Unique Girl Gifts

Fall is right around the corner, and with the days gradually getting shorter and the nights getting longer, more people like to burn candles. Here are some great tips I found on HGTV.com on utilizing candles.

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Candle Basics - Tips on Utilizing Candles

• Burn candles in appropriate, heat-resistant holders on heat-safe surfaces.

• Never leave a lit candle unattended.

• Consider using refillable candles. These act as a very safe taper candle. They twist together and can be lit and used like any other taper candle.

• Place a small amount of water in the bottom of a votive candleholder to prevent the votive from sticking.

• Candle stakes come in a variety of different sizes and are great for putting together floral arrangements.

• Before inserting a taper candle into foam, slice off one end from the bottom on an angle to help it stay put. You could also use a stake to insert the candle into foam. These can heighten the candle too.

• Shave off the extra wax on the very bottom of a taper candle to make sure it sits flat.

• Refrigerate candles a couple of hours before using and they will burn longer. Do not put them in the freezer.

• Clean candles by rubbing gently with a nylon stocking or a nylon kitchen scrubber.

• Always cut the wick to about a 1/4 inch in length. If the wick is any longer, it could be a fire hazard.

• If you lose the wick, cut off 1/2 inch of the wax to the wick and start over.

• If you use hurricane candleholders make sure they are very stable. One way to do that is to secure a candle in marbles, or place on an anchor pin with double-sided tape. Both of these techniques prevent the candle from getting too close to the glass inside a hurricane and becoming too hot.

• Place votive candles inside really large candles to prevent burning the large ones.

Surprise and delight the wine lover on your list with our clever Wine and Cheese Candle Set!

This gourmet-themed trio looks just like a banquet of tempting treats; lush green grapes, a creamy wedge of cheese, and— best of all— a bottle of fine vintage!

All three candles are deliciously scented with mouthwatering Merlot fragrance. Sure to be the “light” of the next party! 90% paraffin wax; 10% palm oil. 5 3/4″ x 3 7/8″ x 10″ high.

Click here to shop more unique candles.

Delight in the colors and scents of autumn with our Pumpkin Spice Candle! Tone-on-tone shades of orange and ocher are the perfect embellishment for a simple, squared candle. When lit, a scrumptious pumpkin spice scent enlivens the air and fills the room.

Coordinating holder tray for a designer look. Paraffin wax. 3″ diameter x 3″ high.

To shop more of our candles, click here.

Our Multi-Layered Stone Candle is a pleasing addition to any simple or sophisticated decor! A tall, squared wax candle combines an attractive shape and bold bands of color for a naturally beautiful effect! Earthy hues and interesting textures give the appearance of layers of precious gemstones.

Paraffin wax with plaster holder plate. Fresh Ocean scent. 4″ diameter x 6 3/4″ high.

Click here to shop all our candles.

The weathered texture to our Stone-Finish Candle Pot gives the intriguing appeal of ancient mossy stone to a squared planter-style pot, attractively filled with a long-burning butterscotch yellow candle.

As the flame casts a heartwarming ring of light, the uplifting fragrance of citronella is slowly released to sweeten the air. 100% paraffin wax. 4 3/4″ diameter x 4″ high.

To shop more of our candles, click here.

I found this great article on HGTV.com on how to safely decorate your home with candles that I think my blog readers will really enjoy. There are some great tips that even I did not know about.

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Decorative Candle Safety

Registered interior designer, Deborah Burnett, demonstrates how candle practices can actually be decorative as well as fire safe.

- Keep burning candles out of drafts using the hottest candle accessory around–draft protectors and glass hurricanes. The decorative containers not only protect the flame from burning irregularly and causing the wax to melt unevenly but they help to accentuate your design style. Try draft protectors for a tranquil Zen motif and a metal and glass closed-top container for a country look.

- Trim the wicks to no more than 1/4 inch on new candles and between each burn period to maintain even wax melting.

- When burning pillar candles for the first time, measure the diameter and allow it to burn for an equal amount of hours. For example, a four-inch candle should burn for four hours initially to create a large well. Otherwise, a small section will melt, making it hard to light.

- Put a candle that can’t be lit again into a plastic bag in the freezer for 48 hours, and then place it in a closet. The chill/thaw process will release more of its fragrance.

- Never place jar or poured candles on cold surfaces such as marble countertops or glass tables. The heat from the container will cause the tops to shatter.

- Never leave burning candles unattended.

Here are some great tips I found on HGTV.com for decorating your home with candles.

Decorating with Candles

1. Arrange an odd number of tall or fat candles in fall colors, then place items such as preserved leaves, dried corncobs, gourds and pine cones between and around the candles to create a lovely centerpiece.

2. Make candleholders out of miniature pumpkins and gourds. Hollow out enough space in the gourd for a votive candle to sit inside.

3. Create luminary lanterns out of tin cans and use them for decoration. Just drill a pattern of holes in the cans and insert candles.

4. Float candles in a pedestal fruit bowl.

5. Pour melted wax into hollowed-out shells. When the wax has partially set, insert a birthday candle. Float these candles in a bowl of water.

6. Many household items can be used as candleholders–it just takes a little creativity. Examples are Mason jars, teacups, glass tumblers, juice glasses and cupcake tins. Pour gravel or sand in the bottom to hold the candles in place.