| Gel Candles |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-502 |
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Q: How do I make gel candles A: (from DIY pro-crafter Debbie Stapely) Gel candles are easy and fun to make. They are visually distinctive, as the clear gel allows you to make use of safe-burning or non-burning decorative items -- such as wax fruit or decorative glass -- embedded inside the gel. The gel is clean-burning and can be scented, as well. There are a number of types of gel-candle kits available. Some use a microwave to heat and melt the gel, some use a heat source such as a stove, and some are simply squirted from a tube. Read and follow the directions that come with your gel-candle kit. For our demonstration, we used the type in which the gel is heated on a stove.
- When using gels that must be heated for melting, use a container made of tempered glass (figure A) so that the glass won't crack from the heat.
- Place the wick in the container (figure B). The wicks are provided in the kit, and have an anchor at the bottom. Wind the top of the wick around a pencil (figure C) or similar object to hold the wick up and straight as the wax is added.
- Another option is to simply use a strip of tape stretched across the opening of the container to hold the wick in place. As you add the melted gel into the container, add a foundation layer first, before adding any decorative ingredients (figure D). In that way, the decorations will appear suspended in the gel, rather than simply sinking to the bottom. The gel may take from 15 minutes to 24 hours to set up, depending on the type you buy.
- Once the foundation layer has set up, you can add your decorations. Make sure that the decorations are safe-burning or non-burning materials, so they won't present a fire hazard as the candle-wick burns down. For our first demonstration, strawberries made of wax were used for the decorative elements (figure E).
- Once the decorations have been added, pour in the rest of the melted gel (figure F). Pour the gel slowly (figure G) to get a consistent pour. You may want to add decorative items and gel in alternating layers.
- For an American-flag theme, use a glass tumbler was as the candle container. Add a red foundation layer into the bottom of the glass.
- For decorations on this candle, blue gel was poured into a baking pan about 1/4-inch deep and allowed to set up. Once the gel firmed up, it was cut into star shapes using a razor blade (figure H).
- Press the cut-out gel stars against the sides of the glass so that they stick to the inside glass surface (figure I).
- Once the colored stars have been added, finish of the candle by adding a layer of clear, white gel as the top layer (figure J).
- Another attractive variation is to use decorative craft-glass bits (figure K) -- available at crafts stores -- as the decorative elements.
- Create a base in a color that complements or picks up on the colors of glass you've selected. Place pieces of glass into the foundation layer, then pour in the remaining gel to create the decorative candle (figure L).
RESOURCES :
Basic Steps to Candles
Author: Suzanne McNeil
Candle Making in a Weekend : Inspirational Ideas and Practical Projects
Model: 1581800096
Author: Sue Spear
The Complete Book of Candles: Creative Candle-Making, Candleholders and Decorative Design
Model: 0754802760
Author: Gloria Nicol
Candle Making Made Easy
Model: 0715309757
Author: Susan Penny, et al
The Candlemaker's Companion: A Complete Guide
Model: 088266994X
Author: Betty Oppenheimer
(August, 1997)
Storey Books / Storey Communications Inc.
Website: www.storey.com
Making Candles (Kids Can Do It)
Model: 1550745018
Author: Judy Sadler
(1998)
To order this title from Amazon.com, click here.
Kids Can Press, Ltd.
Website: www.kidscanpress.com
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