How to make a homemade candle at home. Selecting the shape for the future candle

For recent years making candles from mass production slowly migrated to the home workshops of needlewomen, turning into a creative activity.

Candles, which just a century ago were not only the main source of light, but also a kind of indicator of a family’s well-being, used in wealthy homes instead of a smoky 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 capacity - 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 creating and large selection 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 activity is not difficult, not boring, and you can get a beautiful result quite quickly. For these reasons, making candles at home will appeal to and be within the power of needlewomen of all ages - both seasoned and not yet very experienced.

What you need for creativity

The best part is that to get started you need a minimum set of materials:

• candle gel, wax or paraffin;
• wick or cotton threads without synthetic impurities for its manufacture;
• form for pouring candles;
• elements for decoration.

Wax or paraffin can be used from ordinary household candles, from them it will not be difficult to remove the finished wick. Candle gel is also easy to make with your own hands. Instead of an expensive mold, you can take any suitable fireproof container - a beautiful cup, jar, tin box. In short, starting a new hobby won’t cost much. We can say that this is one of the.

Based on the main material used to make candles, there are two basic technologies - wax and gel, which are similar in many ways, but still have their own nuances in operation.

Secrets of making candles from wax or paraffin

In the process of creating a wax product, the most critical moment is the melting of the material. This will require good dexterity and speed of action, since melted wax or paraffin cools quickly, moreover, 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 excessively, and a very thin one will constantly go out. The twist 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 - optimal thickness and the twist density of the threads for the wick will have to be determined only by personal experience, by trial and experimentation. Each master develops his own formula and secret over time. successful work.

DIY gel candles

To make beautiful transparent candles that do not emit odor or smoke, you can use ready-made gel wax, or you can prepare consumables on one's own. In the latter case, you need to purchase ingredients such as glycerin, tannin, gelatin, distilled water and, after mixing them, boil over low heat until the liquid has completely evaporated.

This technology is somewhat more complicated than wax technology, 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 goes away immediately after the gel cools.

Gel opens up many different possibilities for decoration. For example, shells, pebbles, starfish, dried citrus fruits or flowers look very beautiful when filled with transparent wax. Women who are looking for candles can make candles with their own hands in this way, since they do not stand out during work. harmful substances.

Making aroma candles at home

It’s worth mentioning separately about aroma candles - they are also easy to make at home. Advantage scented candles home production also means that you can have one hundred percent confidence in the environmental friendliness and harmlessness of the aromatic components.

Why learn to make candles?

Designers and decorators very often use beautiful interior candles to create false fireplaces in homes 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 from your favorite hobby.

Especially if, on the eve of major generally recognized holidays, you make products with a themed design. Hand-made products can also be offered to restaurant owners, who often use candles to create an intimate atmosphere in the establishment in the evening or to give a special festive atmosphere.

Step-by-step master classes with photos

To help those who are just trying themselves in creating “homes,” we have prepared unique master classes With step by step photos. Detailed instructions will help you delve into the intricacies of craftsmanship and master difficult moments.

Modern candle making is not only about production necessary items everyday life This is real art, amazing with flights of thought and unlimited imagination. Modern candles are real elements of decor and interior design that can easily replace works of art. Today, candle making has become a favorite hobby among many people. The thing is that candles are easy to make, they don’t require a lot of expensive material, but the field for imagination is endless.

What you need to make your own candle

To prepare a candle, we need paraffin. It can be purchased in specialized craft stores, as well as in hardware stores. Paraffin can be taken from old, unburnt or broken candles. Instead of paraffin, you can use beeswax. This natural material, which, when burned, cleans and disinfects the air. However, it cannot be dyed or flavored. IN lately Soy wax is gaining popularity. It hardens quickly, burns for a long time and is easy to clean.

Pay attention to where you will be working. Prepare workspace and cover it with old oilcloth or newspaper. We will need a water bath pan, an old bowl, a wick and a thermometer. You can use a thin rope or a paper rope as a wick. You can decorate the candle with decorative elements - Christmas tree branches, shells and beautiful stones. Don't forget about dyes - it is better to use oil-based dyes; food-grade dyes will not work. By adding aromatic oils at a certain stage, you give the candles special charm– when burning, they will emit a pleasant smell.

