Free Candle Craft Projects!
Easy Candle Making
Candle making is messy, but fun. Use drop cloths or newspapers to catch
drips and splatters and an apron to protect your clothes. You will need a
stick or wooden spoon for stirring the wax and tin cans or a double boiler
for melting the wax. Cardboard box lids or something with a lip to catch
the drippings should be placed under the molds.
Materials:
Paraffin wax.
Stearine
Used candle pieces
Wax crayons or commercial dye for color
Candle wicks.
Cover everything with newspapers or drop cloths to catch spilled wax.
If any wax drips, it can be scraped up and reused. However, hot wax will
stain and burn the floor and counters if splattered.
NEVER melt wax directly on the stove, always put it in a tin can placed
in a pan of hot water or use a double boiler. Melting wax in a pan
directly over a flame or on the electric element can cause a fire.
DO NOT let temperature of wax go over 300 F. Be very careful not to
drip water into the hot wax. It will cause the wax to EXPLODE and cause
serious burns, I know this from first hand experience.
ALWAYS have something available to put out a possible fire. A fire
extinguisher or a box of salt will do the job.
Clean utensils in boiling water; DO NOT pour this water down the drain,
wax will clog the sink.
Use a separate can for each color. Discarded crayons are great for
coloring wax. One crayon will color about one quart of wax. Just keep
adding crayons until the shade and darkness is right. Make the color a
little darker then you want because when it dries it will be lighter. You
can also melt pieces of old candle.
Break the candle in two to remove the used wick.
Two tablespoons of stearine or stearic acid added to a quart of melted
wax makes a candle that is more opaque, more durable, and intensifies the
color. Buy wicking. Don't use ordinary string.
Use milk cartons as molds. Cut the lid off the carton. Cut notches on
two opposite sides of the carton. Tie a wick to the middle of a pencil tie
a penny to the other end of the wick place penny in the bottom of the
carton in the middle and lay the pencil crosswise in the notches on the
top of the carton. Pour wax, let set and peel off the cardboard. Frozen
juice containers work well too
Candle Tips
Refrigerate candles before burning so they will burn more slowly and
evenly. Wrap in plastic to prevent the wick from absorbing moisture.
Safety First - Never leave a burning candle unattended.
Keep the wick trimmed to 1/4 inch or less to prevent smoking.
Rotate your candles occasionally to ensure an even melt and try to
avoid obvious drafts.
Keep candles out of direct sunlight to prevent fading.
Votive holders will clean easily if you add 1/8" of water to the
glass before inserting the candle.
Burn at least one hour for each inch in diameter. The flame needs time
to soften and melt the wax on the outer edge otherwise they will burn
right down the middle.
Candles and centerpieces should be about two inches below eye level of
your seated guest.
Candle Eggs
Supplies:
Eggs (not hard boiled)
Sharp Nail
Old Candles or Paraffin Wax
Wicks
Hollow out several eggs by gently poking a small hole in one end of each
egg. Rinse clean and set the eggshell in the egg carton. Melt some old
candles or paraffin wax and wax coloring in a double boiler over low heat.
Place a funnel over the opening of the egg and carefully pour wax into the
hollow eggshell in the carton. When the eggshell is full, insert a wired
wick into the egg, centering it with a piece of tape for support. Allow
the wax to cool and harden, then break off the shell and buff the candle
with a soft rag. Heat the bottom end of the candle to soften, then press
on a flat surface to make it stand up. or use a candle holder. Variations:
You can use several different colors of wax, layering them. Let them cool
between colors. Add glitter or metallic confetti to make the egg sparkle.
Color the wax with old color crayons instead of buying wax coloring. BE
SURE THE EGG SHELL IS DRY BEFORE FILLING IT!
Candy Corn Candles
Materials
8 oz. gel candle medium
Small clean mason jar
½ cup candy corn (Plastic novelty eyeballs or wiggly eyes can also be
used for a different look)
Black and Orange Spool-o-ribbon
Instructions
Melt candle gel in a large microwaveable dish at 30 second intervals until
completely melted.
