Dinner for two, conversations with loved ones over a cup of coffee, long evenings and nights working at home, a movie marathon, relaxing with a book or meditation - such moments will become even more pleasant if cozy lights flicker in the room. Are you going to a holiday? Weld an original candle - such a handmade souvenir will definitely appeal to those who are waiting for you to visit. In our article, we will tell and show how to make a unique decor quickly and easily.
How to make a candle: instructions
The process of candle making is quite fascinating and simple, and therefore has every chance of becoming a pleasant hobby. There are many ideas for decorating such crafts; in this regard, you can experiment. However, the principle of their preparation is almost always the same.
So arm yourself the following materials: standard household candles; cotton thread; a container for melting wax; dishes for a water bath; molds made of tin, plastic or glass; pencil or stick for setting the wick.
Procedure:
1. Take care of fixing the wick in advance. Tie one end of the thread to the holder, and lower the other to the center of the form.
2. Cut the candles into bars and place them in a melting container over a water bath. The fire should be slow, wax continuously stir. The liquid will be ready when there are no lumps in it.
3. Pour some melted wax into the bottom of the modeling container. Fix the wick in the middle, wait about a minute until the part hardens.
4. Fill in the remaining liquid.
5. After 24 hours, the work will completely harden, cut off the excess length of the thread.
6. Natural light is ready to use.
DIY decorative candle ideas
lavender candle
Fragrant and soothing, lavender creates the right atmosphere for meditation, reading and bubble baths.
Complete the standard set of materials with essential oil, lavender sprigs, and a small glass jar.
Fasten the dried flowers along the edges of the vessel, and then fix the wick and fill the container with a part of melted wax. Please note that the lavender must be placed strictly along the edge so that it does not catch fire during use. Heat the second part of the liquid again over low heat, adding a few drops of lavender oil, and slowly pour into the mold.
Put a cute composition near your favorite interior items, it will complement any design.
coffee candle
If you are a fan of this blessed drink, be sure to try creating your own composition that will fully suit your taste.
There are 4 ways to make such a decorative element.
1. For the first one, you will need the same tools as for an ordinary craft, as well as whole coffee beans. They need to be added to heated wax and filled with a mixture of prepared containers. Since the grains vary in size and configuration, each result will be unique.
2. You can decorate a ready-made candle with fragrant grains. It is enough to fix the grains with glue or fix them on an uncooled plane, gently pressing them with your fingers.
3. Make a small candle. Remove the product from the mold and place in a larger vessel. Fill the empty space with grains.
4. If you want the product to delight you with a pleasant coffee smell, add ground coffee to melted wax just before pouring. A burning light will fill the room with an incredible aroma.
lemon candle
Lemon peel can serve original candlestick. Such an art object will complement the country style, loft, as well as Scandinavian and modern design.
To create 4 crafts, you need to prepare: the appropriate number of threads, wax, water bath accessories, a couple of lemons. If desired, add aromatic components or dye to the substance. In this case, we introduce lavender oil and dried flowers into the composition.
So, to start, cut each lemon in half and get rid of the pulp. Next, heat the wax and include aromatic and floral elements in it, stir. Secure the wicks and pour the mixture into each half of the lemon. Finally, place the product in a cool place until it hardens. Please note that the refrigerator is not the most suitable option for these purposes, as the liquid may freeze unevenly.
Glitter Candle
I want to make every holiday even more memorable and bright. In this case, a beautiful decor with sparkles will help you, which you can easily make with your own hands. It will decorate the house for a party or will be an unusual gift for your friends.
In the manufacturing process, you can use both homemade and purchased base. Having prepared a candle, glue and glitter, you can begin to work. To create flicker only in a separate area, you can use adhesive tape, thereby highlighting the desired area. Cover the surface with a good layer of glue and, holding the part over a sheet of paper, sprinkle liberally with glitter. Let the glue dry, then carefully remove the tape.
For a truly unique product, you can shower it with multi-colored glitter, and thanks to the tape strips of various widths, you can achieve a multi-level pattern.
Such a decoration will look chic as a New Year's entourage.
Multicolored candles
As you know, candles are not only plain and dull, but also multi-colored and bright. To create such a decor with your own hands, you will need a little material, patience and a few hours of your time.
In addition to the basic ingredients for brewing, you will need wax crayons of your choice of colors and, if desired, aromatic oils.
Having prepared a clear liquid and a glass cup with a wick, rub and melt the first colored wax pencil. After that, mix it with wax and pour it into a container. To make the pattern beautiful and unusual, tilt and fix the cup until each layer hardens. When all layers are ready, let the product harden completely.
That's all! Multi-colored lights with a beautiful pattern are ready.
Candle molds
Thanks to paper molds, you can make a natural lamp of interesting geometric configurations. Their variety depends only on the stencil that you have chosen.
We select the appropriate template, and then print it on the printer. It is advisable to use thick paper. We cut and glue each blank, as indicated in the photo. To prevent the paper from disintegrating during the pouring of wax, it must be coated on the outside with paint and allowed to dry. As in other cases, insert the wick and fix it, and then pour it into the stencil. When the liquid hardens, all you have to do is remove the paper.
