Archive for August, 2009

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Making Chunk Candles

Monday, August 31st, 2009

CANDLE MAKING AT HOME!
Chunk candles add a great alternative to the standard pillar candle of yesterday. These colorful candles add a vibrancy and life to them. Looking at chunk candles, they appear to be very difficult to make. However, just the opposite is true. In fact, many candle makers claim they are easier to make than basic pillar candles. This is because pillar candles have to be perfectly smooth. If they aren’t, it is easy to see the visual defect. Such blemishes aren’t visible in chunk candles. While chunk candles aren’t recommended as a beginner project, they can be made once you know the basic of the candle making process.

CHUNK CANDLE MAKING STEPS!
There are two phases to making chunk candles. To make the process easier, it is recommended that you keep the two separate. Attempts to cut corners often result in chunk candles that are of poor quality and don’t burn well. The first phase of the project is making the chunks. The second is the process of turning those chunks into gorgeous candles. Some individuals may choose to purchase pre-cut chunks.

To make your candles their prettiest, select colors that compliment each other. To start making the color chunks, spray a cookie sheet with a non-stick cooking spray. You only want a thin film on the cookie sheet. After the wax you are using has completely melted, add a color to it as well as any fragrance you want. Pour the mix onto the cookie sheet. Fill the sheet to the level you want the depth of your candle chunks to be.

Keep an eye on the cooling color chunks. Once the wax is the consistency of cookie dough, you will want to use a sharp utility knife to cut it into chunks. Allow the chunks to continue cooling. If you are making several colors of chunks you can mix them together or leave them separate. Some people choose to let the colors mix together on their own while others like to create a design by adding the amount of each color they want.

CANDLE MAKING MOLDS!
Using the same molds that are used for pillar candles, insert your candle wick through the bottom of the candle mold. Fill the mold loosely with color chunks. You can put one color on the bottom with another color on top or even layers of three colors. You can also use only one color. The choice is all yours. Do not stack as many chunks as you can in the mold or the candle won’t form properly. Just toss them in and let them lay where they end up.

955134940_efd6d1caa3-chunk-candle2You are now ready to pour the melted wax over the color chunks. It is recommended that you do leave the melted wax colorless, but some people choose to add a light color to tint it and add a uniqueness to their chunk candles. As the candle cools, the chunks will adhere together with the hot wax. Once the molds cool, the chunk candles should slide out with ease.

EASY CANDLE MAKING!
Making chuck candles is really quite simple if you have the basic candle making ‘how to’ under your belt. These candles add flare to any décor as well as make great gifts. They are a bit more time consuming to make since you will be making your color chunks, but well worth the results. Remember that you can purchase color chunks to save you time. That is a great option for someone who plans to make large quantities of chunk candles.

DECORATIVE CANDLE MAKING!
For those who want to get even more creative, consider adding your own PAINTED FLORAL DESIGN WITH ACRYLIC PAINT . Also consider using embeds on the sides. You can position them inside the candle molds first. They will stay in place once you put the chunks in the mold. You can adjust the embeds as needed prior to adding the hot wax to the mold. There are excellent candle making books available on the various patterns and embeds you can add to make specific chunk candles.


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Make Hand Dipped Candles

Monday, August 24th, 2009

Making candles is a great hobby or business endeavor. Once you get the hang of it, the process is quite simple. For those who have the basics down pat, consider experimenting with the art of making hand dipped candles. While these lovely creations take more time, they are stunning. You can use several colors on each candle, giving it a unique color scheme.

BASIC TOOLS NEEDED

There are basic tools you will need to make hand dipped candles. Most of them you may already have if you have experience in making candles. You will need a large amount of paraffin wax, wick, and a double boiler to melt it in. Other utensils include wooden spoons, bowls, and a good quality thermometer. The colors available for hand dipped candles are too many to name. These colors come in various forms including cakes, chips, powder, or liquid. If you choose to add scents to your hand dipped candles you need to be sure it is pure oil that does not have a water or alcohol base to it.

PREPARATION

You will prepare your wax for hand-dipped candles the same as you do for regular candles. Let it continue to heat until it reaches a temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Once it does, turn the heat down very low to keep the wax in liquid form. Add the color to the wax, using a small amount at a time until you reach the color you want. Add a small amount of scent to the mix at this time if you desire. Use scents moderately as you don’t want to have too powerful a smell. Using too much fragrance can also result in the candle not burning properly.

