| |
ÿþ< s c r i p t t y p e = " t e x t / j a v a s c r i p t " > < ! - -
g o o g l e _ a d _ c l i e n t = " p u b - 5 4 2 2 8 0 6 6 2 4 7 3 5 6 9 1 " ;
/ * 4 6 8 x 1 5 , c r e a t e d 2 / 2 3 / 1 0 * /
g o o g l e _ a d _ s l o t = " 5 6 5 1 0 3 4 8 7 0 " ;
g o o g l e _ a d _ w i d t h = 4 6 8 ;
g o o g l e _ a d _ h e i g h t = 1 5 ;
/ / - - >
< / s c r i p t >
< s c r i p t t y p e = " t e x t / j a v a s c r i p t "
s r c = " h t t p : / / p a g e a d 2 . g o o g l e s y n d i c a t i o n . c o m / p a g e a d / s h o w _ a d s . j s " >
< / s c r i p t >
Craft Title
These patriotic gel
candles look wonderful and festive for all the American patriotic
holidays, like Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day.
They look great being displayed all summer! These
patriotic gel candles are made using gel wax. Do not be
intimidated if you have never worked with gel wax before, it is so easy
to work with. It is much easier to use than regular
wax. The clean up is easy, and the gel has a slow burn time
and extra gel can be reused again.
Things Needed:
- Glass votive holders, or any container of
choice
- Gel wax
- Candle wicking (make sure you buy some
that is compatible with gel wax; also make sure you get the appropriate
thickness of wicking, I used THIN)
- Bamboo skewer or pencil
- Candle dyes in red and blue (make sure
you buy some that is compatible with gel wax)
- Candle scent (optional)
- Scissors
- Small pot
- Knife and spoon
1. Begin the patriotic gel candles by washing your
votive holders and allowing to dry completely. Tie the wicks
around a bamboo skewer or pencil and cut to the proper length of the
glass container, so they just touch the bottom of the glass.
Then balance the bamboo skewer over the container, so the
wicks hang down the middle.
2. Gel
wax is very easy to clean up, so you don't have to have a "dedicated"
candle cooking pot, although it does help. The gel, once
cooled, will simply peel off from the inside of the pot. Then
the pot can be washed with grease-fighting dish detergent.
Cut the gel wax with a knife, then use a spoon or your hands to pull
out chunks of the wax to put in the pot. Don't be afraid to
use your hands. Gel wax is very clean and using your hands is
usually the easiest way to get it out! Try to over-estimate
rather than under-estimate the amount of wax you need, since any extra
is re-usable.
3.
Heat the wax over the lowest heat setting on the
stove until it begins to melt. Never use a microwave!
You can stir the wax to speed up the process.
NOTE:
Usually when working with gel wax you should NOT stir it, since this
introduces more bubbles.
Once it is all melted, you are ready to move on to the next
step. DO NOT let it sit long after it has melted, as it can
get too hot. Follow the manufacturer's instructions
exactly. They may suggest using a candy
thermometer. Gel wax is highly flammable, so use
caution. Never leave the pot and watch it
constantly. If it does ignite, do not pour water on it.
Instead, extinguish by covering with the lid or use baking
soda.
4.
Continue with the patriotic gel candles by adding a small
drop of blue dye to the wax. I dipped a bamboo skewer into
the dye and then into the wax, to control how much I added.
Once you have the color looking like a good medium blue, it
is ready. Now is the time to add candle scent if you like too.
5.
Carefully pour the blue gel wax into the glass containers to
make your first layer. Give it about 30 minutes to set.
 
6. While you are waiting, you can clean out the pot.
Add a little cool water and the rest of the gel will solidify
quickly and should easy peel off from the sides of the pot.
Clean the rest of the pot with some grease fighting dish soap
and warm water. Then, get some more gel wax melting.
This time the gel can remain clear. When it is
melted, add the scent if you are using it. Then pour
another layer of wax on top of the blue.
7.
Allow the clear layer to solidify (takes about 30 minutes).
In the meantime, clean out the pot once again and melt some
more gel wax. This time, when it is melted, tint the wax red
and add your fragrance. Gently pour the red wax on top of the
clear wax to form the last layer.
 
8. Once set, trim the wicks to 1/4 of an inch before burning.
You will enjoy the patriotic gel candles with their long,
clean burn time!
Did You Make This Craft? Do You Have Comments to Share?
How did you make your craft different? Please tell us! Do you have tips or ideas to make this craft better? Please share your story here! You can even upload a photo of your craft if you like. Feel free to review this craft, or post any questions you may have related to this craft. I will post my answer for everyone to see.
|
|