Even the usual one is perfect as a form eggshell. The production process is similar to the previous one and requires a minimum of effort. Nevertheless, products made using such patterns will be a wonderful decoration in any interior and at any time of the year, but especially at Easter.
flower candles
Candles made using this technique will be a wonderful decoration and an exquisite gift. Despite their incredible beauty and sophisticated look, needlework will only require time and effort from you.
We make the preparation and let it freeze. At this time, we will prepare various dried flowers, berries, leaves and other natural decorations. When decorating, we will use the decoupage technique. To do this, you need another candle, any tweezers and a tablespoon. Having warmed up the spoon, we carefully press the prepared gifts of nature into the surface, thus forming a unique pattern. If any of the elements does not look too attractive, you just need to cover it with a new layer of paraffin, and it will sparkle with new colors. To do this, holding the wick, lower the product into heated paraffin.
Aroma candles
Do you want a truly magical atmosphere to reign in your room? Then fill the space with the wonderful aroma of pine needles, lime, mint, lavender, bergamot or vanilla. Of course you can buy finished products in the form of air fresheners, but it is much better to envelop the house with the smell of candles created on the basis of natural ingredients. Plus, it's pretty easy to do. Smells will suit any, they can be combined with each other. We will tell you how to make several options for such multifunctional jewelry.
Decorate products with fragrant needles. In this case, you can make candles yourself or buy them in a store. We get the freshness of needles from the slight heating of real branches of cypress, pine or spruce.
Degrease the candlestick with an alcoholized cotton pad, and place the pine needles under pressure for several hours to make them flatter. At the bottom of the candlestick, for example, a glass or jar with wide and high walls, apply 10-15 drops of liquid wax and fix the work.
Lubricate the finished branches with glue or spray with adhesive spray and fix them on the glasses so that their lower parts hang down a little. When the glue dries, trim the edges of the plant. Note that the needles should not be placed inside the container, since in this case the fragrant plume will not come out. If everything went well, you will notice a beneficial effect - evaporation conifers pacify nervous system, will help you relax after a hard day, and will also make it easier to recover from a cold, as the needles are famous for their antiseptic properties.
Try creating a mix by adding a few drops of different essential oils to melted wax. Combine lemon and rosemary for a toned body, bergamot and lavender for relaxation, geranium and rose for calm and balance. Tandems of cedar and lemon, cloves and orange will also help to carry away all sorrows. Vanilla, jasmine, ylang-ylang will create an atmosphere for a romantic evening.
The whole process is identical to smelting from any other material. The main difference is that our goal is to create a transparent composition. That is why we must choose a transparent container, as well as use the dye with care so that our product does not lose its originality. If you decide to place any elements inside the candle, the main thing is to place them at the level at which you want to see them (for example, the details strewn to the bottom will remain there). Glass balls, sea shells, flowers, leaves or dried fruits are suitable as decorations.
Video: How to make decorative candles - Master class
Handmade is gaining more and more popularity. Extravagant jewelry, paintings, toys, decorative elements, gifts - this is only a small part of what enthusiastic craftsmen and amateurs create with their own hands. Today we will talk about how to make a candle at home.
This process does not require special skills and equipment. After reviewing our recommendations and detailed master classes, start this exciting process maybe even beginners.
CREATING A CANDLE: WHERE TO START
DIY candles are much easier to make than you might think. And the main advantage of such an activity is necessary materials easy to get. If you look carefully, you will find them even in your home.
MATERIALS FOR HOMEMADE CANDLE
Wax, stearin or paraffin are best suited for work. Moreover, it is better for beginners to start acquaintance with the latter, it is the least whimsical to use. You can purchase paraffin wax from the store or use the leftovers of old white candles.
WICK
As a wick, it is best to use natural threads, ideally thick cotton threads. Do not try to use synthetics: such a wick will quickly burn out and leave behind bad smell. To test the thread for naturalness, simply set fire to its tip. If it melts, forming a solid ball at the end, you have synthetics in front of you.
If you have conceived an unusual candle and are thinking how to make an original wick for it, then use colored floss threads. This is a great and natural material.
Remember an important rule: the thicker the candle, the thicker the wick should be.
It's easy to make your own. To do this, prepare a solution: in a glass of water, dissolve 1 tablespoon of salt and 2 tablespoons boric acid. Soak cotton thread or floss in it for 12 hours. Then dry them and twist a tourniquet out of them or braid a pigtail.
If this process seems tedious to you, carefully remove the wick from the finished household candle and use it.
CANDLE MOLD
First of all decide on the configuration of the desired candle, and then try to find a hollow object of the same shape. You may find it useful:
Cardboard packages from milk and juices;
. plastic cups from yogurts and desserts;
. egg shell;
. silicone molds for baking;
. glass goblets, wine glasses, glasses and glasses;
. children's pastries;
. figured forms for ice cream;
. tin and glass coffee jars;
. empty cans.
The only requirement is that the mold material must withstand heating up to 100°C.
Another interesting option- pour candles into beautiful transparent glasses. They will not be available, but they will look very stylish and unusual.
Sometimes scented candles are made in tangerine or orange peel. The fruit is pre-cut in half and the pulp is carefully removed. You can also use large shells or coconut shells.
DYES
A white candle is elegant but boring. Naturally, the question arises of how to color the paraffin in order to get bright interior decorations.
