Bloody Candles: How to Make Easy Halloween Candles

Bloody candles made with red crayons, a spooky DIY Halloween candle with realistic dripping blood wax

DIY bloody candles made with red crayons for Halloween. (Image credit: DIY JOY)

Have you seen these on Instagram and wondered how to make bloody candles for your Halloween decorating? I think these bloody candles are the easiest, cheapest Halloween decoration you can make, and all you need is a plain white pillar candle and a handful of red crayons. You melt the crayons over the flame and let the wax drip down the sides, and just like that you have creepy, realistic blood drips that look like they cost a fortune. I

f you love decorating for Halloween or you are throwing a party and do not know where to start, this spooky candle is the project to try first. Finding Halloween decorations that cost almost nothing is a total win, and if you already have a few plain pillar candles sitting around, you are one step closer to your own custom, gothic decor. If you have some broken or unwanted red crayons in your kid’s stash, even better.

DIY bloody candle for Halloween with red crayon blood drips running down a white pillar candle — DIY bloody candles made with red crayons for spooky Halloween decor. (Image credit: DIY JOY)

This DIY bloody candle looks exactly like real dripping blood, and you get the whole realistic effect using only red crayons. That is right, just ordinary crayons! If you have a stash of old, peeled ones or even broken pieces floating around the bottom of the art bin, those work perfectly as long as you can safely hold them. It is such a nifty, budget-friendly way to finally use up leftover crayon pieces instead of throwing them away.

Close up of a bloody candle showing realistic red wax blood drips made from melted crayons

Craft Supplies Needed:
How to Make Bloody Candles
FAQs
Have you seen our TikTok & Instagram yet?
Must-Try Crafts:

Here’s another cute fall craft idea to try:

Halloween Crafts: Easy Origami Flapping Bat

Spooky bloody candles grouped together as easy Halloween decor with dripping red crayon wax

The melting technique is shockingly easy, completely beginner-friendly, and you will honestly have so much fun watching the wax drip down the sides. It creates the ultimate last-minute, gothic centerpiece for your spooky setup without the hassle of messy fake blood or expensive props. If you want more quick ideas, these pair perfectly with our last-minute Halloween decor. So, if you are ready to jump right into your very first Halloween project of the season, grab a lighter and check out the straightforward step-by-step instructions below to give this easy DIY a try!

Craft Supplies Needed:

Candles
Crayons
Parchment paper, wax paper, or newspaper

Supplies to make bloody candles: white pillar candles, red crayons, and parchment paper

SHOP THESE SUPPLIES

How to Make Bloody Candles

Step 1: Protect Your Surface and Light the Candle

Crumple up a piece of parchment paper, wax paper, or even old newspaper. Honestly, any scrap paper you have on hand will do! Flatten it out over your work surface to help catch any messy red wax drips later on. Place your plain candle right in the center of the paper and go ahead and light the wick.

Step 1 to make bloody candles, lighting a white pillar candle set on parchment paper

Step 2: Melt the Crayon and Drip the Wax

Grab a red crayon and peel off all the paper labels. Once it is completely bare, carefully hold the tip of the crayon directly over the candle flame. You have to be very careful here because it will melt fast! As soon as it starts melting, quickly move the crayon to the top edge of your candle to let that red wax drip naturally down the sides. Keep doing this all the way around until you have covered the entire edge of the candle in realistic drips.

Note: It can definitely help to do a quick practice run on a spare candle with an extra crayon first, just so you can get the hang of how the wax flows!

Step 2 to make bloody candles, melting a red crayon over the flame to drip blood colored wax

Step 3: Display and Light Your Spooky Candle

Once the red wax has completely cooled and hardened, your bloody candle is ready to go! Arrange it alongside your other creepy Halloween decorations, like fake spider webs, skulls, or vintage candle holders, and light the wick to set the perfect spooky mood for your party.

Step 3, a finished bloody candle with hardened red crayon blood drips ready for Halloween

FAQs

How do you make bloody candles with crayons?

Set a plain white pillar candle on scrap paper and light the wick. Hold a peeled red crayon over the flame until it melts, then move it to the top edge of the candle so the wax drips down like blood. Work your way around the candle until you have realistic red drips.

What kind of crayons work best for blood candles?

Any ordinary red crayons work great. A mix of dark red and bright red gives the most realistic blood color, and old, broken, or peeled crayons from the bottom of the craft bin are perfect for these bloody candles.

Are crayon bloody candles safe to burn?

The crayon wax only coats the outside of the candle for decoration, so bloody candles are best used as spooky decor. If you do light one, keep it on a heat-safe holder and never leave a burning candle unattended.

How long does it take to make a bloody candle?

Most bloody candles take about ten to fifteen minutes. The melting goes quickly, and you just need to let the red crayon wax cool and harden before you display your spooky Halloween candle.

Have you seen our TikTok & Instagram yet?

Our viral videos are super popular and fun to watch. Follow us on TikTok and Instagram to catch this bloody candle tutorial and all of our newest crafts as soon as they go up. Links below for all our socials.