Booklet on candles

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Edited by Mari Guevara

Courtney Bell DIY: Pressed Herb Candles | adventures-in-mak...

Helen Scott-Jackson These are gorgeous. Love them.

Jennifer Kleinrichert Tin Candles You can make these candles using altoid tins, too. But since you’re making a handmade Mother’s Day gift, using tins with floral or other …

Supplies: -Bag of soy candle wax (comes in flakes). I found mine at Hobby Lobby, but other stores carry it. It can also be found on line (Etsy is a good option). I purchased a two-pound bag.

- Candle Fragrance – same as above, I found mine at Hobby Lobby, but they can be found online. I chose lavender, but whatever your personal scent choice is works.

- Wicks – Again, from HL. I choose pre-cut ones covered in wax with a metal base.

The benefit of this type is the stand up without having to be secured.

- A heat safe containers. I used small mason jars.

- A heat safe container to melt the wax in and oven gloves.

- Cupcake liners and decorative trim.

Once all of the wax is melted, take the jar out of the pan and set it on the counter on a paper towel. Let your candle sit for 10 minutes, but no more. Now add your scent. Add however much you want… just remember – the more you add the stronger your candle. Now it’s time to put the wick in your candle. Make sure you put the metal wick holder in the center of the candle. A lot of people use wooden skewers to hold the wick in place, but I find that my butter knives work better. They are heavy and hold the wick in place better.

This may be one of my favorite DIY projects of all time! It’s easy, super cute and perfect for gift giving.

Read on to find out how you too can make your own DIY Vintage Teacup Candles in my tutorial here.

When I saw how to make salted candles in the December issue of Martha Stewart, I knew that this was a project that I would have to try. The picture below is from the Martha Stewart website and you can click here for a link to the directions.

A Faint Honey Scent . . .

Golden glow and long burn time are just the beginning of a handmade beeswax candle’s charm. Unlike paraffin candles (which release carcinogens like toluene and benzene into the air) and their soy counterparts (which are often derived from GMOs), beeswax candles actually draw toxins out of the air with their cheerful flame as while you knead sourdough in the kitchen, sip wine in the tub or make shadow puppets on the wall. No really! According to this article:

Here is what you need: Soy candle wax (or a candle wax of your choice) Candle wick Mason Jar Hot glue gun A piece of card stock A double boiler (or a saucepan and a glass bowl big enough to sit over the pot) A food thermometer Oven mits Fragrance oil Colorants (optional) Container with spout (optional)

Instructions Set the glass containers on a clean, dry dishtowel. Cut a piece of wick for each container that is 4 inches longer than the container is tall. Place a small piece of double-sided tape in the bottom center of each container. Tie a knot at the end of each wick. Press the knot firmly into the double-sided tape to lightly secure it. Leave the free end of the wick hanging over the side of the container.

Fill a sauce pan to the top with soy wax flakes. Place the pan over medium heat. As the wax begins to melt, after about 5 minutes, gently stir it until all of the wax becomes smooth and pourable. (Alternatively, melt the wax in the microwave.)

Remove the wax from the heat and let it cool for about 5 minutes. Add essential oils, if using, and stir to combine.

Pour the wax into prepared jars, leaving 1 inch of space at the top of each jar. Center the free end of the wick in the wax. Twist the wick around a pencil or wooden skewer. Let the wax dry for at least an hour. Cut the wick short so that only about 1 inch remains.

If your gift list is long and your budget is small here are some great Handmade Gifts that you can make. Keep in mind that handmade items are not just beautiful but special...

I love to give them and I love to receive them.

In my opinion they are the best! 1 Jersey Knit Bracelet Lovely!...

It’s beautiful and unique. It melts wonderfully and is very easy to work with. Each candle will have a different (crystal – feathered – marbled ) appearance that gives the votives a rustic look. The imperfections and unique lines give them charm. This is a clean burning wax with no soot. *Technically speaking this wax should be poured between 200 – 210 degrees, but we are keeping it simple in this tutorial and pouring it once melted. Varying pouring temperatures and molds will produce a variety of crystal shapes and sizes!

Start by melting your awesome ‘crystal palm wax’ on very low heat, stirring constantly. If you keep the heat as low as possible and melt the wax slowly, you can eliminate the need for using a thermometer – we like to keep things simple! Here we are only using about a half pound of wax. One pound makes 10 votives. Make sure to just keep stirring it ~ DO NOT let it burn or simmer!

Start dipping! This is a tedious and sometimes a long process (depending on how many tapers you are working with). For us, I don’t mind the time! It just means more time that I can spend talking with the children about the science, math, and history that’s behind it all.

One of my favorite aroma’s of Winter is Hot mulled Apple Cider…the blend of the Apples…Cinnamon…Cloves…Oranges are simply delightful… There are so many wonderful Warm Winter Simmering Pot Blends you can create…my favorite so far is a combination of… simmeringpot-5 Lemons…Oranges…Cranberries…Cinnamon Sticks…Rosemary…

Cloves…Limes …Apple Slices and a pinch of nutmeg! So why not share this glorious array of sensational scents with Family and Friends! A picture perfect gift…add all the elements in a pretty Mason Jar…fill with water…