The soft scent of melting wax, the flickering of living lights, the magical aura of romance - candles can create a special atmosphere in the house, lift your mood or relieve stress after a hard day. They charge the home with the power of natural elements and protect it from negative energy. Scented candles, created by you from sketches of your own imagination, have even greater power, because they contain the warmth of your hands and the miracle of creation.

Fire has a magical effect: it can be destructive and life-giving, burning and warming, dazzling and illuminating. It is believed that a person can look at it forever. Accompanied by candle flames, religious and witchcraft rituals- exactly the same as when accompanied by incense. Aroma candles are a beautiful tandem of scent and light; they are in particular demand among mystical, dreamy and sensual people. And if they also have high decorative value, then how can you do without them?

Candles self made will allow you not only to express your creative potential, but also to provide pleasant gifts to all your friends and loved ones. And, who knows, maybe this exciting activity will turn into an easy source of income for you?

Making candles at home: materials and equipment

Everything you might need for the exciting process of candle making can be purchased at craft stores and art stores. Making candles at home is not a very expensive pleasure, and for the first experiments you can get by with a minimum number of needs.

To place original accents in the interior and create a pleasant atmosphere, you will need:

Wax, paraffin, stearin

Both pre-assembled cinders and special candle mass are suitable. Ten to twenty percent of stearin added to paraffin will give it hardness and reduce “weeping” when burning. Natural wax for candles can be bought from beekeepers - by the way, they will probably also have wax for the textured finish of your creations.

Wick

You can make your own candle wick by twisting it from thick cotton threads. You can also use floss. However, it is much easier to purchase ready-made ones in a store - the price is more than affordable. Important point: The thickness of the wick greatly affects the burning quality of the candle. Too thin will give a weak flame, which will go out, choking on melted wax. Too thick - a guarantee of excessively intense combustion and soot.

Wax melting utensils

It must be heat resistant. For a small candle, any tin will do - the main thing is that you feel comfortable working with it (taking it out, holding it, tilting it).

Pot or bowl for water bath

There is only one requirement - it must be wider and lower than the melting vessel. Sustainability is encouraged.

Special dyes or wax pencils

Pigments for coloring candle mass can be in the form of powder or solid granules. Ordinary wax pencils from your child’s artistic arsenal can also be a worthy replacement for them. Water-soluble dyes are absolutely not suitable!

Essential oils

You can make scented candles with your own hands at home using synthetic fragrances, but, you see, this will reduce the magic to zero. Essential oils have powerful therapeutic properties, their range of aromas is rich - choosing a composition that is pleasant and beneficial for you will not be difficult at all. If desired, you can make do with vanilla, cinnamon, and ground coffee available at home.

Thin sticks

They will be needed to fix the wick exactly in the middle of the candle, stir dyes and flavors in hot paraffin, and also to apply an original “scratched” ornament to the finished candle.

Candle molds

Specialized stores will surprise you with a selection of molds for pouring paraffin, but making candles at home does not require any extra expenses. Real masterpieces with sparkle can also be achieved using an aluminum beer can, a Tetra-Pak bag, or a yogurt cup.

Napkins for decoupage, coffee beans, dried flowers, beautiful spices, beads, rhinestones

If you make candles with your own hands, then be sure to make them original. Decorative elements - offered by the store or found in your home treasures - are a source of inspiration for creating a unique original work. And special candle glues, varnishes, outlines and markers will allow you to create the most elegant and colorful work. But keep in mind: only candles with large diameter and a thin wick.

Scented candle at home: work sequence

This process requires, first of all, caution: hot wax spilled on a towel, clothing, or skin can cause fire and burns. But otherwise, a scented candle at home is simple, interesting, and exciting!

Think over the design and aroma composition for the future candle. Measure out required quantity pigments, choose decor. Prepare the mold and wick.

If you are pouring wax into a handy mold, make a small hole in the middle of its bottom. Thread the wick into it and tie a knot on the outside of the mold - this will later be the top part of the candle. Pull lightly until the knot fits well into the hole. Lightly grease the pan vegetable oil or liquid soap. Place it on the bottom, and place two sticks on the upper walls - in diameter or diagonally. Place the wick between them so that it is stretched exactly in the middle of the candle.

