None of your Beeswax!
I've been experimenting with making candles for a while now. So, today I decided to play around with a big block of natural beeswax. It certainly wasn't the cheapest candle wax I could find, but it is one of the cleanest burning ones. Plus, it comes from a renewable, natural resource… and who doesn't like the sweet scent of beeswax anyway?
So I started with some containers—some white cups from Pearl River Mart and this vintage teacup—and inserted some lead-free wicks into them.
Here's the beeswax all broken up into chunks. I was surprised how easy it was to smash apart with a hammer!
I found this double boiler at Goodwill of all places. It was just 97 cents and I loved the patina and look of it all. I picked up the hot plate at K-Mart and added these new tools to my crafting supply arsenal in the new craft room. Here's the beeswax melting away over the double boiler.
Okay, I melted too much wax. So I poured some into an old mason jar and made that into a candle, too! Doesn't it look like honey? I used twigs from the yard to steady the wicks. And THANK GOD I protected the countertop with some brown kraft paper. I spilled some wax while making these candles!
Finished! Stamped the bottom of each candle with a four letter initial only my close friends would ever understand!
I love this idea. I think I will try this. Thank You !!
I have some vintage mason jars that I’ve been keeping around the house because I like how they look. This is a great practical idea.
GH= Get Happy? You know like that Partridge Family song.
I was thinking perhaps a French reference, such as “Grand Homme” or perhaps “Green Hunk?” Couldn’t resist
green home designer stuff??? I could keep guessing forever
do you have to worry about the ceramic or glass container cracking from the hot liquid wax? Anyone know? I’d love to make these as holiday gifts. I can almost smell them now ….
denisef@virginia.edu
do you have to worry about the ceramic or glass container cracking from the hot liquid wax? Anyone know? I’d love to make these as holiday gifts. I can almost smell them now ….
denisef@virginia.edu
Id have to say it can with stand the heat if the mason jars can be boiled and cooled and boiled again for canning ( or in the canning process ) then it should do fine with the hot wax.
hi danny-
i love your ideas…i recently posted on my blog about your two books on entertaining & giving. thanks for the inspiration. – kim
headofthetable.blogspot.com
love it! btw, how did you clean the wax out of the double boiler?
for christmas this past winter my mom made all of her friends soy candles in containers from Building 19 for wicked cheap! it’s such an easy gift, and you can add oils to the wax to make them smell delish when they burn.
I look for large beeswax candles when I’m out thrifting. You can get them for almost nothing and then remelt them!
I’m into making candles after reading this.I’m thinking of trying to make some candles in my old tea cups,really small ones and many of them and then i can put them all around my house.