Giving Generously: 40 Hour Emergency Candles

Here is a practical gift. Add a ribbon and a clever note and this would be a great gift.

Place a book of matches and add a lid on it and you’ll have about 40-50 hours of light. These can be made for less than $2.00 if you are buying new jars, but less than $1.00 if you are recycling jars.

You could sell these for $5.00 easily, especially if you market them as “emergency” or “survival” candles.

Go here to see how to make them (super easy), be sure to read the comment section, lots of great ideas.

Here are other frugal giving ideas!

Building a Family Economy - Emergency Candles

I saw these on Pintrest and thought how they’d make a great gift this Christmas,

or even for a bridal shower or housewarming.

Place a book of matches and add a lid on and you’ll have about 40-50 hours of light.

These can be made for less than $2.00 if you are buying new jars,

but less than $1.00 if you are recycling jars.

You could sell these for $5.00 easily, especially if you market them as “emergency” or “survival” candles.

Go here to see how to make them (super easy),

be sure to read the comment section, lots of great ideas.

I think I’ll be making some of these for Christmas this year.

I’m going to start gathering jars.

I’m also posting over at Christian Home Magazine.

Homemade Snowball Candles

Here is a re-post of one of my favorite Christmas projects:

Lay freezer paper down, shinny side up to work on. You could also use wax paper.

Melt candle wax or paraffin wax in a double boiler on med-high heat. Do not melt on high.

Cut wicks about 6 inches. If you are not using wicks that are already wax coated you need to dip them in your melted wax and let dry.

Melt wax. Add candle fragrance if desired.

Add a small amount of wax to a wick, let cool a little bit more.

Squeeze wax around wick.

Fork more ‘fluffed’ wax around he base. Get it about half the size you want and let it harden a bit, while it is still warm you may need to reshape it. Add more ‘fluffed’ wax to make it the size you want.

Trim wick to 1-2 inches above top of snowball.

I sell these for $6 each, plus shipping.

This is similar to the snowball, just shaping it differently, adding small twigs for the arms, a strip of fabric for the scarf, and cloves for the eyes and mouth.

I buy the 10 pound slab of wax from Hobby Lobby when it is half off. For more projects go here: