Striped Chocolate Cherry Valentine Candles

My family thought that these striped chocolate cherry candles smelled divine when they came home. They were disappointed when they realized I wasn’t actually baking any sweets though!

For this project I used about a half pound (230 g) of premixed container soy wax. Then I split that in half so that I could add different scents and colors to each.

Half a chip of brown and red candle dye went into each once I took the soy wax off the burner. Then, I added the candle fragrance. Next time I’ll probably go heavier on the brown dye. Chocolate fudge and cherry seemed to suit Valentine’s Day, so I used about a teaspoon of each scent.

This soy wax doesn’t need to be heated above 150 F (65 degrees Celsius) and it’s so much easier to clean than paraffin wax. Other benefits are that it sets fast and holds more fragrance. I only had to wait for about twenty minutes for it to set enough so that I could pour the second color to create the candle stripes. In keeping with the Valentine’s Day theme, I finished by gluing a red heart rhinestone to the candle holder.

Hubcap Creatures is the creative project of British sculptor Ptolemy Elrington, who has transformed discarded hubcaps into captivating sculptures of wildlife. Operating from Brighton, Elrington has been crafting these unique pieces since the late 1990s, turning everyday automotive debris into stunning representations of animals from the natural world.

The artistic process behind Elrington’s sculptures is centered around recycling and upcycling. The hubcaps he uses are typically found on the side of the road and often show signs of wear, including scratches and dents. Elrington believes that these imperfections add character and depth to his creatures, making each piece truly one of a kind.

His work spans a wide range of animals, including foxes, fish, and birds, with each sculpture thoughtfully crafted to showcase the unique features of the materials. The brand logos, grooves, and markings found on the hubcaps often contribute to the creature’s expression and structure, giving them a distinct, textured look.

Elrington’s Hubcap Creatures have been showcased in various exhibitions, both in the UK and internationally. His innovative approach has gained recognition for its creativity and environmental awareness, demonstrating how discarded materials can be transformed into meaningful art.

For art enthusiasts or collectors, Elrington offers a mix of available sculptures and custom commissions, allowing individuals to bring home a piece of this upcycled art. Hubcap Creatures stands as a brilliant example of how creativity can breathe new life into the most unlikely of materials, all while promoting sustainability.

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