The New Year can rightfully be called a festival of lights. Garlands, sparklers, fireworks delight the eye and create an upbeat mood. Candles are not the last place in the festive decoration. The selection of them in stores is quite large. But you can work a little and make Christmas candles with your own hands.
It is necessary
- - gel wax;
- - wick;
- - glue;
- - aromatic oil:
- - sand or gravel;
- - tweezers;
- - stainless steel ladle;
- - heat-resistant dishes.
Instructions
Step 1
Gel candles not only create a festive atmosphere in the room, but also emit the subtlest aroma. It is best to buy a special set for making gel candles. It contains special wax, wicks, and aromatic oils. The gel candle should be in a container made of heat-resistant material. It can be a glass goblet or glass, vase or jar. Medication vials are not suitable because the candle must be at least 5 cm in diameter.
Step 2
Gently heat the clear water-based glue and drip it onto the bottom of the glass. Insert the wick into the glue and let it harden. If you don't have a dedicated candle making kit, you can melt regular (non-gel) wax and use it instead of glue. You can also make a wick yourself by simply cutting the reinforced thread. Cotton threads are not very suitable for such candles, because they absorb the gel. The thread should be cut long enough so that it extends taut over the edge of the glass. It is better to cut off the excess later.
Step 3
Colored or regular gravel, pieces of marble or agate can be placed on the bottom. The material you need is always at hand. The main thing is that it is non-combustible. Cut out small stars from the foil, cut the Christmas tree "rain" into small pieces. You can use small shells or beautiful pebbles as inserts. But there shouldn't be too many of them.
Step 4
Prepare the gel. It needs to be melted. If the pieces are large enough, chop them up and place them in a stainless steel saucepan. You can use enameled dishes, but aluminum is not suitable in this case. Watch your temperature. The candle gel melts at a temperature of 93º. If you raise it higher, the gel will lose its texture and will go in bubbles. There is nothing particularly scary in this, but the candle will turn out to be not so beautiful. Therefore, try to maintain the correct temperature until all the gel has melted.
Step 5
Add dye. If you don't have a special candle paint, you can use food coloring, watercolors, or acrylics. Very few of them are needed. Pour in paint gradually. Don't try to give the gel a bright color right away. The candle should remain transparent. In addition, it should be visible what is inside. You can add paints at any time, but removing the excess is unlikely to work.
Step 6
Add the flavoring at the same stage. Aspiring candlestickers are generally not advised to use aromatic oils from perfume shops. Not that they are not good at all - they are just extremely difficult to dose, they are very concentrated. You don't even need to add them in drops. You can, for example, dip the tip of a toothpick in this oil, and then immerse it in the melted gel. This will be enough. Special candle fragrances have a lower concentration, so there is no need to worry about the smell being too strong.
Step 7
Candles can be bubbled or non-bubbled. If you want to completely get rid of bubbles, pour the gel into a plastic container and place it in the microwave for half a minute. A temperature of 70 ° C is quite enough. Bubbles can also be removed in the oven, but this will take longer. In addition, in some compositions, bubbles are a necessary element.
Step 8
Pour the gel into a permanent container - a glass or glass that should be absolutely level. Pour in the gel from the side, gently but quickly enough to keep it cool. If the temperature drops, new bubbles may form. The inserts can be placed in the gel either when it is freshly removed from the microwave or after you pour it into a glass. Use tweezers to place them where they should be. Pull the wick out with tweezers so that it rises above the surface.
