How to decorate a candle. The secrets of making candles with your own hands: from wax to gel

It is impossible to create a real atmosphere of magic, home comfort and a charming fairy tale for the New Year without candles. This small element of decor remains a permanent attribute of any festive interior. You can make it more original and attractive by using your design skills and making candles with your own hands.

You can use homemade candles as a separate decoration of furniture or windows, as an element (for example, in a bouquet of needles and flowers), or you can give them a place of honor on the New Year's table, pleasantly surprising guests with an original and exquisite table setting.

We bring to your attention useful workshops and tips for making and decorating candles with your own hands.

Master class 1. Quick and easy

In order to make a classic version of homemade candles, you will need the following:

Moulds. They must be made of a material that does not absorb wax/paraffin. Ideal for this are rubber, metal, plastic or glass containers. You can use iron boxes (like candy tins) or thick plastic cups. Also keep in mind that if you still can’t get the candle out of the mold, you will have to break or cut it.
Material. Candles can be made from paraffin, wax or stearin.
Wick. It can be obtained from factory candles melted in a steam bath or weaved independently from any cotton threads.
Small metal container. It will be needed in order to melt the wax.
Instruments. You will need pliers (or something similar to get the hot pot out), tweezers, and a thin wooden stick.
Foil. We will cover the table with it to protect it from fire or the appearance of grease stains on the surface.
Wooden stick. With its help, we will mix the wax.
Pigments. They can be very different: wax-based crayons, the remains of colored candles, decorative cosmetics, acrylic or gouache paints. You can buy colored pigments in specialized stores.
Baking soda. Usually it is used to extinguish paraffin if it catches fire. So, we hope you won’t need it, but you still need to have it just in case of a “fire” case.
Pot.

Have you collected everything you need? Then let's get started.

You can see a similar method in the video of making a layered candle with vertical colored layers.

In this case, a cardboard form is used. The method is good because it is easy to find suitable milk or juice boxes for candles of different sizes.

If you made a plain candle, then you can choose a different decor option. You can apply a layer of uncolored wax to the candle, attaching sparkles, beads, grains and other decorative elements to it.

More details about decor ideas are written at the end of this material.

Master class 2. Flavored soy candles.

Soy candles are considered the most environmentally friendly, and they burn much longer than usual. They cost a lot and are considered an expensive pleasure, but making them yourself will cost you many times cheaper.

For this we need:

Soy wax flakes (about 60 g per candle).
Wicks.
Dyes (optional).
Aromatic oil.
Glass containers for candles (you can clean the old ones with hot water), cups or small pots.

After you finish all the preparatory moments, you can safely start making candles:

You can make a classic plain version of the candle and decorate it as you wish (more on that later).

And now see how you can cast colored, very beautiful soy candles from colored soy wax. The photos show the whole process perfectly.

Master class 3. A fashionable version of a candle decorated with decoupage

Decoupage on candles looks advantageous at 100%! This is an incredibly beautiful decoration that gives them a luxurious and sophisticated appearance. In addition, there can be a million design options, which makes each such product unique in its own way.

The technology of applying decoupage has a special specificity, and therefore it needs to be given special attention, introducing you closer to this popular art today.

Starting to create such an exclusive candle, you need to prepare the following:

Dried flowers (herbs) of your choice.
Candle (you can make it yourself, based on the tips of the first and second master classes).
Spoon, tweezers and scissors
An ordinary candle (it will be required in order to heat the spoon).
Paraffin.
Empty tin can.

Feel like a jeweler. Why? Yes, because you will have to work very carefully and painstakingly with dried flowers. However, this task is not difficult, but interesting and requires perseverance.

Everything is ready? Then we begin our creative process:

If you have smoothed the dried flowers tightly, it will be enough to dip the candle in paraffin once. If not, then we do it again. After the coating hardens, you can enjoy the fruits of your jewelry work by placing it on a festive table, home furniture or decorating a fireplace with it.

The topic will be complemented by a video of decoupage candles using napkins. And the flowers in the master class are also present.

Master class 4: do-it-yourself gel candles

Such candles are considered super popular today, and therefore it is simply impossible to ignore them. So, we need the following ingredients:

Gel wax (you can buy it in candle making kits).
Wick.
Aroma oils and dye (optional).
Insert (also at your discretion). It can be any non-flammable decorative material: pearls, shells, pebbles, dry fruits, coffee beans, etc.

And of course, you will need to choose a container for the candle. The most suitable option is a glass cup, jar or glass.

The procedure for making such a candle is almost identical to those described above (see master class 1 and 2). However, it is necessary to take into account its specificity.

