How to beautifully decorate a candle with your own hands - stylish ideas and photos for inspiration. DIY candles

The perfect way to decorate at almost any holiday event - beautiful candles how to quickly, easily do which you yourself will learn by reading the detailed instructions. Today, candles in the interior can both deliver aesthetic pleasure to the owners and guests of the house, and become an assistant in case of an unexpected power outage.

Also, self-made candles can easily become an interesting gift for relatives and friends, who will certainly appreciate the work and time spent.

Someone thinks that candles are an exceptionally cute element of decor, which is true, except when scented candles are placed in the house, because they can replace the most expensive psychotherapy, creating the right atmosphere for relaxation.

Is it possible to make beautiful candles with your own hands?

Of course, today candles are sold in almost all souvenir shops, however, if this time you planned to present it as a gift close person, it is much more pleasant to make this piece of furniture yourself.

If you are thinking about how to make candles with your own hands, then do not worry, because at first the lesson may seem quite difficult. With the right approach, you will quickly realize that the process of creating a candle is quite easy.

Confirm given fact you can simply contact people who decided to start manufacturing candles, but got involved so quickly that it became not just an additional income, but also an exciting activity. The more often you practice creating candles on your own, the better every day you will get them.

To create a candle at home, you will not need large financial costs, therefore, in addition to the pleasure that you get from the creation process, you will also be able to save a lot.

What materials are needed to create candles?

Really make candles at home without special materials will not work. Should be prepared:

Vessel (wax will melt in it);
Forms used for candles;
Saucepan (useful during a water bath);
two sticks;
Various decorative elements(so the candle will look original);
Wax crayons;
Cinders from used candles
Paper threads

Sequence of work

First, you need to lower the prepared paper thread into the mold that you took to pour the wax / paraffin melted later. With the help of a wooden stick, which should end up on top of your form, you need to fix the upper end of the future wick.

Secondly, cut the paraffin (wax) into small pieces, put in the prepared dishes. Next, a saucepan with clean water you need to put on a slow fire, put a dish with wax in it and melt it. The main thing is not to forget to stir regularly so that lumps do not form.

Thirdly, pour a little wax already melted earlier into the mold, position the lower end of the wick right in the center. It remains to wait until all the wax thickens slightly.

Fourth, fill with the remaining wax that has been melted into the mold, and as soon as the candle has completely solidified, cut off the part of the wick that will be superfluous. It is advisable to do this in no case earlier than after twenty-four hours.

An important point. It is not necessary to light ready-made candles in your opinion until such time as they are completely hardened. Remember that from the moment the candle was created to its first use for the first time, at least a day must pass.

We decorate candles

The real pinnacle of skill in creating candles on their own is not their fragrance or coloring, but decoration with a variety of natural materials ranging from coffee beans to cones, seashells or herbs with an incredible aroma.

An important point. Materials should be laid out on the bottom of the mold prepared for the candle until the melted wax is poured into it.

Another popular way of decorating today is the decoupage technique, which is decoration with napkins of different shades.

How to turn an old candle into a new one?

If you liked the instructions on how to make a candle with your own hands, then first of all you should know that to create a new candle you will need essential oils.

To give the decor element a fragrance, it is enough to add a couple of drops of oil to the already melted wax just before the moment of pouring the mold.

If you want to achieve a relaxing effect of candles, then you can use a combination of bergamot and lavender oils.

Wanting to get rid of bad thoughts, it is better to choose oils of rosemary, lemon. For peace of mind No better option than a rose or a geranium.

How to create a gel candle?

In order to create a candle, you must first purchase a special gel that will be used instead of paraffin. It has a number of advantages:

It is absolutely transparent. In practice, this makes it possible to achieve an interesting contrast with various decoration techniques;
During combustion, the gel does not emit an unpleasant odor for households, soot.

The technology for creating any gel candle is generally similar to the process for creating a wax one, but there is a difference: it is necessary to pour the gel melted in advance into the prepared form, and not paraffin. And you need to do this with a couple of nuances.

First, before the gel is poured into the mold, it must be heated. This will avoid the formation of unwanted bubbles on the candle.

Secondly, the form for creating any gel candle must always be not only transparent, but also beautiful. After all, in the future, the candle does not get out of it.

