DIY decorated candles. Secrets of making candles with your own hands: from wax to gel

In this article we want to tell you how to create candles with your own hands. Such candles will make your design unique, and they are also perfect as a gift.

Did you know that people started using candles back in the 3rd millennium BC? True, at that time only wealthy citizens could afford them. Nowadays, candles are used mainly as cozy items decor. Let's see how you can make such a miracle yourself.

DIY candles for beginners: master class

For these candles, which are easy to make and can decorate any decor, you will need the following:

• Actually, ourselves candles– several pieces

IMPORTANT: It is quite possible to purchase the most ordinary candles in the hardware department of the store. They, however, have a grayish tint due to the fact that they are not cleansed. However, this drawback can be easily corrected if you plan to paint.

• Capacity- a small saucepan. It is advisable to attach a clothespin to the edge. Paraffin, which is melted, is quite hot, so some kind of handle is simply necessary
• Mold - in our case we need 2 forms of different sizes
• Wick
• Plasticine
• Grater
• Oil
• Acrylic contours
• Crayons- you need wax ones

IMPORTANT: Oil-based crayons will not be able to dissolve in wax - they should not be used unambiguously.

Let's start making:

To begin with, all available cut the candles into small pieces. Remove the wick from them.

Process the crayons with a grater. It is best to rub each color separately.

It's time to put Heat paraffin in a water bath. And while this is happening, it should prepare the form- Lubricate it with oil.

And then the paraffin melted! Now you can enter it add crushed chalk.

IMPORTANT: It is extremely important to stir the dye thoroughly until it is completely dissolved.

Now paraffin is poured into a large mold. However, you shouldn’t get too carried away - the smaller one will fall into the larger form later. Consequently, the filler level will rise - you need to take this into account.

Lubricate outside small mold- after that it can be immerse in a large one. It is recommended to place plasticine inside.

IMPORTANT: Try to stick to the “golden mean”. With a tiny amount of plasticine, the mold will not sink, and with too much, it will sink to the bottom.

After a few hours you can get the frozen cast. And get started right away wick placement. The hole can be made with something thin like a toothpick or brush.

Thread the wick. The bottom of the candle should be disguised using a hot spoon.

The other end of the wick is fixed on a toothpick. The toothpick, in turn, is placed across the candle and secured with plasticine.

The second end of the candle wick is attached to a toothpick

Similar to the scheme with green paraffin, melt and yellow. Pour it into the hole future candle. Cut the wick so that approximately 1 cm remains on the candle.

IMPORTANT: Don't forget to add paraffin into the recess near the wick.

After everything hardens, it will remain decorate a candle. And this is where the acrylic outline comes in handy.

How to make and decorate wax candles with your own hands?

To make beautiful wax candle in the shape of a rose you will need:

• Actually, myself wax
• Stationery knife or at least his blade
• Burner
• Wick
• Mirror or glass small size

IMPORTANT: However, if workplace smooth, then glass is not necessary.

First of all, melt the wax. And this is where the burner comes in handy.

Wax the spot is cut with a knife.

Now the wax separates from the surface. One part of it is put aside for a while.

For one of the pieces the wick is applied. It should be as if wrap in wax.

IMPORTANT: Try to perform this procedure quickly, otherwise the wax will harden.

Likewise create other petals as well. Don't forget that their edges should be bent to maximize the identity of the real flower.

How to make and decorate paraffin candles with your own hands?

Will please you in winter time year paraffin ice candle. No matter how paradoxical it may sound, ice and fire can be combined, and will be needed for this:

Household paraffin candles– 4 pcs.

IMPORTANT: Paraffin must be of high quality. Otherwise, the candle will begin to smoke, crackle, and spread bad smell, burn unevenly.

• Wax colored crayons
• Ice cubes
• Two bowls or pans. Please note that their diameter must be different. In addition, utensils typically used for cooking are not suitable.
• Skewer or a small wooden stick
• Regarding molds, then you can even use a plastic cup in this case
• Terry towel
• Something comfortable potholder and oilcloth

Before starting work it is worth cover work surface oilcloth. Then take candle And call it is the size of a mold.

