Web Mortgage Brokers

Posts Tagged ‘candles’

Wedding favors should include only those items that help make a special occasion that much more memorable. As a matter of fact you need something to help guests remember more than a mouth-watering wedding cake and so it is necessary to choose from a number of other items including the wedding candle. If you want your guests to remember the excellent tasting wedding cake you need to also give them something that helps them associate that taste with a wondrous occasion and for this, among other things, the wedding candle can prove to be an excellent option.

Remember The Big Occasion With Wedding Candle

A wedding candle is guaranteed to make your guests remember your wedding each time they look at it and in addition you can expect them to hold fond memories of the big day as well. All you need to do is to ensure finding a gleaming and beautiful wedding candle with which to help your guests remember your wedding. As a matter of fact, candles have over the periods of time always been reminders of beauty, warmth and elegance.

And a wedding is nothing if not an elegant occasion that gleams and is beautiful as well. There are many choices in terms of materials from which the wedding candle can be made including the very elegant looking porcelain pedestal wedding candles. These candles can be encased in a nice black colored base and it needs to also be well proportioned so as to be sure of catching the eye wherever it is placed.

It is worth spending a little extra money and time in finding the right wedding candle as you don’t want that most special day in your life not be remembered by a well chosen gift item. You can also pick different themes as well as celebration ideas when choosing these items.

However, besides using them as favors the wedding candle can also be used to decorate the wedding venue and all it takes is some creativity on your part to find something that complements the décor and adds a little extra to the venue beyond the usual lace and flowers that adorn most wedding venues. Floating wedding candles are as a matter of fact particularly effective for an outdoor wedding venue and are well worth making up one’s mind.

Candle wedding favors are without a doubt the most preferred wedding favors as they represent an excellent way of sharing joy and for the wedding couple it truly represents the best way of feeling a sense of togetherness with the wedding guests. Candles are of course widely also used at weddings and in fact lighting a candle or two is symbolically used to signify union of newlywed couples. Thus,it makes sense to choose them wisely.

Floating candles have been used in celebration of many different occasions since they are fun and versatile to use as centerpieces for different events.  They can come in some many different shapes and sizes, including looking like certain objects to fit the occasion no matter what season of the year it is.  Since they are floating candles, there are fished shaped candles that make the glass bowl filled with water look like a mini fish tank, while the candle wick on the back of the fish lights up the aquarium.

Different Options For Making Use Of A Floating Candle

Floating candle centerpieces are also used to create themes on the tables at wedding receptions.  These can be made very elegantly, utilizing glass bowls that are filled with different objects in addition to the candles, depending on the theme of the wedding.  While the floating fish candles can be used to fit a relaxed beach theme for a wedding reception, a more elegant event will not want this type of candle in the centerpiece.Depending on the colors and flowers that are in the wedding, another great look can be added with floating candle that is shaped like different types of flowers,.There are different colors of Johnny jump up flowers, floating orchids and floating tiger lilies that can be obtained from the market.

In addition, there are plain white or other colors of floating candlesthat can be used in a glass bowl.Often someones will fill the bowl part way with colored pieces of glass or rocks that match the color of the occasion.  Sometimes different pieces of greenery or real flowers will be used to float in the bowl with the candles so that there is the scent of real flowers along with the elegance of the floating candles in the bowl.  Along with the real flowers that can be placed in the bowls, floating butterfly candles can be used so that it looks like the butterflies are flying/floating among the flowers in the bowl.

For holidays, there are snowball shaped floating candles that can be placed in the bowl with pieces of ice for a wintry effect.There are also pumpkin candles that can float in a bowl for Halloween, as well as floating cat’s eyes or other spooky looks that can be put in red colored water for a very unpleasant impression for that period of time.  Most of these floating candles will run about three dollars per candle, especially if they are specialty candles.  The plain candles will run around one dollar per candle, if they are the small, one inch size.

You probably have many old crayons in you home that are seldom used. Before throwing them out, consider using them to make candles. This can be a great way to turn them into something new and useful again. Most children will love the idea of making candles and enjoy knowing their old crayons were used to make them. Making candles out of crayons can also be a great gift idea. 

Before you get started, discuss safety with your children. Since the crayons will have to be melted at a  high heat, they may not be able to participate in that part of the candle making process. Assure them that there are many other aspects of the candle making that they can be a part of.