The fantasy of a person with a creative nature is practically unlimited: the cost of materials that are needed to create candles with your own hands is quite affordable today.

The process is quite interesting, it does not take much time, as it may initially seem when you see a photo of candles made by yourself. Having created a beautiful, unusual candle once, you definitely decide to repeat the experiment.

Knowing how to make truly exclusive candles on your own, inspired by interesting work talented people, you will always have an idea of what you can present as a gift to friends, and how to decorate the table for a holiday, creating an incredible atmosphere of comfort.

DIY candle photo

Beautiful candles will be an excellent table decoration at any holiday, you will learn how to make them with your own hands at home by reading the step-by-step instructions and detailed photos throughout their manufacturing process. They will not only become part of your interior and give you aesthetic pleasure, but will also help you out in the event of a sudden power outage. In addition, do-it-yourself candles can become a good gift dear and close people who will certainly appreciate your efforts.

Master class on making wax candles

Wax or paraffin- the simplest and available materials. They are easy to purchase in specialized stores or order online. You can also use ready-made simple household candles, which are inexpensive. When choosing suitable material, keep in mind that wax – natural product and when melting never smokes, and paraffin is a synthetic material that burns completely, releasing soot. To create a candle you will also need:

Ready wick. You can take it from an old candle or make it yourself from cotton thread or floss;
Pot. It will need to heat water in it to create a water bath;
Dishes for melting wax;
candle mold. It can be made from any material. The main condition for it: its upper edge should be even and not narrowed;
wooden stick. It will be needed to secure the wick. It can be a pencil, chopsticks for sushi.

Before you move on to making candles with these handy materials, you need to know that:

Melted wax temperature(paraffin) very high, Therefore, you need to work with it very carefully in order to don't get burned. In addition, it cools very quickly (within 15 minutes), so it should be poured into the mold not only carefully, but also quickly;
If you make the wick yourself, twisting it from floss or cotton threads, pay attention to the fact that it should not be too thick. Otherwise, the candle will melt and smoke strongly. The density of twisting and the length of the wick also play an important role. So that the flame of wax candles does not go out, the threads need to be wound slightly.

How to determine the correct wick length for finished product? It should be such that the candle can be conveniently lit.

Step-by-step instruction

	In the mold where you plan to pour melted wax or paraffin, lower the cotton thread or floss threads twisted together. The upper end of the future wick lock on wooden stick . It, in turn, put on top of the form;
	Cut into small pieces or grate wax(paraffin) or an ordinary old candle, put in suitable dishes. Put on slow fire a pot of water. Place a dish of wax in it and melt it, stirring constantly so that there are no lumps;
	Pour into prepared mold some melted wax. Place lower tip of the wick in the center and wait until the wax thickens a little;
	Fill out the form with the rest melted wax;
	When the candle is completely dry and harden, cut off the excess part of the wick. It is better to do this not earlier than in a day;
	Carefully take out the candle from a mold or leave it in if it was meant to be.

Tip: to quickly remove the finished candle from the mold and not damage it, you can put it in the freezer for 30 seconds or hold it under running hot water for a while.

Important! Do not light finished candles until they are completely solidified. From the moment of their creation to the first use must pass at least a day.

Decorating and flavoring

When you have mastered the process of making candles from wax and paraffin, you can complicate your task a little. To do this, you should learn how to flavor them and paint them in any color.

Let's start with the color of wax or paraffin. You can change it to absolutely anyone at the stage of its melting by adding piece of wax pencil desired shade. Acrylic and oil paints to this end not worth using. If you add them when melting the wax, they will not color it, but will stick together and in the finished candle you will have blotches of ugly colored flakes.

With a few wax crayons various shades can do striped candles which look very beautiful and original. To do this, you need to consistently melt and pour wax of different colors into the mold in layers.

How to make the finished candle smell fragrant when burning? To do this, just add a few drops of essential oil into the melted wax before pouring it into the mould.

Behind last years the manufacture of candles from mass production slowly migrated to the home workshops of needlewomen, turning into a creative activity.

Candles, which some century ago were not only the main source of light, but also a kind of indicator of family well-being, used in wealthy homes instead of a smoking torch, have long lost their original meaning. Today, it is important to make candles with your own hands at home in order to use them in a completely different way - as an element of exquisite decor and an invariable attribute of creating a romantic mood.

