Homemade beaded candles in home decor
To get started you will want to choose the candle you will be working with. Find a plain candle in any size, shape and color at a local crafting store or discount retailer. There are literally thousands of options to choose from. You could even pick up a few and make a collection of candles. Next choose the beads you want to add to the candle. There is a wide range of beads to choose from and most come in packages of 20 or more. When purchasing your crafting pins be sure to take note of the size of the hole in the beads you choose. You will need to make sure that the head of the pin is large enough to securely place the bead onto the candle. Packages of crafting pins can also be found a your local crafting store and usually come in packages of 100 or more. These pins come in both silver and gold tones, so you can choose which color best compliments the beads and candle you choose.
1) Decide on a pattern that you will be applying to your candle. You can place the beads randomly around the candle or chose a striped (or other) pattern.
2) If you decide create a pattern on your candle, use the point of one of the crafting pins and map out the pattern by making small pin marks into the wax. Not too deep though, you may decide later to change the pattern.
3) Using a crafting pin place the bead onto the candle by inserting the pin through the hole in the bead. Press firmly until the pin is inserted entirely into the candle. Due to having to insert the pin all the way into the candle you may want to choose the smallest length of pin that will allow you to place the bead onto the candle.
4) Repeat until you have completed your pattern or have placed the desired amount of beads onto the candle. You’re done!
You now have a charming decorative candle for the fraction of the cost! Family and friends will delight in this thoughtful and creative gift.
Make candles
1 wax carton (quart) (milk, fabric softener, or orange juice)
• 1 pound of paraffin wax
• 4 or 5 old crayons
• two trays of ice cubes
• a double boiler (or an empty coffee can and a saucepan)
• 1 piece of ordinary white package string about six inches long. Caution: Do not heat paraffin directly over the burner. Paraffin is easily combustible. Use a double boiler or a two-pound coffee can set in a pan of water. I put the coffee can on top of home canning jar rings (the rings, not the flat lids). If the can is not set on top of something, the concave bottom creates a vacuum when the water begins to heat up, plus if it’s on the bottom of the pan, it's just that much closer to the burner.
Trim the top part of the carton off so that what remains is about six inches high.
Cut the string so that it is six inches long. (To make a wick that lasts longer, try braiding three pieces of string together.)
Melt the paraffin wax over medium heat in a double boiler or a coffee can in a pan of water. Use three-quarters of a pound for a somewhat smaller candle or use all four squares for a larger candle. Once the water begins to boil, it will take 10 or 15 minutes for the paraffin to melt.
Break the crayons into small pieces and add to the paraffin. If the crayons are added first before the wax is melted, the color makes it difficult to see if all of the paraffin is liquefied.
Use a pair of tongs (a scissors works, too), and dip the string into the paraffin. Dipping the string will ensure that it is coated with paraffin since the ice cubes may prevent some sections from coming in contact with the liquid wax. Hold the string so that it is in the middle of the carton and fill the carton with ice cubes. Pour the hot paraffin over the ice cubes.
The candle will be set in about 30 minutes. Let the candle stand for another hour or two until most of the ice cubes are melted. Pour off the water. Peel off the carton. Place the candle in a tray or on a plate to catch the rest of the water from the ice cubes as they finish melting. Let the candle dry for a day or two.
The candles I have made with a single piece of string only burn for an hour or so and burn quickly enough so that most of the paraffin remains intact. To use the paraffin again, melt the candle and pour the wax into other containers to make solid candles.