DIY candles recipes. How to make beautiful candles at home

The ideal way decorations for almost any festive event - beautiful candles, how to quickly and easily make them, which you will learn on your own by reading the detailed instructions. Today, candles in the interior can both bring 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 family and friends, who will certainly appreciate the effort and time spent.

Some people think that candles are an exceptionally cute element of decor, which is true, except for those cases when scented candles are placed in the house, because they can replace a real expensive psychotherapeutic remedy, 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 plan to give 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 don’t worry, because the task may seem quite difficult only at first. With the right approach, you will quickly understand that the process of creating a candle is quite easy.

Confirm this fact you can simply contact people who decided to start making candles, but got involved so quickly that it became not just an additional income, but also an exciting activity. The more often you practice making candles yourself, the better quality they will be every day.

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

What materials are needed to make candles?

Really make candles at home without special materials will not work. You should prepare:

Vessel (the wax will melt in it);
Molds used for candles;
A saucepan (useful during the water bath);
Two sticks;
Various decorative elements (so the candle will look original);
Wax crayons;
Stubs from used candles
Paper threads

Sequence of work

Firstly, you need to lower the prepared paper thread into the mold that you took to pour the wax/paraffin that was subsequently melted. Using a wooden stick, which should eventually 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 and place it in the prepared bowl. Next, a saucepan with clean water you need to put it on low heat, place a bowl 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 of the previously melted wax into the mold, position the lower end of the wick directly in the center. All you have to do is wait until all the wax thickens slightly.

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

Important point. You should not light candles that you think are ready until they are completely hardened. Remember that at least a day must pass from the moment the candle is created to its first use.

Decorating candles

The real pinnacle of craftsmanship when creating candles yourself is not at all scenting or coloring them, but decorating them with a variety of natural materials, starting from coffee beans and ending with pine cones, seashells or herbs with an incredible aroma.

Important point. The 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 involves decorating with napkins of different colors.

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 a decorative element a scent, just add a couple of drops of oil to the already melted wax immediately before pouring the mold.

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

Wanting to get rid of bad thoughts, it is better to choose rosemary and lemon oils. For peace of mind 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 completely transparent. In practice, this makes it possible to achieve interesting contrast with various decorating techniques;
During combustion, the gel does not emit odor or soot that is unpleasant for households.

The technology for creating any gel candle is generally similar to the process of creating a wax candle, but there is a difference: it is necessary to pour pre-melted gel, not paraffin, into the prepared form. Moreover, this must be done in compliance with a couple of nuances.

Firstly, 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 will not be taken out of it.

The imagination of a person with a creative nature is practically unlimited: the cost of materials 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 might initially seem when you see a photo of candles made with your own hands. Having created a beautiful, unusual candle once, you will definitely decide to repeat the experiment.

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

Photos of candles with your own hands

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

Candles, which just a century ago were not only the main source of light, but also a kind of indicator of a family’s well-being, used in wealthy homes instead of a smoky 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 capacity - 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 large selection 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 an additional source of profit.

The advantage of this type of hobby is that the activity is not difficult, not boring, and you can get a beautiful result quite quickly. For these reasons, making candles at home will appeal to and be within the power of needlewomen of all ages - both seasoned and not yet very experienced.

What you need for creativity

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

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

Wax or paraffin can be used from ordinary household candles, and 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 mold, you can take any suitable fireproof container - a beautiful cup, jar, tin box. In short, starting a new hobby won’t cost much. 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 ways, but still have their own nuances in operation.

Secrets of making candles from wax or paraffin

In the process of creating a wax product, the most critical moment is the melting of the material. This will require good dexterity and speed of action, since melted wax or paraffin cools quickly, moreover, 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 excessively, and a very thin one will constantly go out. The twist 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 - optimal thickness and the twist density of the threads for the wick will have to be determined only by personal experience, by trial and experimentation. Each master develops his own formula and secret over time. successful work.

DIY gel candles

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

This technology is somewhat more complicated than wax technology, 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 goes away immediately after the gel cools.

Gel opens up many different possibilities for decoration. For example, shells, pebbles, starfish, dried citrus fruits or flowers look very beautiful when filled with transparent wax. Women who are looking for candles can make candles with their own hands in this way, since they do not stand out during work. harmful substances.

