Basics

The basis for all of the gel candles includes the following items:

• Candle gel
• Wicks – preferably coated as they are easier to work with
• Scissors for trimming the wick
• Accessories as listed in the recipes

Beach Themed Candles

Beach lovers will enjoy the thought put into this candle as well as the beauty of having the seashore brought inside. 

Items Needed:

• Glass containers: Size and shape are totally up to you; small fishbowls are wonderful for larger candles
• Sand, either regular beach sand or glitter sand
• Seashells and Sand Dollars – you can purchase these at your local craft store or find them on the  beach
• Fragrant oil for scenting the candle, if desired.

Instructions

• Using hot glue secure the wick to the inside of your glass container.
• If using coloring or scented oil place in gel as it melts.
• Pour sand in the bottom of the container.
• Pour in a layer of melted gel– if you want a pale ocean color, tint with light blue dye while melting. Similarly, if you want the candle to have a fragrance, add a light-bodied fragrant oil while melting the gel.
• Add seashells and sand dollars around the outer edges of the container.
• Add another layer of gel, covering the shells completely.
• Depending on the depth of your container, you may be able to add another layer of shells before topping off with gel.
• Allow to set and trim the wick to ¼” from top of container.

Variations

• After adding the sand cover put a layer of small shells on top of it before beginning gel layers; or
• Add a large conch shell on top of the sand then use smaller ones as you layer the gel.

These beach themed candles make great centerpieces for outdoor or indoor weddings or summer parties.

Bride and Groom Candles

Give the bride and groom a set of matching candles made using champagne flutes.  Add a light scent and color that corresponds to the wedding color to make them even more special. If you prefer to have the candle colored more like champagne, use a pale yellow color.

Items Needed:

• Champagne flutes – plain or inscribed with “Bride” and “Groom”
• If desired, small bride and groom figurine, small ceramic wedding bells, or other wedding celebration accessories you would like to add. Make sure any items you choose are ceramic.
• Fragrant oil for scenting the candle, if desired.
• Lace or ribbon for decoration

Instructions

• Secure the wick to the bottom of the champagne flute using hot glue.
• If using coloring or scented oil place in gel as it melts.
• Fill the flute partially with gel.
• Place the bride figurine in one flute, the groom in the other flute – if using inscribed flutes, make sure the bride is in the bride flute and the groom is in the groom flute.
• Continue filling with gel until approximately ¼ inch from rim.
• When gel sets, trim wick to approximately ¼”.
• Tie a pretty ribbon or lace bow around the base of the flute.

Variations

• Instead of using a bride and groom, add plastic wedding bells as you fill the flute. Alternate layers of wedding bells and gel until you reach the top; or,
• Use artificial flower petals that represent the bouquet carried by the bride.

 These flutes make great keepsakes to remind your favorite couple of their special day.

Now that I am a grown up, I hate canning. I would love to see the jars lining shelves but I just don’t have the time to preserve anything and I often try to avoid doing so. However, I do love candles and Fruit Gel Candles take me back to those days when I had shelves of canned fruit.

Of course, I can’t eat any of the fruit since they are waxed embeds but I can enjoy the appearance of the jars and I can enjoy burning my own fruit gel candles. Even more, I can make my own fruit gel candles in less time than it took my mom and family to can even one type of fruit.

What you need:

• Gel Wax: This can be purchased at most craft stores and you can find them at many online craft stores as well.
• Zinc Core Wicks: Another item that can be found at any craft store in the candle aisle. Make sure you purchase Zinc Core since cotton wicks will absorb the gel, making it harder for it to burn.
• Essential Oils: Choose fragrances that are similar to the fruit effect you are creating. So if you are going with lemons, use a citrus fragrance. Make sure that the oil is compatible with gel wax.
• Fruit Embeds: You can find these just about anywhere; craft stores and online suppliers. They are a wax sculpture of a fruit that can be placed in a gel candle.
• Dye: Like the fragrance, it is important to find a dye that is compatible with gel wax. Also use colors that compliment your fruit. If the colors are too dark, you may lose the fruit in the jar.
• Glass jars: Remember to use a clear jar that has thick glass so you can see the fruit and it can also withstand the heat from the wax.
• Pencil: This is for keeping the wick from slipping into the hot wax.
• Double Boiler: This can be a double boiler that you purchase for the special reason of candle making or it can be a pot filled with about 2 or 3 inches of water with a coffee can placed in the center of it.
• Rubbing Alcohol: You only need this for prep work.

