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Home > Arts and Crafts Projects >Candle Crafts > Making Dipped Candles
(PARENTAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPERVISION REQUIRED) Children enjoy working with wax, first because it is a material that few have tried, and second, because so many interesting and different things can be done with it. Learn how to make candles with old bits of crayon...the technique and instructions can be found below.
An adult will need to do most of the work for this craft as it is too dangerous for youngsters. But it will be fun for the little ones to watch their crayons being turned into candles.
hot plate
old newspapers
scissors
tin cans
work gloves
crayon scraps
old candle ends or paraffin
candle wicking
clothes pins
clothes line
(PARENTAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPERVISION REQUIRED) An adult will need to do most of the work for this craft as it is too dangerous for youngsters. But it will be fun for the little ones to watch their crayons being turned into candles. To melt the wax, create a double boiler arrangement with a large juice can, a coffee can, and the lid off a smaller can in which holes have been punched. This last part is put under the juice can, so that the wax will not be in direct contact with the bottom can. Do not try to heat wax over direct flame; it's too dangerous. Pour the coffee can about two-thirds full of water, after the wax can is in and pushed down. Keep the hot plate at low heat, so that when the water boils it won't bubble out of the can.
Old candle ends or paraffin are used for wax. When this is melted, color the wax by shaving small bits of crayon into the can, a bit at a time, until the right shade is reached. A little crayon goes a long way. Remove both cans from the hot plate, using heavy work gloves to pad the hands. Leave the wax can standing in the hot water, to prevent rapid cooling and skinning over of wax.
Prepare the wicking by cutting a piece several inches longer than the length desired for the finished candle, and hold this in the wax for a minute, so that the wicking will be soaked in the wax. Cool for a minute in the air, and then lay the wicking on a hard, fiat surface, and roll with the outstretched fingers, as illustrated. The wicking will mat down tighter and stiffen. Keep it as straight as possible. When the wick is cool to the touch, it is ready to dip.
Dip the wick alternately into the hot wax and cold water. Dip in and out of the wax in a smooth, even motion, so that a wax coating goes on. Holding it in at length will melt everything. Keep checking the shape each pair of dips, and if lumps appear, or the candle is going crooked, stop dipping, and roll the candle with the fingers, as done with the starting wick. The number of dips required will vary with the heat of the wax, and the finished size wanted. A small, birthday-cake size will take 6 or so dips, and a large candle may take as many as 15 dips.
If assorted sizes of candles are to be made, examine commercial candles for the size wick to use. A thick candle takes a thick wick. It is best to do the initial experimenting with a small candle, to get the hang of it.
After the candle has been dipped for the last time, roll once more with the fingers, and then hang it up to cool, outdoors, if possible. The candle will be ready to trim when it is hard and cool to the touch. Trim the wick to within 1/2 inch of the top.
When doing any work with wax, protect all surfaces with several layers of newspapers, and have the children wear old clothes, or make aprons for themselves out of newspaper. Wax is difficult to remove from floors and clothes.