Dinner for two, conversations with loved ones over a cup of coffee, long evenings and nights working at home, a movie marathon, relaxing with a book or meditation - such moments will become even more pleasant if cozy lights flicker in the room. Are you going to a party? Brew an original candle - such a handmade souvenir will definitely please the taste of those who are waiting for you to visit. In our article we will tell and show how to make unique decor quickly and easily.

How to make a candle: instructions

The process of candle making is quite fascinating and uncomplicated, and therefore has every chance of becoming an enjoyable hobby. There are many ideas for decorating such crafts; in this regard, you can experiment. However, the principle of their preparation is almost always the same.

So, arm yourself with the following materials: standard household candles; cotton thread; container for melting wax; dishes for a water bath; molds made of tin, plastic or glass; pencil or stick for installing the wick.

Procedure:
1. Take care of fixing the wick in advance. Tie one end of the thread onto the holder and lower the other end into the center of the mold.
2.Cut the candles into bars and place them in a melting container over a water bath. The fire should be slow, stir the wax continuously. The liquid will be ready when there are no lumps in it.
3. Pour some melted wax into the bottom of the modeling container. Secure the wick in the middle, wait about a minute for the part to harden.
4. Pour in the remaining liquid.
5. After 24 hours the work has completely hardened, cut off the excess length of thread.
6. Natural lamp is ready for use.

DIY decorative candle ideas

Lavender candle

Fragrant and soothing, lavender will create the right atmosphere for meditation, reading and taking a bubble bath.

Complete the standard set of materials with essential oil, lavender sprigs, and a small glass jar.

Secure the dried flowers to the edges of the vessel, and then fix the wick and fill the container with some of the melted wax. Please note that the lavender must be placed strictly along the edge so that it does not catch fire during use. Heat the second part of the liquid again over low heat, adding a few drops of lavender oil, and smoothly pour into the mold.

Place a cute composition near your favorite interior items; it will complement any decor.

Coffee candle

If you are a fan of this blessed drink, be sure to try to create your own composition that will completely suit your taste.

There are 4 ways to make such a decorative element.

1. For the first one, you will need the same tools as for an ordinary craft, as well as whole coffee beans. They need to be added to the heated wax and the prepared container filled with the mixture. Since the grains vary in size and configuration, each result will be unique.

2. You can decorate a finished candle with fragrant seeds. It is enough to secure the grains with glue or fix them on a still surface, pressing them lightly with your fingers.

3. Make a small candle. Remove the product from the mold and place it in a larger container. Fill the free space with grains.

4. If you want your piece to delight you with a pleasant coffee smell, add ground coffee to the melted wax immediately before pouring. A burning fire will fill the room with an incredible aroma.

Lemon candle

Lemon peel can serve as an original candlestick. Such an art object will complement the country style, loft, as well as Scandinavian and modern design.

To create 4 crafts you need to prepare: the appropriate number of threads, wax, equipment for a water bath, a couple of lemons. If desired, add aromatic components or dye to the substance. IN in this case We add lavender oil and dried flowers to the composition.

So, start by cutting each lemon in half and discarding the pulp. Next, heat the wax and add aromatic and floral elements into it, stir. Secure the wicks and pour the mixture into each lemon half. Finally, place the product in a cool place until it hardens. Please note that the refrigerator is not the most suitable option for these purposes, as the liquid may harden unevenly.

Glitter candle

I want to make every holiday even more memorable and bright. In this case, you will be helped by a wonderful decor with sparkles, which you can do without special labor do it yourself. It will allow you to decorate your home for a party or become an unusual gift for your friends.

During the manufacturing process, you can use either homemade or purchased base. Having prepared the candle, glue and glitter, you can start working. To create shimmer only in a separate area, you can use tape, thereby highlighting the required area. Cover the surface with a good layer of glue and, holding the part over a sheet of paper, sprinkle it liberally with glitter. Let the glue dry, then carefully remove the tape.

To get a truly unique product, you can sprinkle it with multi-colored glitter, and thanks to strips of tape of different widths, you can achieve a multi-level pattern.

Such a decoration will look gorgeous as a New Year's entourage.

