Homemade candles - craft project for all ages

in ecotrain •  6 years ago 
Last ten days were "fun". They are changing our electricity poles and power has been out for the most of the time. You do not think about how beneficial it is to have electricity in your house until you lose it. I was completely lost for the first couple of days because I could not do anything. No washing anything because boilers run on electricity, no opening the fridge because everything would melt, no using my computer and no using my phone after the battery died. I spent the most of my time reading, meditating or being out of the house and of course, the list of choirs that is waiting for me to do is huge. I have read 3 books in seven days and learned that every day away from steemit is giving Gina a massive headache. Notifications are pilling up...

Since candles were my best friend, I decided to show you my homemade candles and maybe inspire you to make your own. It is a fun and creative project, fairly simple to do and you can include your kids too. I am sure they will love it.

Glass containers

This can be any glass, small or big. I usually use wide glass cups or those fancy tall ones that are normally used for drinking wine or cocktails. You can buy them in almost any store that sells home decor but they are found in hobby art stores too. The cheapest way to go is to use something that you already have in your home. This way, you will reuse an old thing and give it a new and shiny purpose.

Gel wax for candles

This kind of gel is sold in hobby art stores and it usually comes in buckets. Some stores sell it in colors but it is more often transparent. In my country, prices are fine and acceptable. 1.2 kilograms of wax is around 21 dollars. I can make a dozen large candles from that so it comes to about 2 dollars per candle but if I am doing smaller ones than it is even cheaper.

Candle coloring

You want the liquid kind. It comes in little ampoules and you can not find all the colors but mixing them up will give you whatever color you like. One of the ways to teach your child what colors will give a new color when mixed together. Just be careful and only use a couple of drops. If you use too much coloring, your wax will no longer be seethrough. I have found that 3 to 5 drops per candle is enough to make it colorful and still nice and transparent enough.

Candle wicks

Buy the largest ones. If you buy the small ones, they may be too small and you will only get frustrated like I was the first time. Well, lesson learned, I buy only the large ones now. You will need some extra length to fixate them and they are easily shortened, just cut them with scissors to the length you need.

Decoration

This is where your imagination comes in, it is your only limit. Just be sure to NEVER use plastic! Choose rocks, herbs, seashells, and materials that are either nonflammable or nontoxic when they lit up. For decoration that is on the outside of the glass and away from the wax, you can use anything because that part is safe from the flame. You can glue it to the glass using a hot-glue gun.


Candle wax for this project comes in a gel form and needs to be heated up to become liquid. Pick a stewing pan that you will use ONLY for this and will NOT cook food in it later!

STEP 1.

Put some wax candle gel in the pan and heat it up. Add a few drops of coloring and even some scent if you like. When it becomes liquid it is done.

STEP 2.

Put the candle wick in your glass and wrap the end on a pencil or a toothpick. Place that toothpick on the top of the glass so it holds the candle wick in place. Your bottom part of the wick should be touching the bottom part of the glass.

STEP 3.

You can add some decoration (sand or rocks) on the bottom of the glass and then put in the wick. The rest of the decoration comes after you have put the wick in. If you want your decoration to float in the candle put some wax in, then add decoration and cover it with some more wax, like layers. This can seem tricky but it is really not. You put some wax, then some decor, then some more wax and repeat until you are at the top of the glass. When you are done, leave your candle to cool down for about an hour so the wax becomes gel again and is no more in its liquid form.

Here is how some of my candles turned out:







And my favorite one:



If you cannot or will not use wax gel and this seems to hard or complicated, you can always play with candle decoration instead. There are amazing ways to decorate your candle that is already made but too simple to your liking. I like turning a wine glass upside down and putting a candle on top with decorations inside of the glass. There is also putting the candle in the glass and decorations around it. Play with it and see what amazing things you can come up with. Here is some of my work:


I am still selling my felt products and accepting SBD. Shipment is all around the world. You can read all about it HERE There is info on ordering, products, shippment, everything really.