To start, gather your supplies. In addition to the crayons, you will need a wax carton. This can be from milk, fabric softener, or orange juice container. You will also need paraffin wax, two full ice cube trays, a double boiler, and white packing string. If you don’t want to use your double boiler, an old coffee can and a saucepan will work just as well. 

Trim the top off of the wax carton, leaving it approximately six inches high.  Cut the string for the wick at least 8 inches long. You will later trim the wick to fit the holder. To ensure a wick that burns easier, take three pieces and braid them together. Use smaller pieces of string to tie the ends together. The holders for your candles can be anything you desire as long as they are non-flammable. Pretty vases, glasses, and jars work nicely. 

Melt about three pounds of paraffin wax in the double boiler or coffee can. Melting will be faster if the wax is cut into small pieces. Plan on 15 to 20 minutes for the metling process. While the wax is melting, peel the papers off of the old crayons. You and your children can choose to separate the colors by lights and darks to have a mix that combines well or you can mix them all together and see what the color ends up being. 

For best results, only add the crayons to the wax after it has completely melted. After melthing the crayons and wax, pour the mixture into your candles holders as soon as possible. If you would like to make scented candles, try adding a splash of cinnamon or vanilla to your hot wax mixture. 

It is important that the candles be left alone to completely harden. Make sure you have an area where this can be done. It is also important to make sure small children can’t reach them because the wax will stay hot for several hours and can cause serious injuries. 

A entertaining way to spend time with your kids is to make candles out of old crayons!

Candle making does not have to be a difficult process and instead it can be a whole lot of fun, as long as you know what you are doing. Just like with anything else, if you want to get good at candle making you are going to have to have patience and take time. Only after more and more practice are you going to become more skilled at this hobby and really get it down to perfection.

There are a few tips on candle making that anyone interested in getting started in candle making themselves is going to want to be aware of and use to their own advantage when getting started with this fun art form.

The Best Tips For Candle Making

One of the best tips that you can get when it comes to candle making is to prepare the workstation. Even if you are working on an old table or counter-top that you really don’t care about, it is just going to make more sense for you to protect the workstation so that it does not get covered in wax, and so that you can continue to use it for making candles in the future.

Putting even just a piece of newspaper or wax paper down will help to protect the surface that you are working on, and if any candle wax does spill over you are not going to have to worry about using solvents and scrubbing it off.

Now you are going to need to gather your supplies before you can get started making your candles. You can purchase all things that you need one by one such as the candle mold, candle wax and wicks or you can save yourself a lot of time and energy and buy a candle making kit. This kit will come with everything included, and make sure that you can get started making candles right way.

Remember that you can dye the candle wax if you want, so even if you just want to get it a shade or two darker or lighter, you can do this. This is important if you are creating the candle for a specific room and want to make sure that the color is precise.

Once you have spent some time making candles, you will enjoy it much more because you will feel more at ease with it and find it easier to do. Making candles is unquestionably something that is pleasurable and a lot of fun to get into.

Gel candle making has enjoyed a surge in popularity in the past few years. It is easier than traditional candle making, requiring few ingredients and some simple instructions. The hardest decisions are ones based on personal taste: what kind of container do you want to use, do you want to add color to your gel and what scent do you want to use.

Gel wax has greatly changed the world of candle making. With its transparency the possibilities are limited only by your imagination and the speed with which it sets makes producing large numbers of candles less time consuming than with traditional candles.

Making gel candles uniquely individual is one of the most appealing aspects of the process. The only thing that has to be taken into consideration is that containers must be used, unless of course the time is taken to make unique molds as well.

Gel candles can be made using seashells from vacations, coins from travels around the world, even beer cap collections can be used to make personalized candles.  They can be tinted using dyes and scented using fragrant oils.

Materials

Before you begin making the candles you need to assemble your materials. The most expensive part of the process is the gel wax itself. You will need:

•  
• Gel wax
•  
• Glass containers – use your imagination, shot glasses, martini glasses, fish bowls;
•  
• Fragrant oils – if you want to add scent;
•  
• Dye – if you want your candles colored;
•  
• Wick – the length of which is determined by the height of your container; use wax coated wicks for gel candles, not paper wicks.
•  
• Décor for putting in the candle if desired.

You should also have a pot or kettle to melt and pour the gel from. Camping equipment is an excellent place to find a sturdy kettle to use. It will stand up to the repeated heating.

