| Wow, can you believe it? The holidays are upon | | | | as molds, they must be taped really well on the |
| us once again. This year, though, we are going | | | | outside of the box. This ensures the wax from |
| through a recession and many of you may be | | | | seeping through and helps to keep the warm wax |
| looking for ideas on how to make inexpensive | | | | inside. This is vital!!! |
| Christmas gifts. I thought, "hmm, what can I | | | | I now take the strand of my hemp wick and dip |
| come up with to try and help folks sort of | | | | the entire thing into one of the pots of melting |
| 'recession-proof' their Christmas?" Everyone loves | | | | wax. I take it out and hang it for a minute. Once |
| candles, so I thought it would be nice to give our | | | | the wax on the wick has dried, I can cut it just a |
| some candle-making tips. So I set out to do just | | | | little longer than the height of the mold. This is |
| that. What you'll find ahead is the first of several | | | | where the popsicle sticks come in to play. I take |
| installments on making some inexpensive holiday | | | | the wick and center it over the mold. I take the |
| gifts. Without further ado, let's begin. Enjoy!!! | | | | extra and wrap around the popsicle stick, setting |
| For this beginner series, we'll use paraffin wax, | | | | the wick into the mold. This will ensure that your |
| which is the easiest to get and work with, for | | | | wick stays straight inside the mold as you pour |
| now. We'll talk later about the other types of | | | | the wax. |
| wax. Most craft stores carry paraffin wax in 11lb | | | | I can now start to pay more attention to the |
| slabs. In the same section, they also have an | | | | colors and scents I plan on using. I wanted to |
| assortment of scents and dyes. You should buy a | | | | make a couple of Christmas candles, candy canes, |
| couple of each. Remember, we're trying to learn | | | | so I got my red dye and some white dye out. I |
| how to make your Christmas a bit less expensive. | | | | cut some of each off of the dye block and put |
| If you're really hurting, you can use old crayons | | | | into the melting wax. I usually wait until I'm getting |
| and add them to the wax for color. You will also | | | | ready to pour the wax into the mold to put the |
| need some silicon spray (this helps the candle to | | | | scent in the pot. I used peppermint for the white |
| come out of the mold easier), some duck tape, | | | | wax and spiced cranberry for the red part. After |
| some wick, and finally, stearin. Stearin is an | | | | I put the scent in, I stir it a little to mix it all |
| additive that does 2 things. It helps the candle to | | | | together. |
| burn much slower and also assists in the scent | | | | Now I can pour the wax into the mold. I started |
| throw. To keep the wick straight throughout the | | | | each of the candy cane candles with red on the |
| entire process, a cheap way that I have found is, | | | | bottom. I poured about a cup of wax into the |
| old popsicle sticks. You tie off the excess wick | | | | mold and tilted it. I set it in a pan filled with sand, |
| over the center of the stick and hang it over the | | | | so that it stays tilted. I want each layer to be |
| top of your mold. This saves you money on | | | | tilted like a candy cane. |
| more supplies. | | | | Before you can pour the next layer, you have to |
| Presuming this is your first time actually making | | | | do 2 things. 1) You need to wait long enough for |
| candles, you probably don't have any aluminum | | | | the previous layer to cool. It doesn't need to be all |
| candle molds just lying around. Lucky for you, | | | | the way hard, but it needs to have enough |
| there are a few different things that can be used | | | | hardness that the next layer being poured does |
| as a mold. Pringle's potato chip canisters are really | | | | not melt it. 2) Make sure the next layer you're |
| good. Little cookie or candy boxes, cereal boxes, | | | | working with isn't so hot that it melts together |
| shampoo container, all make pretty good molds, | | | | with the layer below it. Once you've got this |
| as well. Another item that is really great and one | | | | pattern figured out to a tee, all you have to do is |
| of my favorites, is an old jelly/jam jar. These will | | | | repeat. |
| actually serve as container candles, as opposed to | | | | I poured red, white, red, white, red, white and |
| molds, which the finished candle comes out of | | | | one more layer of each. I let the entire finished |
| once completely cooled. | | | | product sit over night to ensure that the wax had |
| What I do first is spray mold release in all of my | | | | hardened completely. I woke up this morning and |
| molds. Getting the molds ready is essential, so | | | | was so happy to wake up and turn my molds |
| that once your wax is ready to be poured, you | | | | over. It's very exciting for me to take my |
| know, without even questioning which mold to | | | | finished product out of each mold. I'm like a little |
| pour in, that all of them are ready...take your pick. | | | | kid when it comes to this part. |
| Then I pull out a pretty long strand of hemp wick. | | | | One thing I've had to get used to, making candles |
| I try to think beforehand what colors I'm going to | | | | with aluminum candle molds, instead of glass |
| use, whether or not I'm gonna make all layered | | | | container, is not being able to see how it's coming |
| candles or some chunk candles. So, I already have | | | | along with each layer poured. This is the main |
| my wax chopped up, into the pots I'm using, the | | | | reason for picking out your planned colors for |
| stearin is in and the hot plate is on. | | | | your layered candles. Some folks are able to just |
| You're probably wondering what the heck duck | | | | throw any colors together and they look great. |
| tape is for. If you are using any cardboard boxes | | | | Me, on the other hand, I need to plan. |