When a loved-one or any special person celebrates a memorable day of his or her life, gifts would always be at the top of your mind. Gifts may vary from the simple greeting card to the most luxurious car (yes, darling, a porshe for my next birthday). However, the cost is not the most important thing when we are thinking about gifts. As elder people always said, it is the “thought” that counts.Though for most people the tag price of your present may “tickle the spine”, it is beyond denial that a “personal” touch expresses more sincerity for the receiver. Your creativity plus a few tips from us would make that special person feel extra special because of your own custom made gel candles.

1. Prepare the following materials:
   • Ceramic containers like mugs or any fancy-shaped figurine that could hold the candle wax when melted and cooled. Glasses are also great.
   • Gel wax
   • Candle wicks
   • Pencils
   • Pot (for melting wax)
   • Candle scent and color (non alcohol-base)
   • Sharp scissors
2. With the use of a pencil, twine the wick around it but leave some of the wick free that it could reach the bottom part of the candle container. It must be straight down the center of the container.
3. Put the pencil with the twined wick on top of the container; allow the wick to hang down the center of the container. As what the directions tell, melt the wax by cutting them into cubes first to hasten the melting.
4. Add color and scent but make sure that they will not make the wax cloudy.
5. After the melting, pour the gel wax into the container you have prepared. Fill the container but set a limit. Before getting to the next step, make sure that the wax turned gel fully cools down.
6. Check out the wick if it really takes the focal point of the container.
7. Trim the wick to ¼ of its total length.
8. You could tie a ribbon around it or stick a piece of fancy paper with a special message or a mini-picture of the receiver. Give it with the purest sincerity.

As you follow these quick and easy steps, you could unravel both the artist and entrepreneur inside of you. This way of preparing gifts might tickle your resourcefulness and creativity and may lead to long lasting friendship with your special one.

• Light your decorative candle
• Take a piece of paper and fold it into small tube (so that wick could fit inside)
• Wait until some wax melts on your candle
• Blow out your candle and push paper tube on the wick
• Light the paper wick again

This video should explain these steps in more detail:

Enjoy!

Creative Crafts:How To Make Scented Candles

Easy as it is, making candles only need you to follow a few simple steps and you could craft the decorative candle that you pictured in your mind. There are a lot of ways to make candles: a lot of small adjustments, that allow you to create different and original candles. You could try using simple quick steps from the internet or some more complex methods recommended by your neighbour who is into candle making. Or better yet, find an old book about decorative candle making.

Whatever it is, injecting some dose of your own creative ideas would make a whole lot of difference. What are some tools you could use in making gel candles with your own brand of style?

As you follow the conventional steps of making decorative gel candles, it would add up the fun if you consider the following tips:

• Use other materials that would let you have fun exploring your creativity while adding more elements of style. Non-flammable things like sand, shells, metal charms, beads, marbles, pebbles, glitters, aquarium gravel, artificial jewel or pearls, and the like are among the most attractive things to have in your gel candle.
• Add colors that suit the little things you add with your gel candle. If you want the touch of “beach”, you use aqua blue while you put some shells, aquarium pebbles or gravel and miniature star fish in your candle. You could also match the style you want to customize by mixing beads with glitters but consider color harmony as well.
• Place some of these little objects at the bottom part of the container before freely putting them in the other portions of the container. This would hide the wick tab.
• As you pour gel, add these tiny objects in layers. Take note that you need to place these objects away from the wick. The tip is – the closer these objects to the outside portion of the container, the more “visible” they could be.
• As you make the candles, you should enjoy the fact that you are playing with colors and style. What makes gel candles is that they were created out of pure pleasure and fun. Personalizing these gel candles is another great idea. You could try to use cut-outs of your name.

As you insert your own brand of style, do not forget to work safely and do not risk quality of the product over appearance only. There must be a balance of both.

You could see these things in drinking places, poured with liquor being shared by fun-loving people. This is of course an instant when a single shot glass means a lot. Have you ever wondered about the other benefits of just a shot glass? Well, there is one exciting and very useful innovation with a shot glass, which is using them to make decorative candles. Yes, we call them shot glass candles.
Shot glass candles are really artistic and they could be very useful for the home and whatever place you think you would need them, not as mere light source but as well as having decorative purposes. Shot glass candles are one of the best type of decorative candles.

You could make your own shot glass candles. The steps to make these decorative candles are easy and economical. With these easy steps and with a small sum of money, you would be able to start a good hobby, a good small business and a good polish for your creativity. This is also a means of recycling or re-using old candles.

