Votives are among the easiest kinds of candles to make. For those who are new to candlemaking, this is an excellent experience while learning the basics of the candle-making process.Votive candles are often used as accents for a center piece or decors. Votives are very economical because they can burn for up to fifteen hours.
Votives are very economical because they can burn for up to fifteen hours. Some votive candles need to have a holder. To save money, look for votive candle holders at yard sales and thrift shop. To add a personalized touch to your votive candles, apply some of decor that suits your taste such as pretty ribbon, or pine cones, etc, with a hot glue gun around the votive candle holder.
Materials needed
double boiler
thermometer
wax
molds
wick
wick tabs
dye and fragrance (optional)
The wick tabs will serve as the base for the candle. To ensure your candles will properly form in the molds, invest in a mold spray to keep them lubricated and clean.
Prepare your molding area by placing old newspapers under the wax molds. This will ensure easy clean up afterwards. When the wax melts, add the colors and scents if any. Pour the melted wax immediately into the molds up to its brim.
While wax is cooling down in the molds, ready your wicks. Attach a wick a few inches longer than the mold to a wick tab. Dip each wick into the hot wax. Keep watch over the votive molds because they cool faster then other types of candles. Once you see the wax begins to harden, insert a wick with the tab into a mold through the bottom. The metal tab will meld to the wax, as it continues to cool, securing it stays put at the base of the candle. Be sure that your wick remains in the center of the votive while the candles cool.
When the wax completely cools and set, there will be a noticeable sink hole in it caused by natural shrinkage. You may pour melted wax into the molds once more to repair this. Make sure that the wax is about 15 degrees hotter than the initial wax you used to fill the votives. Once the candles have totally cooled again, they'll slide out of the molds with ease. Trim the wick to about half an inch from the candle top. For safety, you may choose to use a votive holder that is one or two inches taller than the actual candle.
Add a personal touch your candles with scents, colors or designs. Votive candles also make excellent gifts.