But besides this candle there are others - you need them cut into small pieces, having previously taken out the wick.

Pour water into a large saucepan and bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat. It's time small saucepan - pieces of paraffin will go in there, and all this is put on water bath.

IMPORTANT: It is extremely important to note that paraffin is highly flammable. Therefore, do not heat it over an open fire or in microwave oven. Don’t be distracted from the process, but keep it on hand just in case baking soda- This is what you need to put out burning paraffin.

Finely with a knife crumble the crayon. The principle is simple: the more chips, the more rich color there will be a candle.

Pieces of chalk are poured into a small saucepan. Don't forget to stir.

It's time ice– remove it from the freezer, place it on a towel, cover with another part of the towel and grind. The size of the ice floes should correspond to how you want the openwork to look - thin openwork patterns require small pieces of ice.

Fill the mold with ice. At the same time a piece of candle should be placed in the middle with wick, cut off at the very beginning of work.

Now melted paraffin can be poured into a mold, straight onto the ice.

IMPORTANT: Don't forget to use an oven mitt.

Wait for it to cool down colored paraffin. Then remove the impression from the mold. It is recommended to do all this over the sink, as the melted ice will definitely drain off. With a heated knitting needle, taken with a potholder, you can melt the wick, if it is filled with paraffin.

Just in case leave the candle to dry additionally. When using it It’s worth taking a wide candlestick– paraffin may melt.

Beautiful DIY carved candles: shapes

Carved candles seem incredibly complicated to make, but some of them are simple to make. Prepare:

• Paraffin
• Form at your choice. It's better to start with something simple like the outline of an egg. As for the material, due to the ease of removing the impression, it is recommended to choose silicone
• Wick or weave of cotton threads
• Capacities, into which colored paraffin will be poured. Cans, saucepans or even tin cans that are unnecessary in everyday life will do.
• Special dyes or wax crayons
• Hook and crossbar to him

IMPORTANT: Select the size of the hook taking into account the fact that it should be comfortable for you to hold it in your hands.

• Bucket of water
• Paper napkins from the category of those that are soft to the touch

Just like in previous master classes, melt the paraffin in a water bath. Fill it up in shape, while leaving a long – not less than 10 cm. – wick.

After the cast is taken out, follows the long wick hang it on a hook.

In a water bath heat the paraffin with the addition of shades.

IMPORTANT: Bringing it to 60-80 degrees will be quite enough. At the same time, you need to stir, because the paraffin settles.

Get started let down hanging on a hook workpiece in a container with the colors you need. Try to do it fast, but at the same time smooth. Allow the paraffin to drain, and then to fix the remaining Place the product in a bucket of water. There can be several dozen layers, because hot paraffin gives a very thin layer.

Now hang the workpiece on the hook - and cut out patterns! To begin with cut off excess layers of paraffin, which formed smudges. Possible for convenience make a sketch, since there will be no opportunity to make changes.

IMPORTANT: On average, paraffin cools down in 10 minutes, so try to cut out patterns during this time.

Flowers They are formed in a similar way - certain patterns are cut out and folded in the right way. Can decorate a candle, for example, beads. Graceful curls of a carved candle, multi-layered multi-colored candle. The main thing in this matter is to be slow, because each previous layer must dry before the next one is formed.

IMPORTANT: Such a product must cool for at least 5 hours.

The secret is colored flame is burning salts. Moreover composition of salts depends on what shade you want to get:

• Yellow, orange– table salt
• Red– strontium nitrate or sodium chloride
• Blue - copper chloride
• Green– barium chloride
• Violet– potassium chloride

Such candles are good because non-toxic, and if they leak occasionally, then will leave virtually no traces. However they take a long time to flare up.

How to make scented candles with your own hands?

To create a scented candle, use appropriate oil. It's just great if for certain notes of aroma will be selected corresponding shade of wax.

IMPORTANT: You need to add oil to the wax at the stage when it has already melted, but has not yet been poured into the mold.