For lovers of candle making, it is best and cheapest to take wax crayons for children's creativity. Would you like to receive a special candle? Look for mother-of-pearl crayons - your creation will be unique.
Do not try to use water-soluble gouache or watercolor - you are in for a fiasco. The dye will inevitably settle to the bottom or fall out in flakes. The finished product will look very unpresentable.
WARE FOR MELTING PARAFFIN
In order to melt the paraffin, you will need a small saucepan for a steam bath and an iron bowl. Experienced craftsmen it is recommended to heat paraffin in a steam bath, considering other methods, including a microwave oven, to be fire hazardous.
We recommend that you first also use this method, proven over the years: place a bowl of paraffin in a container of boiling water. If the candle is planned to be colored, add the chalk immediately and mix the melted mass several times to obtain a uniform color.
FRAGRANTS AND DECOR
Any materials at hand are suitable for decorating candles. First, decide on the topic of your work. Pebbles and shells will effectively complement the candles in nautical style. For New Year theme use beads, small cones, small decorative balls, ribbons and bows. Decorate candles for Valentine's Day with hearts, sequins, bows, dried flowers, coffee beans, etc.
It is best to scent homemade candles with essential oils, which can be purchased at the nearest pharmacy. Another option is to find vanilla cinnamon in your kitchen. It is worth adding flavors to melted paraffin at the very end, after staining.
STEP-BY-STEP WORKSHOPS
We bring to your attention a selection of available master classes that will help beginners learn the basic techniques and techniques of work. If you already know how to create candles with your own hands, you can draw interesting ideas from them for implementation in your work.
COFFEE CANDLE
Do you want to create a romantic mood? Light a coffee candle - its divine aroma will take away all worries, leaving only a good mood and peace. It is especially pleasant in rainy autumn or cold winter. And it is also a great gift for any occasion and even without.
*photo by Valentine
For work you will need:
. paraffin;
. whole coffee beans;
. wick;
. two plastic cups of different sizes;
. wick holder - a teaspoon, wooden stick or plastic coffee stirrer.
If you did not find paraffin, take household candles, you can also get a wick from them.
Crush the paraffin into small pieces with a knife to speed up the melting process. If you took store-bought candles, gently crush them with the blunt side of the knife so as not to damage the wick.
Put the paraffin in glass jar and put it in a bowl with warm water. Heat the water over low heat until the paraffin is completely melted in the jar - it should become transparent.
At this time, prepare the form for pouring. To a larger a plastic cup, place the smaller one after filling it with water. There should be a fairly wide space between the walls of the cups. Pour coffee beans up to half the height between the walls.
Pour the melted paraffin into the mold to the level of the grains, wait 10 minutes. Then pour the paraffin up to the edge of the mold and let it harden completely. This will take about an hour.
Carefully pour the water out of the inner beaker and remove it from the paraffin ring. Lower the wick into the workpiece so that it reaches the bottom of the glass. Tie its upper end to the holder and place it on top of the glass, centering the wick.
Pour melted paraffin into the middle of the candle. Place a few grains on top for decoration. Now, until the candle completely solidifies, you will have to wait 4-6 hours.
Carefully remove the frozen candle from the glass. However, it can be cut with scissors to facilitate manipulation.
If you want the grains to be more visible, blow the sides of the product with hot air from a hair dryer. The paraffin will melt and the surface will become embossed.
It turned out to be an excellent aroma candle, isn't it? Do you want to make it even more romantic? We invite you to create heart-shaped candles using the same technology, which will become an unforgettable gift for your soulmate for Valentine's Day or a birthday.
Watch the detailed video of creating a fragrant coffee candle and you will see that everything is even simpler than it seems at first glance.
RAINBOW CANDLES
Want to add to your home bright colors? Interior rainbow candles will help you with this. self made.
To make them you will need the following ingredients:
. paraffin;
. stearin;
. wick;
. cylindrical shape;
. dyes corresponding to the colors of the rainbow.
More detailed information you will get from the detailed video tutorial. For beginners, it shows all the stages of preparing candle mass and creating gradient transition colors.
MULTI-COLORED CANDLES IN LAYERS
Spectacular multi-colored candles in a transparent glass will be the highlight of your interior. How to make them, see our master class, illustrated with step-by-step photos.
materials
Before you make colored candles with your own hands, prepare:
Clear wax;
wax pencils;
disposable paper cups;
glass cups;
wicks;
ice cream sticks;
aroma oils;
microwave oven;
grater.
Step 1. Grate ordinary transparent wax and fill paper cups with the resulting material. You only need to fill them with this material by a quarter.
Step 2 Microwave the cup for 45 seconds. Get it out. Wax stir wooden stick. It should melt completely, if this does not happen, send the glass to the oven for another 30 seconds.
Step 3. Dip a wick into an empty glass cup. You can attach its other end to an ice cream stick and put it on top of the cup. This will make it easier for you to keep working. Pour some wax into a glass and wait for it to set. Thus, the wick should be fixed in the center of the cup.
Step 4 Remove the paper wrapper from the wax crayons. Grate them and add the desired color of crayons to separate cups with wax. For a third of a glass of wax, add shavings of one pencil to get a sufficiently saturated color.