PREPARING THE WICKS

Next, cut the wick for your candle, keeping it just a bit longer than the candle length you want. If you are making sets of the candles, it is important to cut the wicks exactly the same length. You will want to dip the wicks into the candle wax, being sure to coat it properly. This is how you will ‘build’ your candle. After the wicks cool, dip them again. Each time you dip the wick, the candle will grow in size. If you want different areas of the candles to be different colors, you will be able to do so by simply having more than one color of wax ready to use. Once you candle is close to the desired thickness you want, shave it with a soft blade, giving the top a pointed look. Dip your candles a few more times to give them a smooth finish.
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PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!

Creating hand dipped candles is a great hobby or business venture. The process is time consuming, but the creations are beautiful. Learning to make hand-dipped candles can be somewhat tricky. This is not a good type of candle for beginners to try to learn with. They will quickly become frustrated. To practice without wasting supplies, melt down the wax from the candles you are building and use it over and over again until you have the process perfected.

To make particular designs on hand dipped candles, consider purchasing a book. Most will offer you great color photos with step by step directions for making each hand-dipped candle. You will also be able to obtain great color charts for obtaining the best color for your candles.

Check out this book for expert advice:
The Complete Guide For Making Amazing Candles


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Make Your Own Pillar Candles

Monday, August 24th, 2009

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ADD ELEGANCE WITH PILLAR CANDLES!

Pillar candles add a certain touch of elegance and style to your home and even to your dinner table, especially when used as part of a centerpiece. They are often used on the tables at wedding receptions in the colors of the wedding. It was very appealing. Pillar candles come in all colors and scents and are called pillars because they are round and tall like a pillar. There is no standard size though, as pillar candles come in many widths and heights. Occasionally, pillar candles are found with a unique design such as a ridge on the top and bottom.

EASY TO MAKE!

Making pillar candles is quite simple. This type of candle is one of the most common for candle makers to indulge in. To make pillar candles, you will need molds, which you can find in all sizes at most craft suppliers. These molds may be made of silicon, aluminum, or plastic. For best results, I suggest using pillar candle molds that are made of aluminum. They allow the wax to cool better, resulting in a smooth finish on the candles. They are also very durable.

GETTING STARTED!

To get started, first decide on the size of candles you want to make and how many. You can find charts in candle making books which will help you determine how many pounds of candle wax you will need to complete your project. You will also need dye to color the candles and fragrances if you wish to add that to your candles.

2036004579_cf6eed0fc8_t-4-soy-pillar-candles1USE QUALITY WICK!

Be sure to purchase quality wick to make pillar candles. Also, be aware that the wider the candle you will be making, the wider wick you will want. Or to make this easier, you may simply purchase a standard type of wick and braid three pieces together to make a thicker wick for wider candles. Many of the pillar candle molds have a wick holder built in. Simply slide a wick the diameter of the hole into it and eliminate the guess work. Be sure to dip the wick into the melted wax before attaching it to the candle mold.

Keeping the wick in place can be tricky. A good idea is to cut the wick several inches longer than you need. Then tie it to a pencil or skewer resting across the top of the candle mold. This will ensure the wick is centered as the candle begins the cooling process.

ADDING DYES AND SCENTS!

Once your candle wax is at the proper temperature, add in anything you want to be included in your candle, such as dye, scents, and additives. Immediately after, pour the hot wax into the pillar candle molds. Do not pour wax all the way to the top of the mold. You want to leave four or fives inches unfilled.

WHAT TO DO WHILE THE CANDLES ARE COOLING!

Generally you leave most candles you make to cool. However, pillar candles need some further assistance during the cooling process. Once the top of the wax has started to become solid, it is necessary to add small relief holes to help with shrinkage. If you don’t create the relief holes, your candles will get air pockets that keep them from hardening properly.

When the candles have completely cooled, you may then pour melted wax into the holes you created in the candle. Be sure the wax is about fifteen degrees hotter than what the wax was the first time you poured it. Allow the candle to completely cool down again. Your candles should slide out of the molds easily. If they don’t, put them in the refrigerator for half an hour. Your candles should be smooth and beautiful. Be sure to trim the wick and you are ready to burn your pillar candles.

Pillar candles are beautiful. The simple design fits well with the décor in any room of your home, and you can even paint them with dainty designs to enhance their beauty. These candles make excellent gifts and centerpieces. Pillar candles are easy to make, and the supplies are inexpensive. This makes pillar candle making an excellent project, hobby, or money making project. Pillar candles burn for hours, ensuring you will get hours of enjoyment from your endeavors.

Pillar Kit Pillar Kit

Includes a 6″H reusable professional metal mold, wicking, mold sealer, screw, wood dowel rod, 2 lbs of premium wax blocks, 9 oz of multicolor wax chunks, three colors of dye (Yellow, Red, and Blue), vanilla scent, professional thermometer, and detailed instructions on how to create three different styles of candles – solid color, an iced lacy effect, or a “chunk style” of half-hot wax and half-cold wax chunks.