• Cut old candles into pieces and place these pieces in a container. When you want to use a certain color, you could use uncolored wax for your convenience.
• Place the container into another container of boiling water. Wait until the candle pieces melt.
• When you see that the wax has melted, his is the right time o put some dye for color.
• Prepare your wicks. Cut them as they fit to the shot glasses.
• Place these wicks to the shot glasses.
• Pour the wax into the shot glasses but make sure that it does not submerge the entire length of the wick.
• When the wax has nearly set, you see to it that you adjust the wick to the center of the shot glass. Leave the shot glasses in order for the wax to completely set.

These are so simple steps to follow, make sure also that when you choose shot glasses for candle making, and choose the thicker ones for they are much safer. For wicks, you could tie it around a toothpick before letting it lay in a shot glass. Remember to cut ¼ of it before lighting it up.

Making your own candles is very popular. No matter what are you initial intentions, making candles can be a lot of fun. It has always been done with paraffin wax or beeswax. However, soy candles are starting to emerge on the market as well. Soy candles are made out of 100% natural soy wax without any additives. Candles made of soy wax will have a wonderful aroma without adding any type of fragrance.

Soy candles can be made with or without wicks. Those with wicks are used the same way as any regular candles. Soy candles without wicks work with electric candle warmers. The candle sits on the warmer plate and the warmer is plugged into the wall. There is no flame to cause a fire. Wickless soy candles are a great choice for dorm rooms, apartments, offices, and anywhere where there is a potential of a candle being left burning that could cause a fire. Many offices and dorm rooms have put a ban on burning candles for this reason, however they often allow the wickless candles using the burners.

Soy wax is cheaper than other types of wax as well. If you want to make candles on a tight budget, this would be the way to go. You will save money on the wax and you won’t need to purchase additives or scents. If you are planning to make soy candles to sell, you can make a higher profit because your costs are lower.

Many people enjoy the scent of a burning candle, but find the smoke from them can be irritating. This is especially true of individuals who are on oxygen, have bronchitis, or even allergy sufferers. Since soy wax is all natural, there is no smoke or irritates in the air from it. This makes soy wax candles a great alternative for many who otherwise wouldn’t be able to enjoy using candles.

Candle making is an excellent craft that many individuals enjoy both as a hobby and as a home business. Soy wax is not used as commonly as paraffin or beeswax, yet it works just as well for candle making.

This is a second part of How to Make Candles – Candle Making Supplies. Please read How to Make Candles – Candle Making Supplies – Part 1 first.

You have the option of leaving candles plain or adding your favorite scents. Traditional scents include cinnamon, vanilla, and potpourri. However, the choices are unlimited. Some of the aromas help you to relax and others will make your mouth water. You don’t want your candle scents to be overpowering or not strong enough. To be sure you have the right about, add one ounce of scent for each pound of wax used to make the candle.
The amount of each supply you will need depends on the types of candles you are planning to make and the size of each. On average, you can get all the supplies you need to start making candles for $100. Candle making supplies can be purchased at craft stores or online. To save money on candle making supplies, consider purchasing a candle making kit. They offer a small supply of all the items for a discounted price.

Candle making is a fascinating art that allows you to express your own creations. To help ensure your candles develop in a form that can be used, purchase the above listed candle making supplies. There are many accessories available as well to make your candle making more enjoyable.

Candle paints help you create your designs on the candles. This is a great way to create gorgeous contrasts between the candle color and the overall look. Luster spray gives candles a very shiny look. A base leveler will help you align crooked candles. As well as ensure the bottoms are flat and smooth. Candles with wavy bottoms won’t sit well in a holder. Many people will enjoy the great books available on candle making. They can be purchased at major book retailers or online.

Candle Making is a fun hobby and enterprising business venture for others. There are basic supplies you need in order to make candles. All candles require three essentials – wax, wick, and a candle holder. Since candles can be made in various shapes and styles; the amount of wax, length of wick, and type of candle holder you will use depends on your own preferences. The wax used for candle making is either paraffin wax or beeswax.

To melt the wax for your candles properly, you will need to purchase a good quality double boiler. To make the wax melting easy purchase stir sticks and a thermometer. To ensure the users of your candles can enjoy every bit, consider adding wick clips to the base of the candle.

