Stenciling is perhaps the easiest way to decorate a plain pillar or block candle to give it an elegant, interesting finish. Stenciling utilizes only the stencil and the paint, requiring no other tools but your brush. Stencils can be purchased in a variety of designs — usually from stores that sell wallpaper and interior decorating supplies. Or, you can make your own stencils.

Making Stencils

Remember how you learned to cut out a snowflake in first grade? You folded a piece of paper a few times and snipped here and there. Then, when you unfolded it you were astonished at the snowflake you had created. Making stencils is the same, only in reverse. You cut out a pattern from the paper using the same technique as with the snowflake. When making your own stencils, remember to use a heavy enough paper to wrap around the candle tightly. You don't want the paint to seep through the stencil or slip underneath the template.

For example, first fold a sheet of 8½″ × 11″ typing paper in half across the short length. Next, snip three long cuts into the fold. Then, refold the paper about ½″ from the cuts and make a few wedge-shaped snips in that fold. When you open it, you will have a simple pattern of leaves and diamond shapes. You can expand on this idea indefinitely and make shapes as intricate as you like.

Or, you can draw a pattern on the paper (or trace one from a picture) and cut it out with an Exacto knife. Using lace doilies or pieces of lace is yet another of the many options.

Once you have your stencil and your candle ready to go, wrap the stencil around the candle carefully and either tape it tightly or hold it with one hand, depending on the shape of the stencil. You might work better with both hands free to secure the candle and paint without worrying about the stencil slipping loose.

When you have your stencil securely in place, either brush or rub the paint into the open spaces. Usually the surface will be done with one coat, depending on the type of paint you are using.

If you want a buildup of paint — such as with a silver or gold decoration — then you must apply several coats. Some paints are naturally thick and pasty, while others are thinner. For a flowing effect — such as calligraphy — use thinner paint. For a dimensional effect, use thicker paint.

A Neat Trick

You can create a stenciled effect without a stencil! This is a very easy technique for painting a design on the surface of a finished candle. Its only drawback is that you are limited to geometrical shapes, but you can make many beautiful designs with them. The secret? Masking tape!

Use artist's masking tape — the kind that peels off easily, leaving no marks. Simply put tape on your candle, paint or spray-paint (you don't have to bother about being neat or staying within the lines, as with a stencil). Peel off the tape and — bingo! You have a really neat design.

You can use this easy technique to create stripes, either vertical or horizontal. The horizontal stripes will give the effect of a layered poured candle — but with much less effort.

For example, you could make a stunning black and white striped candle by using a white base candle (pillar or block) and black paint. First, wrap the masking tape around the candle carefully to make as many stripes of whatever width you like. Then, spray the candle black. When you peel off the tape after the paint dries, you will have a bold design. Of course, you can do this with any colors, bright or pastel. This is a great way to experiment with using color without much effort or expense. And, if you don't like the result, just scrape the paint off and remelt the candle for another use.

In addition to making horizontal and vertical stripes with the masking tape method, you can lay the tape in such a way that only tiny spaces are left — you can make squares, diamonds, triangles, and other geometric shapes just by the way you place the tape. For a checkered effect, first make vertical stripes and then make horizontal stripes. This will give you small squares that will result in a checkered design. You can even paint over more than once using tape. Once again, use your imagination and experiment! You'll be surprised at what creative results you can achieve on a plain candle's surface.