In addition to painting, stenciling, and wax-on-wax methods, you can decorate a finished candle by adding texture — and color. Here's an example for a two-tone textured candle:

You will need: a finished pillar candle; your candle dipping setup; 4 pounds paraffin wax; ¾ ounce microsoft additive; wax paint in a color of your choice — gold is nice; and a zest peeler (the kitchen tool used to remove peel from lemons and oranges).

Before starting this project, decide what colors you want to combine. What you are going to do is use the zester to create little fine ridges in the overdipped candle; then, you are going to rub the wax paint into the ridges, giving a two-color textured effect.

There are any number of effective color combinations for this technique — gold paint over an ivory candle; silver paint over a black candle; purple paint over a turquoise candle; blue over white; green over blue; orange over yellow; and so on.

First, overdip the finished candle in the color you have chosen, three times. Then plunge it into cold water for a moment. Remove the candle and let the wax cool a little, so that it is still warm to the touch. Pressing the zester firmly against the candle, draw it downward from top to bottom, which will score the wax in fine lines. Repeat until you have made score lines all around the candle.

Allow the candle to dry. Then, using your finger dipped into the paint, gently rub the paint onto the raised lines on one half of the candle, while you hold the other side. Let the paint dry and then do the other half. Let it dry completely before lighting.

You need not limit yourself to one color on the outer surface of the candle. You can use the same technique to make a candle of many colors. Just dip a finger into one pot of paint and rub on the color down a length, an inch or more wide. Do the same with a second color, a third, a fourth. Remember, however, to do only one side of the candle at a time so that you can hold the other half in your hand, or you will get a smeared mess.