Last Updated on January 8, 2022
I have to admit, 100% of the time, if you were to place two identical items in front of me, one having spectacular packaging and the other with horrible type and all the crazy colors of a fruit bowl, I’d pick the pretty packaging hands down. Even if it was more money, I’d buy the pretty packaging. Materialistic, maybe? Vain, maybe? I’d like to think hope chalk it up to good taste. But one this is for sure, it’s the graphic designer in me. I crush on good typography and am constantly judging magazines and billboards for their kerning. It’s in my blood.
The other day I was leafing through my latest HGTV magazine and saw this cool article about covering candles that had sad packaging with pretty wrapping paper. Well, that’s kinda fun! The photos sparked memories of a conversation I had with my former hairdresser Charles Lord. (A phenomenal hairdresser with a lot of quirks and sass BTDubs, anyhoo.) He took the product he used in the salon and plastered it with his logo. That’s fun too!
Table of Contents
DIY Candle Packaging Free Printable PDF Below
Kyla, why are you telling me all of this. Well, I gave myself a challenge. Find inexpensive candles that smell yummy, and give them a makeover. The rule was to stay under $10 total. Don’t look at the packaging. Only pay attention to the scent. Challenge accepted. I bought one from Fresh Market for under $2 and two from Target, one on clearance under $6 and the other for $2. Success.
Don’t crinkle your nose at me! I know they aren’t pretty. That’s the point. This is going to be awesome. I put my graphic design skills to the test and created a packaging design of my own. A look I loved with all my heart. Something I’d buy just for the label that would look super pretty on a coffee table resting on a tray in a sweet little cottage. And most importantly, something I can share with you guys! Boom! What do ya think? Are you freaking out?
OMG, I love how they turned out! So, you may be asking yourself, well, ya, those are cool, but now I can pretty up my own candles lady? Ask and you shall receive!
WHAT YOU NEED:
One 8-1/2″ X 11″ Avery sheet (no die-cuts, you want the full sheet)
T-Square
Ruler
X-Acto knife (or use a Fiskars SureCut Paper Trimmer)
Grab a couple of inexpensive candles at the drugstore. Chances are you may even have a few at your house if you’re lucky.
Cutting mat
Pencil
Goo Gone (maybe)
Instructions On How To DIY Candle Packaging
1. Remove the tacky labels from your candles. You may need to soak them a bit or use Goo Gone.
2. You can download the free printable PDF here to pretty up those old candles.
3. Right-click to save to your desktop or downloads folder.
4. Open the file and print out the PDF on your Avery paper. There are purposefully no guides so you can decide what looks best on your candle, big or small, more white space, less white space, square, diamond, or triangle. Be sure to adjust your print settings for label printing.
5. Use the T-square and pencil to lightly mark where you want to cut.
6. Grab your X-Acto and ruler to cut along the markings.
7. Give it a test to make sure you like the size and placement.
8. Peel the backer off the Avery paper and secure the label to the candle glass
9. Now find a pretty place for this new lovely and go light that sucka!
If you like these designs, be sure to check out my other printables HERE and HERE!
More Easy DIY Home Decor Below
DIY Marble Dipped Mugs With Nail Polish – a cheap gift-giving idea
Ashley
ummm…i know what i’m giving people for the holidays now!
kyla
Ashleyhahahahaha, oh ashley! you’re one of my favorites =P
Cristina@Remodelando la Casa
I love how you transform them! They now look like they were bought at a high end store!
kyla
Cristina@Remodelando la CasaThanks Christina! And thanks for stopping by! I love all the projects on your blog. Such cool stuff! I’ve seen your projects on a few link ups now =) I seem to gravitate towards them.
Zakkiya Hamza
This one is so so clever. Makes it look all classy and expensive 😉
kyla
Zakkiya HamzaThanks Zakkiya! And thanks for stopping by.
Colleen Pastoor
I love these! Molly from Almost Makes Perfect did something quite a while back that was similar and I fell in love with the idea… I’ve been dying to make my own version- you did such a good job!
kyla
Colleen PastoorThanks so much and thanks for visiting!
Akamatra
I love how you took them for blah to brilliand! Thanks for sharing!
JaneEllen
Thanks so much for great replacement labels to put on candle jars. Love this look and very swanky. I’ve never bought any of those expensive candles (used to buy candles from Pier 1 on good sales years ago) as I’m too cheap to spend that kind of money even if I had it which I sure don’t, lol. I’ll enjoy these thanks to you. Appreciate your generosity of your time and talents. Happy Fall
kyla
JaneEllenHappy Fall right back at ya JaneEllen! Glad you stopped by and I’m so happy to hear you like the printables! If you make them, you’ll have to upload a picture of them to my Facebook. I’d love to see how they turned out!
laura irion
I made these and here’s the skinny- I found the labels at Hobby Lobby. A worker had to walk me to them (and by walk me to them I mean I followed her while she circled the store befuddled for 5 minutes – but she found them! Yay!) I used the jpeg and printed to the ol’ Epson (you know, the one you recommended…love it!) I found my candles at Target (not on clearance, frowny face) for $10 and $5 and made sure they had perfectly straight cylindrical containers so the labels wouldn’t pucker. I used a straight line cutter to cut the labels out. They look *amazing*…so high end and classy. I absolutely love them. Thank you for doing this and I can’t wait for more…totally requesting soap labels and sugar scrub labels next. You rock!
kyla
laura irionSo glad to hear it was easy to find the labels. I went to Target, Michaels and Office Max. No one had the full sheets. AAAHHHHHHHHH Hobby Lobby! I so wish there was one closer to my home! So happy you like the finished product as well! I was pretty please and have them sitting about the house. I think we can do a soap label…and for sure we can do a scrub. Maybe we can do that one for the holidays! Presents for everyone!
Christie
This is such a cute idea! I love it! I sometimes hate the appearance of candle labels, but these are great. I will be doing this!
kyla
ChristieAwesome! Post a picture of your final product to my Facebook page! I’d love to see how they turn out!
Sherry
That is a fun idea!
Julie
Clever, easy – my kind of project. Wouldn’t these be great personalised as a house warming gift, or wedding favour> Ooo lovely, pinning so I don’t forget!
kyla
JulieThanks for stopping by Julie!
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Hi, I was wondering if you’d be willing to share what program you used to create the designs? I would love to try making my own designs. Thanks!
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