What to do with old candles. Do-it-yourself wax candles: a master class with video. DIY gel candles at home
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, even beginners can start this exciting process.
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 that the necessary materials are easily accessible. 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 an unpleasant odor behind. 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: dissolve 1 tablespoon of salt and 2 tablespoons of boric acid in a glass of water. 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 is to 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 recommend heating 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 a marine style. For the 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.
We invite you to create heart-shaped candles that will be 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
Do you want to add bright colors to your home? Handmade interior rainbow candles will help you with this.
To make them you will need the following ingredients:
. paraffin;
. stearin;
. wick;
. cylindrical shape;
. dyes corresponding to the colors of the rainbow.
You will get more detailed information from the detailed video tutorial. For beginners, it shows all the stages of preparing a candle mass and creating a gradient transition of 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. Stir the wax with a 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 exude 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 interesting idea is a 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 varied design, because talented craftsmen never tire of impressing with their imagination and creative experiments. In confirmation 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 of 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 your friends for the 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 with healing properties. It no longer acts as a decor, but as a home cosmetic product that makes the skin soft and well-groomed.
Healing properties of essential oils:
Lemon essential oil will help rejuvenate the skin and cleanse the pores.
. 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. Coconut oil, rich in natural antioxidants, can smooth the skin.
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. The use of natural materials is 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.
Heat a teaspoon over an ordinary burning candle (with the inside over the fire, because the spoon will blacken a little, 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, dip it into the melted paraffin, set it on a flat surface and let it 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, fir branches and colored balls. It will bring good mood and holiday atmosphere to your home.
PHOTO-DESIGN IDEAS
Want even 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 your masterpieces will already be a role model.
I made this candle from the remains of old ones (of different colors and shapes), using a tetra pack and orange peel roses. When you light a candle, the peel of an orange begins to smolder and a pleasant aroma spreads around the apartment. If you don't like it, then don't place the candle decoration close to the wick and the roses will only decorate your creation.
So, we take unnecessary candles, a tetra pack (we cut the package at the top), orange peel roses, a wick (from an old or church candle). Having melted the candles in an old tin can, pour the paraffin into a tetrapak in different order and in different colors, allowing each color to cool. I alternated the layers with paraffin crumbs (I rubbed the candle on a grater).
At the last stage, I put such orange peel roses around the perimeter of the tetrapak, as shown in the photo. When everything cooled down, I cut open the bag and removed the candle. simple and fun)
You can make any decor that comes into your head.
Anything can be used to make a scented candle. For example, you can make a candle in any container, after laying cinnamon sticks and crumbs of tea (any one in the house) on the bottom of the vase.
Having fixed the wick on any stick, pour the candles previously melted in an empty tin can and let cool.
photo from internet
You can do it with all kinds of shells that you brought from the sea, but you don’t know how to use ...
Or rose petals...
Or without anything at all, it's just a pity to throw away the remnants of burnt candles ...
You can make your own candles with ice!
Materials:
Wide shape for a future candle (you can use a cardboard milk bag)
Thin regular candle (household type)
crushed ice
Saucepan
Wax melter
Pour water into the pan, put a jar of paraffin in it. Put a few wooden sticks, for example, kebab skewers, on the bottom of the pan, and put a jar of paraffin on them. When the wax is completely melted, you can add finely chopped wax crayons and flavors to it for color.
While the wax is melting, prepare the molds for the candles.
Place a regular thin candle in the center of the candle mold. The form can be any.
Fill the area around the candle with crushed ice.
Use finely crushed ice: the larger the ice, the larger the holes in your candle will be in the future.
Carefully pour the melted wax into the prepared molds, trying to evenly distribute it evenly around the ice.
Ice under the influence of hot wax will melt and leave small holes in the candle.
When the wax hardens (approximately 1 hour), pour the water out of the mold over the edge.
Leave the candle in the mold overnight, remove the candle from the mold in the morning. Try to pull it out carefully so as not to damage the resulting openwork shape of the candle. In this regard, cardboard forms are more convenient - you can simply cut the edge of the box and then tear it apart. Leave the finished candle for another half a day on a towel to dry completely.
Now you have a candle in which two elements are connected: ice and flame!
People have been using candles for a long time.
Previously, they served to illuminate the premises, and now they are an element of decor and a way to create a romantic, festive or cozy atmosphere.
You can find many different types of candles in stores, ranging from the simple to the whimsical. Such decorations can be made independently from simple materials. Making decorative candles does not require financial costs and does not take much time, but by showing your imagination and putting a piece of your soul into your product, you can create a unique thing that will bring joy to you and your family.
How to make decorative candles with your own hands
What will be required
candle material. Wax, paraffin or stearin. For people who are new to candle making, it is best to start with paraffin wax, as it is easier to work with. Paraffin can be bought or obtained from white household candles or their remains.
Stearin is easily obtained from laundry soap. Grate the soap on a coarse grater or cut it with a knife. Place the chips in a metal container, fill with water so that the liquid covers it and send it to melt in a water bath. When the soap has dissolved, take it off the heat and add the vinegar. A thick mass will float to the surface, which must be collected with a spoon after cooling. This mass is stearin, it must be washed several times under water and wrapped in a clean cloth to remove excess moisture.
Wick. For the wick, you will need a thick cotton thread, for example, a woven braid or a floss twisted into a rope. Synthetic materials for candles are unsuitable because they burn quickly and smell unpleasant. It is easier to get a wick from ordinary candles.
The form. Various containers can be used as a mold for making candles: coffee jars, strong packaging, sand molds and plastic balls. If you decide to make a candle narrowed to the top or a round one, the container that you will use for this, for example, a plastic ball, should be cut lengthwise and a hole with a diameter of at least 1 cm should be made at the top so that the composition can be freely poured into it.
