April 29, 2007

Candles - How to Make Them From Home

Tip! Never use scented candles on a dinner table. The scent of the candles will compete with and interfere with the sumptuous aroma of the meal.

A candle, consisting of an internal wick and a column of solid fuel, illuminates the surrounding area. Due to the invention of modern equipments used for illuminating the surrounding, candle is not an essential product for this purpose. But the demand for candles has gone up as a work of art. Different varieties of candles have flooded the market. The candles are of different colors, aroma, and shapes.

The making of a candle involves various equipments. Paraffin wax, melting system, candy thermometer, and scales to measure the amount of water and wax are required. Ladle and spoons are used for stirring and pouring wax. Chemically treated wick that burns for a longer period of time are used. Since wax is soft, stearic acid is used to make it solid. Color dyes are used to make the appearance brighter.

Tip! When placing lower-flamed candles around a table, make sure it is done in such a pattern that a person’s shirt sleeve or clothing cannot pass through or over the flame.

It involves a very simple process to make the candle. Suspend a wick in the center of a mold. Dissolve stearic acid and color dye in a container and heat the wax to 190 degrees. Combine the stearic mixture with paraffin and stir it continuously to blend it. Pour the mixture in a mold, allow time for it to cool and then remove it from the mold.

Acquiring a gel candle has now become a fashion. You can prepare it easily at home. All you need to get are a container, gels, pans, wicks and the basic necessary items. While selecting containers, it is best to use a heat resistant glass. Gel wax, paraffin, candle scent, dye, wick, wick clip, and wick base are the other requirements. Different colors can be mixed together to form a new color according to your taste. The oil based liquids; pellets and wax solids are the sources of scent. The scent has to be added before pouring the candle to avoid evaporation.

Tip! Combine candles of similar color with varying shade and of different shapes together. Remember, using odd number of candles is more aesthetically pleasing than using an even number of candles.

Items like buttons, marbles, toys and jewels can be added in the candle. Avoid inflammatory items. Candles are used for various reasons. They are used in almost all the religions. The candles represent the light of God in Christianity. Candles are lit at the start and end of the weekly Sabbath celebration. For Kwanzaa and for other reasons of humanism, candles are lit. Thus, the candle not only serves illuminating and decoration purposes, but also serves religious causes.

Tip! Change the fragrance and colors of your candles with seasons and moods you desire or would like to revive.

Sharon Albright is the owner of Candle Making Site. Read more articles on candle making and visit her recommended resources.

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Wedding Candles Making Your Big Day Extra Special

The flowers, the dresses, the costumes, the wedding candles, the party and all the other must-haves of a successful wedding can be quite stressful for those getting married. The color of the wedding candles has to match the general one used in decorations, and they all have to be perfect. The right candles need to be chosen beforehand to make sure that they are everything you hoped for.
Let’s have a look at the details you have to take care of when you purchase the wedding candles. First of all we need to understand their role in the ceremony and the afterwards party. Thus, you’ll know what to really ask for.
Wedding candles double meaning
What’s the role of the wedding candles in the religious ceremony? Regardless of the religion, candles are ever-present in the matrimony rites of all cultures. They symbolize the divine essence in the sacred union performed by the priest, they are the light and love that bind two people together for a life time. This is why it is so important that wedding candles be held by two very close such as friends and family, who act the roles of witnesses and light bearers within the ceremony.
The other meaning […]

Full Article At: KnowHow-Now.com Articles

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April 28, 2007

How to Make Gel Candles

Tip! If you like votive candles, try buying the type that have metal cases as these are easier to remove from holders after use. If you only have the uncovered type, pour some water into the holder before lighting the candle.

They smell sweet, look great, and have a lot of variety to them, no it’s not your significant other, and it’s the ever popular gel candle. Gel candles are made with 95% mineral oil and 5% polymer resin. Gel candles typically work under a simple rule of thumb, the more thick they are the more scent will come from them, and the longer they will last. These candles are used for aroma therapy as well as for home décor.

Making gel candles is as easy as baking a cake and these will last much longer then your typical sponge cake. Making gel candles is not only for those with a passion for crafts, it also can be enjoyable for those looking to mix, and match new scents. For the serious gel candle makers a potential business opportunity awaits you. Whatever the reason may be, it will be worth your time to learn about how to make gel candles.

Tip! Don’t place your candles too close to flower arrangements. Candles have been known to wilt or ruin flowers if the flame overheats their petals.

The first step in making your gel candle is to pick the scent you would like to put in it. The typical scent for your candles will come from essential oil, or candle scent concentrate. The types of scents are limitless, and are available at any crafts store, online candle making website, or a local specialty store. Once you have chosen the scent you can move on to getting the mold.

Choose the mold that best fits your gel candle making needs. As generic as that statement sounds, it is true, you must pick what will work for you in terms of a mold. A gel candle mold is similar to a cookie cutter, or muffin tray, they are indented, engraved, sheets of metal that can be baked at high temperatures. For advance candle making one can make their own mold. For beginners it’s recommended to choose a simple mold, like that of a jar.

Tip! Use unscented candles on the dining table so the flavor of the meals will not be overwhelmed by the candle’s scent.

Once the mold has been selected, the scent has been purchased, and you’re ready to get started head on over to the kitchen and preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Add some glue to the bottom of the mold, insert the candle scent concentrate, and pour the gel. Now in order to get the gel to a liquid form, one must first heat the gel in the oven at 200 degrees until the gel turns into a liquid format. Once the gel is liquefied add the wick to the mold, pour the gel, and pull the wick up to the top. Let the candle cool for 4 hours, and enjoy!

Clark Covington is a professional writer who provides information for Candles 4U on gel candles and candle making.

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