From The Make-It-Yourself Gift Book
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StumbleUponBeeswax is long-lasting and does not drip, and when the candles are lit, they will fill the room with the delicious scent of natural honey. If you would like to add a special scent to the candles, use an eyedropper to drop fragrant oil onto the wick before you roll the beeswax. A small candle requires three or four drops, and a large one between 10 and 20 drops.
You Will Need
- Sheets of preformed beeswax
- Length of braided wick, 1/8" wide)
- Ruler
- Large pair of scissors
- Hair dryer (in cold weather)
What to Do
1. Experiment with the shapes and sizes of the candles by cutting out sheets of thin, pliable cardboard and rolling them up in various ways.
2. When you are satisfied with the shape you have achieved, unroll and flatten the cardboard, place it on a beeswax sheet and cut carefully around it. To increase the thickness, add more sheets of wax.
3. Cut a piece of wick 3/4" longer than the finished candle will be.
4. Unless it is a fairly warm day, you may need to soften the beeswax slightly to make it pliable and to prevent the sheet from cracking as you roll. To soften the beeswax, wave a hair dryer over the sheet for about 10 seconds or leave the beeswax near a sunny window for about 10 minutes.
5. Lay the softened beeswax flat on a clean surface. Pinch off a small piece of the wax from the place where you will begin to roll and set it aside. Place the wick along the edge of the sheet and push it gently into the wax.
6. Turn the edge of the sheet over the wick to make a small fold and press lightly to encase the wick.
7. Using the palm of both hands, roll the wax away from you with a light but even pressure, making sure that the base of the candle is level so that it will sit flat when it is finished.
8. Continue rolling more sheets of beeswax around the first until the candle is the thickness you want. Press the outside edge of the wax against the candle to prevent it from unrolling.
9. If the shape has become a little distorted because of uneven pressure when rolling, you can make the candle perfectly cylindrical by rolling it briskly back and forth a few times.
Finishing
1. Trim the wick to 1/2" and pinch the piece of reserved wax around the base of the wick. This will help it to light more easily.
2. As a final touch to the gift, group a few candles of contemporary shapes, include a box of luxury matches, wrap in beige or gold tissue paper and tie with a pretty ribbon.
CANDLE SHAPES
Tapered candles: To achieve an attractive tapered look, trim one side of the sheet diagonally and roll from the long end.
Square candles: To make a square candle, place a ruler close to the edge of the beeswax sheet and turn the wax around it. Repeat this step each time you turn the sheet.
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