Candles have been used as a source of light since the third millennium BC. Such luxury was available only to wealthy families. Today, candles are not of particular value and are used in the interior for decoration and aromatherapy. Moreover, making them at home is not difficult. This is not only a fun hobby, but also an opportunity to create something unique for your home or gift. Today we’ll talk about materials and various options for creating candles with your own hands.
DIY candles at home: recipe for scented and colored candles
Having mastered the manufacturing principle, you can create more complex variations of candles. To make colored candles, place wax crayons along with paraffin in a melting dish. Fantasize, experiment with combinations and as a result you will get a stunning composition of bright rainbow candles.
Stylish salt decoration
A somewhat unexpected decor in the form of salt will give the product an original delicate look, especially if the paraffin/wax surface is pre-decorated. Step by step process:
- Separate parts of the candle are sealed with tape.
- PVA glue is mixed with paints and spread on open areas.
- Pour a layer of salt onto a plate and roll a candle over it. Then the tape is removed.
If you show your imagination by gluing adhesive tape in different versions, then things will turn out to be non-standard and stylish.
Secrets of aromatherapy
When making a new candle, use essential oils. Add a little of your favorite aromatic oil to the liquid (melted) wax before pouring it into the mold.
The composition of aromas of bergamot and lavender has a relaxing effect, while rosemary and lemon have a healing effect. A mixture of one part rose and geranium oil and two parts lavender has a calming effect. For mood, use an aromatic composition of cloves and orange, and to relieve stress - cedar and lemon.
Decor with flowers
Using fresh flowers to decorate candles is not the best option, since the plants will quickly wither and the whole composition will take on a dull appearance. To create a three-dimensional decor, it is advisable to choose artificial flowers made of polymer clay or made with your own hands from ribbons. It is recommended to attach them to a textile base attached to a candle.
Additionally, beads and beads will help give the craft a solemn and bright look. The elements are glued onto flower petals and a textile base. To prevent the product from turning out too elegant, the process must be controlled.
The selection of elements of the same color scheme is encouraged.
Gel transparent candles at home
The technique for creating a gel candle is exactly the same as for a wax candle. Only in this case the mold is filled not with paraffin, but with a transparent candle gel. Inside such a candle you can place stones, shells, twigs, flowers, beads, beads, buttons, slices of fruit and anything you can imagine.
The arrangement of elements inside may vary. If you lower them to the bottom before pouring the gel, they will remain at the bottom. Decorations lowered into the poured mold will remain on the surface or hang in the middle.
You can add color to the candle using gel dyes. You can also add essential aromatic oils to these candles.
Note: Before pouring the melted gel, heat the mold. This will prevent bubbles from appearing.
Decor with ribbons
The easiest way to give a candle a Christmas or gift look is to tie it with ribbons. Using products of different quality, you can add a romantic or cheerful mood to your craft.
The wedding celebration will be decorated with candles decorated with lace or satin ribbons. The original option is a combination of plain and lace stripes. An openwork fabric is attached to the product, over which a shiny satin bow is tied.
Candles decorated with twine and handmade cream lace ribbons look romantic and rustic.
Delicate set of candles
Option for decorating a finished candle
A candle with a photograph printed on it will become an original room decor. To do this, prepare:
- regular wax candle;
- tissue paper or tracing paper;
- wax paper;
- scissors, tape;
- hairdryer and printer.
Step 1. Select a photo to decorate the candle. Tape the tracing paper to the printer paper.
Step 2: Print the photo. To do this, you need to insert the paper into the printer so that the photo is printed on tracing paper. Next, separate the tracing paper from the paper and cut out the image. Leave a white frame around the photo.
Step 3. Wrap the candle tightly with wax paper and heat the image with a hairdryer.
Step 4. Warm up until the photo becomes bright and clear.
Step 5: Carefully and slowly remove the wax paper.
In this way, you can decorate a candle with absolutely any pattern printed on a printer. Or you can draw your own work, inscription, pattern or some saying that is meaningful to you on tracing paper.
In addition to the techniques described above, there are many more ideas for decorating a candle:
- wrapping with lace, burlap or fabric;
- painting with sugar mastic, acrylic paints;
- decor of the vessel in which the candle is located;
- all kinds of applications with dried flowers;
- decoration with sparkles.
Romance of New Year's Eve
New Year's holidays are conducive to creating a warm, romantic atmosphere in the house, and candles do an excellent job of this task. You can decorate them using the decoupage technique - then an ordinary white candle will turn into a fabulous one.
