Add color and light to any room with a candle made from a liquor bottle

Many people collect liquor bottles -- and for good reason. They come in myriad colors that when displayed in a window catch the sun and produce eye-catching rays. Another way to make use of the glass' color is to create a candle out of the bottom half of the bottle.

You need specialized equipment for this craft: a bottle cutter and a wax melter. In a pinch, in lieu of a melter, melt wax in a pot over a stove burner, but make sure to thoroughly clean the pot after using it. If you can't find a bottle cutter, you can freehand with a scorer purchased from a hardware store -- but this is more dangerous than using a cutter designed to hold bottles.

Materials
- Round, colored glass bottle
- Heavy-duty work gloves
- Glass-bottle cutter
- 2 liters of boiling water
- 2 large metal bowls
- Ice cubes
- Sanding pad
- Liquid gold leaf
- 1/2-inch bristle paintbrush
- Wax beads or flakes
- Wax melter
- Lavender essential oil
- Wick centering device
- Wick
- Scissors

1. Put on work gloves. Place the bottle on the bottle cutter so at least 4 inches of the bottom get scored. Remove the bottle when it has been scored through. Skip steps 3 and 4 if the bottom already has separated from the rest.

2. Pour the ice and some water into one of the bowls.

3. Hold the bottle at an angle in the other empty bowl. Pour boiling water over the score mark; turn the bottle as you go. Rotate twice.

4. Place the bottle at an angle in the ice water. Rotate three times. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until the bottom of the bottle detaches.

5. Recycle or discard the top of the bottle. Sand the rim of the bottom part.

6. Apply gold leaf to the top of and just below the rim so it looks like dripping gold water. Let it dry.

7. Melt the wax beads or flakes. Add a few drops of essential oil, and more if desired.

8. Place the centering device over the glass and feed the wick through until it touches the bottom. Carefully pour in the wax. Let the wax harden before trimming the wick and using the candle.