Kid's Chanukah Candle Box

Amy Koranek and Iris Weiss

Learn to cover an empty Chanukah candle box with clay making it a beautiful accent piece for your home during the holidays.

Getting Started

Preheat oven to 275 °F. Test temperature with oven thermometer for perfectly cured clay. Condition all clay by kneading until it’s soft and smooth or running it through the Clay Conditioning Machine for several passes on the widest setting. Fold the clay in half after each pass and insert the fold side into the rollers first.

Step 1

Empty the box and set the candles aside. Measure 3" up from the bottom of the box all the way around and mark it with a permanent marker.

Step 2

Cut off the area at the top of the box so that the box is only 3" tall. Squirt white craft glue on a side of the box. Spread the glue with your finger in an even layer. Repeat on each side of the box. Allow the glue to dry completely. Spread glue on the bottom of the box as well, and allow it to dry completely.

Step 3

After conditioning the Blue Pearl very well, roll it out into a thin sheet - a little less than 1/8" thick. Cut the sheet into the following dimensions: Dimensions: 3" X 3-1/8" - 2 pieces 3" X 1-1/8" - 2 pieces Press the pieces into place on the box front, back, and two sides. Smooth any air bubbles out from underneath the pieces. The dried glue will help adhere the clay to the box. NOTE: If the above mentioned dimensions do not match the size of your box, lay your box on the sheet of clay and trim to fit.

Step 4

Stand the candle box up on the remaining Pearl Blue clay. Trim a piece that will fit the bottom of the box. With your finger, gently rub the seams together making sure the seams are closed and that the sides are connected well.

Step 5

Score a thin line across the box 1-1/4" down from the top. This line will be the trim line for the top of the Menorrah. Roll Zinc Yellow clay into a long thin coil - about 3/16" thick. Press a line of Zinc Yellow from the bottom middle of the box up and trim at the line. Starting at the bottom of the Zinc Yellow coil, work an arch of Zinc Yellow upward and trim at the line. Repeat on the opposite side.

Step 6

Repeat until you have made four arches on each side with the Zinc Yellow coil. Each arch should get smaller as you work toward the middle. Make nine small balls and flatten them into place at the top of each candle holder.

Step 7

Roll White into a coil about 3/16" thick. Cut eight 3/4" long pieces and one piece 1" long. Press the longer piece into the middle and four shorter pieces on each side.

Step 8

Roll nine Zinc Yellow teardrops about 1/4". As you press them into place at the top of each candle, pinch the top to look like a flame.

Step 9

If you like, you can decorate the sides and the back with the extra clay. If the sides of the box have been pushed inward, you can pack the inside of the box with tissue paper to prop the sides back up.

Step 10

Bake the box at 275º for 15 minutes. Allow to cool completely before handling.