Guest Author - Benito Lugo
Candy Cane Candle
This is the season to be jolly and you can make your candles part of the holiday season. Highlighting your candles can be done in many ways to reflect the upcoming season. Placing a pillar candle in a heat resistant plate surrounded by pine cones, candy canes, pine tree branches or other creative ways will let you express the holidays. As always practice safety if you decide to light your holiday candle. Never leave a burning candle unattended and if using any organic material as decoration to make sure to keep it moist. We will be making a multiple layered pillar candle to simulate a candy cane. This project will require multiple pours using red and white wax.
Supplies needed:
Wax - 1 or 2 pounds depending on container
Red dye
White dye
Peppermint candle scent
Wick
Wick tab
Clear glass candle container or pillar mold
Double boiler
Two pouring pots
Thermometer
Metal spoon
Craft scissors
Wood dowel
Modeling clay
Prepare your work space
Place your chunks of wax in the double boiler for melting until it reaches 194-198 deg F.
Cut appropriate sized wick to length and attach to wick tab.
Secure wick to base of container.
Secure top of wick with wooden dowel or pencil
Since we will be simulating a candy cane this project will use modelling clay to place your container at a 20 - 30 degree angle. Take a fist sized amount of your modelling clay and securely embed the base of your container to keep it at the chosen angle.
Once wax is at temperature, scent wax
Equally divide wax into your two pouring pots.
Dye each batch of wax in pouring pots with appropriate dye.
Maintain each batch at proper temperature until candle layers are all poured.
Begin pour with the white wax as the first base layer approximately 1-2 inches.
Alternate each color, letting layers solidify until the next pour.
Once candle is within 1-2 inches of desired fill, let this layer solidify and place candle completely upright for final pour.
Pour final layer to desired fill and let solidify.
If you used a container, decorate the base with a small wreath around the circumference. If you used a molded pillar, place on a heat resistant plate and enjoy your newest candle.