Please note that:

• Bergamot combined with lavender will help you relax
• Lemon and rosemary clear your head of negative thoughts
• Equal part roses and geraniums, as well as twice their volume lavender will restore calm and help you find balance of spirit after strong experiences.
• Lemon with cedar will also relieve stress
• Cloves with orange guaranteed to lift your spirits

Candles enchant, pacify, delight, inspire - how many purposes does this source of lighting have! And, you see, it will be just great if you can regulate all these emotions yourself by making candles with your own hands.

Candle as a source lighting, has been used by humans since the 3rd millennium BC. It was expensive, and only a wealthy family could buy it. Today the candle does not have its former value, and in interior used for decor or aromatherapy. And the candles made with your own hands, is also a wonderful hobby, an excellent option for a gift.

From what materials and how to make a candle at home Houses– read our article.

Wax candle - step-by-step master class

To make a candle you will need:

• wax or paraffin (household candles are suitable);
• cotton thread or floss;
• water bath pan;
• molds for candles (tin, glass or plastic);
• wooden sticks for attaching wicks (1 candle mold = 1 stick).

Advice! If this is your first time deciding to make a candle with your own hands, ask someone close to you to help you. The wax hardens within 15 minutes, so you need to act quickly.

Place a cotton thread in the center of each candle mold. Top edge fasten the threads to wooden stick.

Place a container of wax (paraffin) in a water bath. To speed up the melting process, you can cut it into small pieces or grate it. Melt the wax over low heat, stirring constantly. The finished consistency should be uniform, without lumps or pieces of paraffin.

Pour some melted wax into the bottom of the mold. This will fix the bottom edge of the wick in the right place. If necessary, adjust its position. Wait about a minute for the wax to thicken and the wick to set before moving on to the next step.

Fill the mold with the remaining melted wax.

A day later, after the candle has completely cooled and hardened, trim off the excess edge of the wick.

Note! The cooled candle does not have to be left in the jar - after making it, it can be removed from the mold. Before starting work, select a container for filling with a straight, even edge that is not narrowed at the top. You can also use plastic cups, ice molds or homemade tetra pack templates.

Colored and scented candles

Having understood the essence of manufacturing, you can diversify the variations and create more complex homemade candles with your own hands.

To make a colored candle, place pieces of wax crayons in a melting container along with paraffin. The shade of the finished candle will match blossom added pencil. The combination of several multi-colored pencils will paint the candle in a bright rainbow print.

Idea! Consistently melt and pour wax into the mold in layers different colors– you will receive an original striped candle.

Use essential oils when making - and you will get a scented candle with your own hands. To add scent to the candle, add a few drops of oil to the melted wax before pouring the mold.

Oil combination lavender and bergamot has a relaxing effect, and lemon and rosemary eliminate negative thoughts. For peace of mind and for peace of mind, add one part of oils to the wax geraniums And roses and two parts lavender oil. The combination of orange and clove oils lifts your spirits, and lemon and cedar oil relieves stress.

Transparent gel candles at home

At home, you can create another type of candle - a gel candle. Its manufacturing technology is the same as that of paraffin. The difference is that the mold is filled not with wax, but with a special candle gel.

Gel for making candles – transparent. This makes it possible to create incredible beautiful products. Inside the candle you can place shells, beads, stones, glass beads, beads, buttons, twigs flowers, and even candied fruits or pieces of fruit.

Advice! You can choose the location of the decor inside the candle yourself. Elements lowered to the bottom before filling with gel will remain on the bottom, and those added to an already filled form will “hang” or remain on the surface.

The mold for a gel candle must be transparent (glass or plastic) - otherwise the beauty created inside will not be visible. Special gel dyes will help give a color tint. IN this type You can also add aromatic essential oils to candles.

Advice! Before pouring the melted gel, heat the prepared mold. This will prevent the formation of bubbles.

“Delicious” candles – fruit and coffee

You will surely enjoy making candles at home and will definitely want to create something creative and extraordinary. Candles made from fruit peels - oranges, limes, grapefruits - look interesting and unusual. Candles created with the addition of coffee beans. Be creative and experiment, and a couple of our ideas will help you with this.