The person who won free shipping for her next order is @dreemsteem. Congratulations!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,
KEEP YOUR SMILE ON!



All images used in this post are mine and you cannot use them without my permission. Thank you.
- the candle clipart used in my titles is from Free Clip Art Library
- the bitmoji is well... my bitmoji. Get yours at https://www.bitmoji.com/


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These are so pretty, would love to make one! Not too sure where I would find the candle gel though!

I definitely do not like power black out too. and poor Gina. LOL

This seems to be an interesting project and I wish I have time to do it. It does sound time-consuming. But I must admit they are so beautiful and fun.

THANK YOU for sharing such a detailed step by steps blog for us.

  ·  6 years ago (edited)

I have to admit, this does take some time to make. Whenever I make them, I put aside a good part of my day for it but like you sad, it is very fun to do :)

you are so artistic and creative, I love the ones you made especially with the sea shells in them

Thank you honey, I love working with seashells, I never go to a beach without returning with a couple of them :)

Thats a popular thing on the beaches here as well I always see people looking for shells, I occasionally grab ones that stand out I have s mall box of them

Look at you back at it again! I love when you let your creativity flow! These are beautiful!! Your favorite one is my favorite one too, just so pretty! I love the seashells and the ribbon tied around it.

Thank you for always sharing a step by step tutorial so that we can always have the opportunity to have a Go at one of your projects!! Well done~ 😊

Why are you here honey? Go and hug that beautiful baby of yours 💚💚💚 Thank you for your lovely words of encouragement 💚

Lol!! I was just reading a few posts while the baby was getting her vitals checked. I love her so much and can’t stop hugging and kissing her!! 🤗💕😄

Thanks for the post, but to be totally honest with you, the first thing that came to mind when I thought of a home made candle, was those home made candles made from human fat from one or other horror movie....eish! Was it silence of the lambs??
My kids would love this as a little crafting project

LOLOLOL, you are a weird one, aren't you? :) hihihi, thanks for stopping by 💚

I suppose to some. I dont even like horror movies....

Dang, I think I would go crazy if the power went out for that long. Sounds like it was out for almost the entire day?

Really like those candle designs, love that you picked very soft colors.

I would went mad too if it were not for meditation and reading books :)

They are really pretty @zen-art I need candles at the moment as I'm having a power issue :)

You too? I hope you have some candles close to you :)

These are beautiful! Nicely done. You're so creative in so many ways! 💖

Thank you honey, you are so sweet 💚

OMG you took the homemade candle thing to another level. Your job is really beautyful.

And now I am blushing, thank you 💚

These are more like artwork then candles, they're beautiful. I would love to make things like this. Thanks for the tutorial!

Thank you for your compliment, so nice of you to say that 💚

im so used to seeing wax candles, that i was very confused when I received a gel candle as a gift! They're so pretty, I don't want to light it haha. What happens to the little objects inside when you burn the candle? Do you have to watch the flame when it gets too close? Thanks for sharing!

It all depends on the material those thingies inside are made of. If they are plastic (and store bought gel candles usually have plastic inside) DO NOT light it. Just watch it :) The plastic is toxic when it burns and there will be black smoke everywhere. Only light gel candles that have natural materials inside like rocks, sand or seashells that will not burn and those that have plants inside that are safe to burn.

Thanks! I will definitely try this over the summer holidays with my older daughter.

I am sure you will have lots of fun 💚

These are beautiful and a great use for my piling up empty glasses, they would make wonderful gifts and look like they will be added to my arts and crafts list.

Losing power would be a pain in the butt for many reasons. We used to have a no tech day once a month which involved turning everything off and doing something non plugged in and then we found Steemit. Lol...

Poor gina, how many notifications did you come back too lol.

Gina was showing numbers with 4 digits lol :)
I am sure you will turn those empty glasses into real works of art! 💚

@zen-art haha, WOW, I have never had that bad, triple digits is enough for me but I am sure if I had no power for that period of time she would shock me with more digits than possible. its amazing she doesn't melt down lol..