Dyes. You can take dry food colors, wax crayons or natural ingredients, such as cocoa. But paints based on alcohol or water are unsuitable for making candles.
Dishes for melting. A small saucepan or bowl is suitable, which is convenient to place on the steam bath.
Additional materials. You will need them to decorate and add flavors to the product. Since DIY candles are a lot of fantasy, you can use whatever you like, such as coffee, dried flowers, shells, beads and sparkles. Candles can be scented with your favorite essential oils, vanilla or cinnamon.
Progress
- Grind the selected raw material and place it in a water bath. If you are using household candles, be sure to remove the wick. The remains of candles must be cleaned of black soot. While stirring, wait until the mass melts. Dip the wick into it several times so that it is saturated and set it aside.
- Add flavoring and coloring to the mass. If you use wax crayons, grind them with a fine grater. When using two or more colors, you can achieve a marble color. And by dividing the mass into several parts and painting them in different colors, you can make a multi-colored candle.
- Lubricate the mold chosen for the candle with vegetable oil or dishwashing detergent. Fix the tip of the wick on a stick, toothpick or pencil and place it on the mold so that the free end of the wick passes through its middle and reaches the bottom. For reliability, a weight, for example, a nut, can be attached to the free part of the wick.
- Pour the melted mass into the mold, wait for it to solidify completely, then pull out the candle by pulling on the wick. If the candle is difficult to remove, immerse the mold in hot water.
- You can decorate candles in different ways, for example, spread dried flowers, blades of grass and seeds around the edges of the mold and then pour the melted mass. To make a coffee candle, you need to pour a layer of coffee beans on the bottom of the mold, pour them with liquid candle material and put the beans on top again. It is better to decorate the product with beads, rhinestones and shells after it has solidified and taken out of the mold. Decorative elements are inserted into the melted surface of the candle or attached with glue.
The first time you may have problems, but after a little practice, making candles at home will not be difficult.
Save so you don't lose!
In recent years, the manufacture of candles from mass production has slowly migrated to the home workshops of needlewomen, turning into a creative activity.
Candles, which some century ago were not only the main source of light, but also a kind of indicator of family well-being, used in wealthy homes instead of a smoking torch, have long lost their original meaning. Today, it is important to make candles with your own hands at home in order to use them in a completely different way - as an element of exquisite decor and an invariable attribute of creating a romantic mood.
Making decorative candles as a hobby
Thanks to the simple technology of creation and a large selection of materials for work and decoration, now every craftswoman can open a miniature "candle factory" at home, which will not only bring pleasure from creativity, but can also become an additional source of profit.
The advantage of this type of hobby is that the occupation is simple, not boring, and a beautiful result can be obtained quite quickly. For these reasons, making candles at home will appeal to needlewomen of all ages, both venerable and not yet very experienced.
What is needed for creativity
The best part is that you need a minimum set of materials to get started:
- candle gel, wax or paraffin;
- wick or cotton threads without synthetic impurities for its manufacture;
- form for pouring a candle;
- elements for decoration.
Wax or paraffin can be used from ordinary household candles, but it will not be difficult to remove the finished wick from them. Candle gel is also easy to make with your own hands. Instead of an expensive form, you can take any suitable refractory container - a beautiful cup, jar, tin box. In a word, starting a new hobby will not be very expensive. We can say that this is one of the.
Based on the main material used to make candles, two basic technologies are distinguished - wax and gel, which are similar in many respects, but, nevertheless, have their own nuances in work.
The secrets of making candles from wax or paraffin
In the process of creating a product from wax, the moment of melting of the material is the most important. Here you will need good skill and speed of action, since melted wax or paraffin cools quickly, besides, it is very hot and can easily burn.
Also, before making a candle with your own hands, it is important to choose the right thickness of the wick: if you make it too thick, the candle will melt and smoke too much, and a very thin one will constantly go out. The twisting density of the wick also plays an important role - for wax and paraffin candles, the threads should be twisted slightly loosely so that the flame does not go out.
There is no universal advice here - the optimal thickness and density of twisting of the threads for the wick will have to be derived only from personal experience, by trial and experiment. Each master eventually develops his own formula and the secret of successful work.
DIY gel candles
To make beautiful transparent candles that do not emit any smell or smoke, you can use ready-made gel wax, or you can prepare consumables yourself. In the latter case, you need to purchase ingredients such as glycerin, tannin, gelatin, distilled water and mix them, boil over low heat until the liquid has completely evaporated.
This technology is somewhat more complicated than wax, but the result is worth the effort - the products are very elegant and unique. During cooking, the mixture may become cloudy, but this is a temporary phenomenon that disappears immediately after the gel cools down.
The gel opens up a lot of different possibilities for decorating. For example, shells, pebbles, starfish, dried citrus fruits or flowers filled with transparent wax look very beautiful. Women who are looking for can make candles with their own hands at home in this way, since no harmful substances are released during work.
Making scented candles at home
Separately, it is worth mentioning aroma candles - they are also easy to make at home. The advantage of home-made scented candles is that you can be 100% sure that the scented components are environmentally friendly and harmless.
Why learn to make candles
Designers and decorators often use beautiful interior candles to create false fireplaces in houses and apartments. They can also be a good gift or a romantic souvenir, so if you learn how to make a high-quality and original product, then it’s quite possible to make good money on your favorite hobby.
Especially if on the eve of major generally recognized holidays, products with thematic design are made. Handmade products can also be offered to restaurant owners, who often use candles to create an intimate atmosphere in the restaurant in the evening or to give a special festive atmosphere.
Step-by-step master classes with photos
To help those who are just trying their hand at creating "home fires", we have prepared unique master classes with step-by-step photos. Detailed instructions will help you understand the intricacies of craftsmanship and master difficult moments.