For example, the temperature when heating the gel should be about 93 ° C and no more, since overheated gel wax loses its transparency and elasticity. And one more thing: before placing the liners in the container for the finished candle, they must first be dipped in the gel, and only then placed in the prepared container.

One of the options for making a gel candle is presented in the following video. It shows how to work with the gel by heating it in a conventional oven, placing pieces of gel filler and liners at the same time in a glass dish.

New Year's creative: how to decorate a finished candle?

Nothing will emphasize the coziness of a homely atmosphere like candles, especially if you made them yourself. Such products - unique in their kind - will become an exclusive "highlight" of the New Year's decoration.

You can decorate ready-made homemade candles in different ways. It all depends on the flight of the master's imagination. We offer you some bright ideas that will certainly inspire you to a design feat, and your candles will become a charming attribute of a festive interior.

So, you can decorate the finished candle with the help of such materials:

Coffee beans. As you can see in the picture, coffee beans are added to the paraffin itself. This is a very good option for decorating a homemade candle for several reasons: firstly, it looks really attractive, secondly, the grains will be securely fixed with paraffin (or wax) and will not fall off, and thirdly, they will exude a pleasant aroma during burning candles. Coffee beans can also be applied to the surface of a finished candle by dipping it in paraffin.

pieces of ice. Fire and ice are a strange and contradictory combination. However, if you want to give the candle an unusual look, use ice. It will need to be crushed and added during the candle making process to heated paraffin. When it melts and the candle hardens, its surface will resemble snow or porous ice.

original containers. For candles, you can choose not only classic glass cups, but also more original containers: a tea cup on a saucer, hollow wooden stumps, interesting-shaped wine glasses, shells, jars, eggshells, orange (lemon) zest, tree bark, etc.

Inserts for gel candles. Gel wax is a very convenient material for candles, because it makes the product completely transparent. It can accommodate a wide variety of decorative figurines. Candles stylized as a marine theme are very popular today (and you can pour the gel into a real aquarium by putting shells, algae, toy fish, etc.) fairy-tale characters (for example, Santa Claus).

glass pebbles. Adding colored stones to the aquarium in paraffin or wax is just a great idea! True, they should be commensurate with your product so that the whole composition looks harmonious.
shells. They can also be added to paraffin during the melting process, or put on the bottom of the container, and only then poured. By the way, you can decorate the candle container itself with shells.

Decoupage. The principle of its application was described in master class No. 3 (we will only add that special napkins for decoupage can also be used). Therefore, to inspire you to create such masterpieces, we will share with you a few photo ideas for such decor.

Dry fruits and cinnamon. They will give your candles a New Year's atmosphere and originality. There can be several decor options using these materials: they are either added to the wax itself, or they are attached to the surface of the candle (container). And cinnamon sticks are usually simply tied to a candle and there are many options for decorating such candles.

sequins. Well, where without them? Especially if you are making Christmas candles! Such a decorative highlight will make them festive and bright.

As you can see, there can be a huge variety of options for decorating candles. Or maybe you will be able to create your own, unique and unique type of design? Or do you like a combination of several decorative elements?

Try, dare and experiment! On the eve of the New Year, you simply have to try something new and original!

The ideal way to decorate at almost any festive event is beautiful candles, how quickly, easily to make 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 to a loved one, 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.

You can confirm this fact simply by contacting 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?

Indeed, making 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, you need to put a pot of clean water on a slow fire, place 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 craftsmanship when creating candles on their own is not at all scenting or coloring them, but decorating them with a variety of natural materials, 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 you will need essential oils to create a new candle.

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, there is no better option than rose or 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 the interesting works of talented people, you will always have an idea of what you can give as a gift to friends, and how to decorate a table for a holiday, creating an incredible atmosphere of comfort.

DIY candle photo

And candlesticks can decorate any interior.

To do this, you do not need to buy candles and / or candlesticks, as they can be do it yourself using old candles kept at home and a few handy tools.

Here are some cool ideas on how you can beautiful and fragrant candles and candlesticks for them at home.

How to make coffee candles

You will need:

Small bowls or glasses

Candle wax (can be cut from old candles, melted and used)

candle wick

Super glue

coffee beans

Sliced vanilla beans

Pot.

1. Melt the paraffin in the microwave, in a saucepan on an electric stove or in a water bath.

2. Glue the wick to the bottom of a bowl, glass or other shape where you will pour the melted wax next.

3. Pour some paraffin into the mold, add a layer of coffee beans and a layer of vanilla beans. After that, fill out the form to the end. Try to keep the wick straight.

* While pouring paraffin, it can be stirred with a stick.

