Candle pouring – for those in a hurry - simple, but always different

When pouring candles, children can let their imagination run free – provided an adult is present to help with the hot wax. Depending on the mold used, different candle shapes are created; with the appropriate coloring wax, you can make colorful or even patterned candles.

What you need:

• Tall, heat-resistant containers to melt the wax in

• A large (old) pot as a water bath

• Molds (available ready-made, but also suitable are

• plastic cups, paper cups or straight-sided glasses)

• Candle wicks (from the craft store)

• Wax scraps, beeswax or wax pellets from the

• craft store, possibly coloring wax

• Skewers or strips of cardboard to hold the wick in the

• mold in position

Tip: If you melt down old candle stubs, you can pour the liquid wax through a coarse-mesh sieve before pouring to remove soot and old wicks.

How to do it:

1. Place the container(s) with the wax in the hot water bath. The water should not boil. Stir occasionally until the wax has melted.

2. Prepare the molds: cut the wick into sufficiently long pieces and tie the end to a skewer that is laid across the rim of the mold. This keeps the wick centered.

3. Pour the liquid wax into the molds. For multiple color layers, the lower layer must have set before you can pour a new one.

4. When the wax is completely hard, briefly dip the mold into the hot water bath to release the candle from the mold.

Candle dipping – for the patient - simple and creative

Admittedly, dipping candles yourself requires some patience. But it's really not difficult and the result is worth it. Especially for younger children who, for example Christmas gifts that they want to make themselves for friends and family, self-dipped candles are a good idea. True pros even dip several candles at once.

What you need:

• Tall, heat-resistant containers to melt the wax in (e.g. empty sausage cans or old mixing cups)

• A large (old) pot as a water bath

• Candle wick (available at the craft store)

• Wax scraps, beeswax or wax pellets from the

• Craft store, preferably in various colors

• Possibly a ring or a wooden stick to tie the wicks to, so you can dip several candles at once

How to do it:

1. Place the wax containers in a hot water bath to melt the wax. With purchased colored wax pellets you can color the wax differently in the various containers.

2. Cut candle wick into at least 30 cm long pieces (at least 60 cm for double candles), if necessary tie to a stick or ring.

3. If you want to dip several candles at once, the wax containers must be placed next to each other so that you can dip the wicks into the wax at the same time.

4. When the wax in the containers is completely melted (stirring now and then), dip the wick into the wax, pull it out and pull it taut at both ends once. As the wax dries, the wick will stay straight.

5. Repeatedly dip the candle wick into the wax and let the wax harden until the candle is thick enough.

6. Smooth the lower end of the candle with a sharp knife or smooth it with a heated metal spatula.

Tip:If during the last dipping steps you dip the candle to different heights into the differently colored waxes, stripes will appear on the candle.

It's fun: quickly and creatively design candles yourself

Homemade candles don't always have to be dipped or poured: simple white household candles in various thicknesses and sizes can be creatively decorated with liquid wax in different colors.

A few tips:

• Wrapping patterns: Wrap the white candles with a sturdy string or a fine wire, either neatly symmetrical or completely irregular. Dip the candle two or three times into the liquid wax and remove the wrapping when the wax has set.

• Striped patterns: Dip the candle completely in colored wax and let the wax layer set. Next dip the candle two-thirds into another color, then dip the last third into another color.

Image credits:

Materials needed for candle dipping. © Catherine Murray - stock.adobe.com

Colorful candles are dipped in jars. © Valerie Garner - stock.adobe.com