Don't throw away that soda bottle! Instead, turn it into a one-of-a-kind candle!

DIY candles never looked this good.

Mini Coca-Cola and Sprite DIY Candles

For thousands of years, candles had been the sole source of artificial light in homes across the world. With the advent of electricity candles were pushed to a minor role, as either a spring of fragrance (my personal favorite is pine scent) or simply as decor.

In all that time the look of candles has remained relatively the same; cylindrical in shape and ranging in height from short to tall, dependent on the width. While standard-looking candles may satisfy most needs, sometimes change is a good thing. Creativity can breathe a bit of fresh air into your candles.

Using Instructables' user krazykred‘s guide, learn how to use 12 oz. soda bottles to create unique candles that will not only make a great addition to your own home, but also work as a perfect gift for friends and family.

Love this? Check out: Candle Making Basics | How To Make Candles

What You Need:

• wax or white candles
• 12. oz Coca Cola, Sprite or other soda bottles
• candle wicks
• crayons
• water
• 2 bowls (one large and one small)
• box cutter or knife
• knife
• marker
• bolts
• toothpicks
• tape or glue

Step 1: Melt Wax

Start by marking the position of the liquid in the 12 oz. soda bottle.

Next, you'll want to melt the wax in a hot water bath. During the melting process, add 1 brown and 2 black crayons for the Coca Cola candle or 1 dark green and 1 light green candle for the Sprite one.

Step 2: Make the Wick

If you have extra wicks laying around, perfect. If not, you can easily create one from cotton thread by dipping it in plain melted wax. Once the wick is done, add some weight to the bottom of it using a couple of bolts.

Place the wick in the bottle and tie it around a tooth pick or something similar so that the wick stays in place. Peel the label off and keep it safe, since you'll need it later.

Step 3: Pour Hot Wax Into Bottle

Throw ice water into a large bowl, then place your soda bottle inside. Pour the melted wax in the soda bottle until you hit the mark you made on it earlier. Let the wax cool down and then add melted white wax after that to the top of the bottle (only for the Coca-Cola candle).

After the wax is cooled, your soda bottles should look something like this. Remove the toothpicks and let them cool for 3 to 4 hours.

Step 4: Remove Plastic From Candle

Using a knife or box cutter, carefully remove the plastic bottle from around the candle.

Once the candles are peeled free, add the labels using glue or tape.

Step 5: End Result!

Using your crayons, color over the candle to change the look of it or repair any parts that lost color in the process. Once that's set, you can light 'em up and enjoy!

Check out the entire process in the video below!

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