Candle molds are very popular to help you design your own candles. You can purchase hundreds of different style candle molds or you can make your own. Candle molds are made from aluminum or metal. To make inserting the wick quick and easy, invest in a wick holder bar. A silicon mold release spray will ensure your candles slide out of the mold easily and keep their perfect shape. Mold cleaner will help ensure they work properly time and time again.

Colors add appeal to decorative candles. The market offers a full array of colors to purchase for candles. There are many shades of the primary colors as well as pretty pastels and bold brights. Some candle makers like to experiment with mixing colors to create their own unique and attractive candle colors. The colors come in the form of a dye. You could also try using old crayons for colouring your decorative candles.

Continue reading How to Make Candles – Candle Making Supplies – Part 2

The use of candles for light and heat is known to have existed in ancient times. The remains of candles have been found in the caves of France. It is believed that cavemen used them while painting and etching on the walls. It is believed those candles where made out of animal fat. The Egyptians used candles as well by dripping beeswax onto leave stems. The burning process of a candle involves the four basic elements of matter which are solids, liquids, gas, and plasma.

Today candle making is a fun hobby or craft. For some, it is a very profitable business venture. Candle making provides you with they ability to create wonderful designs and crafts out of your candles. There is no limit to the shapes, sizes, and colors you can make your candles in. A candle is a device to provide light or fragrance. Candles have become very popular for the wonderful aromas more than for their ability to produce light. Some candles give off a popular smell such as vanilla or jasmine. Others smell like a chocolate cake or cinnamon rolls.

The body of a candle is generally made of paraffin wax. It can also be made out of beeswax. Paraffin wax is a natural wax that comes from plants. This wax can be purchased from Petroleum Refinery or the Specialty Wax Processor. Beeswax is also considered a natural wax, and is taken from honeybees. This is the substance the bees use to construct their honeycombs. A wick is placed in the center of the wax before it dries. The wick is made of cotton fibers that have been braided together. The wick is very thin, but also very powerful. Sometimes candle makers will use a wick that is wider than normal to increase the size of the flame.

Safety is a very important part of candle making. The temperature of the hot wax can result in severe burns. There is also the risk of fire. Make sure your candle making area is set up properly and that you have a fire extinguisher in the area. Clean up spills quickly as they will become very slick, leading to falls if you walk across them.

To make candle making fun instead of frustrating, start will making simple candles. This is a great opportunity for you to discover what works well with your set up and gives you the chance to make necessary changes. Initially, work at implementing good safety habits and melting your wax at the proper temperatures. You will also want to experiment with your cooling process. Once you have these areas down, you will start to relax and the process will become more natural to you. This is the right time to start experimenting with dyes, scents, and shapes for your candles.

The candle making process is easy to follow if you take your time and learn from your mistakes. Those who are impatient and take multitasking to an extreme will most likely not enjoy the art of candle making. However, it is very enjoyable by those who have plenty of time to take with the process and who enjoy creating things. Candle making supplies aren’t expensive so use the best you can. This will also help ensure your candles form well and burn properly.

In the 1800’s, candle makers felt the wick was the weakest area of the candle as well as the cause for defective burning patterns. A braided wick was developed in 1825 that seemed to greatly improve the burning of several types of candles. By 1830, a process was in place to make candles using paraffin wax and molds. These candles were of good quality and burned well.

As gas and electricity were introduced, the candle making process continued to evolve. It became much easier and faster to melt the paraffin wax. It is believed that the reason so many of the elements of candle making stayed the same, including the hand dipping process is because the popularity of candles diminished with the introduction of electricity.

Today, candle making is a well known art form. There are many companies who manufacture wonderful candles with some very unique fragrances. There are also small businesses that still make their candles by home in their kitchen. Candle making is a great hobby and fun activity for the whole family to be involved in.

Candles are now used more for luxury and pleasure than for light or heat. The candle industry continues to grow with new types of candles being introduced all the time. The amount of colors, fragrances, and types of candles to choose from in the marketplace is absolutely amazing.

Candles are a very common home decorating item. They are used to accent any room in your house. They are a common centerpiece for dinner parties and formal occasions. The unity candles that are presided over at many weddings hold a deep sense of tradition in the American culture.

The art of making candles has definitely changed over time. If you are interested in trying your hand at it, choose a candle that is fairly easy to make such as the container candle or the votive. This will allow you the chance to get used to the process. There are several good candle making kits available for a low price as well as books to give you tips and assistance along the way.

Read The History of Candle Making – part 1.