Slowly pour melted wax into mold. Allow to set for 1 minute.
Push candy corn or eyeballs into candle using a chopstick or skewer.
Refill mold to fill in holes.
Tie Black and Orange ribbon around base of candle.
Stained Glass kaleidoscope Candle Project
Supplies:
Roly Poly votive cup (or other glassware)
Wick in high collar wick tab, appropriate for glass size
Hot glue gun (optional, but helpful)
Assorted gel squares (directions below)
Gel Wax (use Medium Density)
Liquid dye or color block (optional)
Scent (optional) *if using scent it MUST have a flashpoint of at least 170
degrees.
Melt 1 pound of gel, added liquid color dye. Add from 1/2 - 1 drop until
you get the amount of color want, but keep it as translucent as possible.
I poured into a 9 inch x 10 inch pan. You can also section off a larger
cookie sheet in half with a divider made of foil, to pour 2 different
colors at a time on one sheet. Create up to 4 or 5 different colors. I
used red, green, blue, yellow, and purple here. I do not scent my colored
cubes. You can also make cubes of just one color to match any room decor,
they look great even in just one color!
When gel is cooled, pull out of the pan and cut into long strip (as shown)
and then cut strips into small squares.
Hot glue * the wick tab into the center of a glass roly poly votive cup
(or your choice of glassware) using the appropriate wick size for your
container.
* Alternative method: dip wick tab into hot gel and place in center of
glass. The gel will cool and hold the tab in place.
Add the random mixed colored cubes to the glass surrounding the wick and
filling the glass to the top. Be careful to keep the wick centered and
straight as you add the cubes.
Heat clear gel to a think syrup, and add scent * if desired. Stir
thoroughly to mix scent into gel. Let the gel cool slightly, but still
"pourable" so that when pouring over the colored chunks they
won't melt together. The gel should surround the chunks to bind them
together. Pour the clear gel almost to the top of the glass.
* If using scent, make sure it has a flashpoint of at least 170 degrees,
and the proper amount for the density of your gel. cool slightly.
The stained glass, or kaleidoscope candle is finished! Keep your wick
trimmed to 1/8 - 1/4 inch each time you light it for many hour of
enjoyment.
ICE CANDLES
Lacy, intricate ice candles are full of holes where the ice melted as you
pour the hot wax into the mold.
Use a mold (paper milk cartons work well for these)
Wick the candle before pouring, but use a wick that you have entirely
coated in melted wax, otherwise it will get wet and never dry out, you
will have a hard time burning the candle. Alternatively, you can use a
taper candle
secured in the centre of your milk carton (sticking through the bottom and
sealed with putty from the outside). This will form a nice core for a
hole-y candle, and will burn well. (again dip the wick end that is exposed
in wax to keep it from getting wet).
You can try making the candle with different sized ice cubes. Small ones
leave small holes, etc.
Fill the mould with ice cubes, then pour the melted paraffin over these.
Let it harden then pour out the water.
Tear away your mould and enjoy your new candle.
SQUASH CANDLES
Cut the top off an acorn squash. Remove the seeds and innards. Use
this hollow squash for a candle mold.
You can thread a wick through the bottom of the squash using a long
upholstery needle or other large needle. Seal the bottom with a bit of
putty. Stand the squash in a large glass to keep it level. Pour your
melted paraffin, remembering to keep some in reserve to fill the shrink
well as the candle cools. You may have to do this several times, poking a
small hole along the wick to relieve any trapped air. When your candle is
fully hardened, cut away or peel away the squash shell and you are left
with a wonderfully shaped unique candle. The flesh of the squash will
leave a rustic patina on your candle as well. Flatten the base of your
candle by rubbing it in an old fry pan on low heat.
