How to Make a Candle

This is a great project for any one who likes to recycle, save money, or just has a crafty streak. A good way to start any project is too gather all of the tools you are going to need for this one you'll need:

1. A very small piece of tinfoil
2. Old candle stubs
3. a penny, nickel, or dime
4. A piece of hemp chord
5. A container to pour the candle in
6. something spouted
7. some sort of double boiling set up
8. If you want scent oil or colorant
9. A marker with a cap

First you want to get the container your candle will sit in ready. These instructions are for a container candle that is meant to burn in what it is poured in. Pick something pretty, special to you, and a regular shape (if you want it too burn evenly). Take your penny and length of hemp appropriate to your container (the wick should be a quarter of an inch long when all is said and done). Wrap the hemp around your penny a few times and then wrap the tinfoil around it securing the string to the coin. You now have a weighted wick that will sit agreeably at the bottom while you pour your candle. Lower the wick into the container the penny should be sitting on the bottom and it should be as centered as possible. Tie the top of the wick around the marker to hold it in place while you pour the wax.

The way I do this step is remarkably simple. I do not have any fancy double boiler set up. I pour water into a pan, bowl it and put a pot with my wax on top of the water. As the wax melts I pull out all of the old candle wicks and any other residue. When all the wax is fully melted I add scent oils and sometimes colorant. If you are using olf candle scraps as I have suggested you probably won't need the color.

Once the wax is completely molten and you've mixed in whatever scent and color you want it's time to pour the wax into a spouted container (be careful wax is hard to get out of carpets!). Once in the spouted container pour into it's final home. Make sure that you are pouring evenly, and try not to get wax on the sides of your container. Wrap the candle in a towel so it will cool as slowly as possible. As time goes on and the candle starts to harden it is going to dip in near the wick. You are going to need to add more wax and even it out if you want your candle to burn evenly.

If you follow these simple steps you can have a beautiful handmade candle that is too your specifications. Happy candle making!