How to make a candle

1. Fill a saucepan with water and put it on fire. You will need it for the water bath. You cannot heat wax over an open fire - it burns and evaporates.
2. Grind the paraffin into shavings and place in an old aluminum bowl. Keep in mind that paraffin is practically not washable, so it is advisable to have a separate vessel for making candles.
3. The paraffin needs to be planed; you should not place the wax in one piece - it will take a very long time to melt. Place a small container in a pan of boiling water and wait for the wax to begin to melt.
4. Just in case, have warm soapy water and a damp cloth on hand. If wax gets on the table or stove, it will need to be wiped off immediately.
5. Use a thermometer when heating the wax. Craft stores sell a special thermometer for making decorative candles. If you haven’t found such a thermometer, you can use a regular confectionery analogue.
6. Wax usually melts at a temperature of 85-90 degrees. It is very important to monitor the temperature so as not to overheat the wax. If you let it get hotter than it should, it may begin to boil and then simply ignite.
7. Melting wax is a fire hazardous process. Carefully monitor the melting of paraffin and do not trust the process to children without adult supervision. If the wax catches fire, it cannot be extinguished with water; use a rag for this.
8. If you burn wax from old used candles, you need to pay attention to whether there are old wicks in the mass. If necessary, remove them with tongs.
9. When the wax becomes liquid, you need to add flavoring and dye to it. You can add several colors without mixing too much to get a candle with multi-colored patterns.
10. Prepare a candle mold. Typically the shape is a glass cup with transparent or patterned walls. You need to secure the wick in it so that it is straight in the center. To do this, one end of the wick must be secured to a round tin plane the size of a penny. The second end of the wick is tied to a stick, which holds it in an upright position.
11. If you want to add some decor to your candle, now is the time to fill the mold with them. It is best to place them as close as possible to the walls of the mold, so that after the wax hardens they can be seen.
12. The wax mass is carefully poured into the candle mold. In this case, you need to make sure that the wick does not move.
13. Wax and paraffin harden depending on the density of the raw material. Usually homemade candles freeze for 10-12 hours. But it’s best to wait a day; the longer the candle hardens, the better it will burn. There is no need to put a candle in the refrigerator.

After hardening, the candle can be used. Before doing this, do not forget to trim the wick, leaving a small tail for burning. The candle can be removed from the mold or left to be used directly in it. Candles self-made can become a pleasant and original gift.

This is interesting! If you add scented citronella oil to the wax when preparing a candle, the candle will repel mosquitoes as it burns. It's safe, simple and effective method protection from annoying insects.

Gel candles are gaining popularity due to their lightness and original design. Decorating gel candles is a pleasure, because the transparent structure allows all decoration elements to be visible. Let's look at how to make a gel candle.

1. You need to buy a special gel for making candles at a crafts and crafts store. It can be transparent or colored. You can mix several colors to get the desired shade.
2. We melt the gel in the same way as paraffin. The gel becomes liquid at 100 degrees.
3. We lower the wick into the prepared form in the same way as in the previous description. Lower it to the bottom decorative elements- buttons, pieces of dried citrus fruits, toys, beads - anything. Please note that decoration items must be non-flammable.
4. Pre-wash the decorative elements and dry them dry. Some decorations can be placed on the bottom, while others can be added to the candle as the melted gel is poured. They will remain as if floating in space.
5. Arrange decorative elements so that they are not located close to the wick. Maintain a distance of at least one centimeter from the wick.
6. Sometimes after the candle hardens, bubbles form inside the gel. To prevent this from happening, the mold must be heated. This can be done by lowering it into hot water or using a hairdryer. If you put the mold in water, be sure to dry it thoroughly afterwards. If, on the contrary, you want to decorate the candle with a lot of bubbles and focus on this, you need to pre-cool the form in the freezer.

After hardening, the gel candle cannot be used earlier than one day later.

1. As interesting idea You can use the gel in several colorful shades. To do this, pour a little gel into the bottom of the mold and wait a few minutes until it sets. After this, pour a gel of a different shade into the container. This way you can combine colors and make a bright striped candle. If you want the colors to have a smooth transition, you don’t need to wait long for them to dry. In this case, they will mix at the color border. If you want clear boundaries, you may want to wait longer. However, do not overexpose the composition, otherwise after complete hardening a whitish film may form on the surface - it will spoil appearance candles.
2. You can make a natural candle from lemon zest. To do this, cut the lemon in half and carefully cut out the pulp. When melting, add cloves, lavender essential oil and a sprig of rosemary to the gel. The melted gel must be poured into the mold and allowed to cool. You will get a beautiful and fragrant fruit candle.
3. In order for the finished candle to emit a pleasant aroma when burning, you need to add it to the melted wax. coffee beans. After you pour the wax into the mold, decorate the top of the candle with an original pattern of seeds.
4. You can make a candle with your own photos. To do this, print the photo on tracing paper and cut out the image. After this, attach the photo to the candle and heat it with a hairdryer. After some time, the drawing will begin to be transferred to the candle. This way you can make candles with any design or picture.

Fine decorative candles can change the atmosphere in the house. DIY candles make the interior warm and cozy.

Video: how to make clear gel candles

Beautiful and bright candles are quite easy to make at home. They can be not just plain, but multi-colored. The technology for making these candles is not complicated, but to bring them to such original look, you will have to spend several hours of free time.