Prepare water bath. The water in it should not boil. You can put a cloth napkin on the bottom of the dish. Cut (break, grate) the candle mass into small pieces, place them in a heat-resistant container and set to melt. If necessary, add stearin.

The maximum temperature to which paraffin can be brought is 75 degrees.
Add pigments to the melted mass, and then flavors. Mix thoroughly.

Carefully, without moving the wick, pour the wax into the mold. Leave to harden for 15-30 minutes. The time depends on the thickness of the candle.

Untie the knot at the bottom of the mold, carefully pull the wick and remove the candle.
If the candle does not give in, put it in the freezer for 15 minutes, then it will easily slip out of the mold.

Cut the wick (the one at the bottom) to a length of 1 centimeter, and the bottom one to the root.
Your scented candle is ready! Now you can make a carved ornament on it, wrap it beautifully with twine, or decorate it using the decoupage technique.

By placing crushed ice in the mold before pouring the wax, you will get fantastic openwork candles.

You can make a candle in a glass glass, a cute jar, a coconut shell, a dried orange peel - in which case you will need a special metal wick holder. It must be glued to the bottom of the selected vessel.
Natural beeswax is much more suitable for scented candles with essential oil: unlike paraffin, it does not emit harmful substances when burning, it saturates the air with useful substances.

Striped candles are easy: just pour layers of different colored wax one by one, after the previous one has hardened.

Rose essential oil has too intense an aroma. For many, burning a candle can feel suffocating.

The most popular oils for air aromatization:

• Citrus fruits: orange, tangerine, bergamot, grapefruit, lime, lemon - improve mood, help overcome depression, are useful for improving body tone and preventing ARVI.
• Lavender, mint, sandalwood, myrrh, styrax - relieve insomnia, relax, and clear the mind.
• Jasmine, ylang-ylang, patchouli are the scents of a romantic evening.
• Fir, cedar, pine, tea tree, vetiver, eucalyptus will help you get rid of colds faster and destroy germs and viruses in the air.

Making candles with an exquisite scent is therapeutic in itself. Creativity distracts from bad thoughts, reveals a person’s soul, and brings meaning and satisfaction to his life. Having created your fragrant wax masterpiece, light it, focus on the flame, relax and think: “Life is beautiful.”

People have been using candles for a long time. Previously, they served to illuminate rooms, but now they are an element of decor and a way to create a romantic, festive or cozy atmosphere.

You can find a lot in stores different types candles, ranging from simple to fancy. You can make such decorations yourself from simple materials. Making decorative candles will not require financial costs and will not take much time, but by showing your imagination and putting a piece of your soul into your product, you can create a unique thing that will bring joy to you and your family.

What you need

Candle material. Wax, paraffin or stearin. For people new to candle making, it is best to start with paraffin wax as it is easier to work with. Paraffin can be purchased or obtained from white household candles or their remains.

Stearine is easily obtained from laundry soap. Grate the soap on a coarse grater or slice it with a knife. Place the shavings in metal container, add water until the liquid covers it and send it to melt in a water bath. When the soap has dissolved, remove it from the heat and add the vinegar. A thick mass will float to the surface, which needs to be collected with a spoon after cooling. This mass is stearin; it must be rinsed several times under water and wrapped in a clean cloth to remove excess moisture.

Wick. For the wick you will need a thick cotton thread, for example, braided or twisted floss. Synthetic materials They are not suitable for candles because they burn quickly and smell unpleasant. It's easier to get a wick from regular candles.

Form. You can use different containers as a mold for making candles: coffee jars, durable packaging, sand molds and plastic balls. If you decide to make a narrowed or round candle, the container you will use for this, for example, a plastic ball, should be cut lengthwise and a hole with a diameter of at least 1 cm should be made at the top so that the composition can be freely poured into it.

Dyes. You can use dry food coloring, wax crayons, or natural ingredients, for example, cocoa. But paints based on alcohol or water based not suitable for making candles.