Step 5. Send a glass of colored wax to the microwave for 2.5 minutes. Take it out and while stirring, add a few drops of the chosen aromatic oil. You don't have to, but with oil, your candles will give off a pleasant aroma.
Step 6. While holding the wick, pour the first layer of colored wax into the cup. To get an interesting pattern, tilt the cup at an angle and hold it in that position until the wax sets.
Step 7. Melt cups with wax of a different color in the same way and also, but at the opposite angle, pour them one by one into a glass cup. Each time, fix the container in different positions until the wax sets.
Step 8. Having formed a multi-colored candle, let the wax cool completely.
Bright and unusual candles are ready. You can use them for their intended purpose or give them to friends as souvenirs.
SOURCE: http://www.rukikryki.ru/
Another one interesting idea- square multi-colored candle. Wax pencils are also used for its coloring. If you are a beginner, be sure to check out the clear video tutorial, with its help you can easily make such a cool craft for a gift to friends and family.
OPENWORK CANDLES
Decorative candles can be of the most diverse design, because talented craftsmen do not get tired to amaze with their imagination and creative experiments. In support of these words, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the method of making an unusual openwork candle.
For work you will need:
. paraffin;
. optional coloring and flavoring;
. wick and holder for it;
. cylindrical shape;
. small ice cubes.
Melt the paraffin in a water bath. If the candle is supposed to be colored, color the candle mass, if you wish, you can also scent it.
Set the wick in the mold so that it reaches the bottom of the mold. Do not forget to fix it on top of an impromptu holder. Pour in crushed ice, not reaching a couple of centimeters from the edges.
Pour the melted candle mass into the mold. Leave the workpiece until the paraffin has completely cooled. In this case, naturally, the ice will melt, and cavities will form inside the candle.
Carefully drain the water and remove the product by pulling on the wick.
Be careful, this beauty is quite fragile and requires careful handling. Such an unusual openwork candle will be a wonderful present for your family and friends. If you use paraffin from old candles for work, get this beauty for free.
You will receive visual instructions for action from detailed videos creating openwork candles. After viewing them, you can independently make such beauty at home.
Video #1:
Video #2:
Option number 3: And if you are thinking about what to give friends for New Year then surprise them with a handmade red openwork candle. It will be an unforgettable gift and will bring into the house a sense of celebration along with the Christmas mood. See the work of the master and be inspired by your own masterpieces.
MASSAGE CANDLES
The main ingredient for creating a massage candle is soy wax. By adding useful components to it, you can get a product that has healing properties. It no longer acts as a decor, but as a home cosmetic which makes the skin soft and well-groomed.
Healing properties of essential oils:
Helps rejuvenate skin and clear pores essential oil lemon.
. Orange oil has an anti-cellulite effect.
. Rose oil stimulates the regeneration of skin cells and promotes skin elasticity.
. Rosemary oil can clear the skin of age spots and make it smooth.
. Patchouli oil is great for moisturizing.
. Lavender oil will delight you with its healing effect.
Solid vegetable oils are also added to massage candles. For example, cocoa butter is used to moisturize and tone the skin. And with its regular use, cosmetologists promise you smooth and delicate skin.
Exotic shea butter can save dry skin from peeling. smooth out skin can coconut oil, rich in natural antioxidants.
The general algorithm for creating a massage candle:
1. melt the wax with hard oils in a water bath;
2. let the mass cool down a little and add liquid oils;
3. cool the mass a little more and add essential oils, extracts and vitamins;
4. pour the resulting candle mass into the mold, after inserting the wick into it;
5. wait for the candle to harden completely and remove it from the mold;
6. The hardened candle is ready for use.
We offer you the most common recipes for effective massage candles.
Recipe #1
Soy wax - 85%;
. avocado and shea butter (aka shea butter) - 5% each;
. patchouli essential oil - 2.8%;
. essential oil of ylang-ylang - 2%;
. vitamin E - 0.2% (a few drops).
Light the finished candle and let it melt a little. Put it out. Put some warm wax on your hand and you can arrange a rejuvenating massage session. Do not be afraid to burn yourself - the melting point of such a candle is much lower than that of paraffin.
Recipe number 2 "Massage candle with a calming effect"
Soy wax - 80g;
. shea butter - 40g;
. almond oil - 40g;
. cocoa butter - 20g;
. essential oils of sage and lavender - 2 g each.
A massage session of such candles is best arranged before going to bed. The calming effect of essential oils will help you relax and fall asleep soundly.
Recipe number 3 "Massage candle with anti-cellulite effect"
Beeswax - 100g;
. cocoa butter - 60g;
. ground chili pepper - 5-10g;
. essential oils of orange and grapefruit - 3 g each.
Make sure you are not allergic to any of the ingredients in the suppository. After the massage, you may feel a burning or tingling sensation, which is associated with the presence of chili in the composition.
Regular massage will help get rid of the hated “orange peel”, make the skin soft and supple.
WE DECORATE CANDLES USING DECOUPAGE TECHNIQUE
If you do not have a dye, but you want to create something bright and memorable, do not be discouraged. The simplest candle made from cinder can be turned into a work of art. To do this, you need to have a little patience and decorate the product to your liking.