You need to prepare:
- a pillar candle, preferably a large, wide one;
- decoupage napkin with a New Year or winter theme;
- decoupage varnish.
The simplest is the cold method, when a napkin is placed on a candle and simply smoothed gently over the surface, without leaving a single air bubble under the napkin. The top of the candle is varnished.
Another option is to place the elements of the napkin on the candle, cover it with wax paper, then lightly heat the candle with a hairdryer.
You can decorate a candle using natural elements, using burlap, tree branches, dried berries, cinnamon sticks. Relatives and friends will be happy with such a gift not only for the New Year, because candles - a symbol of warmth and family happiness - are appropriate in any home all year round.
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Kitchen ideas
Eggshells are an excellent option for molds for future candles.
To create such a candle, prepare eggs, wax, paint, and wick.
We extract the contents of the eggs through the hole at the top. We insert the wick inside.
Fill with wax.
We wait until the candle hardens and clean the shell.
Candle in a dish
With shells
Natural materials look gentle and natural. Decorating candles with your own hands is easy. A simple option: small sea things are glued in a chaotic order. The gaps between the shells can be sprinkled with coarse sand. A great design trick is to cover the dried sand with a clear varnish.
A non-standard solution is to wrap dried seaweed around a candle and glue small shells onto it. Such products will visually remind you of the sea coast. This is a great decor for the bathroom.
How to create decor with a marine mood
Materials: what is needed for manufacturing
In medieval times, the candle trade was vital to kingdoms and villages
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?
They can add an atmosphere of comfort, coziness, and romance to any room.
The process will not take you more than two hours, but the resulting products will complement your home or work interior and will be a good gift for loved ones.
To create you need wax, wick, aromatic oils, mold, accessories
Wax
This is the heart of a candle, of which there are three main types.
Paraffin Traditional, used for hundreds of years to make lamps. 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.
Paraffin is a by-product of petroleum, which automatically gives it a bad rating for most consumers.
Soy 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 The oldest ingredient in making; Beeswax candles have been found in the great pyramids of Egypt. As the 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.
Beeswax candles have a natural golden color and a subtle sweet aroma
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
Container candles require a wide 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
There are thousands of scents to choose from. Follow your tastes
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 are better off choosing from such “masculine” scents as a mixture of clove, amber and sandalwood, apple and maple bourbon, blue spruce, buttery 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
Candles in different colors in jars
Coffee mugs, glassware, jars - anything that can withstand the 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
You need to measure the temperature to know when to add oil.
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.
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Dyeing technology
Natural and synthetic dyes are used for coloring. Natural ones are made from natural ingredients and herbs. To do this, they are processed and the desired product is obtained. Synthetic ones are made from chemical elements and color the candle evenly and quickly.
Dyes also coat the candle with a greasy layer. If this doesn't bother you, then add them during melting. But if you want to get an uneven color and add some color, then add dye to the wax before pouring.
Some people also use coloring pencils for coloring. This should not be done. The impurity contained in them will interfere with the burning of the candle.
How to make a candle from wax or paraffin
Frame: sheri vegas / YouTube
What you will need
- Wax, paraffin or remnants of old candles;
- wick with a stand for it;
- a strip of tape (optional);
- dried flowers, sparkles, glass beads and other decor at your discretion;
- deep container for a candle;
- a container in which to melt wax;
- scissors.
How to do
Let the wax melt. It is best to do this in a water bath, but you can also do it in the microwave or in a saucepan on the stove. The main thing is to keep the heat to a minimum and constantly stir the mass. The wax becomes liquid at a temperature slightly above 60 °C; there is no need to overheat it.
Frame: sheri vegas / YouTube
Using a strip of tape or a drop of wax, secure the stand with the wick vertically in the center of the candle container.
Frame: sheri vegas / YouTube
Slowly, being careful not to stain the sides, pour in the melted wax. If the wick is thin, you will have to hold it so that it does not bend.
Frame: sheri vegas / YouTube
Wait until the wax is no longer completely transparent and begins to harden. Place the dried flowers on the surface, pressing them lightly so that they stick.
Frame: sheri vegas / YouTube
Sprinkle with glitter.
Frame: sheri vegas / YouTube
Arrange the remaining decorations - beads, buds. If they don't hold tight enough, moisten them with wax.
Frame: sheri vegas / YouTube
Trim the wick to the desired length.
Frame: sheri vegas / YouTube
You will also find step-by-step instructions for making this candle in this video:
What other options are there?
A great way to use up used cans:
An easy way to remelt old candles:
Cozy candles in mugs, with the addition of tea:
