For birthdays and parties and occasions of all sorts, my daughters treasure a homemade cake of exactly their favorite flavor, and handmade candles on top. We love the sweet scent of burning beeswax, and I especially love the fact that I made their special candles by hand of natural ingredients.

Let me make your special candles, too! Each Waldorf ring candle is approximately 4" tall by 1/2" wide. These candles fit into the standard-sized candleholders of Waldorf rings such as this one: http://www.novanatural.com/natural-home/birthday/16-hole-birthday-ring (please double-check the diameter of your own candleholders in your own Waldorf ring).

Please choose the color of your own Waldorf ring candle by selecting from the Variations. If you'd like to order a different number of candles or request a color that isn't listed, please start a Conversation. Differences in computer screens mean that the color you see may not exactly match the color you receive. Please note that the Natural color is undyed beeswax, so slight variations in tone are to be expected.

Each candle has an approximate burning time of 35 minutes, which makes them perfect as birthday candles and for all the little ceremonies and gatherings that young lives require. After a child has blown out her birthday candles, I enjoy carefully saving them until the next occasion--I love the thought that the same candles add continuity to our family's varied celebrations.

Beeswax is natural, and sweet-smelling, and beautifully colorful, and so you'll find that your little ones will also play happily with their clean, new, unlit candles, incorporating them into all their imaginative games.

Love the candles, but want a rainbow set? I also craft rainbow birthday candles (http://www.etsy.com/listing/92053294/rainbow-beeswax-birthday-candles-set-of) and teeny-tiny rainbow fairy candles (http://www.etsy.com/listing/71636371/rainbow-rolled-beeswax-fairy-candles-set).

Want to know what else we do with melted wax and fire? Check out our encaustic art tutorial at http://craftknife.blogspot.com/2011/02/crayola-crayon-encaustic-art.html. It's homeschooling in science AND art!

Interested in other natural playthings? Check out my entire section on natural playthings at http://www.etsy.com/shop/pumpkinbear?section_id=8115399

Love beeswax in all its crafty forms? Check out my pinboard on beeswax crafts at http://pinterest.com/pumpkinbear/beeswax-and-bees-not-birds/

Natural playthings are a child's birthright. But beautiful, imaginative, purposeful things? Well, we all deserve those.

I use primarily upcycled and repurposed materials for shipping. Your packing slip will almost definitely be printed on the back of some of my kids' schoolwork, and your business card will always be stamped onto some interesting something that wasn't originally a business card. I often rebuild old cardboard boxes and re-use bubble wrap and other packing supplies to lessen both the environmental impact that you and I have AND the money that I spend on mailing materials! If you have allergies or sensitivities, however, and need me to use brand-new shipping supplies, please just let me know in the Special Instructions section, and I'll use a new box or envelope for your shipping and new crumpled white paper for your packing.

Shipping charges are my best estimates. If I overcharge your shipping by more than a dollar, I'll refund the excess.

Want your item gift-wrapped and sent directly to your recipient? No problem! Just mark it as a gift when you order, and I'll make it happen.

For more on my handmade life, check out my blog at http://http://www.craftknife.blogspot.com/