December No-Spend Month Challenge Day 16: Cinnamon Stick Candle Tutorial!

Hello again, savvy savers! I hope you are all well rested and ready for a new daily December No-spend Challenge!

Continuing with this weeks DIY gift giving theme, I want to share with you one of my favorite fun, frugal gift ideas, cinnamon stick candles!

So, why cinnamon stick candles? Well, if you are anything like me than you love the scent of a good beeswax candle this time of year. Moreover, what’s more quintessentially Christmas than a home that smells of fresh, spicy, earthy cinnamon?

For me, the smell of fresh ground cinnamon make my home smell so good and feel so very cozy. So, this year several of my friends and family will be receiving cinnamon stick wrapped candles this holiday season.

Here’s How To Make a Cinnamon Stick Candles:

Supplies Needed:

large pillar candle, 6-9 inches in length (mine was 8″ from the Dollar Tree)
bundle of large cinnamon sticks ($0.50 per bag at the Dollar Tree)
burlap ribbon (1.99 per roll at JoAnn Fabrics after 50% coupon; 1 roll makes six candles)
jute twine (3-pack of spools for $1.00 at the Dollar Tree)
scissors
hot glue gun
hot glue sticks

Cost per candle: $2.30

How to make the candle:

To assemble the candle, start by putting a small dab of hot glue on a cinnamon stick and place each stick on the candle; if using smaller sticks you will need to have two rolls of sticks, or a single layer for taller sticks on the candle.
Please note, the hot glue is not a permanent adhesive, its just going to hold the cinnamon stick to the candle temporarily so that you can adhere the embellishment to the candle itself. Once the candle is burning, the hot glue will melt. I recommend using a high temp hot glue gun for this project, and giving a glass candle dish (also available at the Dollar Tree for $0.50 each) as well.
Continue gluing the cinnamon sticks to the candle; they will vary in height and width.
Please note, one package of cinnamon sticks went around my 4″ diameter candle, but depending on your cinnamon sticks and your candle’s diameter, you may need a second bundle.
Next, cut a strip of burlap to 1.5″ wide by 12″ long, and hot glue the burlap in place so that it holds cinnamon sticks together tightly.
If you like a fringed edge to your ribbon pull one strand out of each end of the ribbon before gluing to the candle; you can also remove a center strand of burlap is you need help in creating a straight edge line to cut your ribbon too!
If you want to add any embellishments to your candle, now is the time to do so.
After all embellishments have been added, glue a strand of cut jute to tie around your candle.

And that’s it! This is such a fun, frugal gift and can easily be mailed too! The neatest part about this project is that most of the materials you may already have on hand. So, today I challenge you to see what you may have on hand in your pantry, craft room, and art stash to turn into affordable holiday gifts!

Here’s to saving,

Nicole

Welcome, savvy savers! My name is Nicole, and I'm the LadyPrefers2Save. We believe in making the minimalist mindset manageable, through budgeting, upcycling, & healthy menu planning. I thank you for stopping by and giving us the opportunity to help you prefer to save, too!