Making decorative candles as a hobby

Thanks to the simple technology of creating and great choice materials for work and decoration, now every craftswoman can open a miniature “candle factory” at home, which will not only bring pleasure from creativity, but can also become additional source making a profit.

The advantage of this type of hobby is that the activity is simple, not boring, and a beautiful result can be obtained quite quickly. For these reasons, making candles at home will appeal to needlewomen of all ages, both venerable and not yet very experienced.

What is needed for creativity

The best part is that to get started you need minimum set materials:

candle gel, wax or paraffin;
wick or cotton threads without synthetic impurities for its manufacture;
form for pouring a candle;
elements for decoration.

Wax or paraffin can be used from ordinary household candles, but it will not be difficult to remove the finished wick from them. Candle gel is also easy to make with your own hands. Instead of an expensive form, you can take any suitable refractory container - a beautiful cup, jar, tin box. In a word, starting a new hobby will not be very expensive. We can say that this is one of the.

Based on the main material used to make candles, there are two basic technologies- wax and gel, which are similar in many respects, but, nevertheless, have their own nuances in work.

The secrets of making candles from wax or paraffin

In the process of creating a product from wax, the most important moment is the melting of the material. Here you will need good skill and speed of action, since melted wax or paraffin cools quickly, besides, it is very hot and can easily burn.

Also, before making a candle with your own hands, it is important to choose the right thickness of the wick: if you make it too thick, the candle will melt and smoke too much, and a very thin one will constantly go out. The twisting density of the wick also plays an important role - for wax and paraffin candles the threads should be twisted slightly loosely so that the flame does not go out.

There is no universal advice here - the optimal thickness and density of twisting threads for the wick will have to be displayed only on personal experience, the method of trials and experiments. Each master eventually develops his own formula and the secret of successful work.

DIY gel candles

To make beautiful transparent candles that do not emit any smell or smoke, you can use ready-made gel wax, or you can cook consumable on one's own. In the latter case, you need to purchase ingredients such as glycerin, tannin, gelatin, distilled water and mix them, boil over low heat until the liquid has completely evaporated.

This technology is somewhat more complicated than wax, but the result is worth the effort - the products are very elegant and unique. During cooking, the mixture may become cloudy, but this is a temporary phenomenon that disappears immediately after the gel cools down.

The gel opens up a lot of different possibilities for decorating. For example, shells, pebbles, starfish, dried citrus fruits or flowers filled with transparent wax look very beautiful. In this way, women who are looking for can make candles with their own hands at home, since they do not stand out during work harmful substances.

Making scented candles at home

Separately, it is worth mentioning aroma candles - they are also easy to make at home. Benefits of scented candles home production also in the fact that you can have one hundred percent confidence in the environmental friendliness and harmlessness of aromatic components.

Why learn to make candles

Designers and decorators often use beautiful interior candles to create false fireplaces in houses and apartments. They can also be a good gift or a romantic souvenir, so if you learn how to make a high-quality and original product, then it’s quite possible to make good money on your favorite hobby.

Especially if, on the eve of major generally recognized holidays, products are made with thematic design. Handmade products can also be offered to restaurant owners who often use candles to create an intimate atmosphere in an establishment in evening time or give a special festive atmosphere.

Step-by-step master classes with photos

To help those who are just trying their hand at creating "home fires", we have prepared unique master classes with step by step photos. Detailed Instructions will help you to delve into the intricacies of craftsmanship and master difficult moments.

I want to tell you how to make candles with your own hands at home. Although they are no longer relevant as light sources, they are excellent in the role decorative ornaments and original gifts. You will learn the most popular recipes that can be implemented even without artistic skills.

We create masterpieces on our own

Recipes for making candles that are easy to implement without leaving home:

Recipe number 1: "Wax"

Wax candles have a very simple structure:

They are created from the following materials:

Name	Purpose	Image
Wax or paraffin	Creation directly of the body of the manufactured product. To obtain such materials, you can use ordinary household candles.
Thread of cotton or floss	Creating a wick, which actually will radiate heat with light, slowly burning down
Pot	Organization of a water bath for melting wax or paraffin
A clean metal container, in the role of which a ladle is perfect	The content of wax or paraffin during their melting in a water bath
Molds made of tin, glass or plastic	Shaping curable wax or paraffin
Wooden stick or regular pencil	Wick attachment

For the first time, I recommend taking someone to help you, since the melted wax will begin to set in fifteen minutes after removing it from the burner. Due to inexperience alone, you may not have time to complete all the necessary actions.