Candle made from half a lemon

Required materials:

• wax or paraffin;
• four cotton wicks;
• water bath pan;
• container for melting wax;
• two lemons;
• purple food coloring;
• lavender essential oil;
• dried lavender flowers.

Cut the lemons lengthwise into two pieces. Carefully remove the pulp.

Melt the wax in a water bath. Add lavender flowers, essential oil and food coloring to it, stir.

Place a wick in the center of the lemon half. Fill the “fruit candle holder” with melted wax.

Place the finished candles in a cool place until they cool and harden completely.

Important! Do not refrigerate candles refrigerator– the wax may harden unevenly!

Candles with coffee beans

Option 1

The easiest way to create a coffee candle is to add coffee beans to melted wax, or pour them into an already poured mold.

To do this, you will need all the same materials as for a regular candle, plus coffee beans.

Coffee beans vary in shape and size and, when added to wax, they also harden differently. Therefore, each candle you create will have unique design.

Option 2

Another manufacturing option would be to decorate the finished candle with coffee beans.

For this, in addition to coffee beans, you will need glue.

Advice! Coffee beans can be glued without glue - on still hot soft wax. To do this, carefully remove the uncooled and unhardened candle from the mold and “cover” it with coffee beans, lightly pressing them with your fingers.

Candle decorated with coffee beans

Don't know how to decorate candles with your own hands? These tips and a selection of photos will inspire you to create masterpieces

Candles are an integral attribute in home decor and festive table decoration. Ordinary candles look boring, even if you choose an expensive candlestick to match them. Try to decorate candles in an original and beautiful way with your own hands - photos and tips will help you turn a simple penny candle into a masterpiece. Among the proposed decor options there are no complex technologies, requiring high costs. Most decorations can be found in a craft box or in the kitchen.

Coffee and cinnamon - for flavor lovers

Cinnamon sticks have an amazing aroma and a warm, warming appearance. The smell of cinnamon has been proven to calm, uplift, and reduce appetite. Decoration with cinnamon can be used both in the decoration of candles for the home and in decoration for festive table or a romantic dinner. It will be no less pleasant to receive such beauty as a gift.

Decorating candles with cinnamon is as easy as pie - carefully place the sticks around the base and tie with ribbon, rope, cord, lace or twine. For a romantic atmosphere, you can add beads to the decor or pin the ribbon with a beautiful brooch.

To ensure that the sticks hold well, you can, before decorating the candle with your own hands, melt the paraffin and use it to glue each element. Another option is to chop the sticks into pieces and use the resulting shavings in decoration.

It takes a long time to make coffee candles; it is much easier to use decorative ideas with coffee beans, in which coffee plays the role of a base. Pour the coffee beans into a container made of clear glass or to a beautiful ceramic dishes and place a regular candle in the thickness. As it melts, the paraffin will flow onto the grains, thus keeping the improvised candlestick clean.

Kitchen decor - cereals and seeds

Similar to coffee beans, you can use cereals, legumes, seeds, nuts and even pasta. It's hard to come up with something simpler, but the result is amazing. With a little effort you can get spectacular patterns if you use several types of cereals or spend time coloring rice in various shades.

Decorated candles, in the decoration of which whole cobs of miniature corn are used, look no less original in the photo.

Another option is to cover paraffin candles with grains - this can be done simply by heating the candle with a hot hairdryer.

If you want to spend a minimum of time and surprise your guests, make a decoration from bay leaves or fragrant eucalyptus leaves.

Decorating with natural materials

Don't know where to put the pebbles you brought from vacation? Look at the uses they have found for candles in decorating. creative people. If there are no pebbles, then buy beautiful pebbles in aquarium departments. This option is ideal for.

It’s not difficult to make improvised candlesticks from shells, and it’s easy to make a cozy bed for candles from pine cones, using a suitable vase or basket as a base.

If you have absolutely nothing at hand and need to make a quick decoration, use tubes made of paper, glossy magazines or film.

And another master class on decor:

Please be aware that a burning candle poses a potential fire hazard. When using decor, think a hundred times - is it possible to light a flame with it or is it better to be content only with the beauty of the resulting masterpiece.