4. Wait for the paraffin to harden and, if necessary, cut off the excess part of the wick.

How to make a candle (video instruction)

Beautiful candles at home: animals

You will need:

Paraffin (can be from an old candle)

small toy animals

Small candlesticks (with a thin stem)

Drill with a small drill or any thin, hard and sharp object (to make a hole in the toy for a candlestick)

Pliers

Spray paint or acrylic paint.

1. Hold the toy animal with pliers and make a hole in it so that you can insert the candle holder. Be careful not to pierce the toy through.

2. Paint the toy on all sides. If you are using spray paint, then you need to paint outdoors, and preferably with a respiratory mask (spray paint contains substances that are harmful to health).

* If desired, you can paint the candlesticks.

* Let the paint dry, and then you can light candles or just put candle holders in a prominent place so that they decorate the interior.

DIY shell candles at home

You will need:

deep shells

Paraffin

Short wick

Super glue

Pot.

1. Put the shells on the newspaper.

2. Glue the wick to the bottom of the shell.

3. Melt the paraffin and pour it into the shells.

4. Wait for the paraffin to cool down and you will have the perfect decoration for the bathroom, for example.

Making candles with cinnamon (photo instruction)

You will need:

cinnamon sticks

Thick candle (unscented)

Elastic.

1. Put a rubber band on your candle.

2. Start putting cinnamon sticks under the gum.

* You can use two or three elastic bands for reliability.

* You can decorate the candle with braid, jute sackcloth and / or a sprig with berries (can be artificial).

Homemade candle with spices

You will need:

4 small jars (or 2 large)

2 tbsp. tablespoons of spice (can be cinnamon or a mixture of several spices, such as cinnamon, cloves, ginger and nutmeg)

Olive or nut oil (1/2 cup)

Long wick (about 30cm)

Paraffin

Adhesive tape (adhesive tape)

Scissors

Pot.

1. Pour some oil into a saucepan and put on a small fire, but do not bring to a boil.

2. Add spices to the oil and stir.

3. Remove from heat and let cool.

4. Pour the resulting solution into a jar and let it brew for no more than 2 days.

5. Melt the paraffin - cut a piece of paraffin (new or from an old candle), place in a saucepan and put on a small fire.

6. Prepare the wick. Attach it to the bottom of the jar with tape.

7. Add 2 tablespoons of oil to the jar.

8. Pour the melted paraffin into the jar and stir to combine the oil and paraffin.

9. Place the jar in the freezer for 20 minutes or just in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

10. When you light a candle, you will feel a pleasant aroma.

Do-it-yourself lemon candle (master class)

You will need:

Paraffin or beeswax

lemon essential oil

Container for paraffin (form).

1. Melt the paraffin in a saucepan over low heat.

2. From a saucepan, pour some melted paraffin wax into the bottom of a candle mold and insert a wick.

* The wick can also be pre-glued to the bottom of the container.

3. Add a few drops of lemon essential oil to the paraffin pan.

4. Pour the melted paraffin into the mould, keeping the wick level.

5. Wait for the wax to cool down.

* You can decorate the candle with jute and film, making it a great addition to a gift.

Making a candle with lavender at home

You will need:

soy wax

soy wicks

Thermometer

flavoring agent

A jar or other container for a candle.

1. Place soy wax in a saucepan and heat to 60-70 degrees. For one large soy candle, you will need 2 cups of crushed wax.

2. While the wax is melting, glue the wick to the candle container.

3. Remove the wax from the stove and let cool to 50 degrees. After that, add a flavoring agent - vanilla aroma oil or lavender.

4. Pour the melted soy wax into the jar. Try to keep the wick straight, for this you can press it with chopsticks or toothpicks.

5. The wax will harden overnight, after which the candle can be used, and if necessary, part of the wick can be cut off if it is too long.

Here is another way to make a scented candle at home:

Summer citrus candles at home

You will need:

jars

floating candles

Lemons and lime

Essential oil with a lemon or other citrus scent

aromatic herbs

Twine or braid.

1. Cut lemons and limes into slices.

2. Place the herbs in the jar. Rosemary, thyme, lavender, and chamomile were used in this example.

3. Fill the jar halfway with water and add 10 drops of essential oil.

4. Place lemon and lime wedges in a jar and top up with water.

5. Now it remains to put a candle on the water and decorate the jar with twine or braid.

Decorating candles with your own hands is, of course, a creative process that gives a lot of pleasure to both children and adults. The main thing is to know the basic principles of decoration.

One of the simplest and most affordable methods for decorating candles is decorating them with ordinary three-layer napkins. Such napkins are sold in almost any supermarket. You can choose a pattern that best suits the upcoming holiday. For example, for the New Year you can choose napkins with Christmas trees, Santa Claus or snowflakes. You will also need white candles. You can buy flowers, from which to take leaves, petals, parts of twigs, so that the decor is even more unusual and original. But candles decorated with fresh flowers will not last long, only for one holiday. But they look just amazing.