Now let's look at the step by step tasks:

	Step #1: We tie one edge of a cotton thread or floss to the middle of a stick or pencil; We place the stick or pencil itself on top of the form, laying it on its edges so that the second edge of the wick descends to the bottom of the container; So we do with each of the prepared forms
	Step #2: To melt wax or paraffin, start by cutting them into small pieces. This will greatly speed up the process; Then we collect about half a pot of water and put on a slow fire; Pour the prepared material into the ladle, after which we immerse the container in heating water; Stir the melting contents until it completely turns into a liquid homogeneous state without lumps.
	Step #3: Melted wax or paraffin in a small amount is poured into the mold just enough so that the lower edge of the wick sinks into it; If necessary, we correct the thread or floss so that the fixation occurs qualitatively; We wait about a minute for the material to set.
	Step #4: Carefully pour in the remaining melted paraffin or wax; We leave the form until it is completely set.
	Step #5: After about 24 hours, we check how well the material used to create the candle body has frozen; Then we measure the length of the wick by eye so that it is convenient to light it; Cut off the excess; A day later, the product can be used for its intended purpose.

It is better to use forms with smooth edges or disposable ones that can be simply destroyed. Then you do not have to leave ready-made candles in them.

Recipe number 2: "Colored"

A do-it-yourself colored candle at home is created almost exactly the same as a regular wax candle, with the exception of one additional ingredient: wax pencils.

They have a very large range of possible colors, which opens up tremendous opportunities for transforming the appearance of hand-made candles:

So you can make just a plain product by adding a piece of pencil you like to the paraffin or wax melted in a water bath. It will also dissolve, coloring the boring yellowness into a more cheerful and interesting shade;

If you throw several multi-colored pieces at once into the melting mass, then you will get a rainbow candle;
Striped specimens are more popular. In their manufacture, each portion of wax with a new color is poured after the previous one has completely solidified. The process, of course, is delayed, but the result looks amazing.

If, after pouring each new layer, the form is not placed directly on the table, but set at an angle, then more complex ornaments can be obtained than the “zebra”.

Recipe #3: Flavored

It is not necessary to be limited to adding colored wax pencils alone. At home, you can also add a few drops of essential oil to the prepared solution before pouring it. In this case, your candle will become even more fragrant and even have a positive effect on the body.

Here are examples of the effects of some essences:

Lavender and bergamot help to relax as much as possible, which is indispensable after a hard day at work;

Lemon and rosemary help uplift Have a good mood and removal of negative thoughts;

Geranium, rose and lavender relieve stress;

Recipe number 4: "Transparent gel"

Here, in order to make a candle at home, a special candle gel is used instead of wax or paraffin.

This gives a very important visual effect- transparency, due to which adjustments are also made to the manufacturing process itself:

If the form is used with concave edges, then it must be transparent. Otherwise, the whole meaning of the helium candle will be lost;

The selected form should be heated before direct pouring of the melted gel to prevent the formation of bubbles in the structure of the manufactured product;
In the process of forming the body of a candle, decorative elements are immersed in its material, which, due to the transparency of the helium composition, freeze inside. And as a decoration, everything that your imagination tells you will do. It looks amazing.

Recipe number 5: "Fruit"

Human ingenuity does not stop at the above, which I want to prove to you by demonstrating the recipe for candles using natural fruit fragments. For work you will need the following materials:

Having collected everything you need, let's get started tasks:

	Step #1: Carefully cut the lemon with a sharp knife; We take out all the internal pulp from it; We carry out a similar operation with the second fruit
	Step #2: We heat wax or paraffin in a water bath, as it was described in the instructions for creating wax candles; Add dried lavender flowers, a few drops of essential oil and food coloring to the resulting substance; Mix everything thoroughly
	Step #3: In the center of each of the resulting lemon halves, we fix a wick; Then fill them with the prepared mixture
	Step #4: We put the filled fruit bowls in a cool place; Looking forward to their full completion.