Making aroma candles at home

It’s worth mentioning separately about aroma candles - they are also easy to make at home. Advantage scented candles home production Also, you can have one hundred percent confidence in the environmental friendliness and harmlessness of the aromatic components.

Why learn to make candles?

Designers and decorators often use beautiful interior candles to create false fireplaces in homes 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 from your favorite hobby.

Especially if, on the eve of major generally recognized holidays, you make products with a themed design. Homemade products can also be offered to restaurant owners who often use candles to create intimate atmosphere in the establishment in the evening or giving a special festive atmosphere.

Step-by-step master classes with photos

To help those who are just trying their hand at creating “homes,” we have prepared unique master classes with step by step photos. Detailed instructions will help you delve into the intricacies of craftsmanship and master difficult moments.

Previously, candles were used only by wealthy families to illuminate rooms. Today, many are interested in how to make a candle as a decoration with their own hands. You can implement your plans at home, the main thing is to prepare everything you need. Let's start!

How to make a candle with your own hands - necessary materials

Paraffin

First of all, make sure you have paraffin. Buy it at craft stores or hardware supermarkets. You can also get paraffin from unburnt old candles that you have left at home.

Wax (instead of paraffin)

An analogue of paraffin is beeswax. It represents completely natural composition, which during combustion purifies the air in the room. But the wax cannot be scented or colored. If you prefer this component, choose soy wax.

Wick

In addition to the main component, you will need a wick. It can be in the form of a paper rope or a thin rope.

Workplace

Prepare your work space. A flat table lined with oilcloth or newspaper is ideal. You can make candles with your own hands only with high-quality lighting at home.

Additional tools

You will need a container for mixing, a pan for heating the ingredients in a water bath, a thermometer for measuring the melting temperature of wax/paraffin (sold in handicraft stores, intended for making candles).

Dyes

If you intend to make candles of a certain shade, dyes will be required. Food grade pigment is not suitable for this purpose. Choose oil-based dyes.

Essential oils

Since you can make a candle with your own hands with a certain scent at home, purchase essential oils. They are sold in pharmacies and any cosmetics stores.

Scenery

If your goal is to make a beautiful decorative candle, you may need coffee beans, beautiful stones, shells and other elements.

Candle mold

As a form, use a glass, cup, cut-off jar, square heat-resistant container and other available containers.

General technology for creating a candle with your own hands

In this section we will present general scheme, detailed recipes you will find below.

STEP #1

First, build a water bath: fill a pan with water, wait until it boils. Paraffin/wax should not be melted over an open fire to avoid burning.

STEP #2

Prepare a container smaller in size than the pan. Rub paraffin into it using a fine grater. Place this dish in a saucepan so that no water gets into the paraffin. Reduce stove power and wait for melting.

Important! During the simmering process it is necessary to keep at hand soap solution and wet gauze folded in several layers. If you suddenly stain a table with paraffin, you need to immediately clean the surface.

STEP #3

Arm yourself with a thermometer, which is sold in handicraft stores. It is designed to measure the melting temperature of wax. Paraffin melts at approximately 84-90 degrees. Do not overheat it, measure the indicators. Do not let it boil.

Important! Since you can’t make a candle with your own hands without melting, follow safety precautions at home. Simmering in a water bath can lead to a fire. Monitor the temperature carefully. When using leftover old candles, you must first remove all the wicks from them.

STEP #4

Continue simmering until the paraffin acquires a liquid structure. At this stage, essential oils are added for scent and oil dyes for color. You can make a multi-color candle by adding many pigments of different shades at the same time (do not mix too much).

STEP #5

Take a mold for pouring a candle. Place a pencil on its sides. Prepare the wick, tie it in the center of the pencil. Lower the tip of the wick into the mold so that the rope is positioned evenly across the entire height of the container.

STEP #6

If you are using any decorations, now is the time to put them in the mold. It is better to place decorations on the sides and bottom of the container so that they are clearly visible after the wax has hardened.

