In this case, blow out the candle inside the wax warmer. You do not need that much burn time because the liquid crayon will stay liquid for at least ten minutes and then you can start again.
4. Carefully dip the paintbrush into the melted crayon. During this stage you will need to work fast. Take the wax and apply it directly onto the candle.
Use the melted crayon like paint
Treat the crayon wax like paint. If the wax begins to get chunky, it will need more heat. This is why it is best to work in layers.
These anthropologie candle dupes have a bit of a learning curve, but if you mess up, you can just wait for the wax to harden and scrape them off. This makes it pretty fool proof!
5. Continue to paint on little ghosts all over the candles. Keep on going until the entire candle is covered in little white ghosts. Each ghost will dry very quickly!
Paint little white ghosts all over the candles
6. Blow out the candle.
7. While the wax is still wet, use a paper towel and remove all of the white wax from the top of the wax warmer.
8. Peel the black crayon and break off a small piece. Add it to the wax warmer.
9. Once both candles are covered in ghosts, go ahead and start with the ghosts' eyes. To do this, I simply used an old retractable pencil.
My kids have so many pencils from years of excess school supplies. After a full year of school, they always want new ones and so I have so many pencils with just a bit of lead left inside.
Dip just the tip of the pencil into the melted wax. Carefully add one dot of black wax to the ghost. Go back into the black wax and add an additional dot.
Add the ghost eyes
10. Keep adding ghost eyes until every ghost has eyes.
11. Let dry. Thankfully, this should only take a minute to dry. With paint, you have to wait a long time, but wax dries super fast!
12. Enjoy your new anthropology candle dupe!
Anthropologie candle dupe
Tips and Tricks for Creating your Anthropologie Candle Dupe
Melted crayon wax has a strong smell. Make sure your room is ventilated.
I used an unscented candle. However, you can use candles with notes of tropical fruits and make it smell just like a candle from Bath and Body Works or select brands like that.
I can see myself making another set of candles with little pumpkins on them. Instead of crayon wax, you can use candle wax from an orange candle like a blood orange or pumpkin spice.
The world is your oyster and the possibilities are endless. Next time I make one of my Anthropologie dupes, I will be using either lemon leaf or a red lava citrus candle because the crayon sometimes creates musty smells and I love a good scented candle! This might be why I own so many Bath and Body Works candle sets.
Do not let the crayon wax get too hot. When this happens, it starts to bubble and splatter.
To get more ideas, head to some local stores and see what they have. I know target stores sometimes have beautiful seasonal candles.
Have fun!
Looking for more fun Halloween ideas? Check out 37+ ways to makeover a dollar tree pumpkin!
