Candle magic is very interesting but also wide-ranging as far as applications. I use glass holders myself. I would not recommend wooden bases for obvious reasons.

Same thing for plastic. Metal ones can be used but with extreme caution because metal transfers heat and...
You could also use a flat stone. Just melt a little wax, drip it on the stone, then set the candle in the hot wax and let it cool and harden to hold it in place. Additional items for candle magic are also wide-ranging and can involve herbs, stones, even household objects like nails and such. Again, it just depends on the application. Candle color also plays an important role. Here's a quick reference:
Red: Health, Strength, Physical energy, Sex, Passion, Courage, Protection.
Pink: Love, Friendship, Compassion, Relaxation.
Orange: General attraction, Energy.
Yellow: Intellect, Confidence, Divination, Communication, Eloquence, Travel, Movement.
Green: Money, Prosperity, Employment, Fertility, Healing, Growth.
Blue: Healing, Peace, Psychism, Patience, Happiness.
Purple: Power, Healing, Severe disease, Spirituality, Meditation, Religion.
White: Protection, Purification, substitute for all others.
Black: Banishing negativity, Absorbing negativity, Symbolizes Outer Space and the Universe.
Brown: Animals.
For the positive feeling application you indicated I would use a Blue candle for Happiness, a Yellow one for Confidence, etc. It just depends on the exact positive feeling your looking for. Here's a simple ritual if you're looking for just a general positive feeling:
You'll need:
1) A White taper candle or one of the colors mentioned above.
2) A piece of White (or whatever the candle color is) pure cotton thread or string about one foot in length.
3) Wooden matches.
Take the candle in both hands and hold it upright in front of you using your palms.
Visualize the New You; transformed and fully enjoying the positive feelings that are now present inside you.
Say a short chant or simple words describing your change. Something like: "I will embrace The Light and no longer dwell on negative feelings." Say it with conviction and feeling.
Push that power and conviction into the candle when you say it.
Place the candle in the holder.
Pick up the string and, holding both ends in your fingers, then slowly pull it tight while
intensifying your visualization for positive change. Then wrap the string once around the middle of the candle and tie it off with a simple knot, saying:
"The knot is bound
The change is found."
Wrap the ends of the string around the candle a second time and tie again, repeating the same verse.
Repeat the wraps and tie-offs until the string is nearly all wrapped around the candle.
Light the candle with a wooden match. Let it burn down. The wax will engulf the string and then the flame will ignite it so make sure it is on a fire-proof surface!
Repeat this every day for two weeks or until the change has occurred. It helps if you can continue to visualize your change as the candle burns down and the string is consumed.
There's another pretty interesting candle ritual to bring Love but I won't go into right now. Try the Positive Change one first if you like. If your still interested in the Love one let me know and I'll post it for you. (or feel free to PM me.) Materials you would need for the Love one:
One Pink votive candle and candle holder.
One three inch square piece of paper.
One Cinnamon Stick.
A small tile, trivet, or other heat-proof surface upon which you can perform and work parts of the ritual.
Pink pure cotton thread or string of about six inches in length.
Wooden matches.
Hope this helped some! Blessings to you along your new path!
One Walker.

We have seen what Power does.
We have seen what Power costs.
One is never equal to the other.