STEP #7

It's time to pour the melted paraffin/wax into the mold. Manipulations are carried out in a thin stream so that the wick does not sway to the side.

STEP #8

When you have filled the mold, leave the candle on room temperature. It will harden after 10-14 hours. Do not keep the product in the refrigerator, otherwise it will burn poorly. Before use, cut the wick, remove the product from the mold or leave it inside.

Preparing a gel candle

Gel products have become in great demand decorative candles. The transparent base can be easily decorated with various decorative elements. Let's look at how to make a candle with your own hands without difficulty at home.

1. Visit a craft store and purchase a special gel-based compound. It can be colored or transparent. The gel base for candles can be mixed together to achieve the desired shade.

2. Melt the gel using classical technology (like paraffin), observing temperature regime(90 degrees). The result will be a liquid mixture. Prepare the mold in advance and install the wick in it.

3. Place decorative elements at the bottom of the container as you wish. There are no limits to your imagination, improvise! The main thing is that such decorations are not flammable. They need to be washed and dried in advance.

4. It is recommended to place some of the accessories on the bottom, and add others as the container is filled. As a result, the elements will appear to be floating. Also, they should not be close to the wick (at least 1 cm), this is important.

5. To avoid the formation of bubbles in the finished candle, the filling mold should be warmed up. It is enough to use a hairdryer or boiling water. Place the container in the liquid. Wipe the container dry.

6. You can do it in a different way and give the candle a more “sparkling” look. To increase the number of bubbles, the mold is pre-cooled in the freezer. Once you have poured the candle, it needs to sit for at least a day.

Making an aroma candle with your own hands

1. It’s not hard to figure out how to make an aromatherapy candle with your own hands so that it smells nice at home. The undoubted advantage of such products is that you will be completely confident in the environmental friendliness of the components.

2. So that the candle finds pleasant aroma, to the base, no matter gel or paraffin, you should add a few drops of any essential oil.

3. Consider the features of each broadcast. Some compounds become heavy and cloying when heated. The rest of the procedure is carried out using classical technology.

Original ideas for creating candles

1. To make candles truly unusual, try to use a base different colors. Fill them in layers. It is best to carry out the procedure with a gel base. Just add a layer and wait a little. As soon as it sets, continue pouring.

2. Play around with color scheme. Pour in gel of different shades layer by layer. As a result, you can create a beautiful rainbow candle. To make the transition smooth, you need to wait less for the previous layer to harden.

3. Colored compounds will just connect at the border. To understand how to make a rainbow candle with your own hands using this technology at home, follow the rules.

4. You can make a natural candle from citrus zest. Cut any citrus in half and carefully remove the pulp. Melt the base and add a few drops of lavender essential oil, a dried clove bud and a sprig of rosemary.

5. Pour the melted gel into a natural mold and wait until it cools. The result is an unusual citrus candle with a subtle aroma.

Making homemade candles is quite easy. Having made several copies, you can proceed to more complex tasks. Add something new and decorate the candles to your liking. Don't be afraid to experiment!

People have been using candles for a long time.

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

You can find a lot in stores different types candles, ranging from simple to fancy. You can make similar decorations yourself from simple materials. Making decorative candles will not require financial costs and will not take much time, but by showing your imagination and putting a piece of your soul into your product, you can create unique thing, which will bring joy to you and your family.

How to make decorative candles with your own hands

What you need

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

Stearine is easily obtained from laundry soap. Grate the soap on a coarse grater or slice it with a knife. Place the shavings in a metal container, fill with water until the liquid covers them and send to melt on water bath. When the soap has dissolved, remove it from the heat and add the vinegar. A thick mass will float to the surface, which needs to be collected with a spoon after cooling. This mass is stearin; it must be rinsed 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, braided or twisted floss. Synthetic materials They are not suitable for candles because they burn quickly and smell unpleasant. It's easier to get a wick from regular candles.

Form. You can use different containers as a mold for making candles: coffee jars, durable packaging, sand molds and plastic balls. If you decide to make a narrowed or round candle, the container 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 use dry food coloring, wax crayons, or natural ingredients, such as cocoa. But alcohol or alcohol paints water based not suitable for making candles.

