Candle Making Is So Easy

  Candle making is a project that you can work on by yourself to make candle gifts for others or for your own use, or you can work with your family to enjoy a family creative time. You can use your children's old wax crayons to add colour to paraffin wax that is heated in a double boiler, or if you don't have one, use an old coffee tin inside a pan of water, and heat the wax that way. This is a good way to get your children to round up their old wax crayons and put them to good use.

Making Your Own Hand Dipped Candles - It's easy to do!

Women especially enjoy candlelight, whether it's for a romantic dinner, or just a relaxing bath, the presence of candles somehow makes it all more special and enjoyable. Candles are able to set the mood, whether it's for relaxation or as a pick me up after a buy day, when you still have lots to achieve, and it is easy to set about making your own candles, either to use yourself, or to give as gifts throughout the year. By making your own candles, you can choose the color and the aroma that best suits you, or the person you are making the candles for.

Making Hand Dipped Candles

Items you need to make hand dipped candles:

 Ok, now you will notice that you need wicks first of all. These can be purchased in bulk, if you are going to be making quite a few candles. If not just purchase a few wicks to be going on with.

Now the choice of wick is important, because this dictates how the candle burns. Typically a larger diameter wick will result in a larger flame, along with a larger pool of melted wax. As a result these candles will burn faster, so choose the size depending on the width of the candles you are going to make. Most craft stores will carry a variety of wicks and paraffin wax for you to use to make your hand dipped candles.

Put water in the base of the double boiler, and the paraffin wax, broken into small pieces in the top. Bring the water to the boil.

Stir the wax as it begins melting, and check the temperature of the wax at the center. It needs to reach a temperature of 160 F.

Continue stirring as you add a little color to the wax. Remember that the color will pale a little on cooling, so take this into account as you add the color. Only add a little at a time - it is easy to add more, but you cannot take it out if you add too much!

Next add the scent, or the essential oils of your choice.

Check that the wax is still at 160 F.

Cut the wick to the length you want, plus some extra for holding. For example, if you are going to make two 5 inch candles, you might want to cut the wick to about 14 inches. Double the wick over your finger, so you will be making two candles with this length, but by folding the wick, you are not likely to drop it totally into the melted wax.

Next, dip the two wicks into the wax for a few seconds, and then remove. You might find this initial dip is a little difficult as the wicks will want to float. You could perhaps use the thermometer for this first dip to make sure the wicks get covered thoroughly covered. Keep the two wick lengths apart, and let the wax cool in the air.

Now you have the base for your candles, and you keep dipping the candles into the wax then allow them to cool until they reach the thickness of candle that you were planning on making.

Slowly increase the temperature of the wax until it reaches 180F, and then dip the candles for a last time. Lift them out, and let them cool thoroughly.

Trim the base of the candles with a sharp knife once they are completely cooled. And carefully cut the wick in between the two candles. Trim the wick at the top of the candle, and you are done. You have made your first hand dipped candles.

Of course, you can always pour the melted wax into a jar, or a tin, or even a milk carton which will be removed once the wax has thoroughly cooled. To make these jar candles, you need to put the wick in the container first, keeping it straight and in the center. You may choose to wrap the wick around a pencil that you can place over the container, as this will keep your hands free for pouring the wax.

Note: Remember that molten wax is very hot and will burn skin very quickly, so do be careful, and do not let children do this step. So, those are your instructions for making hand dipped candles, and jar candles, or tin candles, simple but a little time consuming. 

making candles | candles  |  candle making