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Make Column Candles

Monday, August 24th, 2009

Column candles are very similar to taper candles, except that they are wider and usually shorter. The top of column candles isn’t pointed like on a taper candle. Instead, it greatly resembles the top of a volcano. Column candles are very pretty and distinct. They have a classic look to them that is timeless. These candles have a ridge design rather than a smooth design add beauty and charm to any environment. Making your own column candles is very easy.

COLUMN CANDLES BURN FOR HOURS

Column candles burn for hours on end, making them a great investment of both your time and supplies to make them. On average, column candles burn for 35 hours. Column candles do not produce smoke or dripping, making them very popular. Some people experience frustration looking for holders to put their column candles in. They will fit all standard tea light holders and spiked base holders.

BASIC ITEMS NEEDED

You will need some basic items to start making column candles, including wax, molds, wick, color and fragrance. The fragrance is optional but definitely adds appeal to your column candles. To melt the wax properly, you will need a double boiler. You will want to make sure you use high quality paraffin wax to make your column candles. Bees wax looks beautiful, but does not hold up well with the structure of the column candle. Too much heat will cause a column candle made of bees wax to ooze all over, creating a mess as well as a candle that isn’t too pretty to look at.

MOLD PREPARATION

To ensure the design of your column candles is perfect, coat the inside of the molds with a special spray for them. You can also get the same results using a non-stick cooking spray. After you have melted the wax, dip the wick in it. You will want the wick to be several inches longer than the top of your mold. Insert the wick from the bottom of the mold. Hold it securely in the middle of the mold by tying the top of the wick to a pencil that lies across the top of the mold.

ADD COLOR AND FRAGRANCE

This is the point in the process where you will want to add any color or fragrance to the melted wax. As soon as you have mixed it together, pour the hot wax into the molds. If you allow the wax to start cooling before you pour it, the candles will have lumps in them. You can remove your finished candles from the molds as soon as they have completely cooled. Snip the excess wick to about ¼ inch of the top of the candle.

ADD YOUR OWN CREATIVE TOUCH

If you want to be more creative, you can add leaves or pressed flowers to the candles using a thin layer of decoupage medium onto the back of the object. Immediately press it onto the candle, holding it in place for a few seconds. To make ice crystal column candles, put crushed ice in the mold before adding the hot wax. For additional ideas, consider looking in a book. You will find some really neat column candle crafting ideas that are quite simple to imitate.

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LOVELY AS  CENTERPIECES  AND  GIFTS

Column candles are very unique in their look and appeal. You can make them without any difficulty. These candles make lovely centerpieces as well as personalized gifts. All the supplies needed to make column candles are readily available.


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Taper Candle Making

Monday, August 24th, 2009

Taper candles add elegance and charm to your dinner table and are perfect for romantic evenings at home.

You can make your own taper candles without much experience in candle making. The process of making taper candles involves hand dipping rather than using molds or jars. Hand dipping takes some practice to get the hang of it, but you will be a pro in no time. While you are practicing, you can melt that wax down again and again until you know the right way to form your taper candles. During practice, don’t add any color either, to keep the costs low.
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SUPPLIES NEEDED

You will need to purchase a dipping can from a craft store or online to make taper candles correctly. A double boiler is too narrow to make these candles. In addition, you will need a thermometer, wax, wick, dye for color, and fragrances to add scent if you desire. It is important to buy wick especially designed for taper candles. If you use pillar wick, your taper candles won’t burn properly. To make the best quality taper candles, you will want to use paraffin wax. Beeswax can bend easier, especially on warm days.

MELTING THE WAX

To melt the wax properly, use a large pot with a few inches of water for the dipping can to sit in. Never place the dipping can directly on the stove top as this is a safety issue. You may also expose your home to toxic fumes. While your wax is melting, work on your wicks. Cut the wick at least four inches longer than you want your candles to be. If you are making sets of taper candles, be sure that each wick is cut to the same exact length.

THE DIPPING PROCESS

Once your wax has melted and is at a temperature of between 150 and 165 degrees, you can start the dipping process. If you are going to add color or scent, you will want to do it now. Move the dipping can to a flat, dry surface. If you are using a counter top, place a towel or cookie sheet under the dipping can. Take a wick and dip it into the hot wax. You will only be getting the wick covered the first few dips.