Directions:

1. Before you begin making your fruit gel candles, it is important to wash all the glass jars thoroughly. Use rubbing alcohol to remove any grease or fingerprints on the glass.
2. A great rule of thumb is to fill a glass with water to determine the depth you would like the candle to be. You can pour the water into a measuring cup to determine how much wax you will need or you can simply eyeball it.
3. Make sure all the glasses are dry before you pour the wax into them.
4. Take the wick and cut it to the size that you would like for the candle. Make sure to leave 4 to 5 inches of extra length on the wick. Attach one end to a pencil and set to the side.
5. On the stove, melt the wax in a double boiler over a medium-low temperature. It is safer to use a thermometer to insure that you do not overheat the wax.
6. While your wax is cooking, warm the jars in the oven. You should set the heat to about 160°F.
7. Remove the jars and prepare the embeds. You do this by carefully dipping the embeds in the hot gel wax.
8. Arrange the embeds around the jar in the design that you would like.
9. Place the pencil across the jar and allow the wick to hang down the center of the jar.
10. If you are using an essential oil, add it to the hot wax and stir until it is well blended. Add the dye if you are using it but remember to not make the gel too dark or you will not be able to see the fruit.
11. Pour the melted gel wax into the jar. It is best if you pour it along the sides to avoid bubbles. The gel will fill in the spaces between the embeds.
12. Allow the gel to cool and solidify before you remove the wick from the pencil and trim it to about ¼ inch above the top of the gel. To remove excess wax, place the jar in a container of hot water and wipe clean with a moist cloth.

Finish off the jars with a decoration or simply place them on a shelf for decoration that can be used at a later time.

-Sirena Van Schaik

But what if you don’t want to buy the candles but still want to have an amazing candle decoration. Well, you can always make your own and candles are surprisingly easy to make.

Gel candles are always a lot of fun to make and they are very easy. You can make them using just about any type of container and you can make them fit for any type of occasion or space.

In this recipe, we take you from the producing simple boring candles to creating beautiful works of art that would make a great treat for anyone.

Making a wine glass gel candle

What you need:

• Wine glasses: You need the wine glasses, of course. These are going to be used for your container and it is better to use thick glass instead of thin since the heat from the candles can break a glass.
• Gel Wax: You can purchase gel wax at most craft stores. Look in the candle aisle.
• Zink Core Wicks: Another item that can be found in the candle aisle of almost all craft stores. You can get pre-cut or you can cut it to the length that you would like.
• Rubbing Alcohol: You only need this for prep work.
• Double Boiler: This can be a double boiler that you purchase for the special reason of candle making or it can be a pot filled with about 2 or 3 inches of water with a coffee can placed in the center of it.
• Pencil: This is for keeping the wick from slipping into the hot wax.
• Optional: Decorations for the glass and dye for the candles
• Blow-dryer

Directions:

1. Before you begin making the candles, it is important to wash the glasses thoroughly. Use rubbing alcohol to remove all the grease and fingerprints that can be found on wine glasses.
2. A great rule of thumb is to fill a glass with water to determine the depth you would like the candle to be. You can pour the water into a measuring cup to determine how much wax you will need or you can simply eyeball it.
3. Make sure all the glasses are dry before you pour the wax into them.
4. Cut the wicks to the determined height and tie one end to the pencil before placing the pencil across the wine glass with the wick hanging down the center of the glass.
5. Place the double boiler on the stove and heat the candle wax on medium-low temperatures. If you are using dye with the candle wax, add it now and stir it in completely.
6. When the wax is melted, remove from the heat. It is safer to use a thermometer and heat the wax to the temperature indicated on the package.
7. Remove from heat and pour into the wine glass. It is best to run it down the one side of the glass to avoid bubbles but pouring it slowly can also have the same effect.
8. Allow the candles to cool and solidify before removing the pencil and trimming the wick to about ¼ inch above the gel.
9. To remove excess wax from the sides of the glass and to create a smooth top to the candle, simply use a hairdryer to melt the excess wax. Wipe clean with a moist cloth.

Now all you need to do is decorate and then enjoy the beauty of your own handmade gel candle.

Homemade wine glass gel candle

-Sirena Van Schaik