Scraping Up Spilled Candle Wax
A much more effective way is to place a paper towel over the wax and run an iron over it. It melts the wax, which is absorbed by the paper towel. Scraping will often leave some residue, though using a card would minimize that.
Needles as Alternative to Nails
Hmm. Thats interesting. I might put some sticky tack or an eraser on the end so I can see it and it doesnt get lost in the wall.