I wanted to start on my shelf-top Halloween display today, even though it's still September :) Part of this display is a collection of strait candles, which I got last year at Ikea. (Cheap candles! Pretty good selection, kinda weird smells). The candles I have are cream-colored, which is a great base to start with, but they needed a little something to make the display perfect.

With a just a few things you have around the house (probably), you too can make your candles appear to have bled in a different, spooky, color.

**NOTE: I have no intention of actually burning these candles, as they are supposed to look cool on the shelf long-term. To get candles that are actively "bleeding" while lit, I suggest this instructable for ideas: https://www.instructables.com/id/Blood-gushing-Candle/

Step 1: Materials Needed

MATERIALS YOU NEED:
Candles: strait or tapered will work best
Crayons or spare candles in the color you want the drips to be. Thrift stores have cheap colored candles for melting!
Plastic (disposable) spoon
Small sauce pan (if you have one that is only for crafts, that's best to use)
Aluminium foil
Paper cups
Paper towels

TOOLS YOU NEED:
Stove or hotplate than can be carefully adjusted
Fire extinguisher (just in case)

SAFETY NOTES:
This is probably not a project to do with small kids. Melted wax is hot and can burn skin, and no one likes a burn. Also wax can be flammable, and I know of at least one person who set a table on fire when making candles. Use common sense and have an extinguisher on had.

COST AND TIME:
I had everything on hand, so my cost was nothing. If you had to buy everything I used, the cost would still be less than 10 dollars.
This project took me less than one hour for 6 candles. The longest part is waiting for the wax to melt.

Step 2: Melt the Dripping Wax

Break up the wax you want to be the drips into smaller bits. I used a brown crayon and some spare beeswax, about 1.5 oz total. The smaller you break the pieces, the quicker it will melt. Add the wax to the pan.

Set your pan onto a burner set to the lowest setting it will go. This is not the time to speed demon heat the pan. Seriously, melt the wax slowly.

Step 3: Drip Wax on the Candles

Hold the candles as firmly as you can by the wick, so that the candle itself is hanging from your fingers.

Use the spoon to scoop up a very small amount of the melted wax from the pot. Gently tip the spoon onto the candle where the wick meets the candle body. Try to let only one drip of wax at a time leave the spoon. (Note: I did a practice candle first to get the hang of how the wax would drip off the spoon and down the candle--I would highly recommend this. I'll use the ugly practice candle for another project the needs melted wax.)

Hold the candle aloft for a few seconds while the hot wax dries to the candle. If you set it down while it's still molten you'll have a mess.

Step 4: Add As Many Drips As You'd Like

Obviously you can keep adding wax drips to your taste. I went kind of sparse on mine because that was the look I wanted. Repeat on as many candles as you'd like to have. Remember to let the drips dry thoroughly.

Use a small square of aluminum foil to rest the waxy spoon on when you need to put the spoon down. This will save you a mess.

Step 5: Clean Up and Display!

You'll probably have extra wax left in your pan. To save it for a later use, carefully pour the hot wax into a paper cup. When the wax is totally cool, you can tear the cup away and have a nice little wax block to save. If you don't want to save it, you can treat the wax like hot bacon grease and put it into a tin can and then toss it away. Hot wax strait into the trash can cause fire.

After you have removed the wax from the pan, but the pan is still hot, CAREFULLY use a bunch of paper towel to wipe the inside of the pot clean of wax. Usually I skimp on using paper towel, but don't be shy this time- it takes a lot to absorb the wax and its still HOT, so extra paper prevents burns. If you used a pot that you also cook with, wash it with soap and water after it cools- unless you like wax bits in your food.

Put out your candles and enjoy!! (But do not burn, other wise the drips will just drip away- these are for looking only)