Hello @zen-art I love crafts and your projects are beautiful, I congratulate you are an artist!

Thank you, I am glad you like it 💚

They are so beautiful @zen-art! Love the one with the white butterfly. I'm in awe by the work of your hands.

They are so beautiful @zen-art! Love the one with the white butterfly. I'm in awe by the work of your hands.

Oh, you make me blush :) Thank you for your kind comment 💚

I love them though in my small village I have never seen the wax and materials snif. They look pretty though. Your articles are always a joybto read. And well that time by candlelight sounds kind of romantic. Luck with the pending chores. Blessings.

Luckily, you can order everything on ebay :) This time with no electricity was romantic, nice and quiet but yes, the chores will take up most of my time now :) Hugs and kisses honey 💚💚💚

I shall try that though I'm on ebay trying to get some needle felting tools first... wish I had more time for crafts. I do flower crowns and things like that though for my performances, but I'm a messy crafter.

Great project! I will try it with my kids. Is there any other material you can use instead of this wax? Thank you for sharing!

Different stores sell different kinds of gel wax, you can buy it or use the leftovers of your used candles and mix it up, that is fun too.

Saving this idea for end of the year Christmas gifts, it's always nice to give something handmade!

Oh yes, these make excellent gifts! You will make someone really happy 💚

great little works you have! and thanks for taking the time to teach us all how to make our own. :3

Thanks you, you are very kind to say that 💚

Wow those candles turned out so great!! I kind of wish I used candles more often, they add a really nice mood to the room. Maybe I should make pretty ones like these so I'd use them more often.. Anyways, I bookmarked this for later, thank you for sharing your knowledge :)

Every room gets nice, romantic and cute with these and I am sure you will make gorgeous ones 💚

This is one of the new skills I have on my 2018 Bucket List!!
I heard about this post (not sure how I missed it though) from @tripswithtam (thank you for sharing with me!)

This is a great and cool skill to have and I am sure all your candles will be amazing 💚

That's so cool - art with utility!

Namaste, JaiChai

Thanks, I am happy to hear that 💚

Thanks for sharing this Petra! I've seen a candle tutorial this week but haven't seen one like yours. I received one like this way back in high school. I didn't even get to light it and it got lost when we move out.

Don't really collect scented or colorful candles so I'm quite in love watching the ones you shared. ^^

These make excellent decorations, you do not even have to lit them up, just need to watch them :) Thank you for your lovely comment 💚

:) Thanks they really do!

Saved to try it !!!
Moving to my new place soon and it would be a super creative activity! :D
Oh, and we're all about the candles here in Denmark for a cosy environment at home! :D

I wish you all the best in your new home, I am sure you will make beautiful candles and that they will be a lovely addition to your new place 💚

It's very nice kind of craft, I love it!

Thank you 💚

You're such a creative soul, my dear fairy! These candles look fantastic!

Thank you honey, you are very kind to say that 💚

Really nice Zen :D
I could think of a 1000 things to put in them!
The options are unlimited!!
Sweet job :)

The only limit is your imagination :) Thank you for your lovely comment 💚

Peace, love and candles :D

I have never seen this kind of transparent gel wax before. Thanks for sharing. I think this is something my wife and kids would love to do for Christmas gifts.

Proud member of #steemitbloggers @steemitbloggers

I am sure your wife and kids will have a lot of fun with this 💚

Hehe, I like how you turned the power outage into an article about candles. They sure do come in handy in such situations. So do lanterns and flashlights. :):)

Hihi, yeah, I am tricky that way, start talking about one thing and end up on something completely different. Thanks for stopping by 💚

Wow this looks really good and so useful

Thank you, they are 💚

So nice

Thanks 💚

This is so-ooo exquisite!
I think I'll try a couple of ideas based on this valuable manual.
Great post!