Multicolored candles

As you know, candles are not only monochromatic and dim, but also multi-colored and bright. To create such decor with your own hands, you will need a little material, patience and a few hours of your time.

In addition to the main components for cooking, you will need wax crayons of selected colors and, if desired, aromatic oils.

Having prepared a clear liquid and a glass cup with a wick, rub and melt the first colored wax pencil. After this, mix it with wax and pour it into a container. To make the pattern beautiful and unusual, tilt and fix the glass until each layer hardens. When all layers are ready, let the product harden completely.

That's all! Multi-colored lights with a beautiful pattern are ready.

Candle molds

Thanks to paper molds, you can make a natural lamp of interesting geometric configurations. Their variety depends only on the stencil you have chosen.

We select a suitable template, and then print it on the printer. It is advisable to use thick paper. We cut out and glue each piece as shown in the photo. To prevent the paper from falling apart while pouring wax, it must be coated on the outside with paint and allowed to dry. As in other cases, we insert the wick and secure it, and then pour it into the stencil. When the liquid hardens, all you have to do is remove the paper.

Even an ordinary eggshell is perfect as a form. The production process is similar to the previous one and requires minimal effort. Nevertheless, products made using such templates will be a wonderful decoration in any interior and at any time of the year, but especially at Easter.

Flower candles

Candles made using this technique will be a wonderful decoration and an exquisite gift. Despite their incredible beauty and sophisticated appearance, needlework will only require time and effort from you.

We make a blank and let it harden. At this time, we will prepare various dried flowers, berries, leaves and other natural decorations. When decorating, we will use the decoupage technique. To do this you will need another candle, any tweezers and a tablespoon. Having warmed up the spoon, we carefully press the prepared gifts of nature into the surface, thus forming a unique pattern. If any of the elements does not look very attractive, you just need to cover it with a new layer of paraffin, and it will sparkle with new colors. To do this, you need to hold the wick and lower the product into heated paraffin.

Aroma candles

Do you want a truly magical atmosphere to reign in your room? Then fill the space with the wonderful aroma of pine, lime, mint, lavender, bergamot or vanilla. Of course, you can purchase ready-made products in the form of air fresheners, but it is much better to envelop your home in the scent of candles made from natural ingredients. Plus, it's quite easy to do. Any scents are suitable, they can be combined with each other. We will tell you how to make several options for such multifunctional jewelry.

Decorate the products with fragrant pine needles. In this case, you can make the candles yourself or buy them in a store. We get the freshness of the needles from lightly heating real branches of cypress, pine or spruce.

Degrease the candlestick with an alcohol-soaked cotton pad, and place the pine needle branches under a press for several hours to make them flatter. Apply 10-15 drops of liquid wax to the bottom of a candlestick, for example, a glass or jar with wide and high walls, and fix the work.

Lubricate the finished branches with glue or spray them with an adhesive aerosol and secure them to the glasses so that their lower parts hang down slightly. Once the glue has dried, trim the edges of the plant. Note that the needles should not be placed inside the container, since in this case the fragrant trail will not come out. If everything went well, you will notice a beneficial effect - the evaporation of coniferous trees will calm the nervous system, help you relax after a hard day, and also facilitate recovery from a cold, since pine needles are famous for their antiseptic properties.

Try creating a mix by adding a few drops of different essential oils to melted wax. Combine lemon and rosemary oil to tone the body, bergamot and lavender for relaxation, geranium and rose for calm and balance. Tandems of cedar and lemon, cloves and orange will also help to take away all sorrows. Vanilla, jasmine, ylang-ylang will create the atmosphere for a romantic evening.

The whole process is identical to smelting from any other material. The main difference is that our goal is still to create a transparent composition. That is why we must choose a transparent container, and also use the dye with caution so that our product does not lose its uniqueness. If you decide to place any elements inside the candle, the main thing is to place them at the level at which you want to see them (for example, parts strewn on the bottom will remain there). Suitable as decorations glass balls, sea shells, flowers, leaves or dried fruits.

Video: How to make decorative candles - Master class

To organize a beautiful and interesting wedding, you need to pay attention to even minor details. Wedding candles play a special role at a wedding. This decorative item is considered not only decoration, but also important detail in many wedding ceremonies.