Work progress

1. Grind the selected raw material and place it in a water bath. If you are using household candles, be sure to remove the wick. Remaining candles must be cleaned of black soot. While stirring, wait until the mass melts. Dip the wick into it several times until it is saturated and set it aside.
2. Add flavoring and coloring to the mixture. If you use wax crayons, you need to grind them using a fine grater. By using two or more colors you can achieve a marbled look. And by dividing the mass into several parts and painting them in different colors, you can make a multi-colored candle.
3. Grease the mold chosen for the candle with vegetable oil or dishwashing detergent. Attach the tip of the wick to a stick, toothpick or pencil and place it on the mold so that the free end of the wick passes through its middle and reaches the bottom. For reliability, you can attach a weight, such as a nut, to the free part of the wick.
4. Fill the mold with the melted mass, wait until it hardens completely, then remove the candle by pulling the wick. If the candle is difficult to remove, immerse the mold in hot water.
5. You can decorate candles in different ways, for example, place dried flowers, blades of grass and seeds around the edges of the mold and then pour in the melted mass. To make a coffee candle, you need to pour a layer of coffee beans on the bottom of the mold, pour them liquid material for the candle and put the grains on top again. Decorating the product with beads, rhinestones and shells is best done after it has hardened and been removed from the mold. Decorative elements are inserted into the melted surface of the candle or attached with glue.

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 in 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. I would like to devote this article to 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 might 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 household cinders or buy ordinary 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, since they do not have 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 the 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 with their help you can create 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 cookware that you don't need too much and 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 pleasant aromatic content, add to total weight a few drops of essential oil, 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 warmer 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 start, prepare your workplace. 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. How smaller pieces, the easier it will be to work with them.

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. Common food colors in in this case are not suitable because they have water base. 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 installing the wick in in the right place, 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 the molds.

Each type of candle has its own cooling:

paraffin candles need 24 hours to cool;

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.

That's it, your homemade candle is ready, light it and enjoy!

Handmade is gaining more and more popularity. Extravagant jewelry, paintings, toys, decorative elements, gifts - this is only a small part of what passionate craftsmen and amateurs create with their own hands. Today we will talk about how to make a candle at home.

This process does not require special skills or equipment. After reading our recommendations and detailed master classes, even beginners can begin this exciting process.

CREATING A CANDLE: WHERE TO START

Making your own candles is much easier than you might think. And the main advantage of such an activity is necessary materials easily accessible. If you look hard enough, you can even find them in your home.

MATERIALS FOR HOMEMADE CANDLES

Wax, stearin or paraffin are best suited for the job. Moreover, it is better for beginners to start getting acquainted with the latter; it is the least demanding to use. You can buy paraffin at the store or use leftover old white candles.

WICK

It is best to use natural threads as a wick, ideally thick cotton ones. Do not try to use synthetic wicks: such wicks will burn quickly and leave behind an unpleasant odor. To check if the thread is natural, simply set fire to its tip. If it melts, forming a hard ball at the end, you have synthetics.

If you have an unusual candle in mind and are thinking about how to make an original wick for it, then use colored floss threads. This is an excellent and natural material.

Remember important rule: the thicker the candle, the thicker the wick should be.

It's easy to make it yourself. To do this, prepare a solution: in a glass of water, dissolve 1 tablespoon of salt and 2 tablespoons boric acid. Soak cotton thread or floss in it for 12 hours. Then dry them and twist them into a rope or braid them.

If you find this process tedious, carefully remove the wick from the finished household candle and use it.

CANDLE Mold

First of all, decide on the configuration of the desired candle, and then try to find a hollow object of the same shape. You may find it useful:

Cardboard bags for milk and juices;
. plastic cups for yoghurts and desserts;
. egg shells;
. silicone molds for baking;
. glass goblets, wine glasses, glasses and glasses;
. baby beads;
. shaped ice cream molds;
. tin and glass coffee jars;
. empty tin cans.

The only requirement is that the mold material must withstand heating up to 100°C.

Another interesting option- pour candles into beautiful transparent glasses. You won’t be able to get them, but they will look very stylish and unusual.

Sometimes scented candles are made in tangerine or orange peel. The fruit is first cut in half and the pulp is carefully removed. You can also use large shells or coconut shells.

DYES

A white candle is elegant but boring. Naturally, the question arises of how to color paraffin in order to obtain bright interior decorations.