Materials

Before you make colored candles with your own hands, prepare:

• clear wax;
• wax pencils;
• disposable paper cups;
• glass cups;
• wicks;
• ice cream sticks;
• aromatic oils;
• microwave;
• grater



Step 1. Grate regular transparent wax and fill paper cups with the resulting material. They only need to be filled a quarter full with this material.

Step 2. Microwave the cup for 45 seconds. Get it out. Mix the wax with a wooden stick. It should melt completely; if this does not happen, place the glass in the oven for another 30 seconds.



Step 3. Place the wick in an empty glass cup. You can attach the other end to an ice cream stick and place it on top part cup. This will make it easier for you to continue working. Pour some wax into the glass and wait until it sets. Thus, the wick should be fixed in the center of the cup.



Step 4. Remove the paper wrapping from the wax crayons. Grate them and add desired color crayons into separate cups with wax. Add shavings of one pencil to a third of a glass of wax to get a fairly rich color.



Step 5. Place a glass of colored wax in the microwave for 2.5 minutes. Take it out and, stirring, add a few drops of your chosen aromatic oil. You don't have to do this, but with oil your candles will emit a pleasant aroma.



Step 6. While holding the wick, pour the first layer of colored wax into the glass. To get an interesting pattern, tilt the glass at an angle and hold it in this position until the wax sets.



Step 7. In the same way, melt cups with wax of a different color and also, but at the opposite angle, pour them one by one into a glass cup. Fix the container in different positions each time until the wax sets.



Step 8. After forming a multi-colored candle, let the wax cool completely.

In recent years, the attitude towards candles as a means of lighting a home in the absence of electricity has completely changed. How to make a candle at home so that this item becomes an exquisite decoration and emphasizes the individuality of the home design? For many, candle making has become the basis of a small business.

In recent years, the attitude towards candles as a means of illuminating a home in the absence of electricity has completely changed

Candle made with my own hands, is a wonderful gift for friends and relatives. It’s very useful to make such a gift for Valentine’s Day for your loved one.

Having seen a beautiful candle in a souvenir shop, many people are eager to make a similar one themselves. Most of those who want to never try it, because they think that it is a difficult task, and without special education They won’t be able to make decorative candles with their own hands.

It turns out that this is not true, and anyone who wants to learn can do it. The main thing is to start, and over time an understanding of the process and mastery will come.

Making candles at home does not require large quantity materials and tools. This allows you to quickly learn candle making, and this activity is not too expensive for the family budget.

For beginner candle makers, you need to purchase following materials and tools:

• wax, paraffin, candle gel;
• container for melting wax and paraffin;
• natural cotton threads or ready-made candle wicks;
• sticks, at least 2, for stirring the candle base and attaching the wick;
• several molds for candles;
• materials for decoration;
• water bath pan;
• wax crayons;
• water thermometer.

Beeswax can be purchased from beekeepers. Paraffin is sold in craft stores or in the hardware departments of supermarkets. Materials can also be ordered online.

To start making your first candles at home, you can collect paraffin from cinders. Candle gel can be purchased at craft supply stores or it is not difficult to make yourself.

As a mold for candles, use any cups, glasses, various containers made of plastic or metal, any available means that are not deformed by a paraffin or gel base heated to a high temperature.

It is better to start making candles yourself using paraffin. Beeswax is a natural material, but it is not suitable for making decorative candles. It cannot be dyed or aromatized.

To tint paraffin, use oil-based paints. Color good quality can be obtained using children's wax crayons. Craft stores sell special pigments in tablets for coloring paraffin. Some craftswomen use lipstick and eye shadow for this purpose.

How to make candles with your own hands (video)

Wax and paraffin candles

To make a neat wax candle with your own hands, you need to correctly carry out the process of melting the base. The same remark can be applied to paraffin candles. The base material melts at high temperatures. You need to adapt well and act quickly, since melted wax and paraffin cool quickly and do not flow well. Due to the high melting temperatures, safety precautions must be followed when working with these bases.

Step-by-step instructions for making candles.

Conventional beeswax is little used for making decorative candles. As noted above, scented and beautifully colored products cannot be made from such wax.

Instead of beeswax DIY decorative candles are made from soy gel at home. This is the most popular material for the base. It is environmentally friendly and slow burning.

The first stage in the production of candles is preparatory. Everything is purchased and prepared necessary ingredients, tools and devices. A professional master class on the topic, with photographs and descriptions, or a video is selected on the Internet.

Before melting begins, pour warm water into the prepared container. soap solution. It may be needed to collect wax in case of splashing or spilling of the molten mass. Place cardboard and a towel or cloth napkin nearby.

It is strictly forbidden to melt wax directly. This process must be done slowly so that the wax does not burn or evaporate. Therefore, the base is melted in a water bath.

