My Journey into Candle-Making: A Relaxing Hobby for All Ages

Hello everyone!

I've always been on the lookout for new hobbies that can help me unwind and express my creativity. I've tried my hand at diamond mosaics and painting by numbers, but they didn't quite stick. That was until I stumbled upon candle-making.

I decided to take the plunge and invested in some beeswax sheets, which I found on the marketplace. There are two types available - natural, honey-colored beeswax and colored beeswax in various shades.

The set costs around 400 rubles (10 sheets), and the cotton wick usually comes with it. To decorate my finished candles, I like to use herbs, lavender, dried flowers, ribbons, jute, twine, and craft paper. The possibilities are endless!

The sheets come in a convenient cardboard box, and the last time I ordered, I even got a quote about creativity to inspire me.

This was a bright set with 7 sheets, each measuring 20*13, and beeswax without paraffin.

This set had neutral colors and natural sheets.

I also needed scissors to get started.

Beeswax has a pleasant aroma, similar to church candles, which helps me relax while working. Plus, it's tactilely nice to work with the ridged structure.So, let's get started!

We attach the wick. The wick needs to be placed on the edge of the sheet, pressed down slightly, as beeswax is very pliable. On the edge, we cut it, leaving about 1.5 cm of the wick tip.

We start wrapping the sheet with our fingertips, which is a great way to develop fine motor skills.

Next, we twist it in the center, following the candle edges to make it even.

Finally, we twist it to the end. If you want a thicker candle, you can add another sheet of the same or different color. Just place it on the seam and start joining - you can help with your fingers.

To finish it off, you need to roll the wick back and forth a few times with your hands, applying gentle pressure to secure the twist. Don't apply too much pressure, or the wax might start to melt.

This is what the finished candle looks like, made from two sheets.

My six-year-old son made this one, twisting four sheets together. We put three wicks in it, but that was unnecessary, as you'll see in the next photo.

I decided to make some smaller candles, like the ones you see in cakes (bendos).

Here are some candles of different sizes.

Burning. These candles burn well, but they don't last very long. The wicks are quite thick, and we were told in our classes that the wick is the most important part of a candle.

The smaller candle, on the other hand, burned well and didn't burn out as quickly.

This is how the middle-sized candle burns (about 30 minutes).

However, for the larger candle, three wicks were too many. It caught fire quickly, and I had to put it out and finish burning it with just one wick.

Decorating the finished product.Now it's up to your imagination. I made some as gifts, chose a lace ribbon, and added dried flowers to each one.

I made these for the kindergarten teachers as a gift, just wrapped them in green twine (a festive touch) and added my own label (I encourage all crafters, whether beginners or experienced, to mark their work).

I got a lot of compliments from friends and kindergarten teachers on these candles, which gave me the motivation to try candle-making and wax melt-making. This made me think about what else I could add to candles.What you can add to candles.

You can add lavender seeds or dried herbs, crushed into small pieces, to the melted wax when you're twisting the candle. I once tried adding lavender, but it didn't really work - the scent wasn't noticeable, and the seeds crackle when the candle burns. People usually do this with 'programmed candles' (good luck, love, money).

You can add lavender or herbs on top of the candle, which will look more interesting.

Another option is to drizzle essential oil onto a leaf, but that's up to personal preference.

These leaves are great for a workshop on making candles by hand.

As you can see, this hobby is perfect for anyone! Even a kid can do it. It's relaxing, puts you in a positive mood, and allows you to make handmade gifts. You can sell these, but I haven't sold any yet, because the cost is relatively low, and you can't make a lot of money from it.

There are also many examples of wax crafts online, including square candles, a Christmas tree candle, or an Easter egg candle. Wax is very easy to work with.

Thanks for reading! I hope it was helpful!

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