A small light can always remove bad and sad thoughts from your head, and its light is so sincere: any conversation or confession by candlelight has a special aura and creates a truly unusual atmosphere.

Perhaps, it is precisely for this reason that a candle has long been considered an excellent gift, which can bring not only aesthetic pleasure, but also practical application.

How to make candles with your own hands at home: is it possible?

Naturally, such a thing as a candle can be purchased at a souvenir shop, because you can always find many different variations of candles there, but if you want to make a gift twice as pleasant, it is better to make it yourself. This article I would like to dedicate the topic of how to make candles with your own hands at home.

In fact, making candles at home is not as difficult as it may seem initially, and if you approach this issue wisely, you will understand that in reality everything is quite simple.

As confirmation, we can cite the fact that people who decide to engage in candle production gradually get involved, and for them it is no longer just income, but also an interesting and exciting activity. The more often you practice this business, the better quality your finished products will be.

Making candles with your own hands at home does not require a lot of money, so in addition to the pleasure you will get from the making process itself, you will also be able to save a lot.

Making candles at home: necessary materials

Before proceeding directly to the manufacture of the product itself, it is necessary to decide the necessary materials, which will help create the required shape for our product. An ordinary saucepan is suitable for this, which we will need to create a water bath.

We also need some other container in which we will melt paraffin or wax. It is better to take some unnecessary utensils as containers, since at the end of the process it will be extremely difficult to get rid of the stuck wax.

If we take into account that the vessel must be fireproof, then we are unlikely to find a better one than an ordinary tin can. So, take a tin can, bend its edge so that a small spout appears (wax will flow through it).

As for the raw materials themselves, wax, paraffin or specialized helium can be bought in a specialized store or ordered online.

If you decide to start creating a candle for the first time, we recommend starting with paraffin, since wax is much more difficult to work with, it is a less light and pliable material. You can also start with old homemade cinders or buy ordinary ones. household candles.

Next, you need to take care of the material from which the wick will be made. Often, 100% cotton paper threads are used for this, as they do not have an unpleasant odor and burn much longer. Also for this purpose we recommend trying floss (threads different colors), they are quite easy to find and they look very interesting on a candle.

To give a candle an unusual character and color, decorate them and give the product a certain tone and shade. Such candles will delight you and those around you not only with their warmth, but also with their beauty and extraordinary appearance.

To give the product desired color, use children's wax crayons, it is better to choose more soft options, since they dissolve better and color the molten mass more evenly. Some people use lipstick and eye shadow for this, this is also good option, if you don't mind sacrificing cosmetics.

There is another common option - coloring with special pigments in the form of tablets. They come in a wide variety of colors and shades, so you can use them to make absolutely any color scheme for the product.

Before determining how to make candles with your own hands at home, you need to decide not only on the materials, but also on their proper use. This, for example, concerns the wick, you need to learn how to twist it correctly, because this will determine how long and brightly the candle will burn.

For example, if you are going to use paraffin or gel, then for these materials it is better to use thin, tightly woven threads. For wax candles, it is better to take a thickened wick, braided, with threads that are not too tight.

You also need to worry about special forms, because the basic shape and appearance of the product will depend on them. Here it is best to use utensils that you don’t need too much, that can withstand elevated temperatures. Containers of yogurt, creams, bottles, small vials, and so on are suitable for this.

To give the product not only attractive appearance, but also a pleasant aromatic content, add a few drops of essential oil to the total mass, the aroma of which is similar to the appearance of your candle. For example, the scent of lime or mint is perfect for a light green shade of the product, while vanilla or berry scents need more warm shades.

How to make candles with your own hands at home: technology step by step

Here we come to the most important point: the process of making a candle at home. For example, we will consider the option of making a wax candle.

Preparing wax for melting

First, decide on the type of wax on which the candle will be prepared. Don't forget that wax can cause irritation for some people, so take this issue seriously.

The most popular today is soy wax because it is easy to work with, it is environmentally friendly and burns slower than other types.

