DIY Candles - Pillar candles with decorations

Though making your own candles from scratch is pretty much the bomb, there are times when you just don't have the resources to pull it off.  So, this week's blog is about just decorating premade candles.  The ideas here are endless and I've only scratched the surface of how awesome this coud be, but...here's what I did...

I did alot of reading about candle making and one of the more difficult and involved candles to make is a pillar candle.  They recommend using molds and different waxes for these candles, and reasonably so, they have to support their own weight, where our friends the container candles (obviously) don't. 

I went to a local craft store to get the pillar candles.  Again, the variations on this crafting activity are endless, so you choose what candles you want to work with!!! 

Went with boring ol' white (though next time I'm definately going to jazz it up!).  I chose 8" candles, but really any size works.

Also, think about decorations for the candles.  I personally like to pick a color scheme and see what I can find.

    

I used a variety of flowers, ribbons, stamps, and a hot glue gun (that's how those teal gems stay in).  Sidenote on that, worked pretty well to just use the hot glue gun to melt a little bit of the candle then stick the gem to it. One or two have fallen off, but oh well!).

(More images to come...this is an ongoing endeavour!!)

DIY - Candles

If you have some time, and are in need of an awesome homemade gift, this might be the project for you!

There are a few things you'll need to get started....

Time:

I did most of my candles in 3 melting sessions to get the candle complete with a flat top. You can probably do it in 2 sessions and within the same day. What I actually found worked best was to wait a day. Melt and pour on day 1. Let it all cool. Melt and pour on day 2. Let them all cool. Rinse and repeat for as many days as needed. (Incidentally this method also works great for layered candles, so if you're feeling a little 'no guts, no glory' and want to try something a little harder than a plain white candle, you can try layering them with different colors over a period of days)
Wax:
There are so many types of wax out there from soy to beeswax to paraffin. I prefer the "go into the craft shop and get whatever they have to start" wax. I actually went so far as to read some of the National Candle Association's website. Yes boring...but really informative. In case you too are curious: National Candle Association
Glass Vases:
Where to start? Any craft store. More expensive than some other options are, but...it's a beginning.
Double boiler:
I like make-shift. Continue reading to see...
Wicks:
Cotton String and a heavy bead. Or buy them.

If you feel adventurous, you can buy dye blocks. They also make scent stuff, but I prefer to go sans stinky.

My first run of this was with a wax block which I found to be darn near impossible to cut up ; however, the second round, I used this. --->


Instead of the block, use the slab and it'll be much easier to hack to pieces...and more fun! I wrapped the slab in an old towel and had a great time smashing it with a hammer. (ha ha! oh, movie references)






I left the pieces pretty large and it took longer than desired to melt it, but whatever. I suppose I could have muscled through making them smaller, but I had plenty of time and hesitant muscles. I used about 2 of those chunks at a time melting and continually had plenty of leftovers. One thing that will happen as the wax cools (overnight probably) is that the center of the candle will recede. You want to be sure to have leftover for the next day to top the candle off and make it flat.


Using a "Lauren modified" double boiler I slow melted down the wax. I tried to do this with two sauce pans, but in the end bought a wax pourer. In my opinion, a worthy purchase.

I put the stove on about a 2-3 level for heat. Don't rush melting the wax. Round 1 of candles for me were pretty pathetic because I turned the heat up too high and quickly melted the wax. Now...most people would use a thermometer at this point, but that's not really my style. Other sites will have that detail if you want to be precise. I proceed when most of the wax is melted (about grape sized chunks still unmelted).

Ok... wax is on the dub boil at 2 heat...what's next? Prepare the candle holders!

Two options for wicks are to use store bought wicks, or to make your own. I made my own by cutting a piece of cotton string and tying a clay bead to one end to weigh it down, making sure to get the length right. Then, I dipped them a few times in the melted wax. To keep the wicks upright while the wax cooled, I wrapped the other wick end around a bbq skewer.

The next step is to pour the wax. Two tidbits of info: the handle is hot, and if you have any wax chunks still in the bottom, they might slip and splash the melted wax you've already poured.
 

 

Now that the wax is poured, turn off the stove and set everything aside to cool. You can leave unpoured wax in the double boiler overnight and just turn it on the following day. Follow the same steps to melt.

Below are some pictures of the process and final products:

 

Adding yellow dye.
 

Potpourri and Layered ones.

 

 

Homemade beer bottle candles.

(Stay tuned for a blog on beer bottle cutting and to see the awesome things you can do with them! ... )

 

*A disclaimer...Don't get into these crafts without some research on it. I'm not really giving the "all inclusive" recap of the craft (which would be boring as hell), just my account and a few tips I coudn't find online. That is to say, don't take my word as final. And certainly, if you get cut, burned, finger hit with a hammered, or any other bodily maiming, don't come a knockin' on my door.*