How to Make Your Own Candles

Knowing how to make your own candles can serve as both a useful skill and a relaxing hobby. Though electric power is available in a majority of homes now a days, knowing how to make your own candles can allow you to substitute store-bought candles with your own anytime you wish to save on power or set a romantic atmosphere over dinner.

Having the knowledge of how to make your own candles is a great way to pass some time at home while making something useful and beautiful. As you master the art of how to make your own candles you will also be able to shape them into beautiful forms, make vibrantly colored candles and even scented candles. Well made candles can be placed around the house in clusters or standing alone as decorative items. Exceptional pieces can be used as gifts for friends and family, adding a personal touch to a gift basket.

In this article we give you some of the basics on how to make your own candles. To be able to do the same you need to purchase wicks, wax, molds to be able to make specific shapes and cans for making containers. Most candle makers prefer to use paraffin wax which can be easily procured from craft supplies stores and even general stores. For those who do not wish to use paraffin wax, the option of using beeswax is also available and this too can be purchased from craft-supply stores.

One can make the wicks at home by using yarns of cotton. A concoction of 2 tablespoons of boric acid, 1 tsp of salt and a cup of water are used for dipping the cotton in. After 12 hours the strips should be taken out and dried. Once they are completely dry, wicks can be made by braiding 3 strips together.

While making the candles it is important to remember that it will be a messy procedure, so forgetting to take precautions can cause damage to your surroundings. It is important to remember to keep sheets of newspaper over the entire region where you will be working because pouring the wax and dipping candles into the containers often leads to spills.

While plain candles are good for utility purposes, knowing how to make your own candles at home involves a touch of the artistic, and hence making colored candles is an added joy. Candle coloring is available in the forms of dyes, powders and liquids. One can also melt crayons to lend colors to the wax.