Before you begin, prepare your work area. To do this, you need to lay newspapers on the work surface, prepare cardboard and towels. You should also always keep warm, soapy water nearby in case you spill any wax.

Prepare an ordinary water bath, the same as you do when cooking.

Attention! You should not melt wax over direct heat. The melting process must be slow, otherwise it may burn out and evaporate.

Pour half a pan of water and place a smaller pan on top of it, you will need it to melt the wax. Don't forget that wax is almost impossible to clean, so use utensils that you don't need.

Place the wax on a board and cut or plane it. The smaller the pieces, the easier it will be to work with.

Melting wax

Place the wax pieces or shavings in a small saucepan and set the heat to high. When the water boils, it will begin to gradually melt the wax; do not reduce the heat.

Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature of the wax. A pastry thermometer or meat thermometer is suitable for this.

Depending on the type of wax, it melts at different temperatures.

Let's look at the main types:

paraffin wax melts at 50–60 °C;

bee – within 62.7–79.4 °C;

old candles - 85 °C (before using them, do not forget to remove the old wick with tongs).

Then you need to add fragrance to the melted wax; select the fragrance at your discretion. Flavorings are sold in all craft stores. To determine the required amount of flavoring, read the instructions, then stir thoroughly.

After this, according to the instructions, you need to add required quantity dye. Ordinary food dyes are not suitable in this case, since they are water-based. It is better to opt for oil-based dyes or special dyes for candles. Dyes must be added until the mixture reaches the desired color, after which the mixture must be stirred.

Wax casting

Place the wick in the very middle of the candle mold. The wick must be attached at two points outside the mold so that the fixation is obtained in the very center. For convenience, you can attach the wick to a pencil or pen, and then move it to the center. After placing the wick in the desired location, fill the mold with wax. If you have a long clamp, you can use it. Clamp the wick into the very center of the mold, making sure it is long enough to support the entire mold.

After this, you need to pour the melted wax into the prepared molds. You need to pour slowly so that the wax does not spill, and you need to make sure that the wick is securely fastened in one position.

Important! If you use beeswax, do not forget that it shrinks somewhat when cooled; take this into account when pouring molds.

Each type of candle has its own cooling:

paraffin candles it takes 24 hours to cool down;

4-5 hours will be enough for soy;

candles on beeswax require at least 6 hours, optimal solution will leave them on all night;

Old candles need 2-3 hours.

The last steps remain - remove the product from the mold and cut off the wick, leaving no more than 7 mm from the source of the candle. This length will give your candle the desired fire height. If you leave the wick too long, the fire will become too big.

Everything is yours homemade candle ready, light up and enjoy!

Individuality in your interior design will always be its winning side. Nothing gives it so much home comfort apartment, like things made by the hands of the owners. And if until now you could not boast of such fruits of handicraft, you have a great opportunity to fix it. We invite you to try making candles with your own hands.

Candles are a wonderful souvenir that can brighten the atmosphere of any occasion. family holiday. Candles have long been an attribute of celebration, significant dates, and romantic evenings. Yes, just sitting in silence, listening to your favorite music to the trembling of a gentle light - sometimes this is so missing.

For some, a candle is nothing more than a cute decorative item. And there is nothing wrong with this either; such products serve as wonderful decorations in the home. 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 light of a beautiful candle will be the best wish to a loved one. Candles will decorate even the most modest furnishings, highlight the color scheme of your apartment, and become evidence of the excellent taste of the owner.

Needless to say, mothers on maternity leave can even earn extra money from such a pleasant activity. And not only mothers - everyone who is fascinated by the process of creating a candle. And you can be sure that there will be people who want to purchase such hand-made beauty.

So, we have many reasons to finally begin 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? We will need the following in our work:

• Wax melting vessel
• Candle molds
• Pan (for water bath)
• Sticks (the first is to attach the wick, the second is to stir the wax)
• Decorative elements for decorating the product
• Wax crayons
• Household candles or stubs of old candles
• Paper threads (100% cotton)

All this will help us create, if not a wax masterpiece, then a beautiful original candle. So let's begin!