Melting utensils. A small saucepan or bowl that can be conveniently placed in a steam bath will do.

Additional materials. You will need them to decorate and add fragrance to the product. Since DIY candles provide a lot of room for imagination, you can use whatever you like, for example, coffee, dried flowers, shells, beads and sparkles. You can scent the candles with your favorite essential oils, vanilla or cinnamon.

Progress

Grind the selected raw material and place it in a water bath. If you are using household candles, be sure to remove the wick. Remains of candles must be cleaned of black soot. While stirring, wait until the mass melts. Dip the wick into it several times until it is saturated and set it aside.
Add flavoring and coloring to the mixture. If you use wax crayons, you need to grind them using a fine grater. By using two or more colors you can achieve a marbled look. And by dividing the mass into several parts and painting them in different colors, you can make a multi-colored candle.
Grease the mold chosen for the candle. vegetable oil or dishwashing detergent. Attach the tip of the wick to 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, you can attach a weight, such as a nut, to the free part of the wick.
Fill the mold with the melted mass, wait until it hardens completely, then remove the candle by pulling the wick. If the candle is difficult to remove, immerse the mold in hot water.
You can decorate candles in different ways, for example, place dried flowers, blades of grass and seeds around the edges of the mold and then pour in 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 liquid material for the candle and put the grains on top again. Decorating the product with beads, rhinestones and shells is best done after it has hardened and been removed from the mold. Decorative elements inserted into the melted surface of the candle or secured with glue.

You may have some problems the first time, but after a little practice, making candles at home will not be difficult.

Save so you don't lose!

This post-instruction is for those who prefer really nice-smelling candles to the chemicals that are sold in our stores. Of course, there are manufacturers who actually add natural oils, but these candles are very expensive. So if you want to tinker a little and try your hand at making candles, have patience and, of course, free time, this post is just for you.

Ingredients

I will try to give you as short and clear instructions for making scented candles.

You will need:
- wax or paraffin (you can use old candles);
- essential oils of your choice;
- lace;
- scissors;
- small glass jars into which candles will be poured;
- heat-resistant dishes for melting wax;
— a special thermometer for measuring the temperature of molten wax (optional);
- thin wooden stick;
- tape measure or ruler;
— cutting board;
- nut for holding the cord.

Manufacturing

1. Wash and dry the containers into which you are going to pour candles. These can be small glass jars, tall glasses different shapes, ceramic or porcelain cups.

2. Cover your work surface with baking paper. Since the wax will be soft, it may stick to the table, and it will be quite difficult to remove it.

3. Break a block of wax or an old candle into small pieces - this will make them melt faster.

4. Now you need to prepare the wick for the candle - make a “seed”. This will make the wick match the color of the candle, burn slower, and make it easier to install. So, first you need to melt the wax! Pour a small amount of small pieces of wax or paraffin into a bowl and place it in a water bath. When the wax melts, place the wick of the length you need there for 20-30 seconds. Then remove from the bowl using tweezers and place on baking paper. Straighten the wick, level it and roll it a little on the table, as if you were making a sausage out of plasticine. Leave to dry for 10 minutes.

5. Once the wick is dry, thread it through the nut, which will help keep the bottom end of the wick at the bottom of the candle. It can be found either in craft stores or borrowed from tea candles.

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6. Heat the wax again, add the remaining pieces and melt. Then add a few drops of your favorite essential oil. You can make mono scents, or you can try mixtures. For example, a few drops of cedarwood oil, a couple of drops of eucalyptus and three drops of citrus essential oil. Stir the wax well with a wooden spatula.

7. Remove wax from heat. Pour about 1/4 of the wax into a heatproof bowl.

8. Pour some wax into the prepared candlesticks, making sure that the wick is always in the middle. Leave to harden for 20-25 minutes. This will help keep the wick in the middle when the candle is filled to the end.

9. Heat the remaining wax, pour it into a heat-resistant bowl and fill the candles to the end.

10. Gently screw onto wooden stick the remaining top of the wick so that the tension is not very strong. Otherwise, you may pull the nut from the bottom and have to redo everything all over again. Attach the wick to a stick and place it on the edges of the candlestick so that the wick remains in the center of the candle.