Cut out strips with ornaments or individual figures from napkins. It can be any images, flowers, animal figurines.

White candles are best suited for decorating, because napkins will hardly be noticeable on colored ones. Now you will need to make a fitting by attaching candles to the side surfaces of the candles. If everything suits you, let's get to work.

Light a small candle prepared in advance, on which heat a teaspoon. You need to heat it from the inside. This will allow you to keep the back clean for melting the main candle. First, free the details of the decor from the napkins from the lower layers, leaving only the layer with the pattern.

Now attach your blanks to the side of the candle and iron the top several times with the back of a hot spoon. The wax will melt and the paper elements will stick tightly to the candle.

Another way to decorate is to decorate candles with beads or pebbles. To do this, you can also use a hot spoon heated on an additional small candle. Melt the wax on a large candle with a spoon. In this case, candles can be of any color. Step by step we apply the beads to the heated surface, trying to drown them in the melted wax. You can use candles of different shapes and sizes.

And here is a great way to decorate with candles festive table. To do this, you can take small candles and put them on a stand turned upside down glasses. Inside the glasses, you can put green leaves, flowers, or spruce branches. It all depends on the holiday to be celebrated.

People have been using candles for a long time.

Previously, they served to illuminate the premises, and now they are an element of decor and a way to create a romantic, festive or cozy atmosphere.

You can find many different types of candles in stores, ranging from the simple to the whimsical. Such decorations can be made independently from simple materials. Making decorative candles does not require financial costs and does not take much time, but by showing imagination and putting a piece of your soul into your product, you can create a unique thing that will bring joy to you and your family.

How to make decorative candles with your own hands

What will be required

candle material. Wax, paraffin or stearin. For people who are new to candle making, it is best to start with paraffin wax, as it is easier to work with. Paraffin can be bought or obtained from white household candles or their remains.

Stearin is easily obtained from laundry soap. Grate the soap on a coarse grater or cut it with a knife. Place the chips in a metal container, fill with water so that the liquid covers it and send it to melt in a water bath. When the soap has dissolved, take it off the heat and add the vinegar. A thick mass will float to the surface, which must be collected with a spoon after cooling. This mass is stearin, it must be washed several times under water and wrapped in a clean cloth to remove excess moisture.

Wick. For the wick, you will need a thick cotton thread, for example, a braided thread or a floss twisted into a rope. Synthetic materials for candles are unsuitable because they burn quickly and smell unpleasant. It is easier to get a wick from ordinary candles.

The form. Various containers can be used as a mold for making candles: coffee jars, strong packaging, sand molds and plastic balls. If you decide to make a candle narrowed to the top or a round one, the container that you will use for this, for example, a plastic ball, should be cut lengthwise and a hole with a diameter of at least 1 cm should be made at the top so that the composition can be freely poured into it.

Dyes. You can take dry food colors, wax crayons or natural ingredients, such as cocoa. But paints based on alcohol or water are unsuitable for making candles.

Dishes for melting. A small saucepan or bowl is suitable, which is convenient to place on the steam bath.

Additional materials. You will need them to decorate and add flavors to the product. Since DIY candles are a lot of fantasy, you can use whatever you like, such as coffee, dried flowers, shells, beads and sparkles. Candles can be scented with your favorite essential oils, vanilla or cinnamon.

Working process

Grind the selected raw material and place it in a water bath. If you are using household candles, be sure to remove the wick. The remains of candles must be cleaned of black soot. While stirring, wait until the mass melts. Dip the wick into it several times so that it is saturated and set it aside.
Add flavoring and coloring to the mass. If you use wax crayons, grind them with a fine grater. When using two or more colors, you can achieve a marble color. And by dividing the mass into several parts and painting them in different colors, you can make a multi-colored candle.
Lubricate the mold chosen for the candle with vegetable oil or dishwashing detergent. Fix the tip of the wick on a stick, toothpick or pencil and place it on the mold so that the free end of the wick passes through its middle and reaches the bottom. For reliability, a weight, for example, a nut, can be attached to the free part of the wick.
Pour the melted mass into the mold, wait for it to solidify completely, then pull out the candle by pulling on the wick. If the candle is difficult to remove, immerse the mold in hot water.
You can decorate candles in different ways, for example, spread dried flowers, blades of grass and seeds around the edges of the mold and then pour the melted mass. To make a coffee candle, you need to pour a layer of coffee beans on the bottom of the mold, pour them with liquid candle material and put the beans on top again. It is better to decorate the product with beads, rhinestones and shells after it has solidified and taken out of the mold. Decorative elements are inserted into the melted surface of the candle or attached with glue.