Introduction
Making marble candles is a simple and enjoyable craft. You will need to start with some wax, either beeswax or soy wax flakes or pellets, dye or color chips, and essential oil of your choice to scent the candle. You will also need a double boiler (or makeshift one with two pots), a silicone mold suitable for making candles, and an embossing tool.
The process begins by placing the wax in the top of the double boiler on medium heat. The wax should melt slowly until completely liquified. Next, add in coloring chips and stir until the desired shade is achieved. Finally, add essential oil to give your candle scent, using around 10 drops after it has been taken off the heat.
The next step is pouring the mixture into the silicone molds by holding the mold above eye level over a work surface covered with paper towels or something that can absorb excess liquid quickly if spills occur. Once poured all mold cavities should be filled, before being set aside for several hours until completely cooled, then tapping on its bottom gently so as to release it from its container and reveal your beautifully marbled candles!
Using a soft cloth rubbing embossing tool of your preference you can further enhance the design of your candle by going over all surfaces lightly and pressing inward slightly when needed at each corner carefully rolling up in the same direction as you go along. Let this cool until hardened overnight upon completion before use or gifting!
Materials Needed
Materials Needed:
• 1 lb of beeswax (in flakes or pellets)
• 10-15 drops of essential oil (optional)
• Candle wick
• Microwavable measuring cup
• Marble slab
• Parchment paper
• Double boiler
• Metal stirring stick
Instructions:
1. Place the wick into a metal stirring stick and anchor it to the marble slab using a few pieces of parchment paper.
2. Measure out 1 lb (16 oz) of beeswax in the microwavable measuring cup. If desired, add 10-15 drops of essential oils to the wax.
3.Heat the wax in a double boiler until melted – approximately 10 minutes – heat time may vary with appliance wattage and type used.
4. Carefully pour the melted wax onto the marble slab and evenly disperse it around the wick as needed, waiting for it to cool off slightly before doing so if your wax is too hot for comfort.
5. Allow candle to cool for 3 hours before trimming wick and lighting candle!
Preparation
When making marble candles, it is important to keep safety in mind. Work with wax and other flammable substances in a well-ventilated area and away from open flames. Wear protective gear such as long sleeves, eye protection, and non-flammable material, like an apron or gloves. Additionally, never leave your stove on or unattended while melting wax and be sure to use silicone molds that can easily withstand high temperatures. Lastly, always keep a fire extinguisher nearby in case of accidents.
Wax Melting
Another way of melting wax is through the use of an electric wax melt warmer. Wax melt warmers are electric appliances that heat up the wax until it melts. They usually come with variable temperature settings, making them perfect for melting different kinds of wax, from block to pellet form. Additionally, some warmers even come with a timer that turns off automatically once the desired temperature has been achieved.
Adding Fragrance and Color
When making marble candles, it is important to choose an appropriate fragrance and color combination that will work together to create a pleasing smell and look.
For a classic, timeless candle, try pairing a musky fragrance with natural or pink hues. Patchouli and Sandalwood scents mix well with shades of yellow, peach and coral. For a softer option, lavender or vanilla are both fresh fragrances that work nicely with pale blues and greens. Floral fragrances such as jasmine or rose also blend perfectly with pretty pinks and purples.
For a richer scent, choose sweet fragrances like caramel, chocolate or almond which pair beautifully with bolder shades of maroon or navy blue. Spicy aromas such as cinnamon bark or bay leaf can be complemented with copper orange for a pleasant depth. For the festive season, cheerful combinations like orange blossom and tangerine with golds and reds bring out the holiday cheer!
No matter which aroma you decide on for your marble candle, make sure to choose colors that will complement it artistically. Have fun experimenting until you find the perfect balance between smell and sight!
Marbling
Marbling candles can be a great way to create unique and beautiful candles for your home. To avoid common mistakes, when marbling your candles it’s important to select the correct dyes for your wax. Make sure you purchase dyes specifically designed for candle making, as this will ensure that the color won’t bleed or discolor with heat.
When beginning your project, prepare a large container of lukewarm water – approximately 110°F – and disperse the dye into the water by dripping it slowly off an inclined credit card or spoon. Aim to keep the drops spread out evenly so they don’t accumulate in one area. For best results, add a few drops of liquid soap or mineral oil to help break down the surface tension of the water and allow the colors to mix more efficiently.
When you have achieved a satisfactory design, slowly lower the candle wick into it and let it sit undisturbed for several minutes so that all of the surrounding wax absorbs in some measure of colored solution. Once satisfied with its saturation, carefully pull up and lay flat on absorbent paper towels allowing excess liquid to escape before drying with a blow dryer set at low temperature for 5-10 minutes until excess moisture is gone. Finally, display proudly!
Finishing
Making your own marble candles can be a fun and rewarding experience. To get the perfect look when making your candle, you need to consider how you’re going to finish it off. The most important part of this process is wicking and cutting the top correctly.
Before proceeding with wicking, it’s important to take the time to glue your wick together at both ends so that it has a double thickness. This helps keep the wick from untwisting or unraveling after being lit. Be sure to secure the two sections together with a light layer of hot glue and let them dry before moving on.
Once your wick sections are sufficiently secure, use pliers to twist one corner inwards so that it will form an “S” shape for later use. This will create a diving board effect when trimming, helping the wax flow evenly around it like water around a rock in a river – hence why this process is sometimes referred to as “diving” the wick.
After submerging it into your melted wax blend, cut off access wax around the corners in order to make sure they stay exposed and even on each side – this will create perfectly smooth, rounded edges at the mouth of your candle instead of leaving sharp edges (which could damage someone’s skin if they happen get too close). These simple steps can help give your marble candles that trendy yet classic look everyone is after!
Adding Embellishments
Adding Embellishments:
Step 1: Create an even surface for the decorations by spreading a layer of wax around the outside of the marble candle.
Step 2: Sprinkle a generous amount of selected glitter or other decorations over the wax. You can also add cosmetic-grade mineral mica powders for a marbled effect.
Step 3: Take a spoon and press the various embellishments onto the wax so that they bond to it. Make sure to push them in fully, as this will prevent them from falling off when you handle the candle later on.
Step 4: If desired, complete any designs with additional glitters, metallic flakes or non-toxic paint if necessary. Allow time for design components to dry before handling further.
Step 5: Seal your design with an outer layer of clear tray wax. This will not only keep everything in place; it will also enhance the look of your marble candle!
Curing and Maintenance
Marble candles should be stored in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Ensure the area is ventilated to keep the air fresh and dry. Before lighting the candle, allow it to reach room temperature as extreme changes in temperature can cause stress cracks on the surface of the wax. Once lit, never leave burning candles unattended and trim wicks to 1/4 inch prior to relighting them to prevent excess smoke and soot build-up. To minimize uneven burning, avoid drafts when your candle is aflame and gently rotate the jar from time to time. When extinguishing your marble candle, dip the wick into melted wax and refit it back into position so that it remains upright for future use. Make sure that after every burning session there is still 1/2 inch of wax left at the bottom of jar before refilling with fresh wax. Finally, don’t forget that regular dusting helps maintain your marble candles’ beauty.
Conclusion
Making marble candles can be a fun and creative project that is perfect for all ages. If you’ve never tried it before, why not give it a try? It’s easy enough that even children can join in the fun. If you have already made colored marble candles, share your experience with us! Tell other readers the materials you used, the different colors and effects, how long it took to finish your candle – anything! Let us know how this exciting craft project went for you so that we can all be inspired to make our own marble candles.
Welcome to my candle making blog! In this blog, I will be sharing my tips and tricks for making candles. I will also be sharing some of my favorite recipes.
