Crafts For Less

There are a number of candle making crafts that are so easy that even children can take part in the fun.  Additionally, if your business plan to sell your wares is already in place, this can be a way to use candle making crafts to teach your kids about how business works.  It can even boost your sales, since many people love gifts made by the creative minds of children.

But whether or not you have kids that are involved, candle making crafts are a good way to get started in a business that can be rewarding and fun.  The nice thing about candles is that there are techniques, but no set rules regarding creativity, only the chemistry that makes up the product.

Once you have worked out the proper ratios of fragrance, dye, and wax, you need to let out the inner artist.  Working with wax, you can be as creative as you want to be because the basic technique is always the same. Candle making crafts are all based in the same science.  The only difference between them is the research, development, and artistry of the candle.  As you progress, the basic tenets of the craft will become second nature, and your artistic eye will become your most important tool.

The basics are simple.  Apply heat through boiling water to a pitcher that contains the wax.  In the big companies, there are large kettles that have a water barrier in which they melt the wax.  If you can picture that you are simply working on a smaller scale than a manufacturer like Yankee or Old Virginia Candle Company, the rules for candle making crafts become simple and finite.

Next, the big companies are very specific in their measurements.  This is not to reduce waste, although that is a byproduct.  In most cases, the dye and fragrance used in candle making crafts are petroleum based.  When mixed with wax, they actually create a suspension.  If the ratios are inaccurate or the mixture is not performed properly, the result will not be what you want at all.  If the dye isn’t mixed right, the colors will be spotty in the finished product, or it may be duller than you expect.  If the fragrance doesn’t mix properly, as the candle burns the scent will be very strong at times and then nonexistent at others.  So another trick is the prodigious use of stirring.  Again, the big companies use yard sticks to constantly stir the mixture until its ready for pour.  For this, you may want to consider buying a few paint stirrers from the local hardware store.  The dye may bleed into the wood, so be sure to get several for different color varieties.

Finally, wick placement is a crucial part of candle making crafts. The way the wick sits determines how the finished product will burn.  After the pour and as the wax sets, be sure to keep an eye on the wick from the top to bottom.  Candle making crafts are not difficult or foreboding, but perseverance goes a long way in building beautiful candles.

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