For lovers of candle making, the best and cheapest option is to take wax crayons for children's creativity. Want to get a special candle? Look for pearlescent crayons - your creation will be unique.

Do not try to use water-soluble gouache or watercolor - you will fail. The dye will inevitably settle to the bottom or fall out in flakes. The finished product will look very unpresentable.

Utensils for melting paraffin

In order to melt the paraffin, you will need a small saucepan for a steam bath and an iron bowl. Experienced craftsmen it is recommended to heat paraffin on steam bath, considering other methods, including the microwave, to be fire hazardous.

To begin with, we recommend that you also use this method, proven over the years: place a bowl of paraffin in a container of boiling water. If you plan to have a colored candle, add the chalk immediately and stir the melted mass several times to obtain a uniform color.

FLAVORS AND DECOR

Any available materials are suitable for decorating candles. First, decide on the topic of your work. Pebbles and shells will effectively complement candles in nautical style. For a New Year's theme, use beads, small cones, small decorative balls, ribbons and bows. Decorate Valentine's Day candles with hearts, sparkles, bows, dried flowers, coffee beans, etc.

It is best to scent homemade candles with essential oils, which can be purchased at your nearest pharmacy. Another option is to find vanilla cinnamon in your kitchen. You should add flavors to the melted paraffin at the very end, after coloring.

STEP-BY-STEP MASTER CLASSES

We bring to your attention a selection of accessible master classes that will help beginners learn basic techniques and techniques. If you already know how to create candles with your own hands, you can draw interesting ideas from them to implement in your creativity.

COFFEE CANDLE

Want to create a romantic mood? Light a coffee candle - its divine aroma will take away all worries, leaving only good mood and peace. This is especially pleasant in the rainy autumn or cold winter. This is also a great gift for any occasion or even no occasion.

*photo by Valentin

To work you will need:
. paraffin;
. whole coffee beans;
. wick;
. two plastic cups different sizes;
. wick holder - a teaspoon, a wooden stick or a plastic coffee stirrer.

If you don’t find paraffin, take household candles, you can also get a wick from them.

Crush the paraffin into small pieces with a knife to speed up the melting process. If you took store-bought candles, carefully crush them with the blunt side of a knife so as not to damage the wick.

Place the paraffin in a glass jar and place it in a saucepan with warm water. Heat the water over low heat until the paraffin is completely melted in the jar - it should become transparent.

At this time, prepare the mold for pouring. To a larger plastic cup, place the smaller one after filling it with water. There should be a fairly wide space between the walls of the cups. Pour coffee beans up to half the height between the walls.

Pour the melted paraffin into the mold to the level of the grains, wait about 10 minutes. Then pour the paraffin to the edge of the mold and let it harden completely. This will take about an hour.

Carefully pour the water out of the inner glass and remove it from the paraffin ring. Lower the wick into the workpiece so that it reaches the bottom of the glass. Tie its upper end to the holder and place it on top of the glass, centering the wick.

Pour melted paraffin into the middle of the candle. Place a few grains on top for decoration. Now you will have to wait 4-6 hours until the candle hardens completely.

Carefully remove the frozen candle from the glass. At the same time, it can be cut with scissors to facilitate manipulation.

If you want the grain to be better visible, blow the sides of the product with hot air from a hairdryer. The paraffin will melt and the surface will become embossed.

It turned out to be an excellent aroma candle, isn’t it? Do you want to make it even more romantic? We invite you to use the same technology to create heart-shaped candles that will become an unforgettable gift for your significant other for Valentine's Day or a birthday.

Watch a detailed video of creating a fragrant coffee candle and you will see that everything is even simpler than it seems at first glance.

RAINBOW CANDLES

Want to add to your home bright colors? Handmade interior rainbow candles will help you with this.

To make them you will need the following ingredients:
. paraffin;
. stearin;
. wick;
. cylindrical shape;
. dyes corresponding to the colors of the rainbow.

You will receive more detailed information from a detailed video tutorial. For beginning craftsmen, it shows all the stages of preparing candle mass and creating a gradient transition of colors.