WATER BALLOON CANDLES
Fill a balloon with water to the desired size. Dip the balloon in wax,
make sure it is somewhat cool. Continue dipping the balloon until a hard
shell has formed around it. Carefully pop the balloon at the top, and
empty out the water. Pull the balloon out of the wax shell. Pour a small
amount of wax (a different color from the first) into the shell. Roll it
around in the shell, making sure all areas are covered, until the wax is
dry. Continue doing this with different colors until the shell is almost
filled. Insert the wick during the last fill. Once the candle is cool, use
a potato peeler or something similar to shave the top of the candle,
making it smooth and flat.
These candles turn out to look something like a geode. They are a little
time consuming, but the end result is fantastic!!
FRUIT CANDLES
Fruit candles are easy. Fill a jar with water and your favorite colorful
fruit slices. Put a floater candle on top, and enjoy! For a sparkling
clear candle, change the water daily. The fruit will last a couple of days
depending on the weather.
Ways to Attach Fruit, Herbs, Flowers Leaves, and Spices
Stick pressed flowers or leaves to the outside of a finished candle by
dipping the flower in uncolored melted wax and pressing it gently to the
surface of the candle. Then take the candle by the wick and dip the whole
thing into the melted wax once or twice to form a seal over the flowers,
but still let them show through the glow of the burning candle. The most
lightly colored or non coloued wax works best with this decorating idea.
The flowers can be seen better.
Ground cinnamon or other aromatic spices added to the melted wax are nice.
They tend to settle to the bottom of your candle a bit , but this looks
nice. Glitter and confetti can be used also.
You can add shells, for example, in different ways.
1. Take a finished candle and dig out pieces of wax from the surface of
it. Make the holes about the same size as your shell. Glue the shell into
the prepared hole and take a blow torch or hair dryer and pass it over the
area a few times to smooth the area by melting it a bit.
2. Use a pillar mold with a mould sleeve insert. A mould sleeve insert is
the same shape as the regular mold, but small in diameter. Place the
insert inside the mould. Fill the space between the insert and the regular
mould with you shells and pour your wax. The wax will fill up the entire
thing, inside and outside the walls of the insert. Tap the mould to get
the air bubbles out from between the shells.
3. Use a pillar mould and instead of a sleeve insert, use a pre made
pillar candle the same shape as your mould. Place it in the mold, and fill
the space with shells, pour a higher melt point wax over the shells
(higher mp than that of the pre made candle if possible).
For method 2 and 3 also cool the mold in a cool water bath after pouring
the candle
Sand Candles
Materials Needed:
Sand
container to hold water
wick
wax
scents
melting pot
thermometer
pencil.
1. Add sand to your container. Add water and stir. When it is moist and
packs well take a bottle, jar, cup, glass, large shells, etc... and push
it into the wet sand. Remove it carefully, and your mold is complete.
2. The wax is poured in 2 or more stages. The first pour is at a very
high temperature. Place the thermometer in your melting pot with the wax,
and heat on a direct flame to 325 degrees F. IMPORTANT: Do not leave wax
unattended, or heat above 325 degrees. Pour the wax into the mold, the
damp sand will sizzle a bit - that is normal. Allow to cool until firm,
but still warm.
3. Attach a wick tab to one end of the wick, and wrap the other end
around a pencil. Suspend this over the mold with the tab touching the
bottom. Prepare another batch of wax, but heat in a melting pot to 180
degrees, then add scent. 4. Pour into mold cavity.
5. Allow to cool completely before attempting to remove it from the
sand.
6. Brush the loose sand off. A nice finishing touch is to spray it with
clear acrylic spray (protect the wick with tape). If your finished sand
candle is not perfect, try again. Use your rejects for decorating the back
yard. With a little trial and error you will quickly master this
technique.
Variations: Changing the moisture level of the sand, or the wax
temperature of the first pour will change the appearance of the finished
candle. it is also possible to embed object in the wax, such as shells,
driftwood, rocks, etc...
back
to crafts page
ReasonToParty has your Free
Candle Crafts
|
