Making Candles Is Fun & Easy
Making candles is fun and relaxing. While it does give you the opportunity to be creative, there are some basic candle making steps you need to follow to make the process flow well. Nothing is more disappointing than discovering your candles didn’t form correctly. Safety is very important in candle making. Most people make candles in their own kitchen. You will want to have a fire extinguisher handy as well as a non slip mat placed in from of your stove. Always wear old clothing and long sleeves. However, make sure your sleeves don’t dangle where they can fall into the hot wax.
Since you will have to get the candle wax very hot to melt completely, there is the risk of severe burns. You also have the risk of starting a fire. It is important to clean up all spilled wax immediately. It won’t take long for it to harden, thus becoming very slippery. The dyes and scents used in candle making can leave stains.
The best way to set up your work area for candle making is to divide it into three specific work stations for preparation, the melting process, and the cooling process. The preparation area doesn’t need to be large, just a flat surface that is well organized. To make the process flow best, use a counter in close proximity to the stove. You will want to keep your utensils, thermometer, additives, and other candle making supplies in this area. It is a good idea to know what types of candles you will be making ahead of time so that you have all the necessary items ready to go.
Your melting work station will likely be the stove. You will need to use a double boiler to melt the wax to a temperature that is hot enough without scorching it. The molecular structure of the wax can be damaged if the direct heat to it is too much. This means your candles won’t form well or hold up well when they are used. Wax comes in sheets or blocks. You will need to chip off chunks to melt. A hammer and flat head screwdriver work well for this.
Chipping wax should be done in the preparation stage so that you can simply add more pieces throughout the melting process. You will want to weigh each piece of wax before you add it to the pot for melting. This will help you determine how much scent and dye to add, which is based on weight.
The cooling station needs to be a flat area such as a countertop or table. The wax needs to cool for several hours so this area needs to be able to withstand high temperatures as well as remain undisturbed for long periods of time. The area should not be directly in the path of sunlight or heating/cooling systems. If it is, the candles will not set properly. If you plan to use molds for your candles, have them set up in the cooling area while the wax is melting. Once it is done melting, you will need to pour it immediately into the molds. To prevent a mess from spills, use an old cookie sheet for the molds to rest on.
The candle making process will run smooth and efficient if you follow these tips for establishing three work stations. While the process should be fun, it is important that you understand the dangers of candle making including burns and fires. Taking the proper safety precautions will help ensure the creation of candles in your home is a great way to spend your time.
Rediscovering Pottery
It would seem that lately, all things old within the realm of arts and crafts have suddenly been made new. The same holds true for pottery and it really doesn't get much older when one considers some of the popular crafts of today, perhaps textiles but that's another story all together.
At any rate, pottery making has seemed to enjoy a sudden rebirth of popularity and this is really a great thing. Not only is this a great way for young and old alike to find common ground it is also a way of producing something that is useful in the end. Many hobbies are merely decorative or entertaining. There are few exceptions to this such as knitting and pottery making, which create things that are useful in their own right rather than merely nice to look at or sit upon a shelf.
For younger adults, teens, and children pottery making provides a creative outlet and keeps minds and hands busy on positive things rather than dwelling on negative or painfully idle. It is a great idea to keep kids busy and a hobby such as pottery making does just that. It takes an investment in time to create beautiful pottery by working the clay. There is also time involved in the glazing process. There is also a very real sense of excitement that takes place when waiting to see what the finished product looks like once it has been properly fired. It's a fun hobby that is always new, different, and exciting.
If you have never tried pottery before, I strongly urge you to go out and buy one of the cheap little pottery making kits you can find in local stores. While there are bigger and better things you can work up to when it comes to pottery these make a good solid beginning and allow you to get your feet wet without going in over your head in the sometimes muddy clay filled water of the pottery world. These projects are generally quite simple and give you a decent feel for what it's like working with clay. It is important to realize that this is not a hobby for everyone but most people either love it or hate it. There are very few with mediocre reviews.
Once you have a feel for pottery so to speak and have decided to move on then you might really want to consider checking around for community courses that are offered in pottery. These are often less expensive than art schools or college courses in pottery and often provide excellent instruction and time on the wheel, if the potter's wheel is something you are hoping to work with. Not all potters enjoy wheel work though this is something you must decide for yourself. Hand building is where most potters begin and a good foundation in the skills that are ultimately needed when working on the wheel.
If you are enjoying the current rebirth of all things craft, then you should really become a true Renaissance man or woman and try your hand at pottery to add to your collection of useful skills in the modern world. It's not likely that you can go wrong in this adventure. You just might find that this is an exceptionally fun skill in which to invest your time, talent, and energies.
Making Soy Candles
Making your own candles is very popular. It has always been done with paraffin wax or beeswax. Soy candles are starting to emerge on the market as well. Soy candles are made out of 100% natural soy wax without any additives. Candles made of soy wax will have a wonderful aroma without having any type of fragrance added. Expert soy candle makers know how to mix the soy wax in several ways that give the natural scent a bit of a difference as well as make in fainter or more powerful.
Soy candles can be made with or without wicks. Those with wicks are used the same way as any regular candle out there. Soy candles without wicks work with electric candle warmers. The candle sits on the warmer plate and the warmer is plugged into the wall. There is no flame to cause a fire. Wickless soy candles are a great choice for dorm rooms, apartments, offices, and anywhere that there is a potential of a candle being left burning that can cause a fire. Many offices and dorm rooms have put a ban on burning candles for this reason, but they often do allow the wickless candles using the burners.
Most candle makers who have tried soy wax are very happy with the results. It has a wonder natural scent and the texture of the melted wax makes candles that are very glossy and smooth. It is not necessary to add additives to soy wax as you often have to with paraffin and beeswax. The additives for those types of wax are for hardness and gloss. Soy wax offers both on its own.
Soy wax is cheaper than other types of wax as well. If you want to make candles on a tight budget, this would be the way to go. You will save money on the wax and you won’t need to purchase additives or scents. If you are planning to make soy candles to sell, you can make a higher profit because your costs are lower. If you aren’t sure, you can purchase a soy wax candle making kit online for less than $20. It comes with all the supplies you need to make five candles, including the jars and lids.
Many people enjoy the scent of a burning candle, but find the smoke from them can be irritating. This is especially true of individuals who are on oxygen, have bronchitis, or even allergy sufferers. Since soy wax is all natural, there is no smoke or irritates in the air from it. This makes soy wax candles a great alternative for many who otherwise wouldn’t be able to enjoy using candles.
Candle making is an excellent craft that many individuals enjoy both as a hobby and as a home business. Soy wax is not used as commonly as paraffin or beeswax, yet it works just as well for candle making. Since soy wax is less expensive and very easy to work with, consider trying it. Soy wax melts faster as well, reducing your overall production time. Soy wax is not carried in all craft stores, but you can easily purchase it on line in amounts from three pounds to fifty pounds. The more you buy, the less you will pay per pound, giving you additional savings.