Different Techniques to Do When You Create Candles

STACK CANDLES

These candles consist of stacks of geometric shaped wax slabs of about 1-2 cm thick. Prime a wick with melted wax for later. Pour coloured melted wax into a metal baking pan, to a thickness up to 2 cm. Before the wax hardens completely, cut out your shapes, using a cardboard template as a guide. You can use all one shape, such as squares or triangles or a combination of shapes. Make a wick hole in the centre of each shape and leave to cool and harden completely. Lift each cut out shape out of the pan. Take your primed wick and attach a wick holder to one end. Take each shape and thread it onto the wick arranging each shape at a slightly different angle for effect. You can make alternate coloured layers, or try using a cookie cutter for even more varied shapes.

RUBBER STAMPED CANDLES

This decoration involves rubber stamping on a piece of tissue paper, embossing (optional) and then using a heat gun to attach the decorated tissue to a candle.

Place the piece of tissue paper with the stamped image wherever desired on the candle and hold it in place with just the tiniest dot of glue. Aim a heat gun at the image. The wax will melt when the heat hits it, and it will be forced through the paper or over it, depending on the weight of the paper being used. The stamped image will then be permanently attached to the candle.

This technique can be used on candles of any size, but it is especially effective on the large candles that burn down in the middle and allow the light of the flame to shine through the wax and the stamped tissue.

Try this technique too: Rubber stamp a design on a white paper napkin. If you use party napkins that can be peeled apart, stamp the image on the top layer of the paper then peel the other layers off. The remaining piece is so thin it will adhere in a moment.

You can decorate candles in this manner even if you do not own a rubber stamp. Simply cut or tear out a pattern or picture from a paper napkin and apply it in the same manner. The background of the napkin must be either white or a light color that matches the candle.

Freeze the candle mould before you pour the wax. The cold will 'shock' the hot paraffin into all sorts of unique and unpredictable patterns as it cools. There are lots of ways to do this, how it ends up looking depends on your
wax formula. Be careful, make sure your mould is stabilized when you pour. Wax and water mixed can really pop, be careful! Water droplets will form on the mould while it is freezing, due to condensation. The amount of water shouldn't be a problem when burning the candle, if you don't leave the mould in the freezer for more than an hour.

MARBELIZED CANDLES

Get some taper candles... whatever colour you want. Dip the exposed wick in melted paraffin so it won't get wet in the process to follow:

Melt some paraffin in a container in a pan of water on the stove or hot plate.

Colour it with a contrasting or complimenting colour to the original taper colour.

Heat water to almost boiling in a tall container.

Pour to float the coloured paraffin on the surface of the hot water in the tall container. Swirl the coloured paraffin around gently.

Dip your taper candle in the water/coloured paraffin vat, swirling it around as you pull it out. It will develop a mottled, swirl pattern of colour on its surface. Let it harden and cool. Repeat if you desire.

VOTIVE FORMULA

90% paraffin melt point 131
6% stearic acid
2% micro 180 wax
2% lustre crystals

Use a metal core wick and wick tabs, Pour the wax when it gets to 190 degrees unless the mould mfg instructions say differently.

RE USING OLD CANDLES

You can remelt candles and repour them into moulds or new containers.
Make the same kind of candle that the old wax was.... that is, if you have old container candles, use the wax for new container candles. If you have old free standing candles (moulded candles) use the old wax for new moulded candles. This way you will probably have the correct melt point wax for the type of candle you are making.
Melt down the candles, remove debris or pieces of old wick. You can strain wax through a nylon stocking stretched over a metal container.

ROLLED PARAFFIN CANDLES

You can make your own paraffin sheets. Just melt some paraffin, colour it and scent it if you want, and pour it into a wax paper lined cookie sheet with sides. Let is harden a little, until it is still pliable but won't burn you. Then gently separating the paper from the wax, roll it up into a candle. Try embedding herbs or spices in the pliable wax before you roll it up.

ICE CANDLES

Lacy, intricate ice candles are full of holes where the ice melted as you pour the hot
wax into the mould.

Use a mould (paper milk cartons work well for these)

Wick the candle before pouring, but use a wick that you have entirely coated in melted wax, otherwise it will get wet and never dry out, you will have a hard time burning the candle. Alternatively, you can use a taper candle
secured in the centre of your milk carton (sticking through the bottom and sealed with putty from the outside). This will form a nice core for a hole-y candle, and will burn well. (again dip the wick end that is exposed
in wax to keep it from getting wet).

You can try making the candle with different sized ice cubes. Small ones
leave small holes, etc.

Fill the mould with ice cubes, then pour the melted paraffin over these. Let it harden then pour out the water.

Tear away your mould and enjoy your new candle.

SQUASH CANDLES

Cut the top off an acorn squash. Remove the seeds and innards. Use this hollow squash for a candle mould.
You can thread a wick through the bottom of the squash using a long upholstery needle or other large needle. Seal the bottom with a bit of putty. Stand the squash in a large glass to keep it level. Pour your melted paraffin, remembering to keep some in reserve to fill the shrink well as the candle cools. You may have to do this several times, poking a small hole along the wick to relieve any trapped air. When your candle is fully hardened, cut away or peel away the squash shell and you are left with a wonderfully shaped unique candle. The flesh of the squash will leave a rustic patina on your candle as well. Flatten the base of your candle by rubbing it in an old fry pan on low heat.

WATERBALLOON CANDLES

Fill a balloon with water to the desired size. Dip the balloon in wax, make sure it is somewhat cool. Continue dipping the balloon until a hard shell has formed around it. Carefully pop the balloon at the top, and empty out the water. Pull the balloon out of the wax shell. Pour a small amount of wax (a different colour from the first) into the shell. Roll it around in the shell, making sure all areas are covered, until the wax is dry. Continue doing this with different colours until the shell is almost filled. Insert the wick during the last fill. Once the candle is cool, use a potato peeler or something similar to shave the top of the candle, making it smooth and flat.
These candles turn out to look something like a geode. They are a little time consuming, but the end result is fantastic!!

If the mould is small, just put it in the freezer and pour the wax right away after removal from the freezer.

B. Pack the mould in ice.

C. Pack the mould in dry ice.
Try pouring a layer, let it jell over a little, then pour another layer, for some interesting effects.

2. Pour a moulded candle as usual. Put it in the fridge to cool fully. When you take it out of the fridge, run hot water over the outside of the mould to melt the surface layer of wax. Put it back in the fridge for an hour. When it comes out of the mould the surface will be crackled and textured.