| Decorating homemade candles is great fun and | | | | for colored and scented candles. When all the |
| actually easier than most people think. The best thing | | | | ingredients have been mixed well, don a pair of mitts |
| about decorative candle making is that it can be | | | | and pour the wax on a flat surface. |
| completed within a few minutes and requires very | | | | 3. It is highly recommended that you place a wax |
| little skills to complete. I have one such project for | | | | sheet or cookie sheet on the flat surface before |
| you today: appliqué candles! | | | | pouring the wax. Use several sheets if the surface is |
| Appliqué candles are large, pillar candles that have | | | | wooden. The sheets will absorb the wax later on in |
| been installed with appliqués or wax decorations. | | | | the process. When hardened, you can easily remove |
| Make appliqué candles | | | | the hardened shapes. If you have a spare baking |
| What you will need: | | | | pan, you can use that too. |
| - Large pillar candle (you can, of course, make your | | | | 4. After pouring the wax, allow the wax to harden |
| own pillar candle too) | | | | slightly, but not too much that you will have difficulty |
| - Cut-and-carve sheet wax (this will serve as the | | | | in cutting shapes out of it using the cookie cutters. |
| adhesive for the appliqués). If you do not want to | | | | 5. Cut shaped wax pieces in such a way that you |
| buy cut-and-carve sheet wax, you can use a bit of | | | | maximize the available wax. |
| melted paraffin wax instead. Paraffin wax is perfect | | | | 6. After cutting shapes through the wax, let the |
| for square-shaped candles. | | | | entire batch harden completely. |
| - Flat surface to cut the wax appliqués | | | | 7. When the wax is ready, simply apply pressure on |
| - Cookie cutters (the shapes should ideally be | | | | the bottom part of the baking pan you are using. |
| appropriate for the themes that you have in mind; | | | | The pressure should be able to remove the shapes. |
| for example, if you are making Christmas candles, | | | | 8. Using a heat gun or a similar apparatus, apply some |
| the cookie cutters could be of Santa Claus or | | | | heat to the appliqué. When the appliqué |
| peppermint canes) The steps on making appliqué | | | | becomes pliable, add a bit of paraffin wax to the |
| decorative candles: | | | | underside of the appliqué and heat the appliqué |
| | | | once again. When the paraffin wax becomes liquid, |
| 1. Place your wax in a melting can, and place the | | | | set the appliqué to the pillar candle. |
| melting can in a pot that has been filled with water. | | | | 9. Allow the appliqué to dry before wrapping the |
| Let the wax melt. | | | | pillar candle. |
| 2. Add the dye and the fragrance, if you are going | | | | |