Just do not put the lemon molds in the refrigerator, as the wax filling them can harden unevenly there.

Recipe number 6: "Coffee"

In this case, the set of materials and the process itself are similar to the same production of the classic wax candle. But coffee beans are also added to give the product a special entourage.

And you can do this in four ways:

It is enough just to add coffee beans to melted wax or paraffin, and you will already get an original drawing on the finished product;

You can also veneer a ready-made candle with grains by gluing them with glue or pressing them to a material that has not yet completely solidified;

The simplest option is to remove the already frozen sample from the mold, place it in a large transparent container and fill the gap between the walls with coffee beans;

If you want to bet on flavor, and not on appearance, then add ground coffee to the melted wax or paraffin. And then, in the process of burning the candle, a pleasant coffee smell will disperse around the room.

Recipe number 7: "With photos"

This is not exactly a recipe for making a candle, since the entire initial process completely repeats the creation of a wax copy. But then, when it has completely hardened, you can begin to apply a photograph on its walls. For this need:

Image	Name
	Hardened paraffin or wax candle
	Tracing paper
	Paper sheet for printer
	Wax paper
	Scotch
	Scissors
	a printer
	hair dryer

Procedure looks like that:

	Step #1: We select a suitable photo; Tracing paper is fixed on a paper sheet with adhesive tape
	Step #2: We fill the combined sheets into the printer so that the copied image is printed on tracing paper; We print out a photo; Separate the tracing paper and cut out the main image from it, leaving a thin white frame
	Step #3: We wrap a candle with a printed photo; Top it with waxed paper; Warm up with a hair dryer until the emerging image becomes clear
	Step #4: Carefully remove the wax paper; We receive the original product

The use of homemade candles

Summing up, I want to describe in more detail the options for using candles made by myself:

Creating a romantic setting. Full electric lighting, of course, candles handmade at home they will not replace, but on the other hand, they can bring romance perfectly;
Decoration of the surrounding. Several decorative candles bizarre shapes can become the main attraction of your home;

Interesting hobby. Making so ancient lighting fixtures very exciting. And if you have a commercial vein, then it can also become profitable;

Aromatization of the room. If you make an aromatic candle, then it will fill with a pleasant, and in some cases even a useful smell, any room in which you install it;

Gift for friends. Homemade candles can also be used as gift souvenirs. So stop worrying about what to give, it's time to get to work!

Conclusion

You have become familiar with several interesting recipes making candles at home. These are not only beautiful souvenirs and Original gifts but also an interesting pastime.

The video in this article contains additional material related to the topic discussed. In the comments, you can ask any questions that interest you.

Learn how to make your own candles at low cost and have fun.

Interest today is more common among women, but the manufacture of this device is a manly skill that has been traced over the years. Especially in medieval times, their trade was vital to kingdoms and villages because light was a necessity.

Today, when candles are of no practical value, they can add an atmosphere of comfort, coziness, and romance to any room. They have a very meditative relaxing effect, and can lead to reflection. Them main disadvantage- rather high cost. What is needed to do it yourself?

Materials: what you need to make

The process will not take you more than two hours, but the resulting products will complement your home or work interior, and will be a good gift for loved ones.

Wax

This is the heart of the candle, of which there are three main types.

Paraffin. Traditional, used for hundreds of years to make a light. Now it continues to be the most common among all species. It's cheap, you can easily add color and scent to it. The main problem with paraffin remains its potentially toxic nature. Paraffin is a by-product of oil, which automatically gives it a bad rating for most consumers. If natural products are your credo, your best bet is to look for an alternative.

Soya. New to the market, becoming an increasingly popular main ingredient. Soy was created in the 90s, when the movement for natural products was actively gaining momentum. It is usually made from soybean oil, but is sometimes mixed with paraffin and other waxes (palm, bees, etc.). It also readily accepts colors and odors.
Beeswax. The oldest crafting ingredient; candles from beeswax were found in the great pyramids of Egypt. As the name suggests, it is produced by bees and is a by-product of the honey process. Because of this, it has a natural golden color and thin sweet fragrance. This is a completely natural product, but you won't be able to add other flavors to it. The natural scent will overpower other scents. Bee is also the most expensive option.

