DIY - Decorate wax with wax

Decorating candles is as fun as making candles. There are variety of candle decorating accessories available. I am going to share with you a technique to decorate a plain candle with wax itself.

For this project you will need:

Plain pillar candle

Cookie cutter

Hair dryer

     1.       Here’s a pillar candle I picked for this project. The texture you see is achieved through cold pour.

 2.       To make these chunks, pour melted wax on flat surface like a tray and once the wax is soft enough cut the chunks with cookies cutter.

 3.   With help of the hair dryer, soften each wax piece one at a time, just enough to stick on the pillar candle. As you blow hot air on the wax piece you will see the surface of the piece melting. This is the right time to place the wax piece on the surface of the pillar candle and press it gently. 

4. I decided not to over do it as I wanted to keep it simple. So here's the final look.

          With this technique you can make wonderful decorations with help of different shapes of cookie cutters. Also, in this technique you are using wax to decorate the candle which will melt off as the candle burns, hence safe as compared to laces or wallpapers which are used to decorate candles.

       Enjoy!!!

Tips for candle making troubleshooting

Initially when I started making candles I faced some candle making problems. Many a times I found the solutions accidentally and just around the house. Getting that perfect candle requires lots of trials and errors and every candle maker has their own formula and ways. Here are few tips to troubleshoot some common candle making problems:

1.       Wax leakage from the wick hole -

·         Many times even the sealer available in the market has failed to hold in the wax. One day when I was out of the sealer I tried the leftover wheat flour dough from my kitchen. And since then it has never failed in my experience. Apply just a little dough around the wick hole and you are set for leakage free candle making.

·         Other method which I find very neat and clean is using a magnet. However, this is useful for metal molds only. Fit the candlewick in the candle stand and place it on the wick hole inside the mold. And from the bottom of the mold place the magnet.

2.       De molding candle - Often removing candle from the mold can be a challenge. Here are few tips you may try,

·         Make sure that the candle is completely dry.

·         If your candle is dry and still not coming out easily, place it in the freezer till the mold is cold to touch for about 5 minutes. Make sure you don’t keep the mold any longer, this may cause your candle to crack.

·         Mold release spray on the inside of the mold will help remove the candle easily. Vegetable oil also acts as an excellent mold release agent. Just a few drops enough to cover the mold walls, any more than that will cause mottling effect which you may not desire in your candle.  

3.       Mold maintenance – here are few tips to ensure your molds live long:

·         Make sure you never clean your molds with water. It will only rust the metal mold.

·         After you are done making candles, spray a little mold release spray or vegetable oil from inside and from outside of the metal mold. This will help in cleaning the left over wax, if any and not cause rust.

·         Store your molds well in a carton to prevent any bends.

Hope these helped.  

Sundae Candle

Chocolate and Vanilla scented Sundae Candle

Got a hobby yet?

Candles are integral part of my work, I burn a lot of candles for tarot readings and even for rituals. Being a student of tarot and occult, candles are an important work tool and an asset as well. However, since I burn my candles, so more than appearance, the color/ shades and the quality of flame are very important for someone like me. Which made me join Mrs. Neeta Kamble Shah’s candle making course. She is very systematic person, very hands on with her craft and someone who knows how to help you find the class comfortable and also ensure that you learn how to make the candles you wish to make. She is pragmatic in her approach, at the same time her creativity is endless and the entire course is a value for money experience. On one end I was looking forward to learn basic solid colored candles and the other class mate was trying to learn more decorative candles, where the aesthetic appeal was more important. In one class Mrs. Shah ensured that both of us could learn the craft and understand every step well enough; so that we can

I discovered my hobby when I was stuck in a restless phase in my life. I really needed something to calm and gather myself and I am glad I bumped into candle making.

I define Hobby as “Something to do that helps to be in present”. Really…this is my experience with my hobby.  Many times when I am working on a candle project I lose track of time. I look up from my task and realize that hours have passed by and the whole time I was not thinking about anything else. No other thought or concern has even bothered me for a second. I have been in some sought of a “flow state”.

Hobby is not inborn. It is discovered and developed over the period of time. It is your choice, not something out of influence or trend or need. It is what you enjoy and do only for yourself.  Hobby is a stress buster…… I bet on this. It gives you the creative outlet which you may not get in everyday routine. It gives you joy….undoubtedly!! It takes you to a flow state sometimes which helps in clearing your mind. It also gives you a chance to connect with yourself. Hobby is your time with you……. only you! An Intrinsic source of pleasure.  So dig into your past, your childhood to recapture your interests and see if you can still enjoy them.

Did you love dressing up your dolls or cooking in your little kitchen or biking or painting? You may get some hints there. If not, hit the crafts store to explore the hobby ideas available and maybe start small with a kit instead of whole lot of supplies.

Off course any hobby is not for you. Your personality plays a big role in whether you will like a particular hobby or not. If you are an outgoing person and love meeting people, travel is for you. If you are the adventurous types, trekking is for you. If you have love for colors and nature pick up the painting brush or a camera or even gardening. If you have patience you will love candle making or a crochet project. And if you love to be fit, exercising or outdoor sports is your thing.

So explore a little, try out a few things, after all it is worthwhile investing in a diversion!!!

Ideas to decorate balcony with candles

For ages candles have been the primary source of light. However, with changing times the purpose of candles has evolved and changed quite a lot. Candles are now categorized as home decoration accessory. Today there are many variations in the candle types and designs than just the plain taper candle or even pillar candle. Candles are available in every size, shape and design matching the theme of our home decor. Be it designer pillar candles for the living room, decorative tapper candles for the dining room or hurricane wax shells for the garden. In my candle making classes I teach such varieties as hurricane wax shells, floral floating candles, fruit candles, designer pillars, chunky candles and many more highlighted in the candle courses section. 

Today I am going to share with you some ideas about how to make use of candles in your balcony area.

Candles go perfectly well with the nature. With the right color combination the candles look beautiful without even lighting them. Here are some ideas for your balcony:

1. Place some beautiful candles of different sizes and colors in a bird cage and hang it up or place on a tall table. Interesting Ah!!

2. Almost every balcony has plant pots. Here’s a great idea to place a candle in the centre of the pot and cover it with glass.

   3. A beautiful candle center pieces made with a basket and mason jars hung up in the balcony.  

   4. Convert those plain glasses into beautiful candle holders. You can use flowers, leaves, shells, pebbles and sand to fill the glass jar from sides of the candle. Stay away from the flammable decorations though.

5. Here’s another great idea to make a lantern. You will need a mason jar, coloured beads, soft flexible wire and little bit of creativity.

6. Metal Lanterns are readily available in the market and come in many sizes, colors and designs. I feel they go well with almost all kinds of décor and match very well with the plants.

Hope you like these ideas.

Have a creative day!!

Floral handmade candles

Who says you can't make candles without molds!! Learn fun techniques to mold the wax to a desired shape in the handmade candles course. For course details visit candle making class page