Some newlyweds prefer to make candles for their wedding with their own hands. Guests can also make candles and then give them as a gift. Candles created by the mother of the bride or groom will be very symbolic. By the way, if you wish, you can make a whole set for your wedding: wedding candles, bottles of champagne, and you can decorate them in the same style.

What wedding rituals use candles?

As noted above, this is used in some wedding ceremonies. And first of all, this is, of course, a wedding. According to tradition, after the wedding, the candles remain with the newlyweds. You need to keep them all your life, because it is believed that wedding candles are a symbol of the strength of the marriage union. The decoration of wedding candles should be quite modest.

Wedding candles are also used during the ceremony of lighting the family hearth. Candles for the family hearth should be decorated as elegantly as possible. After all, it is believed that the richer the design, the more prosperous the new family will be. The newlyweds should have one common thick candle, which symbolizes family hearth and one thin candle separately for the bride and groom.

How to make wedding candles with your own hands?

Currently, candles for weddings can be made in two ways.

Method 1. Ready-made candle + DIY decor

This option for making wedding candles is the simplest and most affordable. You need to buy a ready-made candle and design it yourself. The candle can be decorated with various decorative elements to suit your taste, but remember, all decorative items should not be flammable, they should be completely fire-safe.

Method 2. Making and decorating candles by hand.

This method of making candles for a wedding is more complicated, as it involves making the candle itself with your own hands and then decorating them.

A candle can be made using candle mass or special wax. But you can buy ordinary white candles, melt them, giving them a shape to your liking. To make the candle melt faster, chop it finely with a knife.

• Colored candles. If you want to make colored candles, for example, a pale pink or light candle blue color, then add a little food coloring to the prepared candle crumbs, or grind wax crayons.
• Aroma. So that the candle has pleasant aroma, add a little aromatic oil to the raw material.
• Wick. You can buy a wick in a store, or you can use it from candles that have been melted down. Cotton thread is also suitable, but it should first be thoroughly soaked in wax. On one side, attach a weight to the wick, and on the other, tie it to the stopper and install this small structure in the middle of the mold.
• Molds for candles. Nowadays there are a lot of different shapes for candles in stores.

But the best thing to buy is a classic cylinder. This shape will fit into any wedding decor.

You can also make a candle mold with your own hands. To do this, take a suitable plastic bottle. In this case, a ketchup bottle is used. Cut off the neck and bottom of the bottle. Then make 8 cuts at the top of the workpiece at equal intervals. Mark triangles on each square. Cut along the marked lines. Now connect the resulting teeth, insert a wick between these teeth and seal with tape.

Before pouring wax, the mold must be thoroughly greased. vegetable oil. Decorative elements can be pre-attached to the sides of the form. If you like, cover the bottom of the mold with pretty glitter or shells.

Pour paraffin into the mold, after melting it in a water bath.

Now let the wax harden completely. In order for the candle to cool completely, it is enough for it to be at room temperature.

The end result is a candle like this.

DIY wedding candle decoration

You can decorate wedding candles using a variety of materials: rhinestones, bugles, beads, lace, ribbons, polymer clay, chains, porcelain, decorative paper and much more.

The most common way to decorate wedding candles is decoupage, modeling and painting. The main theme is love, so they decorate the candle with hearts, cupids, drawings with wedding rings and doves.

Decorative items are attached to the product using glue.

Carved candles

A carved candle is a real work of art. The technique of making carved candles is complex. But very exciting.

1st step: The finished paraffin candle needs to be dipped into liquid colored wax. During the immersion process, it is important to constantly monitor the temperature of the liquid wax. If the wax is not at sufficient temperature, it will become hard quickly and it will be difficult to cut a pattern out of it.

2nd step: The candle carving process is perhaps the most interesting part. Carving requires special tools. The master must think through the idea of ​​the future candle in advance. It must act quickly and accurately, since only 20 minutes are allotted for this stage, because paraffin hardens very quickly.

3rd step: To give the candle a beautiful shine and protect it from dust, the candle is placed in a special acrylic varnish.

Candle decor with flowers

This candle decor option is ideal for shabby chic or vintage style weddings. All candles are decorated in soft pastel colors.

