Learn how to make unique custom packing tape labels to create these beautiful homemade candles on the cheap. A great Christmas gift you can make for everyone on your list.

Stacked Christmas candles with packing tape labels containing the words Noel and Joy.

This is a fun hack that I have been dying to try for a long time. You create an image on your computer, print it out and cover it with clear packing tape. Place it in water. Remove the paper and let the tape dry and you are left with a custom label for a variety of uses.

I used this technique to make cute holiday labels for candles that I made with dollar store glass candleholders. I love the way they turned out.

Noel candle with faux red berries and pine cones.

How to Make a Packing Tape Label

Supplies

laser jet printer
ordinary printer paper
heavy duty packing tape wide enough to fit your vase or other items

Create a graphic on your computer. (feel free to use my graphics below)
Print it out and cut it down to size. (inkjet printers work but laser printers are better)
Cover the image with heavy-duty clear packing tape.

Rubbing the packing tape onto the paper graphic.

Use a ruler, credit card or other flat edge all over to press out any bubbles.

Set the label in a bowl of warm water for 10-20 minutes.

Finger rubbing away paper backing on the packing tape label.

Remove the label from the water and start to rub off the paper with your finger. Continue dipping it into the water and gently rubbing off all the paper.

Packing tape labels drying on parchment paper.

Then set the labels on waxed paper to dry with the original sticky side up.

Once the label is dry the stickiness should be back and you can place it on the candleholder. Use a straight edge to rub out any bubbles or imperfections.

Tips for Making Packing Tape Labels

Use a laser printer or copier. Inkjet printers tended to rub off some with removing the paper.
Use a bold font. It just worked better. I tried a thin font and it just didn't look as good.
Use heavy-duty packing tape. I tried it with old tape we had in the house and it had too many imperfections such as lines and bubbles.
When removing the paper hold the label up to the light so that you can see any additional paper residue that was left behind. If so, set it back in the water for a minute then take it out and remove any excess.

Several glass candleholders with custom packing tape labels.

How cute are these!

Free Printable

Feel free to print out this pdf of both Noel and Joy graphics for your own use.

Square glass candleholders with Joy and Noel wreath packing tape labels.

Making Candles

These nice square candleholders were purchased at Dollar Tree. You could simply add votives or small pillars inside but I wanted to make scented candles. I made these candles much like the Antique Teacup candles from last year.

I used 5 pounds of soy wax to fill 8 candleholders. The fragrance oils came from Candle Science. Half of them are the same fragrance I used last year called "Christmas Hearth" and the other half are "Cranberry Apple Marmalade." Both were in 4 oz bottles and made the best smelling candles.

A candle with the word Joy in a wreath on front surrounded by faux greenery and red berries.

I'm thrilled with the way these candles turned out. Isn't this packing tape a great hack? Of course, you don't need to make candles. You can label drinking glasses or use them for organizing supplies. So many possibilities. However, I have a lot of candle lovers on my list, so for me making candles was a no-brainer.