Making Your Candles

First you need to make sure that your containers are very clean and dry. Any residue or foreign materials that remain inside the container can cause your gel wax not to set properly.

You will need to melt you gel; however, you must keep an eye on the gel as it is melting as it can reach its flash point very quickly and be on fire before you know it. Using a thermometer is the best way to insure that you don’t exceed the recommended temperature. Also, do not under any circumstances whatsoever melt the gel in the microwave, it is very dangerous.

If you are going to color your gel you can do this after the gel has melted. Test the color by pouring a small spoon of it on a sheet of white paper, if the color is darker than you want it, add more gel, if it is lighter than you want it, add more dye.

This is also the time to add fragrant oil if you want to make scented candles. Again, add more if you aren’t satisfied with the odor and if it has too much smell add more gel to the mix.

You are now ready to position your wick. The method you use will depend on how precise you want your candles to be. If you are giving them for gifts and don’t want bubbles, you will want to use the pencil method. If you are making them for yourself and don’t mind some bubbles use the easier, hot glue method.

The hot glue method entails using hot glue to secure the wick to the bottom center of the container. As the wax is poured in, it will react with the glue and cause some bubbles.

The pencil method requires filling the container with wax, dipping the wick in the wax, removing the excess wax from the wick and rolling it around a pencil. Position the pencil over the container with the wick in the center and dropping it down into the gel. When the gel cools cut the wick no longer than ¼ inch.

If you are adding embellishments to your gel candle you should dip them in wax and arrange them in the container before you pour the wax in the container. You should also arrange them closer to the outer edge to make them visible.

Enjoy

Once your candles set you are now ready to enjoy your candles. Gel candle making is not a difficult process and can make beautiful gifts to share with your friends and family, during holidays or just because you want to share your newfound talent.

In the wide world of candles, these are the top of the notch. These candles are really expensive, but there are good reasons for that. In addition, beeswax candles are also some of the cleanest candle varieties.

Beeswax candles compete in the market against three different competitors, namely, soy wax candles, gel candles, and paraffin candles. You will see that the competitors have lower quality and are less pricey.

Beeswax candles are made from wax collected from bee hives by commercial bee farmers. This beeswax is processed and purified to prepare it for the process of beeswax candle making. The purification process includes heating the wax in hot water.

Beeswax candles come in many different shapes and forms and they also come in scented and unscented varieties. The main reason these pricey candles are stated as top of the notch candles is their burning qualities. The difference is that some other candles do not emit such a powerful yellow color and burn with such warm flames.

There is only a small amount of wax dripping from a beeswax candles.

This characteristic makes these candles very desirable for use in religious services. Some religious institutions like the Catholic Church make heavy use of candles during their services. It would make a real mess if those candles were dripping a lot of wax.

And they handle this problem by choosing only beeswax candles, since they do not drip wax at all. One more good news about beeswax candles is that they do not produce a lot of smoke. They are quite clean burning candles, to tell it in the other way. This characteristic makes them desirable candles to burn with children in the home and also generally to protect your family’s respiratory systems.

Bad candles will produce soot that will leave dark spots and your ceilings and walls or you will have a bad petroleum smell in your room if you have paraffin candles; but beeswas candles do not have these problems.

It is worth to buy these expensive candles that require a lot of labor involved in their manufacturing process, since they are giving a big amount of benefits.

Gel candles are simple to make and wonderful to give as gifts. The beauty in them is that you can make them to suite any occasion or taste. By using various glass containers, trinkets added to the candle for décor and varying the scent each candle can be individualized to the recipient. Recipes for making gel candles are simple to arrive at. A wedding gel candle recipe is listed here to get you started, once you see how easy personalizing them can be you’ll be creating your own recipes in no time at all.

Basics

The basis for all of the gel candles includes the following items:

• Candle gel
• Wicks – preferably coated as they are easier to work with
• Scissors for trimming the wick
• Accessories as listed in the recipes

Bride and Groom Candles

Give the bride and groom a set of matching candles made using champagne flutes. Add a light scent and color that corresponds to the wedding color to make them even more special. If you prefer to have the candle colored more like champagne, use a pale yellow color. Items Needed:

• Champagne flutes – plain or inscribed with “Bride” and “Groom”
• If desired, small bride and groom figurine, small ceramic wedding bells, or other wedding celebration accessories you would like to add. Make sure any items you choose are ceramic.
• Fragrant oil for scenting the candle, if desired.
• Lace or ribbon for decoration

Instructions

• Secure the wick to the bottom of the champagne flute using hot glue.
• If using coloring or scented oil place in gel as it melts.
• Fill the flute partially with gel.
• Place the bride figurine in one flute, the groom in the other flute – if using inscribed flutes, make sure the bride is in the bride flute and the groom is in the groom flute.
• Continue filling with gel until approximately ¼ inch from rim.
• When gel sets, trim wick to approximately ¼”.
• Tie a pretty ribbon or lace bow around the base of the flute.

