Easy to make Beeswax Candle!

You and your children can make your own candles this year to use in your holiday rituals. And while you are at it, share insights into your culture’s festivals of light.

Never made a candle before? This activity is extremely easy and your children can participate every step of the way!

Materials:
Sharp knife (craft knife is best)
Ruler (or other material to make a straight cut)
Wicking (for the wick in the middle of the candle)
8-by-8 inch piece of honeycomb beeswax
Pieces of wax in different colors
Blow dryer

Basic candle Directions:
First decide how tall you would like your candle to be
and then cut the wick so that it is the right length plus
a tiny bit extra.

Lay the piece of beeswax out flat and heat the top side of it with the blow dryer, starting with the side which will be rolled first (and be inside the candle next to the wick). When the beeswax is warmed and soft enough to roll it easily, shut off the blow dryer, lay the wick along the warmest edge and start rolling the beeswax sheet so that the wick will end up in the very middle of the candle. As you are rolling, if the wax is not warm the whole length, turn on the blow dryer and heat it. Gently roll the beeswax but make it tight enough so that it stays tight together. When you get to the end of the wax, make sure the last part of the beeswax sheet is very warm and almost melting (this edge will create the outside seam) so that it will stick better. Once all rolling is done, gently run your fingers along the edge to press the final seam into place.

Decorate your candle with pieces of wax or beeswax that have been cut into different shapes. Make sure to blow-dry the pieces to warm them before pressing them gently onto your beeswax candle.

Fancy Candle Directions:
Cut the 8-by-8 inch sheet of beeswax diagonally from corner to corner. Cut the wick so that it is the length of the sheet from the straight side up to the corner. Place the wick in place and roll from one of the corners of the sheet so that the flat edge forms the base of the candle. The finished candle will have a point at the top when it is finished.

More Ideas and Tips:

• Shorter candles are easier to make, so try a few small ones first before moving onto larger ones.
• The most common width for candles would be from a sheet that is 8 inches wide but if you want a wider candle, use a sheet that is 10 inches wide.
• Try using two different color sheets of beeswax and roll them together to create a dual-color candle.
• Decorate your candle with sequins, ribbons, ornaments, etc. (Remember to remove flammable items before lighting the candle.)
• Try cutting the beeswax into different shapes before rolling.
• Once your candle has been rolled, wrap thin strips of beeswax around the candle to add extra color and designs.
• You can also squeeze your candles a bit to shape it (this is best with short, wide candles).
  

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