Candles can be decorated with rhinestone threads that are glued on top of satin ribbons. A candle symbolizing the hearth can be decorated with a large soft pink flower and a ribbon made of rhinestone thread.

Read more:

As you can see, it is not easy to make some wedding candles with your own hands, but this process makes us think about the importance and integrity of the marriage union. Keep your wedding candles for the rest of your life and always remember how important it is to preserve family warmth and comfort for many happy years.

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 decorative items. 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- some

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 camouflaged 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 recess of the 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 form 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.

In a similar way 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 of the 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 things.

IMPORTANT: Paraffin must be of high quality. Otherwise, the candle will begin to smoke, crackle, emit an unpleasant odor, and 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
• Concerning 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 by 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 to a 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 shavings, the more saturated the color the candle will be.

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 sizes 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. Wherein 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 do-it-yourself 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 with 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 the form, 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 start 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
• - 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.

The interest today is more common among women, but making this device is a manly skill that can be traced over many years. Especially in medieval times, trade in them was vital for kingdoms and villages because light was a necessity.

Today, when candles have no practical value, they can add an atmosphere of comfort, coziness, and romance to any room. They have a very meditative, relaxing effect and can be thought-provoking. Their main drawback is their relatively high cost. What does it take to do it yourself?

Materials: what is needed for manufacturing

The process will not take you more than two hours, but the resulting products will complement your home or work interior and will become a good gift for loved ones.

Wax

This is the heart of a candle, of which there are three main types.

Paraffin. Traditional, used for hundreds of years to make a torch. Now it continues to be the most common among all species. It's cheap and you can easily add color and scent to it. The main problem with paraffin remains its potentially toxic nature. Paraffin is a by-product of petroleum, which automatically gives it a bad rating for most consumers. If natural products are your credo, it is best to look for an alternative option.

• Soybeans. New to the market, it is becoming an increasingly popular main ingredient. Soy was created in the 90s, when the natural food movement was actively gaining momentum. It is usually made from soybean oil, but is sometimes mixed with paraffin and other waxes (palm, beeswax, etc.) It also easily takes on colors and scents.
• Beeswax. Oldest crafting ingredient; Beeswax candles have been found in the great pyramids of Egypt. As its name suggests, it is produced by bees and is a by-product of the honey process. Because of this, it has a natural golden color and a subtle sweet aroma. This is a completely natural product, but you won't be able to add other flavors to it. The natural smell will overwhelm other aromas. Bee is also the most expensive option.

Most types sold in stores come in granule form. This makes the job easier as the granules melt faster. If you bought a block, use a sharp knife to cut it into small pieces.

Wick

The wrong wick can ruin your homemade candle. The main problem is the size, or more precisely the width. For container ones, which will be discussed, you need a wide wick. The length of the wick is not important - you can trim it.

Aroma oils

Without the smell, your wax just burns. It looks nice, but doesn't create the subtle scent that candles are used for. There are thousands of scents to choose from - just search online. You can use essential oils, but the end product won't be as good. Men should choose from such "masculine" scents as a mixture of clove, amber and sandalwood, apple and maple bourbon, blue spruce, butter rum, coffee, whiskey.

Melting utensils

A saucepan with a double bottom will do the job best. Melting directly over the flame in a regular pan will be too strong, so use a double boiler.

Form

Coffee mugs, glassware, jars - anything that can withstand heat is used as a container. With a lid, they can be transported, sent, so you can easily give them to your loved ones.

Accessories: thermometer, spatula, old pen

Having a thermometer on hand allows you to quickly take your temperature. When you buy wax, especially the kind that is used for making, it will have instructions on it as to what temperature the fragrance oil is added to, when to pour into the container, etc. Use a spatula or spoon to spread it and dissolve large chunks. Later you will find out why old pens/pencils are good helpers for homemade candles.

Workflow: how to do it?

• Prepare your work area

Working with wax is quite a dirty business. It melts, drops can get everywhere, you won't even know it until it dries. Place newspaper or paper towels around the work area. Use them to set the thermometer, spatula - be careful, they will probably stick a little. Luckily, the wax isn't that difficult to clean; you can simply scrape it off with your fingernail. Prepare your molds and wicks.

