For this issue of Dreams Alive I am making a Seashell Candle. This craft is good to light up your outdoor tables in the cool summer evenings or to use as decorations in your bathrooms. It also makes a great gift for your parents or friends or just anyone! If this summer you vacation at a beach and find shells, make a few into candles! Have fun making this craft. Just don't forget to blow it out!

Have a great summer,
Kaitlyn

Items you will need:

1. Seashell
2. Tea Lights
3. Glass Measuring cup
4. Sand
5. Paraffin Wax
6. Knife
7. Cutting Board
8. Clay Pot Plant Dish (big enough to lay your shell in)

(For close-up views of images below, just click the pictures.)

1. Wash the seashell carefully to get off all sand or ocean debris. Dry it thoroughly.

2. Put sand in the Clay pot Plant Dish. Put the Shell on top of the sand. (this is optional. It just is a pretty way to display your candle.

3. Remove the wick from one of the Tea Lights.

4. Place the wick in the center of the shell.

5. Cut a ˝ of a slab of paraffin wax into small cubes. (Ask a parent to do the cutting as this will require the use of a sharp knife)

6. Place the cubes into a glass-measuring cup. Should fill about ˝ cup.

7. Again this step and the next will require the help of an adult. Microwave the cubes for approximately 3 minutes. The wax must be completely melted into clear liquid so in some microwaves this may take a little more time. The Measuring cup will be scalding hot when this process is complete so use a hot mitt to remove the cup from the microwave.

8. Pour the melted paraffin into the shell slowly so as not to disturb the wick. If it does move, place it back, but beware of the hot wax.

9. Let this cool at least 15 minutes. The wax will be white when it finishes drying.

10. Now you have a beautiful shell candle. Wasn't that easy and isn't it beautiful!

11. Look how beautful this candle looks in my bathroom.