I wanted the title to be 'Cupcake Candles from Crap Wax', but figured it might get censored.

This is actually a dual Instructable—making beauty from garbage and also how to make some pretty cool candle cupcakes!

Step 1: Stuff

Last summer, I started tinkering with making candles out in the Las Vegas sun, letting the outside heat melt and fuse the wax. I did an Instructables about it.

Solar Candle Making

One of the things I discovered was that outside by my hot tub where I burn the majority of my candles, the Vegas heat easily melts pillar candles (no flame needed!), so I started collecting old Yankee candle jars to re-purpose as spa candles.

While I was cleaning one out there still was about an inch of wax left, and I wanted to keep it for reuse, so I poured it into a plastic condiment cup and when it cooled I was surprised to find it looked like a cupcake.

Step 2: Wax Hoarder

During the winter I throw all used / burned out / broken candles into a large container. I also buy used candles from Goodwill, yard sales, estate sales, etc.

You can never have enough candles (or shoes).

Step 3: Wax Prep

However, used wax is dirty, with bits of wick, carbon, dirt, and other contaminants.

I use a bar drink strainer (yard sale .50) and melt the wax using a Crème brûlée torch.

Since the cupcakes are relatively small, I don't need to set up a double burner or leave a large amount of wax out in the sun. For bigger projects in the future I will make an Instructable for how I approach that.

Step 4: Makin' Candles ...

Yeah, you were wondering when I would get to this, weren't you?

Step 5: Still... Makin' Candles

I use a third hand holder to keep the wick in place, and I pick up extra condiment cups when I get takeout food.

They're pretty good and last pretty long, as long as you DON'T point the torch at them.

Step 6: Pour Adore

Here you can have as much fun as you like, pouring small layers of different color wax, or melting one full candle to make a single color cupcake base. I like doing several colors, pouring a small layer, letting it cool, then pouring a different color.

Step 7: The "Frosting"

This is an arduous part of the candle making. I have to coat the top of the candle on the order of 10-15 times with a white candle, making sure I drip wax down the sides as well to give it that 'icing look'.

Step 8: SPRINKLES!

There are varying opinions about creating sprinkles for candle cupcakes since sprinkles contain sugar and sugar will bring ants. So instead, I used colored candles, using a cheese grater to make sprinkles.