2588258411_37fd23cb67_t-pink-taper-candleThe process of dipping taper candles is easy, yet time consuming. You will get the best looking candles if you don’t try to rush the process. Each dip should be a quick in and out process. Don’t allow the candle to linger in the wax hoping it will absorb more. Instead, it will cause your taper candles to have a chunky texture rather than a smooth finish. As the wax starts to cool, take the time to stop dipping and heat it again. Some candle makers dip while they have another dipping can of wax melting on the stove. This way, once the wax they are working with cools, they can switch. This keeps the process going if you are able to take advantage of it.

The number of times you will dip each candle depends on the width you want them. If you are making pairs, keep track of how many times you dip each one so they will match. As the wax begins to cool after each dip, you can dip again. As the candle gets wider, you will need to allow it to cool longer after each dip. You can also try dipping two at the same time – allowing one to cool while you dip the other of the set. Once the candle is the desired size and cools completely, cut the wick to ¼ inch of the top of the candle.

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Make Your Own Candles

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

If you want to truly be creative from start to finish, why not make your own handmade candles? Regardless of whether you might be painting on the candles themselves or on the glass candle containers or leaving them plain, you can come up with some great items to give as gifts, to sell, or to enhance your own home décor. (For more on painting on candles,
go to PAINTING ON CANDLES .)

Making candles is easy. You, of course, need a few supplies. Then follow a few steps, and you can achieve the finished product you envisioned in your mind. There are a lot of ways to make candles, from following simple, quick steps or some complex methods. Whatever style of candle you decide to make, injecting some dose of your own creative ideas will make a whole lot of difference.

As you insert your own brand of style, do not forget to work safely and do not risk quality of the product over appearance only. There must be a balance of both. When you feel as if you have been training your self well in making custom candles, why not try it out as a small business?

The following post of this website hopefully will give you many, many ideas, and remember, if you are painting directly on the candles, go easy on the scent.

You may want to check out this book:
The Secrets to Successful Candle Making


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This great website has great candle making supplies, along with free helps,  and supplies for soap making,  chocolate making,  leather working, incense making,  and plaster casting.   Check it out now by clicking this banner:

One Stop Candle

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Paper Crafts: Scrapbooking and Greeting Card Basics

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

Paper crafts are popular pastimes right now. Scrapbooking is a great way to display photos and chronicle family history. Other fun paper crafts include making your own greeting cards and even making hand-made papers.

When getting started in paper crafting, it is easy to spend a lot of money! Go slowly at first until you are sure what sort of paper craft products you are likely to use. For example, you may find that you love using stickers in scrapbooks, but rarely use your rubber stamps. If this is the case, you would be better off spending more on stickers and less on rubber stamps for your paper projects.

Nearly everyone has at least some photographs stored somewhere in a shoe box or drawer. Scrapbooks are a great way to get those photos out so that people can enjoy them. To get started simply and inexpensively, you will need a loose leaf binder, some plastic page protectors, and some colored cardstock for starters. (Eventually, you may want to purchase a pretty binder and printed scrapbook paper, the designs of which are unlimited.) Many paper craft experts insist on only archival quality materials. Check the labels as you buy. Most paper products, even the cheaper ones, are labeled “acid-free,” which means that it should not fade or otherwise deteriorate if stored for any length of time. Sunlight will bleach almost anything, but your paper crafts most likely will not be out in the sunlight very often.

To start a scrapbook you have several options. You may select photos that all relate to one event, such as a trip, a child’s participation in sports, or any special occasion you want to commemorate. This type of scrapbook will be short, but can be designed around a theme. This is a good choice if your photos are not in a jumble. If they are, then you may wish to choose 3 or 4 photos around a general theme, and change the theme for each page. You may also want to include some 2 page spreads in your scrapbook.

Attach your photos to the cardstock with double-sided tape squares or a gluestick. Then it’s time to decorate the page with stickers, paper shapes, or rubber stamped designs relative to your theme. In addition, you can use a colored gel pen to write dates, names, and other highlights about the activities in the pictures.

Other items are available in craft stores. These include die cuts, which are pieces of paper already cut into shapes and objects. You can also purchase special scissors which cut paper with an interesting edge. A pair of the type called “deckle” scissors is very useful for making elegant-looking scrapbook pages, greeting cards, and other paper crafts. If you also have an old pair of pinking shears that are too dull to cut fabric, you may want to use those for cutting out shapes and photos.

Many paper crafts enthusiasts begin with scrapbooking, but then branch out to making their own greeting cards. Greeting cards may or may not have an original poem written on the inside. A simple “Happy Birthday,” “Get Well Soon,” or even just “Hi!” is enough to brighten someone’s day, so don’t worry about not being a good enough writer to make your own greeting cards. Rubber stamps often make beautiful greeting cards. You can even attach small ribbons, beads, and other items to hand made cards. A handmade card is sure to please anyone, whether they are interested in paper crafts or not.

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