COLORFUL CANDLES IN LAYERS

Spectacular multi-colored candles in a transparent glass will become the highlight of your interior. How to make them, see our master class, illustrated with step-by-step photos.

Materials

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

Transparent wax;
wax pencils;
disposable paper cups;
glass cups;
wicks;
ice cream sticks;
aromatic oils;
microwave oven;
grater

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bright and unusual candles are ready. You can use them for their intended purpose or give them to friends as souvenirs.

SOURCE: http://www.rukikryki.ru/

One more interesting idea- square multicolor candle. Wax pencils are also used to color it. If you are a beginner, be sure to check out the clear video tutorial, with its help you can easily make such a cool craft as a gift for friends and family.

OPEN CANDLES

Decorative candles can be the most various designs, because talented craftsmen never cease to amaze with their imagination and creative experiments. To confirm these words, we invite you to familiarize yourself with the method of making an unusual openwork candle.

To work you will need:
. paraffin;
. optional coloring and flavoring;
. wick and holder for it;
. cylindrical shape;
. small ice cubes.

Melt the paraffin in a water bath. If the candle is supposed to be colored, color the candle mass; if desired, you can also scent it.

Place the wick in the mold so that it reaches the bottom. Don't forget to secure it on top with an improvised holder. Fill with crushed ice, not reaching a couple of centimeters from the edges.

Pour the melted candle mass into the mold. Leave the workpiece until the paraffin has cooled completely. In this case, naturally, the ice will melt, and cavities will form inside the candle.

Carefully drain the water and remove the product by pulling the wick.

Be careful, this beauty is quite fragile and requires careful handling. This unusual openwork candle will be a wonderful gift for your family and friends. If you use paraffin from old candles for your work, you will get this beauty completely free.

You will receive visual instructions for action from detailed videos creating openwork candles. After viewing them, you can make such beauty yourself at home.

Video #1:

Video #2:

Option No. 3: And if you are wondering what to give your friends for the New Year, then surprise them with a handmade red openwork candle. It will be an unforgettable gift and will bring a holiday feeling and Christmas mood to your home. Watch the master's work and be inspired by your own masterpieces.

MASSAGE CANDLES

The main ingredient for creating a massage candle is soy wax. By adding useful components to it, you can get a product that has healing properties. It is no longer a decoration, but a homemade cosmetic product that makes the skin soft and well-groomed.

Healing properties of essential oils:

Helps rejuvenate skin and cleanse pores essential oil lemon.
. Orange oil has anti-cellulite effect.
. Rose oil stimulates the regeneration of skin cells and promotes skin elasticity.
. Rosemary oil can clear the skin of pigment spots and make it smooth.
. Patchouli oil does a great job of moisturizing.
. Lavender oil will delight you with its healing effect.

Solid vegetable oils are also added to massage candles. For example, cocoa butter is used to moisturize and tone the skin. And with its regular use, cosmetologists promise you smooth and soft skin.

Exotic shea butter can save dry skin from flaking. Coconut oil, rich in natural antioxidants, can smooth the skin.

General algorithm for creating a massage candle:

1. melt the wax with solid oils in a water bath;
2. let the mixture cool slightly and add liquid oils;
3. Cool the mass a little more and add essential oils, extracts and vitamins;
4. pour the resulting candle mass into the mold, after inserting the wick into it;
5. Wait until the candle has completely hardened and remove it from the mold;
6. The hardened candle is ready for use.

We offer you the most common recipes for effective massage candles.

Recipe No. 1

Soy wax - 85%;
. avocado and shea butter (aka shea butter) - 5% each;
. patchouli essential oil - 2.8%;
. ylang-ylang essential oil - 2%;
. vitamin E - 0.2% (a few drops).
Light the finished candle and let it melt a little. Put it out. Put some warm wax on your hand and you can treat yourself to a rejuvenating massage session. Don't be afraid to get burned - the melting point of such a candle is much lower than a paraffin candle.

Recipe No. 2 “Massage candle with a calming effect”

Soy wax - 80g;
. shea butter - 40g;
. almond oil— 40g;
. cocoa butter - 20g;
. essential oils of sage and lavender - 2 g each.
A massage session with such candles is best done before bed. The calming effect of essential oils will help you relax and sleep soundly.

