| Shell Candles |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-110 |
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Q: Do you have any unique ideas for making candles at home?
A: (Debbie Stapley, Ask DIY Crafts expert) I sure do! Making a shell candle is a fun project that requires only three things: shells, wax and prewaxed wicks. Here's how you proceed: - Buy some beeswax (figure A). It's more expensive than paraffin, but the results are worth it. It doesn't smoke, it burns longer, and it smells great, even without added fragrance.
- Melt the beeswax, using a double-boiler on medium to low heat. Keep an eye on the wax and make sure it doesn't get so hot it starts to burn. Once it's melted, turn the heat to low.
Working smarter: Dedicate just one pan in the household to melting wax for crafting projects. That way you don't ruin one of your favorite pots and you don't have to worry about cleaning all the wax out of another pot. You can buy a special kind at the craft store (figure B), but you're just as well off with a discard pot. If you don't have a beat-up pan for the purpose, buy one at a thrift store. - Choose some shells that will hold wax (figure C). You can buy the conch types at a craft store, or use what you find at the seashore. Test the shells for holes the day before you make candles, pouring water inside to make sure they won't leak. Then pour the water out and give them a day to drip dry, making sure they're completely dry before you pour any wax in.
Note: If you're going to work with seashells from the seashore, allow extra time so you can make sure there's nothing still living in there. To do that, soak the shells in a solution of two parts water to one part bleach for a couple of weeks. - Prop a large conch shell on another, smaller shell so that its opening is level enough to hold melted wax without spilling. Glue the two shells in position with a glue gun.
- Position a wax-coated wick, which comes with an anchor already attached, in the bottom of the shell.
Buyer's guide: There's no longer any need to precoat wicks or attach them to pencils and other weights. Just buy the precoated type now available with an anchor already attached to the bottom. They're much, much easier to work with! - Carefully pour the wax inside the shell. When it dries, you've got a candle.
Also consider creating a candle or candles in flat oyster or mussel shells. They go well in a nautical-theme bathroom, or to decorate the table for a seafood dinner. You can create a shell candleholder by gluing painted candle cups to the curved side of half-shells such as scallop shells. More questions for Debbie:
Q: How can I use beeswax to enhance some candles I bought?
A: Try the beeswax sheets, which come in different colors and have been pressed out to look like honeycomb. Cut a piece the size of your candle (and just a bit longer than the circumference) with scissors. Then wrap the beeswax around the outside of the candle, pressing the ends together with your fingers. You can also wrap a long wick inside a sheet of beeswax, rolling it like a sleeping bag, to create a beeswax taper.
Q: How can I add color or fragrance to my candles?
A: It's easy to do that. The craft store sells color chips and fragrance to add to wax. Or you can use melted crayons for color.
Q: How long should the wick be and how often should I trim it?
A: The wick on a candle should be only a quarter of an inch long. Trim it as often as needed to keep it at that height. Web site resources for Shell Candles: Decorative Candles from Better Homes & Gardens.com Shell Candles and More from dcrafts.com Candle Making Projects from Members.iinet.net.au Embedded Object Candles from Candles and Supplies.com Sea Scape Gel Project from Candlemaking.or.uk Books: Candlemaking Companion: A Comprehensive Guide to Rolling, Pouring, Dipping & Decorating Your Own Candles
By Betty Oppenheimer
Storey Publications (1997)
Schoolhouse Rd.
Pownal, VT 05231
Phone: 802-823-5200
Fax: 802-823-5819
Web site: www.storey.com Handmade Candles: Recipes for Crafting Candles at Home
By Jane Blake
The Hearst Corporation
959 Eighth Ave.
New York, NY 10019
Phone: 212-649-2000
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