CANDLE DECORATED WITH DRIED FLOWERS
Dried leaves, stems and flowers will help you create an exclusive candle, which will be almost impossible to repeat. Usage natural materials limited only by the local flora and your imagination. That's when the ability to collect a herbarium will come in handy in full.
*photo by Lyudmila Klimova
For work you will need:
. any dried flowers;
. 2 candles - for decoration and ordinary;
. tea spoon;
. tweezers;
. nail scissors;
. paraffin for final coverage.
From the dried flowers you have available, compose the composition that you want to bring to life.
Over an ordinary burning candle, heat a teaspoon ( inside over the fire, because the spoon will turn a little black, and in order not to stain the candle, then we will carry out all the manipulations with the other side of the spoon).
Attach a dry flower to the candle to be decorated and gently iron its petals with the outside of the spoon so that they melt to the paraffin and do not stick out. Thick stems may need to be ironed several times while heating the spoon.
Excess stems that extend beyond the candle, carefully cut with scissors.
Glue the rest of the elements in the same way, choosing the desired location for them. Make sure that the edges of the leaves and petals do not stick out.
It remains to fix the result. Melt the paraffin in a water bath, pour it into a container into which you can completely dip the decorated candle.
Holding the candle by the wick, immerse it in melted paraffin, set it on flat surface and let cool. If the petals were not smoothed well and protruding tips remained visible, repeat this procedure again.
Such an elegant candle will conquer any heart and will not be left without attention. Complete it with a beautiful candlestick and it will become a unique decoration of your home.
DECOUPAGE OF CANDLES WITH PAPER TILES
The desire to decorate a candle could come instantly, but there are no dried flowers at hand. In this case, you can do with paper napkins. With their help, you can easily decorate a candle for any holiday.
Choose a napkin with the pattern you want. Cut out the desired elements from the napkin. Carefully remove the two bottom layers of paper from the resulting blanks. Further, the principle of operation is similar to decorating with dried flowers.
Attach the prepared element to the candle and iron it with a hot spoon. Sand the cooled surface with the rough side of a regular kitchen sponge. It is not necessary to immerse the candle in melted paraffin with this method.
Your masterpiece is ready. Make a beautiful arrangement of candles in the New Year's style, spruce branches and colored balls. It will bring good mood and holiday atmosphere to your home.
PHOTO-DESIGN IDEAS
Want more more ideas for inspiration. Browse our selection of decorative candles. You are sure to find one that you want to repeat immediately.
We were able to convince you that it is possible to create unique masterpieces even from improvised materials? That is why candle making has become a favorite pastime for many beginners and not only masters.
Original form templates:
Now you know what candles are made of and how, you can get to work. Do not try to use the photo you like as a template and an unconditional ideal. Get inspired by ready-made works to create your own unique candles. A little diligence and perseverance - and already your masterpieces will be the standard to follow.
Individuality in the design of your interior will always be its winning side. Nothing gives it home comfort apartment, like things made by the hands of the owners. And if until now you could not boast of such fruits of needlework, you have a great opportunity to fix it. We suggest you try to make candles with your own hands.
Candles are a wonderful souvenir that, on occasion, can decorate the atmosphere of any family holiday. Candles have long been an attribute of celebration, significant dates, romantic evenings. Yes, just to sit in silence, listen to your favorite music under the trembling of a gentle light - this is sometimes not enough.
For some, a candle is nothing more than a cute piece of decor. And there's nothing wrong with that either. similar products serve as a wonderful decoration in the house. But scented candles can become a real psychotherapeutic tool: they will help create the necessary atmosphere for relaxation, take a person into the world of dreams and pleasant memories.
In addition, a candle is a wonderful gift. The warmth of your hands and the flame of a beautiful candle will best wishes close person. Candles will decorate even the most modest environment, emphasize the color scheme of your apartment, and become evidence of the owner's excellent taste.
Needless to say, mothers who are on parental leave can even earn extra money on such a pleasant activity. And not only mothers - everyone who is fascinated by the process of creating a candle. And those who wish to acquire such man-made beauty, be sure, there will be.
So, we have many reasons to finally start our creative process. But to make a candle, we need to stock up on certain materials and tools.
Materials for making candles
Indeed, how to make candles with your own hands without special materials? In our work we will need:
- Vessel for melting wax
- Candle molds
- Saucepan (for a water bath)
- Sticks (the first is to fasten the wick, the second is to stir the wax)
- Decorative elements to decorate the product
- Wax crayons
- Household candles or stubs of old candles
- Paper threads (cotton 100%)
All this will help us create, if not a wax masterpiece, then a beautiful original candle. So let's get started!
Candle wick
Now we have to learn how to make a candle wick with our own hands. We make a gel, paraffin or wax candle, in any case, we will need a wick. In order to make it, we need a natural cotton thread without any impurities. Alternatively, take colored floss as a wick. Looks very cute and unusual.
The thickness and texture of the wick depend primarily on the thickness of that part of the candle that should burn through. For example, there are candles, partly consisting of combustible materials. Only the core burns in them.
For those who are going to cast a candle from wax, you need to take thick threads and twist them not very tightly. Paraffin and gel candles, on the contrary, need a tight weave of threads (otherwise, the wick will smoke when burning).