Candle wick

Now we have to learn how to make a candle wick with our own hands. Whether we make a gel, paraffin or wax candle, in any case we will need a wick. In order to make it, we need natural cotton thread without any impurities. Alternatively, use colored floss threads as a wick. It looks very cute and unusual.

The thickness and texture of the wick depend, first of all, on the thickness of the part of the candle that should burn out. For example, there are candles that are partially composed of flammable materials. Only the core burns out in them.

For those who are going to cast a candle from wax, you need to take thick threads and weave them not very tightly. Paraffin and gel candles, on the contrary, require a tight weave of threads (otherwise the wick will smoke when burning).

Wick for wax candles

Wick for gel suppositories

You also need to be attentive to the following detail: if the candle is colored with wax crayons, small shavings can clog the wick without dissolving in the paraffin or wax. In general, there are a lot of nuances in this issue; be prepared for the fact that choosing a wick for a certain type of candle will have to be done by trial and error.

If you take a very thick wick, it is possible that the candle will melt excessively, and this is fraught with soot. If you make a very thin wick, it will constantly go out.

There are several options for designing a wick: it can be crocheted, braided, or twisted with a rope. Before pouring the candle, you can soak the thread with wax, or you can do both pouring and impregnation at the same time.

If you don’t 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 think are cute and appropriate for making candles. Don't limit yourself to just ready-made molds: yogurt packaging, cream jars, baking molds, cans, glasses or mugs that can withstand high temperatures can also play an excellent role. Some even use milk tetrapack as a mold for a future candle.

Candles poured into tea cups

Candles made in eggshells

But for your first experience, it’s better not to split hairs: take something simple. For example, a yogurt cup. Be sure to remove the paper label first, as it may catch fire.

We take our glass and pierce a hole in the middle of its bottom with a thick needle - insert the ready-made wick there. The wick must be tied in a knot on the back of the glass. In this very place of the knot there will be the top of our candle, because it will be poured “upside down”: the knot minimizes the flow of paraffin, stearin or wax through the hole we made at the bottom of the glass.

Let's move on. We need to place any stick across the glass - a toothpick, brush or pencil. We need to tie the other end of the wick on it. It should be positioned strictly in the center in a vertical, level position. This way, you guarantee yourself that the candle will burn and melt evenly.

Candle coloring

Really beautiful candles You will succeed provided you don’t forget to color them. The simplest and most acceptable way- coloring candles using simple children's wax crayons.

Do you think it would be smarter 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 not suitable for working with a candle. They do not mix well with wax or paraffin, they can float in them in strange-colored flakes, and then completely settle to the bottom.

Decorating candles can and should be done only with fat-soluble dyes, and these are our wax crayons.

Often, many craftsmen use lipsticks or shadows to decorate candles. If you don't mind your cosmetics, please feel free to follow their example. But rest assured that the aroma of lipstick will linger throughout the house, which is not always pleasant. Many people may find this smell intrusive.

If you have already decided to do decorative candles do it yourself, it is better to use less aggressive materials. When choosing wax crayons, we focus on soft types of this dye. Candles made using mother-of-pearl wax crayons are especially good.

If you come across hard crayons, melting them will be difficult. Yes, and planing them is quite problematic. So, we chose a piece of chalk, sharpened it using a grater, and added these shavings to the wax cinders. Mix the shavings and cinders thoroughly with a stick.

However, there is another coloring option. In specialty stores it is easy to find tableted pigments of different colors. They can be mixed with each other and dosed. Using such pigments, you will be able to make a truly unusual, bright or delicate candle. Pigments in tablets significantly expand the possibility of obtaining interesting shades.

You should not refuse to use dyes: they give the candle a unique look and create a unique pattern.

Pouring a candle

Now that the wick is ready, it’s time to fill it. We will need a regular one tin. It has to be flattened a little to form a kind of nose. This is necessary to make the process of pouring out the molten material easier.

It is better to grease the pre-prepared form thin layer dishwashing liquid or plain vegetable oil. Both remedies are equally good.

We need to put the fragments of candles in a jar (candles must be of the same quality). If we are going to make a paraffin or wax candle, we can take a saucepan or ladle for melting, which is not too much of a waste. In any case, this container should be placed in the pan that will be used as a water bath. In principle, you can use whatever you want, except glassware.

