Family Crafts – Making Candles At Home

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Those beautifully scented candles that you can find in retail stores are overpriced, yet you can make those same candles at home for a fraction of the cost. If you can follow a simple set of directions, then you can have beautiful paraffin wax candles or soy wax candles made by your very own hands. It really is that simple once you have the assembled ingredients and are ready to go. Most of the candle making supplies can be purchased in a hobby or craft store and are relatively inexpensive, and will yield several candles.

Step one for candle making is assembling the required ingredients that you will need. You must decide at this point whether you will be using paraffin wax, soy wax or beeswax. The paraffin is the most commonly used wax for candles. Soy wax has the added advantage of being naturally made from soy beans and it is easily cleaned up with soap and water. Beeswax does not require melting. Simply wrap the wax sheets around the wick and press with your fingers to seal it.

So let’s say you are going to use paraffin wax. You will also need: wicks, molds, scented oil for fragrance, something in which you can melt the wax, dyes and putty. Once you have assembled the necessary ingredients it is time to begin by melting the wax. Please be careful and try not to burn the wax or yourself. Once the wax is melted you will want to work quickly before the wax has time to cool. It is at this point that you add the scented oils and dyes; crayons actually work great for color.

Now comes time for your wick. Insert the wick into the mold and through the opposite end. Secure the wick in place with the putty and wrap the remaining wick outside of the mold around a pencil to hold the wick in place. Now carefully pour the wax into the mold.

Once you have the wax in place, it will need to harden. Do not mess with the candle until it is fully solidified. Do not try to speed the process along, as it will take several hours and perhaps even overnight. Once it is hard you can light and enjoy.

Candle making is an incredibly easy craft to master. Once you have perfected making basic pillar candles, you will be amazed at how easy it is to make other shapes and sizes. It is a great hobby and one that you can share with family and friends. They will love the fact that they made the candle themselves and are able to decorate it any way that they want.

Homemade candles also make a great home decor gift or accessory. So, light up your home and start making candles at home.