Wick for wax candles
Wick for gel candles
You need to be attentive to the following detail: if the candle is painted with wax crayons, small chips can clog the wick without dissolving in paraffin or wax. In general, there are a lot of nuances in this matter, be prepared for the fact that you will have to select a wick for a certain type of candle by trial and error.
If you take a very thick wick, excessive melting of the candle is possible, and this is fraught with soot. If you make a very thin wick, it will constantly go out.
There are several design options for the wick: it can be crocheted, braided, twisted with a rope. Before pouring the candle, you can impregnate the thread with wax, or you can do both filling and impregnation at the same time.
If you do not want to waste time making a wick, then use a wick from ready-made household candles.
candle mold
In this matter, your imagination plays a decisive role. You can use any plastic or metal molds that you find cute and appropriate for making candles. Don’t limit yourself to ready-made molds: yogurt packaging, cream jars, baking molds, tins, glasses or mugs that can withstand high temperature heating. Some even use milk tetrapak as a mold for a future candle.
Candles poured into tea cups
Candles made in egg shells
But for your first experience, it's better not to philosophize slyly: take something simple. For example, a glass of yogurt. Be sure to remove the paper label first, as it may catch fire.
We take our glass and in the middle of its bottom we pierce a hole with a thick needle - we insert a ready-made wick there. WITH reverse side cup, the wick must be tied in a knot. In this very place of the knot will be the top of our candle, because filling it will be “upside down”: the knot minimizes the flow of paraffin, stearin or wax through the hole we made at the bottom of the glass.
Go ahead. Across the glass we need to put any stick - a toothpick, brush or pencil. On it we need to tie the other end of the wick. It should be placed strictly in the center in a vertical, even position. So, you guarantee yourself that the candle will burn evenly and melt.
Candle coloring
Really beautiful candles you will succeed on the condition that you do not forget to color them. The easiest and most acceptable way is to color candles with simple children's wax crayons.
Do you think it would be wiser to use watercolor or gouache? Indeed, the palette of these colors is richer than the color variety of crayons. But the problem is that both gouache and watercolor are made on a water-soluble basis: these dyes are unsuitable for working with a candle. They do not mix well with wax or paraffin, they can float in them in flakes of an incomprehensible color, and then completely settle to the bottom.
The decoration of candles can and should be carried out only with fat-soluble dyes, and these are our wax crayons.
Often, many craftsmen use lipsticks or shadows in the decoration of candles. If you don't feel sorry for your makeup, please follow their example. But be sure that the scent of lipstick will soar throughout the house, which is far from always pleasant. To many, this smell may seem intrusive.
If you already undertook to make decorative candles with your own hands, it is better to use less aggressive materials. Choosing wax crayons, we dwell on the soft types of this dye. Candles made using mother-of-pearl wax crayons are especially good.
If you come across hard crayons, the procedure for melting them will be difficult. And yes, it's pretty hard to cut them. So, we chose a piece of crayon, with the help of a grater, we cut it off and added this shaving to the wax stubs. Thoroughly mixed the chips and cinders with a stick.
However, there is another coloring option. It is easy to find tableted pigments of different colors in special stores. They can be mixed with each other, dosed. Using such pigments, you will be able to make a truly unusual, bright or delicate candle. Pigments in tablets greatly expand the possibility of obtaining interesting shades.
You should not refuse to use dyes: they give the candle a unique look, create a unique pattern.
Pouring a candle
Now the wick is ready, it's time to fill. We need a regular tin can. It will have to be flattened a little to form a kind of nose. This is necessary in order to facilitate the process of pouring the molten material.
It is better to lubricate the pre-prepared form with a thin layer of dishwashing liquid or a simple vegetable oil. Both of them are equally good.
We need to put the fragments of candles into the jar (the candles must be of the same quality). If we are going to make a paraffin or wax candle, you can take a saucepan or a ladle for melting, which are not very pitiful. In any case, this container must be placed in the pan that will be used as a water bath. In principle, you can use whatever you want, except for glassware.
So, we fill the pot with water, boil the water, and then immerse the container with wax or paraffin there. So our material will melt.
When the material and chips are completely melted, you can start pouring the candle.
We fill the bottom of our mold with wax, let it cool. Do not rush to fill the entire mold at once, otherwise a lot of wax or paraffin may leak out through the hole in the bottom. Wax is poured in layers, what has leaked out is re-sent for remelting. When the candle is already completely filled, it must be cooled. The temperature should be at room temperature.
Many people make a mistake at this point: they try to speed up the cooling process by placing a candle in freezer. In this case, it may spread unevenly.
This is not critical if we fill the candle upside down. If you use another method, then you should leave a little wax in order to fill the depressions next to the wick. And after drying, they will definitely appear.
When the temperature of the candle already becomes equal to the temperature of the room, you need to untie the knot at the bottom of the mold. At this moment, we remove the product itself by gently pulling on the wick.
If this is not possible, the form can be cut. Or put it in the refrigerator for a minute, and then put it under hot water for a few seconds.
After that, we cut off the excess part of the wick, leaving a tip of 1 cm. If ugly seams remain from the form, they can be removed hot water. But with these manipulations, the candle may become cloudy, its brilliance may fade. Therefore, the optimal solution would be to choose a candle shape that does not contain seams.