Most of the types that are sold in the store are sold in the form of granules. This makes the job easier as the pellets melt faster. If you bought a block, use a sharp knife to cut it into small pieces.

Wick

The wrong wick can ruin your homemade candle. the main problem- this is the size, or rather the width. For container ones, which will be discussed, you need a wide wick. The length of the wick is not important - you can cut it.

Aroma oils

Without smell, you just burn wax. It looks pretty but doesn't create the subtle scent that candles are used for. There are thousands of fragrances to choose from - just search the internet. You can use essential oils, but with them final product won't be that good. For men, it is better to choose from such "masculine" fragrances as a mixture of clove, amber and sandalwood, apple and maple bourbon, blue spruce, Buttered Rum, Coffee, Whiskey.

Dishes for melting

A pan with a double bottom will do the job best. Melting directly over the flame in a conventional saucepan will be too strong, so use a steam bath.

The form

Coffee mugs, glassware, jars - anything that can withstand heat is used as a container. With a lid, they can be transported, sent, so you can easily give to loved ones.

Accessories: thermometer, spatula, old pen

With a thermometer handy, you can quickly take your temperature. When you buy wax, especially the one used to make it, there are instructions on it as to what temperature the fragrance oil is added to, when to pour it into the container, etc. Use a spatula or spoon to thin it out and dissolve large chunks. Later you will learn why old pens / pencils are good helpers for homemade candles.

Workflow: how to do?

Prepare your workspace

Waxing is a messy business. It melts, drops can go anywhere, you won't even know it until it dries. Place newspaper or paper towels around working area. Use them to set the thermometer, spatula - be careful, they will probably stick a little. Luckily wax isn't that hard to clean, you can just scrape it off with your fingernail. Get your molds and wicks ready.

melt the wax

Using a double bottomed saucepan or water bath, melt the wax. Put about 200-300 grams, watch it melt by breaking it into pieces with a spatula and stirring it. It melts in about 10-15 minutes. Do not forget to monitor the temperature - you need it to be between 70 - 75 degrees. If the temperature starts to rise, remove it from the heat.

Fasten the wick

While it is melting, attach the wick to the container. Rare wicks have a small sticker embedded on the bottom, but the main body does not. Super glue is one option, but you can use the old candle trick: dip the metal tongue of the wick into the melted wax, then quickly attach it to the bottom of the container in the center. After a couple of minutes, when it hardens, the wick will be fixed at the bottom.

Add aromatic oils, stir

When completely melted, add the desired aromatic oils. Each species is different and requires a different amount per 1 kilogram, so follow the instructions on the package. Having taken a block that is suitable for different purposes, remember the following proportion: 60 grams of oil per kilogram of wax. Pour it into the pan, stir for one minute to ensure even distribution.

Add color as desired

This is an optional step. Your candles will come out a natural milky white, but you can add some color by using a non-toxic colored pencil or block. For example, you can add half a millimeter of red pencil to 500 grams of wax to get a soft pastel shade. Want to bright color? Use more pencil.

The color will be much brighter in the melted mixture, but will become milky as it cools.

Let the mixture cool down

After adding aromatic oil turn off the heat, let cool for a couple of minutes. Optimum temperature for pouring into a container is about 55-60 degrees. It won't take long - just a few minutes, so pay attention to your thermometer. Once it has cooled properly, pour it into a container. Hold the wick so that it stays in the center, don't overtighten it. We advise you to leave a little in the pan - it will come in handy at the end.

The secret of attaching the wick

The wick attached to the bottom may wobble a little in the liquid wax at first. You definitely want it to stay level, in the center, while everything hardens. Just put the pen on top of the mold, tie a wick to it, leave it to harden for several hours.

As the candle cools, you will notice a slight dip in the wick. The wax will also come off the edges of the jar. Reheat the mixture remaining in the pan, fill the holes that appear with it.

cut the wick

You will probably have a few extra inches of wick sticking out. Too long a wick will burn with too much bright flame. Light it up and test it: if the flame is more than 2.5 centimeters, cut the thread.

Admire your own candles

Cool the candles room temperature to avoid crack formation.

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