A water bath is constructed from 2 pans. Into container larger size Pour water up to half. Another pan is inserted into it, preferably with handles. It is needed to melt the wax.

The second stage is making the wick. To do this, take a cotton thread. The wick made from colored floss threads looks original.

The type of wick depends on the base material. For wax candles it is made from thick, slightly intertwined threads. For paraffin and gel products, the threads are woven tightly so that the candle does not smoke when burning. A thick wick will cause a candle to burn and smoke very quickly, while a thin wick will burn poorly and go out.

In addition to simple twisting, the threads can be braided or crocheted into a lace. Before pouring the candle, the wick is impregnated with wax or paraffin.

The third stage is choosing a form. How to make a candle at home without special molds? It all depends on the imagination of the craftswoman. The shape for a candle can be any container and packaging that can withstand high temperatures melted wax. Since wax deposits are difficult to remove from dishes, it is better to choose unnecessary consumable containers as molds.

The fourth stage is melting the base material. The melting point of wax candles depends on its type:

• paraffin wax has a melting temperature of +50…+60°C;
• bee – +62…+79°С;
• soy gel can be melted at temperatures not exceeding +80°C.

There are many master classes on the Internet on how to melt wax correctly. You can monitor the melting point using a pastry thermometer or a meat thermometer.

Wax or paraffin is crushed into small pieces, since large pieces take a long time to melt. The grated mass is placed in the upper saucepan of the water bath. When the water in the bottom saucepan boils, reduce the heat slightly to maintain an even melting temperature.

Flavoring is added to the melted wax if it is made scented candles. The mixture is mixed well. Then add dye and mix again.

The fifth stage is wax casting or the actual creation of the candle. The wick is fixed in the center of the mold. Its tip must be secured to wooden stick. It is placed on top of the mold so that the thread is exactly in the middle of the mold. A knot is tied at the free end of the wick. The length of the thread should be such that it rests on the bottom of the container.

Next, pour the wax into the mold and let it cool. If the candle mold has a hole in the bottom, then the wax is poured in several passes. You need to pour the molten base carefully so as not to get burned and not to move the wick to the side.

The poured form is left to cool. The product should be refrigerated for at least 24 hours. Some people try to speed up the cooling process by placing the mold in the freezer. It is better not to do this, as such candles do not burn well. When the material cools naturally, it compacts evenly and maintains high-quality and long-lasting combustion.

Gel candles

To make a gel candle with your own hands, you need to have the following materials:

• gel wax;
• reinforced wick;
• essential oils;
• liquid dyes;
• decorative elements.

Soy gel is a natural, absolutely non-toxic substance. It is used to make decorative and aromatherapy candles. The substance retains essential oils well and releases them better when burned. The smell will be richer and brighter.

Adding essential oils to wax allows you to lower its melting point. Impregnation of the wick with soy gel allows for smooth and clean combustion. When burning, soot and carcinogens are not released, which cannot be said about paraffins, and even more so about stearins.

DIY scented candles (video)

Making gel wax at home

Setting up the production of soy gel candles is not difficult, since the base can be made at home. You can read about how to make soy gel yourself on the forums of craftswomen. hand made. Standard recipe:

• gelatin – 5 g or 1 tsp;
• tannin – 2 g or on the tip of a knife;
• water – 20 ml or 4 tsp;
• glycerin – 35 ml or 1 tbsp. l. and 2 tsp.

Tannin is dissolved in glycerin when heated. Continuing to heat the mixture, gelatin is added to it. The resulting solution should be transparent. The prescribed amount of water is added to it. Stirring, bring the mixture to a boil. When adding water, the solution may become cloudy, but with further boiling it will clear. The mixture is boiled until the water completely evaporates.

The finished gel is poured into a pre-prepared fireproof mold with a wick fixed in it. A gel made by yourself is not inferior in quality to one bought in a store.

Making aroma candles

If you have the skills to make wax candles at home, then it will not be difficult to solve the problem of how to make a scented candle. Aroma candles homemade have many advantages over store-bought products. The main advantage is that they are environmentally friendly, the components used for their production are harmless.

Any natural essential oils can be used to flavor wax products. But it should be borne in mind that when burned, some of them may change their smell. Before adding aromatic substances, they should be heated to understand what the smell of a burning candle will be. Waxes can be flavored with exotic spices, tea mix, or coffee beans.

Candle decoration

You can decorate homemade candles in different ways. The very first is the shape of the products; it can be unusual and unexpected. Various stickers are used. Interesting way finishing – decoupage with napkins.

A decorating pattern can be made using dried flowers, grass, fruits, citrus fruits, coffee beans, pebbles, shells, petals and other elements. In finishing decorative items They use everything that the craftswomen’s imagination suggests.

Decorations should be secured in the mold before pouring the molten base. You need to pour the hot mixture carefully so as not to displace the pattern.

Attention, TODAY only!