Do-it-yourself aroma candles
It is quite possible to make scented candles with your own hands. In particular, this is worth doing for those who are true fans of aromatherapy. In order for you to get just aroma candles, you need to add some essential oils before pouring into wax. The choice of oil depends on your taste: you can add any oils, except that you should not take pink. After all, its smell when burning will be suffocating, heavy.
It's great if the decor of the aroma candle matches the plant whose oil we use. For example, taking lavender oil as the basis for the aroma, pink or lilac dyes should prevail in the decor of the candle.
Using laurel or mint oil, it is better to decorate a candle with green shades.
Vanilla or cinnamon will go well with warm, beige-brown candle tones.
Not only oils can make your candle scented, regular coffee is a strong and pleasant scent.
In principle, it is not so difficult to achieve the fragrance of a candle. Aroma oils added to paraffin, wax or gel. And then the process of making an aromatic candle is no different from creating an ordinary candle.
Experimenters are advised to mix oils: unusual bouquet flavors are guaranteed. If you are afraid to “fuck up” and synthesize incongruous smells, look at perfume recipes. Follow their directions, just don't add rose oil.
Gel candles
And now let's talk about how to make gel candles with your own hands. In order for us to get gel candles, it is better to use ready-made gel wax. On packages with it, the recipe for creating candles is often written, and you can use it.
For those who are used to doing everything themselves, the following recipe can help:
- 5 g gelatin
- 2 g tannin
- 20 ml water
- 35 ml glycerin
First we need to dissolve the tannin in the glycerin during the heating process. We continue to heat, adding the remains of glycerin and gelatin to the composition. Add water to the resulting clear solution. Bring the mixture to a boil. Some turbidity of the solution should not frighten you: it will soon disappear. Until the water completely evaporates, you need to boil the solution.
Essential oil can also be added to gel candles, this does not contradict the recipe. A separate, especially pleasant process, decorating gel candles. At the bottom of any transparent container, we freely lay decorative elements: beads, beads, pebbles, shells, sequins, coffee beans, dry stems of plants or flowers. Then fill everything with gel transparent wax. Such a candle looks simply incredible: transparent, delicate, with a magical pattern inside.
coffee candles
Decorative candles are also easy to make. For example, you can make an original coffee candle. Decor - naturally, coffee beans. The principle of operation is as follows: a small one is inserted into a large form. Between the walls of the two forms, you need to fill in coffee beans, and then fill them with candle mass.
As soon as the mass with coffee beans has frozen, the walls need to be blown with a hot hairdryer. Thanks to this, excess paraffin will drain, the coffee beans will be clearly visible.
So the outer layer with coffee beans is ready. We put it back into the mold, fill it with paraffin / wax of a different color from the inside.
Coffee candles can be:
Sea candles can be made in the same way: instead of grains, they will contain pebbles or seashells. As an option - transparent gel candles with small pebbles or coffee beans.
Candle decoration options
How else can you decorate a candle made by yourself? The first way to give your candle originality is to use unusual, unexpected shapes. Sometimes an interesting shape can be more advantageous than even the most skillful decor. A wonderful element of decor for candles - different kind glass coasters.
In a specialized store you can find special stickers for decoration. Or decoupage is a great way to decorate candles. By the way, it is very fashionable among professional candle makers. Most often, napkins are used as the basis for decoupage. Do not forget about safety: use a special varnish for candles.
For lovers original decor the following would work:
Before pouring, lay out shells, pieces of dried fruit, cinnamon, seeds, dried flowers around the edges of the mold. Or let it be coffee beans in an ensemble with rhinestones and beads. But in the latter case, it would be more appropriate to talk about decor. finished product: we insert decorative elements into melted paraffin / wax.
An already frozen candle can be pasted over with bamboo or cinnamon sticks. You can add star anise stars or all the same coffee beans to them. It will be beautiful decoration for aroma candles.
If you are using dried plants (or any other decorative items that can become combustible), the candle wick should be thin so that the candle only melts in the middle.
In principle, if you have the opportunity to apply for material in specialized stores, there you will get a lot useful tools. For example, markers and contours are sold there, they do not burn, and during smoldering the wick melts together with wax / paraffin.
If you don't want to collect old candle stubs, use paraffin beads or candle gel. In specialized stores, you can even find ready-made wicks (with a metal holder). For floating candles, you can purchase specially formulated wax.
Today, the fantasy of a creative person is practically not constrained by anything: the prices for materials for making candles do not bite, the process is exciting and not as long as it might seem. Having once created a beautiful candle with your own hands, you are unlikely to deny yourself the pleasure of experimenting again.
And for inspiration, we invite you to watch a wonderful video master class on creating carved candles
Categories
A candle has long been an indispensable attribute that accompanies a person in Everyday life. At first, only the wealthy segments of the population could afford it, and then, gradually, it appeared among the common people. At the present level of development of mankind, a candle in everyday life has lost its original purpose - it has become an element of decor, modern rituals and holidays, acquiring unusual forms. Only candles in church ceremonies and in the everyday life of believers fulfill their ancient role to this day.
The field for fantasies of candle makers, whether professional or amateur, is vast - a candle can be made for absolutely any life situation.