Variations

• Instead of using a bride and groom, add plastic wedding bells as you fill the flute. Alternate layers of wedding bells and gel until you reach the top; or,
• Use artificial flower petals that represent the bouquet carried by the bride.

These flutes make great keepsakes to remind your favorite couple of their special day.

Simplicity

This gel candle recipe is just the beginning of the ideas you can come up with. From fish aquarium candles to fruit jars, your only limit is your imagination. Once you know how to make a basic gel candle the fun has just begun.

It’s hard to find many gifts that are suitable for any occasion like candles are. In addition, while candles have been around for thousands of years, never have they come in so many shapes, colors, scents and sizes as today. These fantastic candles were never so affordable. It is quite possible that the best bargain when it comes to gifts and home decoration is a discount scented candle.

What’s the thing that makes scented candles so special? But maybe the fantastic combination off fragrances of sweet enticing blends and inherent allure of a lit candle. Can you think of anything that is more romantic than I candlelit room tantalized with the sense of smell? Candles can be used to create special atmospheres and create special moods, did you know that?

Just try to imagine what it looks like to walk into a room that has the scet of an orange grove. Or it can have a smell of a grape, strawberry or even of pineapple. Then seeing the colors we associate with these fruits reflected in strategically placed candles. Just try to imagine rounded two-toned pillars that are colored in shades of blue berries, lemon or peach.

In case you are not so familiar with the great world of candles, I’m going to give you a brief intro: candles usually come as votive candles, container or pillar candles. Pillars (also called columns) are big candles with a diameter of three inches or more. Some of them are square, some are around, and others are oval. Some are so large that they have more than one wick.

Small cylindrical candles that are a few inches tall and have an inch in diameter are known as votive candles. You can often find them in intricate or simple holders. The jar candles will use ceramic and metal containers together with wax and glass to make artful shapes.

Bottom line is that candles are a wondrous thing, one that brings us joy and relaxation. Scented candles are quite cheap and, compared to other luxuries in life, are affordable to all.

Gel candles aren’t new to the world of candle making; however, their popularity has erupted into a massive market. Everyone from stay-at-home mom looking to supplement the family income to big corporations wanting to expand their product are cashing in on the gel candle phenomena.

The popularity of these wonderful candles lies in a range of attributes. They are simple to make, more economical, unique in design and more.

Uniqueness

From apple pies that look good enough and real enough to eat to mugs filled with an ice cream float that smells like the real thing, gel candles are vastly different and unique. They come in some of the most amazing shapes, colors and fragrances imaginable.

Gel candles can be formed to look like anything you can imagine. You can find them in the shape of food, animals, and household objects. You can also find them with intricate scenes seemingly suspended in air. Everything from aquarium scenes to winter wonderlands can be found in gel candles.

Crafts

As many artisans can attest, candle making has long been a popular item at craft fairs and holiday shows. Making gel candles is a relatively simple process that produces very unique and individual products. The potential to have an income generated by making gel candles is very high.

Good, quality, work along with unique ideas for the gel candles can result in a home-based business. Stay-at-home moms can help supplement the family income and possibly create a full-time business for themselves.

Friends and family will be delighted with their candles made specifically for them based. This also saves time and money when gift shopping.

Economical

Gel candles last longer than standard was candles. Gel candles, depending on size, will burn upwards of 200 hours.

In terms of making your own gel candles the value is amazing. The gel wax is the most expensive item on the list. Containers for the candles can be found everywhere from thrift stores to your own cupboards. All that is necessary is that the glass be thick enough not to crack from the heat of the candle.

The return on gel candles is amazing. It is not unusual to see profits that are upwards of 200%. It takes very little time to make a great many candles making the return skyrocket.

