Recycled Tealight Candles - Instructions

Ok, so it always drove me nuts on how those 3 and 4 wick candles would have this nice mound of wax left after the wicks completely burned out. And add that to not being able to recycle the plastic tealight cups since there's no recycling code on the bottom and my recycling center won't take them! So, I went to the craft store with the original intention of getting a mold for votive candles or something like that so I could use up the wax from several candles I had kept - for some unknown reason at the time! I was amazed at the price of $21.99 for a small little thin cheap looking metal mold!!! So, I changed my mind and thought about the tealights... and saw that they had the empty plastic cups for $2.99 for 6! Well, heck, I have empty ones at home anyways - AND FOR FREE!!. So, I just purchased some of the wicks (packages of 12 for 1.99) and thought I'd give it a try. The picture is of them still drying - I plan on trimming the wick to size once they are completely dry, and I'm thinking that there may be enough to trim off to leave enough wick to do another tealight - so bonus - it ends up being 24 wicks for the $1.99!

In case you wanted to give it a try, here's what I did:
1. I just saved the empty plastic tealight cups (which by the way, the candles were a 24-pack of Sonoma brand at the Dollar Store, and yup, for $1.00! - Super Deal!).
2. I saved the wax from some of those brick style or large round style candles when the wicks burned out.
3. I just found an old butter dish - in the event the wax ruined anything, I didn't want it to be in a good bowl.
4. I just cut the wax into smaller chunks and tossed it into the bowl and put in right in the microwave - as a hint though, I only filled the bowl up about 1/2 way with the wax so there wasn't too much in there. Just keep checking the melting every few minutes and take out of the microwave once it turns liquidy.
5. If you are using a cheap butter style bowl, you'll easily be able to "bend" the bowl so theres a pour spout - place your wicks in each of the tealight cups, pour the liquid wax into the cups, and then just let them dry.
6. Voila - brand new tealights!! And only for the mere cost of some wicks - although, I'm still looking at the wicks and seeing what I can come up with that will burn equally well so I can go without even buying them - I'll keep everyone updated if I find anything!

Enjoy!!!

My Works in Progress - To Do List

These are some of the things that I am currently working on, or trying to get started and finished! Some are things I have already done, but haven't wrote up the patterns for, so keep looking as I'll be posting all of these things as soon as I can get them done!!
Knitted Marn Scarf
Knitted Marn Fringe Rug
Jean Bags/Purses - Sew
Reverisble Tote and Hobo Bag - Sew
Reworked Jean Skirt - Sew
Crocheted Loopy Plarn Rug
Knitted Marn Coasters
Crocheted Cassette Tape or VCR Tape Bag
Crocheted Scrap Yarn Dishcloths
Crocheted Scrap Yarn Shadow Scarf
Crocheted Scrap Yarn Flowers (for accenting items)
Crocheted Scrap Yarn & Plarn Scrubbers
Crocheted Marn Loopy Rug
Crocheted Scrap Yarn Dusters
Scrap Material Flowers (for accenting items) - Sew
Crocheted Plarn Necklace
Crocheted Marn Headband
Crocheted Marn Hat
Knitted Marn Headband
Knitted Marn Hat
Crocheted Chip Bag Purse/Bag
Juice Pouch Bag - Sew
Reworked Design T-Shirt to Tank - No Sew
Reworked Design T-shirt to Halter - Sew

And the list definately goes on, but it all depends on when I look at the items and decide they may make something better than originally planned! Besides, I think this is enough on my plate for the time being - there just aren't enough hours in the day!!

Crocheted Plarn Flower Pot Scrubber/Coaster Pattern

This was created from my need of some new "pot scrubbers"... and from trying to find new uses for those plastic bags. I did find that these seem to work better using the bread style bags rather than the standard plastic shopping bags as the bread bags are a thicker and more sturdy style plastic.

After making several as pot scrubbers, I realized that these would make pretty good coasters too - so the choice is yours!

To get started all you need to do is to cut your bread bags the same way as you do the standard plastic shopping bags to create your "plarn" (plastic bag yarn).

Materials:

Ball of Plarn (it takes approximately 2 bread bags to make one of these)

Size N crochet hook

The Pattern:

Chain 2

1. 6 single crochet (sc) in 2nd chain from hook - DO NOT JOIN - you will be working in the round for this.

2. Continue working in the round, do 2 sc in each sc (12 sc total at this point). Do not join.

3. Continue working in the round, *sc in the next sc, 2 sc in the next sc*, repeat from * to * around. (18 sc at this point).

4. Join with a slip stitch in next sc, *(half double crochet (hdc), double crochet (dc)) all in next sc, (dc, hdc all in next sc), slip stitch into next sc* (petal made), repeat from * to * around. End with a slip stitch into the 1st slip stitch made. End off and weave in your loose ends.

The really nice thing about these (besides being able to find a nice use for those bread bags) is that they are very durable and can be used over and over again. I've used mine to the point where I've lost count and it still isn't to a point of having to toss it away! To reuse - just toss in your washing machine, and lay flat to dry. I haven't tryed to actually put them into the dryer or anything yet - I'm just a little leary that the plastic may melt a little or it may change form. But, washing and laying flat works perfectly fine!