Unusual decorative candles
Decorative candles unusual shape diversify and complement everyday life with its vanity and monotony, create a romantic, festive, fantastic, original corner in the most ordinary apartment.
beer candle
A candle in the shape of a beer mug with a snow-white foam cap or in the shape of a can of beer is a wonderful gift for a man on February 23, as a joke - on April 1, as a souvenir - for bachelor party participants. In addition, when it burns, the room is filled with a light aroma of fresh beer, reminiscent of friendly pleasant gatherings. Everyone has a situation in life when such a gift would come in handy.
Candle - coffee cup
Unusual decorative candle in the shape of a coffee cup is a tribute to romance, which is an integral part of our lives. Coffee, if it is not an ordinary morning cup, drunk in a hurry, always brings moments of pleasure, and the ritual of “coffee drinking”, furnished with taste, is doubly pleasant. A cup-shaped candle with your favorite aromatic drink and real coffee aroma, lit in the quiet of the evening, will remind you of pleasant moments.
The vintage cactus candle looks so realistic that it could easily be mistaken for a real plant. There are options when the pots and the cactus itself are made of wax, and there are those where the candle is installed in the original wooden planter box. Decorative unusual candle - a great option for the interior of any room.
Candles with gestures
In life, we often use gestures instead of words. Original gestures for all occasions are cast from wax - a candle of an unusual shape burns for 3 hours and reminds of the victory over fear, of some funny situation or a case from life, and sometimes that he could not show such a gesture to someone. But the creative candle showed!
The sea, the sun, warmth, romance, meetings - candles in the form of stones from the sea coast have a lot of associations, and everyone has their own. A scattering of glowing multi-colored and different sizes sea pebbles in a cozy room on a quiet evening evokes a romantic mood and gives originality to the interior.
Sushi candles + scrambled eggs
Candles - sushi - a tribute to the beloved Japanese rolls. They will look original both in the interior of the kitchen and in the interior of the cafe. When lit, attention will definitely be attracted, and if you add them with a stylized candle in the shape of an fried egg, then a compliment to the organizer of such a picture is guaranteed.
A lighter is a necessary attribute modern man in different life situations. Souvenir in the form of a candle-lighter - original solution for the decor of a room of a man or a young man, an office, a business corner or a birthday cake.
Candle with timer
An unusual candle in the form of an energy-saving light bulb is an original solution for a moment limited in time. It consists of a long wick, twisted in a spiral, and a clamp that limits the burning time. I installed the clamp, lit the candle, but you don’t need to extinguish it - it will go out by itself. A fragrant candle with the smell of cinnamon will last for 3.5 days of continuous burning.
Led-candles - new technologies in the production of candles. The LED candles are powered by batteries, and the LEDs create a glow. There is no open fire, but there is a beautiful imitation of the diffused light of a flame. It is safe to use them, you can choose the right light. They look original in the decor of the bedroom, living room, nursery.
The basis for the manufacture of carved candles was an ancient technology - applying several layers of wax and carving patterns on its warm surface. The master artist has only 15 minutes at his disposal, then the wax becomes brittle and the pattern cannot be cut out. They make amazingly beautiful unusual candles for any holiday dates, for Easter. As an element of decor, they create a fabulous fantasy mood.
Unusual candles in the design of cakes
Candles, large and small, have long and deservedly been popular for decorating cakes. They create an orientation to the holiday, complement the festive mood. From the usual form of candles, they moved on to new, more original solutions.
A cake with an unusual flower candle will be a great addition to a holiday for any age category, and creative youth will like spiral candles. Children will be delighted with a candle-number or a candle in the form of a fairy-tale character.
Unusual church candles
Orthodox church candles, thin and voluminous, long and small, are made from natural ingredients for daily use with various purposes. Most often they have a smooth and even surface. But beautiful wedding candles are always long and voluminous - the mystery of what is happening is reflected in the shape and size.
Amazing patterned lines, twisted curves complement the surface of the candles and make them unusually beautiful and delicate. Wedding candles, with which the young stand throughout the Sacrament, absorb grace, therefore they are kept as a guarantee of a long and happy married life.
What could be more beautiful than the flickering of a candle flame in home interior? Fire always contributes to the creation of an extraordinary atmosphere in which you want to immerse yourself in this moment. Choose the mood that you want to bring to your home and experiment!
Do you want to feel warmth, comfort and harmony? For many, these sensations are often associated with a burning fireplace, because the serenely dancing flames radiate light and heat. To recreate a similar atmosphere in an apartment, use tablet candles. Place them on shelves and chests of drawers around the perimeter of the room, or vice versa - create a fiery composition on the table, imitating the effect of a fireplace. Arrange candles and candle holders for pill candles at different levels (you can use stacks of books, caskets, small boxes).
To immerse yourself in romance, buy openwork or amazing candlesticks decorated with hearts, pendants, crystals. They will help prepare a wonderful surprise for your loved one and fill the interior with an aura of love.
Gothic stylized candlesticks will give your home an atmosphere of mystery, especially if you complement the decor with incense sticks and incense. Well, the New Year's magic will come to your house along with stunning "ice" candlesticks and figured candles in the form of angels, snowflakes or sparkling ones. You can buy candles and candlesticks as a gift for your loved ones, in our online store there is a huge selection of the most amazing and amazing accessories for interior decoration!
