Making Candles – How to Get Started

March 20, 2010 · Filed Under Craft · Comment 

Making wax candles is as old as time and future generations will continue to learn it. What was once a night time requisite in order to be able to see is now something people want for pleasure and to create pure enjoyment.

Learning How to Make Candles is something that is being passed down from parent to child with each new generation. They are not only simple to create but doing so brings a wonderful feeling of accomplishment. To think you have just molded something from nothing with your own hands!

Your local arts & crafts shop will have everything you need to make wax candles. Primary materials needed for the project are molds, wicks, and naturally, beeswax. The rest you will have on hand; they are common household items.

With the recent interest in candle making, craft suppliers now stock many candle accessories. For example, attractive colors, wonderful fragrances & interesting decorations.

Step number 1 is to prepare your wax. A double boiler can easily perform this function. After wax is completely melted, put the wick in its place & pour the wax in the mold that has been prepared.

Allow 6 hours cooling time before attempting to remove candles from their molds. Place the mold in your freezer for about an hour & the candle will release easier from its mold. Try spraying the mold with cooking oil to facilitate mold release.

Interestingly enough, a number of resourceful individuals have chosen to use special liquid latex as an alternative mold-making process.

Many people earn money from home by making homemade candles. Entrepreneurs like them have the foresight of turning their pastime into a profitable endeavor. Even part-time it is a skillful way to make extra income.

All of this can be done by finding a supplier who sells the necessary craft items and buying in bulk at money saving discount prices.

Packaging products attractively is something that they should consider putting extra time and energy into as eye-pleasing wrapping sells.

The key to creating a successful candle business is personal commitment…just like with any business. Focus, perseverance and lots of creativity.

While learning Making Candles at Home is an old tradition it can often be used to establish a new business!

Beeswax Candle Making Recipes

If you’re looking for an easy way to get started, check out this candle making recipe for a beeswax candle!

You will need sheers, 1 sheet of beeswax and a cotton wick.

Instructions? For quick wax removal, store the mold inside the freezer for 30 minutes!

Be gentle as you wind the beeswax edge around its wick—do not stop till it’s permanently sealed. The heat of your hands will soften the wax enough to assist in seaming the wax candle

• Follow through by rolling candle wax slowly, all the while being sure it is straight and tight

• Upon reaching the end of your wax sheet, the heat of your fingertips will be able to meld the edge to your wax candle

• Snip the cotton wick flush at the base, while cutting the wick on top part of the candle to about 1/4 inch

With a little practice, you will soon master the art of making beautiful candles with these short and sweet candle making recipes!

Click here for info about Candle Making Workshops.

Making Beeswax Candles for You and the Kids

February 27, 2010 · Filed Under Craft · Comment 

Making Beeswax Candle Tips – Candles with the Kids

The warm illuminating glow it emits. That deliciously fragrant smell as your candle fades. Sigh! Making beeswax candles is truly a “ton” of fun!

Making candles out of beeswax is a fun “hands on” activity for the little tykes. Since there is no melting of wax, the kids do not need to be near a hot stove. Beeswax candle making is a neat and tidy project with easy-to-find materials.

Making Beeswax Candles Tips - Items that You Do Need

  • 8 inch by 16 inch sheets of beeswax
  • Primed wick sliced for a one inch candle
  • A small paring knife from your kitchen
  • Flat open surface

Learn to Make Beeswax Candles

  1. Lay out your sheet of beeswax
  2. Slice wick approximately 3/4 inches longer than wax sheet (allowing excess on both sides of candle)

Leaving available wick at each ends allows you the choice to decide which side of the candle you prefer as the top and which side the bottom.

After laying the wick on the sheet’s edge, fold over an eighth of an inch of wax before you start rolling it. You can ensure that the wick would be properly enclosed by the seam.  Pushing firmly from left to right continue to roll the beeswax forward around the wick with your fingertips, making sure the beeswax is wrapped tight and straight as you go. This is arguably the hardest part in the entire process of beeswax candlemaking.

Another option would be flipping the wax then folding it down to form a seam—about 1/8 inches—with a counter corner or perhaps a cutting board. Either or – just make sure you obtain a perfect seam in the process.

In candle making, you need to determine how thick you’d wish your candle to be. You’ll have to add more beeswax if you want a thicker candle. Do this by putting the additional sheet edge to edge with the original and melding the pieces together with your thumb. Rolling beeswax into a straight line can be tricky so make sure you only stop when it’s wrapped around itself completely.

When you get to the end, gently push the edges of the beeswax down with your thumbs.  Continue going along the whole length of the candle creating an invisible seam.

Choosing what you consider the best end of the candle for the top, trim the wick 1/2 above the wax. Do not forget to start from the bottom as you remove the rest of the wick.

Even if the children don’t understand the true pleasurable part, you do. Go on and don’t let anyone stop your candle from burning as brightly as your achievement—breathe in its lovely scent and take pleasure in your work! As for the children? And voila — their very own candles!

Be aware that the next steps for candlemaking are not much different with what others in your place had done centuries ago. Originally, the goal was to have a source of light…something you can’t forget during such moments. These days though majority of its enthusiasts view making beeswax candles as a leisure. Or it can be for any other purpose. As mentioned above, this activity is often taken up for personal purposes. There are also occasions when they can serve as the ideal gifts. A craft project like wax candle making is considered kid-friendly by most parents. Finally, the last reason is profit. A number of individuals take up candle making for money-making purposes.

Click here for more info on Candle Making Instructions.