ReeHart – Blogging from the Heart

Posts Tagged ‘wax candles’

Making Beeswax Candle Tips – Candles with the Kids

The warm illuminating glow it emits. That sugary-sweet smell as the candle wanes. Sigh! Many are surprised at how enjoyable producing beeswax candles could be!

Making beeswax candles is a great “hands on” project for the kids. Since there is no melting of wax, the kids do not need to be near a hot stove.   There is no mess and the amount of items needed for making beeswax candles is just about nil.

Making Beeswax Candle 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

2. Lay out your sheet of beeswax
3. 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.

Lay the wick on the sheet’s tip first, fold it over using approximately 1/8-inch of beeswax then begin rolling. You can ensure that the wick would be properly enclosed by the seam.With the tips of your fingers, roll the wax around the wick in a straight and secure line while pushing both sides at the same time. 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. Whether you go with the first or the latter, do be sure your efforts produce a textbook-quality seam.

The thickness of your candle is a critical factor when making your candle. 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 reach the end of the wax, use your thumbs to gently press its edges.As you continue working on other parts of the candle, imagine making a seam as you go.

Choosing what you consider the best end of the candle for the top, trim the wick 1/2 above the wax. Don’t forget to remove the remaining wick from the bottom.

Even if the children don’t understand the true pleasurable part, you do. So no more dilly-dallying—light up your candle and enjoy the amazing feeling of completion as you gaze upon the result of your hard work! And as for your little ones? And there it is — candles that your kids made by themselves!

As you work on beeswax candles, do remember that the art of candlemaking is almost as old as time. Originally, the goal was to have a source of light…an all-important must at such situations. Now-a-days however, learning how to make wax candle is mostly a hobby. Or it can be for any other purpose. As mentioned above, this activity is often taken up for personal purposes. Sometimes however, it is for giving as a gift on special occasions. One of the most popular craft projects that parents teach to their kids is wax candle making. Of course, let’s not forget about the money you could make. There are also people who make candles for a living.

Click here for more info on Candle Making Recipes.