So, we fill the pan with water, boil the water, and then immerse the container with wax or paraffin. This is how our material will melt.

When the material and shavings are completely melted, you can begin pouring the candle.

Fill the bottom of our mold with wax and 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. We pour the wax in layers, and what has flowed out is re-sent for re-melting. When the candle is completely filled, it needs to be cooled. The temperature should be 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 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 carefully pulling the wick.

If you can’t do this, you can cut the mold. Or put it in the refrigerator for a minute, and then put it under hot water for a few seconds.

After that the extra part cut off the wick, leaving a 1 cm tip. If there are unsightly seams left from the mold, they can be removed hot water. But with these manipulations, the candle may become cloudy, its shine may fade. Therefore, the optimal solution would be to choose a candle mold that does not contain seams.

DIY aroma candles

Making scented candles with your own hands is quite possible. In particular, this is worth doing for those who are true fans of aromatherapy. In order for you to get exactly the aroma candles, you need to add some essential oils before pouring them into wax. The choice of oil depends on your taste: you can add any oil, except perhaps rose oil. After all, its smell when burning will be suffocating and heavy.

It would be 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 predominate 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 be organic in warm, beige-brown tones candles.

It's not just oils that can make your candle scented; regular coffee is a strong and pleasant scent.

In principle, achieving the scent of a candle is not so difficult. Aromatic oils are added to paraffin, wax or gel. And then the manufacturing process scented candle no different from creating a regular candle.

We advise experimenters to mix oils: you are guaranteed an unusual bouquet of aromas. If you are afraid of “doing something weird” and synthesizing incompatible smells, look at perfume recipes. Follow their instructions, just don't add rose oil.

Gel candles

Now let's talk about how to make gel candles with your own hands. In order to make gel candles, it is better to use ready-made gel wax. The recipes for making candles are often written on the packaging with it, 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 through the heating process. We continue to heat, adding the remaining glycerin and gelatin to the composition. Add water to the resulting clear solution. Bring the mixture to a boil. Some cloudiness of the solution should not scare you: it will soon disappear. Until the water completely evaporates, you need to boil the solution.

You can also add essential oil to gel candles; this does not contradict the recipe. A separate, especially pleasant process is decorating gel candles. Place loosely on the bottom of any transparent container. decorative elements: beads, beads, pebbles, shells, sequins, coffee beans, dry plant stems or flowers. Then fill everything with gel clear wax. This candle looks simply incredible: transparent, delicate, with a magical pattern inside.

Coffee candles

Making decorative candles is also not difficult. For example, you can make an original coffee candle. The decor is, of course, coffee beans. The principle of operation is this: a small one is inserted into a large mold. Between the walls of the two molds you need to pour 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 and the coffee beans will be clearly visible.

Now the outer layer with coffee beans is ready. We put it back into the mold, fill the inside with paraffin/wax of a different color.

Coffee candles can be like this:

You can make sea candles 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 you created with your own hands? The first way to add originality to your candle is to use unusual, unexpected shapes. Sometimes an interesting shape can be more advantageous than even the most skillful decor. A wonderful decorative element for candles - various kinds glass stands.

In a specialized store you can find special stickers for decoration. Or decoupage - great way candle decorations. By the way, it is very fashionable among professional candle makers. Most often, napkins are used as the basis for decoupage. Don't forget about safety precautions: use special varnish for candles.

For lovers original decor The following option will do:

Before pouring, place shells, pieces of dried fruit, cinnamon, seeds, and 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 covered with bamboo or cinnamon sticks. You can add star anise or 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 flammable), the candle wick should be thin so that the candle only melts in the middle.

In principle, if you have the opportunity to go to specialized stores for material, you will buy a lot there useful means. For example, markers and outlines are sold there; they do not burn, but during the smoldering of the wick they melt along with wax/paraffin.

If you don't want to collect old candle cinders, 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 imagination of a creative person is practically unfettered by anything: prices for materials for making candles are not high, 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

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