Recipe No. 3 “Massage candle with anti-cellulite effect”

Beeswax - 100g;
. cocoa butter - 60g;
. ground chili pepper - 5-10g;
. essential oils of orange and grapefruit - 3 g each.
Make sure you are not allergic to any of the ingredients in the candle. After the massage, you may feel a burning or tingling sensation, which is due to the presence of chili in the composition.

Regular massage will help get rid of the hated " orange peel", will make the skin soft and elastic.

WE DECORATE CANDLES USING DECOUPAGE TECHNIQUE

If you don’t have dye, but want to create something bright and memorable, don’t worry. The simplest candle made from cinders can be turned into a work of art. To do this, you need to have a little patience and decorate the product to your liking.

CANDLE DECORATED WITH DRIED FLOWERS

Dried leaves, stems and flowers will help you create an exclusive candle that will be almost impossible to repeat. Usage natural materials limited only by the local flora and your imagination. This is when the ability to collect a herbarium will come in handy.

*photo by Lyudmila Klimova

To work you will need:
. any dried flowers;
. 2 candles - for decoration and a regular one;
. teaspoon;
. tweezers;
. nail scissors;
. paraffin for final coating.

From the dried flowers you have available, create a composition that you want to bring to life.

Heat a teaspoon over a regular burning candle ( inside over the fire, because the spoon will turn a little black, and in order not to stain the candle, we will then carry out all manipulations with the other side of the spoon).

Place a dry flower on the candle to be decorated and gently stroke its petals with the outside of a spoon so that they melt into the paraffin and do not stick out. Thick stems may need to be ironed several times while heating the spoon.

Carefully trim off any excess stems that extend beyond the candle with scissors.

Glue the remaining elements in the same way, choosing the desired location for them. Make sure that the edges of the leaves and petals do not stick out.

All that remains is to consolidate the result. Melt the paraffin in a water bath, pour it into a container into which you can completely dip the decorated candle.

Holding the candle by the wick, immerse it in melted paraffin and place it on flat surface and let cool. If the petals were not smoothed well and protruding ends remain visible, repeat this procedure again.

Such an elegant candle will conquer any heart and will not go unnoticed. Complement it with a beautiful candlestick and it will become a unique decoration for your home.

DECOUPAGE CANDLES WITH PAPER NAPLES

The desire to decorate a candle could come instantly, but there are no dried flowers at hand. In this case, you can get by with paper napkins. With their help you can easily decorate a candle for any holiday.

Choose a napkin with the pattern you want. Cut out the necessary elements from a napkin. Carefully remove the bottom two layers of paper from the resulting blanks. Further, the principle of operation is similar to decorating with dried flowers.

Place the prepared element on the candle and iron it with a hot spoon. Sand the cooled surface with the rough side of a regular kitchen sponge. There is no need to immerse the candle in melted paraffin with this method.

Your masterpiece is ready. Compose beautiful composition made from candles in New Year's style, fir branches and colored balls. It will bring a good mood and a festive atmosphere to your home.

PHOTO DESIGN IDEAS

Want even more inspiration? Browse our selection of decorative candles. You will definitely find one that you want to repeat immediately.

We were able to convince you that it is possible to create unique masterpieces even from scrap materials? That is why candle making has become a favorite pastime for many, beginners and not only masters.

Original form templates:

Now you know what and how candles are made from, you can get to work. Don't try to use the photo you like as a template and an unconditional ideal. Get inspired finished works to create your own unique candles. A little effort and perseverance - and your masterpieces will become a standard to follow.

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, taking 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 best wishes 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 start 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 candles

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 to select the wick for a certain type candles 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. 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.

Coloring a candle

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 decide to make decorative candles with your own hands, 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 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 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 paraffin or wax candle, for melting, you can take a saucepan or a ladle, which is not too bad. 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. 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 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 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 process of making a scented candle is 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 recipe for making candles is 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.

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 transparent wax. This candle looks simply incredible: transparent, delicate, with a magical pattern inside.

Coffee candles

I can’t imagine making decorative candles either. special labor. 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.

Here you go outer layer with coffee beans. 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 an 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 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 materials, you will get a lot of useful tools there. 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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