Day 1: How to make homemade candles

Whoever said diamonds are a girls best friend was wrong. They should have stated that candles are a girls best friend. Not every girl I know owns diamonds, but I can guarantee that 98% of all females own at least one candle.  Candles not only look pretty, but they fill your house with a pleasant aroma.  And who doesn't want a nice smelling home?  With the economy the way it is, not many people want to go out and spend up to $25 for one candle.  Therefore, the smart idea would be to spend $25 and buy the materials to make candles. For the same $25 you will be able to make enough candles to put one in every room and give some away as gifts.  Candle making isn't a hobby that most people teach their children anymore, so here is an easy step-by-step guide to creating your own candle masterpieces.

Materials you will need:

wax- plain paraffin wax, which can usually be found at your local supermarket or hobby store

wick- available in several lengths, you can find this at your local craft store

scent- make sure to get an oil based scent that is non-flammable, this as well can be found at a local craft store

dye chips- can be found in a variety of colors at your local hobby store

heat source- a stove works great!

double boiler- an empty pan or metal coffee container inside of a pan of shallow water works great. Or you can buy a double boiler at any small appliance store

thermometer- a candy thermometer with a clip works best

                                       
Candle mold- you can buy candle molds at your local craft/hobby store.  You can also use items that you have around your house, such as an old coffee mug, an old fish bowl, or even an old vial. Just make glass and metal molds work best. Be sure that your mold will not melt when pouring the hot wax into them.

kitchen skewers

Directions:

1. Cover your work area with newspapers or a thick cloth to prevent ruining any counter tops or tables.  This also helps with easy clean up.

2. Put 1 lb. of wax into your double boiler and place on medium heat. Boil the water in your bottom pan slightly. Make sure to not let the water boil so hard that it splashes water into your wax pan.

3. As the wax melts, prepare your candle molds.  Make sure the mold is clean and dry.  If planning to remove your candle from the mold, a quick spritz of cooking spray will assist with easy removal when the candle has cooled.

4. Once the wax has completely melted, place your thermometer in the wax pan and clip it to the side. Make sure the thermometer is not touching the bottom of the pan or you will not get an accurate reading. You want to bring the wax to 175 degrees Farenheit.

5. Next, add your color chips.  Add a little at a time until you reach your desired color.  As wax dries, the color changes, so text a small amount on a piece of paper to ensure you have the color you are aiming for.

6. Now it is time to add the scent. Add no more than a half of a teaspoon. If you add too much, your candle will not burn properly.

7. Take the wax pan carefully out of the water and dry it with a clean towel. This will help to ensure no water gets into your candle. Slowly pour the wax into the mold until it is full. Return the wax pan to the water to keep it warm.

8. Wax shrinks as it sets, therefore you will need to add more wax.  Use a skewer to poke the candle as it sets.  This process puts air into the candle which allows it to hold it's shape when removing it from the mold. Be sure not to touch the sides of your mold, it will still be very hot.

9. Poke the candle several times every twenty minutes and then pour more liquid wax into your mold.  When the candle has cooled, after about 5 hours, you can remove it from it's mold.  If you are having trouble removing your candle from the mold, place it in the refrigerator. DO NOT PUT IT IN THE FREEZER, this will make your candle crack.

10. If you are using a mold that you also intend for your candle to be held in, insert a skewer into the center of the wax as it begins to skim over.  The skewer will leave a hole where you can place your wick.  Spin the skewer a few times each time you put it in the wax so that it will not stick.

11. To insert the wick, remove the skewer and push the wick through. If you have trouble inserting the wick, dip it into the melted wax and let it dry. When it has dried the wick will more easily slide into place. Be sure to trim the wick to 1/2 inch, and your candle is ready to burn!!

Introduction

It is said that one way to keep a sound mind is to never cease learning.  That is one thing that has prompted me to  start writing this blog.  I am definately in favor of keeping a sound mind as I age. There are so many 'how to' sites out there that offer thousands of posts on how to do everything from aardvark farming to zodiac readings.  It is overwhelming trying to sort through all of the categories of articles to find a topic I would enjoy studying.  Not to mention once I have found a topic, I have about 25 articles to choose from.  By the time I have finally found an article that could possible help me, I am so tired of searching I have lost all ambition to learn any thing new. So here I am, presenting you with an easy solution to that very problem. No more searching for hours, just a simple page with something new to learn each day.