• Melt the wax

Using a double-bottomed saucepan or water bath, melt the wax. Place about 200-300 grams, watch it melt by breaking it into pieces with a spatula and stirring it. It melts in about 10-15 minutes. Remember to monitor the temperature - you want it to be between 70 - 75 degrees. If the temperature starts to rise, remove it from the heat.

• Secure the wick

While it is melting, attach the wick to the container. The rare wicks have a small sticker embedded on the bottom, but the main part does not. Super glue is one option, but you can use an old candle trick: dip a metal wick tongue into melted wax, then quickly attach it to the bottom center of the container. After a couple of minutes, when it hardens, the wick will be fixed to the bottom.

• Add aromatic oils, stir

When completely melted, add desired fragrance oils. Each type is different and requires a different amount per kilogram, so follow the instructions on the package. Taking a block that is suitable for different purposes, remember the following proportion: 60 grams of oil per kilogram of wax. Pour it into the pan, stirring for one minute to ensure even distribution.

• Add color if desired

This step is optional. Your candles will come out a natural milky white, but you can add a little color by using a non-toxic colored pencil or block. For example, you can add half a millimeter of red pencil to 500 grams of wax to get a soft pastel shade. Want to bright color? Use more pencil.

The color will be much brighter in the melted mixture, but will turn milky as it cools.

• Let the mixture cool

After adding the aromatic oil, turn off the heat and let cool for a couple of minutes. Optimal temperature for pouring into a container is about 55-60 degrees. This won't take long - just a few minutes - so pay attention to your thermometer. Once it is properly cooled, pour it into the container. Hold the wick so that it remains centered, without over-tightening it. We recommend leaving some in the pan - you will need it at the end.

• The secret to attaching the wick

The wick, attached to the bottom, may initially wobble a little in the liquid wax. You definitely want it to stay level and centered while everything cures. Simply place the handle on top of the mold, tie a wick to it, and leave to set for a few hours.

As the candle cools down, you will notice a slight dip in the wick. The wax will also come away from the edges of the jar. Reheat the remaining mixture in the pan and fill the holes that appear.

• Trim the wick

You will probably have a few extra inches of wick sticking out. A wick that is too long will burn with too much bright flame. Light it and check it: if the flame is more than 2.5 centimeters, cut the thread.

• Admire your own handcrafted candles

Cool the candles at room temperature to avoid the formation of cracks.

Individuality in your interior design will always be its winning side. There's nothing like it 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 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 - this is sometimes 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. And here 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 for a loved one. Candles will decorate even the most modest setting, highlight color scheme of your apartment will be 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? In our work we will need:

• Wax melting vessel
• Candle molds
• Pan (for water bath)
• Sticks (the first one is to attach the wick, the second one 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 ready-made molds: yogurt packaging, cream jars, baking tins, tin cans, glasses or mugs that can withstand high temperature heating 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. WITH reverse side cup, the wick must be tied in a knot. 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.

Go ahead. 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 is to color candles using simple children's wax crayons.

Do you think it would be smarter to use watercolor or gouache? Indeed, the palette of these paints 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. It’s easy to find tableted pigments in specialty stores. 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 tin can. 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 lubricate the pre-prepared form with a thin layer of dishwashing liquid or simple vegetable oil. Both remedies are equally good.

We need to put the fragments of candles into 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 this, we cut off the excess part of the wick, leaving a tip of 1 cm. 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. That's why optimal solution will 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 oils, 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, using 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 of a candle.

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 packages 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.

Can also be added to gel candles essential oil, this does not contradict the recipe. A separate, especially pleasant process is decorating gel candles. At the bottom of any transparent container we freely place decorative elements: beads, beads, pebbles, shells, sequins, coffee beans, dry plant stems or flowers. Then fill everything with gel transparent 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 sea shells. 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 interesting shape can be more advantageous than even the most skillful decor. A wonderful decorative element for candles is various types of glass stands.

In a specialized store you can find special stickers for decoration. Or decoupage is a great way to decorate candles. 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 the decor of the 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 is a fantasy creative person There is practically no constraint: the 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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