Decoration

Gel candles can be used in a variety of decorating schemes. Wedding planners and brides can have them made in flutes to use as centerpieces on the tables of the reception. Baby showers could have take away gifts for the guest using votive size candles with diaper pins embedded and scented with a baby powder fragrance.

Home décor ideas are limitless. Having a wine dinner? Make wine glass gel candles and arrange them around the table and seating area or use a small wine bottle as your container and have a wine bottle as the centerpiece. Make enough wine glass candles to send home with your guests.

Here to Stay

Gel candles are not a fad that is going to disappear overnight. Their unique designs make them more than a passing fancy. Couple that with the simplicity of making them and you have a recipe for a successful product for many years to come.

Gel candles are easy to make and beautiful to give. Their popularity couple with the ease of making them has made the hobby a second income for many stay at home moms and even crafters looking for that a unique product .

Before you start making your gel candles, do your research and find a reputable supplier of gel wax.  It is the most important ingredient in your candles and should be your highest priority. Local craft stores may not carry a high quality gel so check before you spend money on an inferior product that ruins your candle making effort.

A word about embeds before starting. Embeds are part of what makes gel candles unique. From fish aquarium scenes to seashells suspended in air, embeds are the icing on the cake. You can’t use just any object in your candle due to it melting. Ceramic, glass, wax molded figures, pewter, and glitter. The basic rule of thumb is anything that is non-flammable can be used as an embed.

How to Make Gel Candles

Assemble Your Ingredients and Tools

Gather all your tools in one central location to make it easier for you to work. Preferably you will want to be near your heat source. This could be your kitchen or a room with a hotplate. Do not use the microwave for melting your gel. It can catch fire if it reaches its flashpoint and it needs to be a precise temperature for making candles.

You will need:

* Large glass measuring container – this is used to pour your melted wax into your containers;
* Heat Source or Electric Presto Kettle: Use to melt your gel;
* Thermometer: Your gel has to be melted to 225°F, candy thermometers work great;
* Metal Utensil: Do not stir your gel with wooden utensils, this causes bubbles;
* Skewers: Metal, for positioning and moving your embedded objects;
* Glass Containers: These are your candle containers; they can be mugs, champagne flutes, votive cups, and more. The only requirement is that it not be made of a burnable or meltable material;
* Gel: candle gel wax in the density required for your project, the higher density gels are used for candles that will contain embeds. Lower density gels are great for plain, scented candles.
* Fragrance Oils: These must be made for gel candles and have a flashpoint of 170°F.
* Liquid or color block dye: Again, make sure it is appropriate for gel candles. Do not use cloth dye, crayons or food coloring.
* Embeds: Use your imagination
* Candle Wicks – you should use pre-tabbed pre-waxed wicks for the best outcome.

Let’s Get Started

Now that you’ve got all your supplies gathered, let’s have some fun. Remember that you are only limited by your imagination. Each candle is a work of art that is unique to you the maker or the person you are making it for. Follow these simple steps to make your masterpieces.

1. Melt Gel: Use your candy thermometer to maintain and reach the desired temperature of 225°F. If you are using a glass cup for melting, put it in your oven to melt it. The Presto Pot is great but don’t rely on the gauge, use a thermometer. The gel will take a little while to melt. While it is doing so, you can move on to other steps.
2. Wash your container and dry them thoroughly. There should not be any residue or oils to cloud your candle gel wax.
3. Assemble your embeddable objects and your wicks and have them near your containers.
4. After your wax is melted: If you are going to color your wax, use a toothpick to add a small amount of color. Stir well and drip a small amount on a piece of white paper to see the result. If you are adding fragrance add it now as well.
5. Secure your wick to the bottom of your container with a small dab of hot glue. Try not to use too much hot glue as it can make your candle murky.
6. Fill your containers partially with hot wax.
7. Add your embeds as desired, using your metal skewers to position them where you want them.
8. Top off the container with wax.
9. Allow to gel.
10. Trim wick to 1/4” from top.

Bubble Tips

To avoid bubbles, stir gel slowly and pour gel slowly. This will take practice. If you see a lot of bubbles after pouring you can use a heat gun to remove them. If they appear after the candle has settled you can put the candle in a warm oven to remove them.  Bubbles can be decorative if you are making a champagne or aquarium candle.

Gel candles are a simple, inexpensive means of letting your creative juices flow. Sharing your talent with friends and family makes gift giving that much more meaningful, and who knows your idea for a candle might just be the next product that takes the world by storm.