Tea Cup Candles ~ Mother's Day Gift

Whenever I give someone a handmade gift, I always deal with a little fear that the receiver will think I'm just cheap.  Now, I don't want to sound conceited, but I am good at making things, and I even have a college degree in it.  Of course, that doesn't mean much when someone opens a box from me and says, "Oh, great...you made this.  What is it made out of, did you say trash?  Gee...thanks, I feel so....special."

If I ever give you a handmade gift, please do not feel that I don't find you worthy of a 'real' gift from the store.  It is, in fact, the opposite.  I took time to create something special just for you.  I want to share my love of recycling and creating with you.  Anyone could run to Walmart and buy you a mass produced oven mitt made in China for $2.50, but I think you're worth more than that.

That being said, lets talk about Mother's Day.

I found a tutorial from Martha Stewart on Pinterest for making candles in old tea cups.  I was drawn to the idea as a Mother's Day gift because the only tea parties I've ever attended were with my Mom, at our dining room table when I was six.  The very elite guest list included my Mom, various stuffed animals and the cat. The 'tea' was usually apple juice and everything was served from my three foot tall Little Tikes kitchen.

A few months ago, I started searching the Goodwill Outlet Center for mismatched cups from children's tea sets. I also collected a few candle stubs, a pan, and even some unused candle wicks.   I followed Martha's directions and created a set of beautiful handmade, recycled candles to be wrapped up and given as gifts with the vintage card match boxes I made and posted about a few days ago.

They're so cute and little (maybe this would be the real definition of 'tea candles').

Thanks, Mom, for teaching me how to be thrifty, innovative, and crafty.  

You are wonderful! Happy Mother's Day!