Gift Box Candles
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These fun candles combine dipping and sculpting using sheet wax.
Materials
A square pillar mold, hot knife (or a regular knife and a heat source), dipping vat or another deep metal container, baking sheet, silicone mold release, pigments, knife, straight edge, blow dryer or heat gun, electric hot knife or tacky wax, and the usual candle making supplies will be needed.
Step 1
Make the core candle.
Step 2
Prepare a dipping vat with pigmented wax. This project was made with silver metallic pigment in 140 melt point wax – no additives. Adjust temperature to 71 C (160 F). and begin dipping the core candle. Allow dipped candle to fully cool, then level the base on a hot pan.
Step 3
For the ribbon, it is necessary to have sheet wax. For this feature, I made my own because I feel they are more durable. Manufactured sheets will also work, however they are much thinner and more fragile. For this project, I used 50% 130 melt point paraffin and 50% beeswax. For colour, Christmas Red pigment was added. This is melted then poured out onto a baking sheet. Important: this is a fairly adhesive wax mix, and the baking pan should be well coated with silicone mould release.
Step 4
Allow cooling until firm to the touch. Use the knife and straight edge to cut narrow strips. If you do not get clean cuts, the wax is still too warm.
Step 5
Strips are positioned starting at the wick. If your wax is cracking at the bend, it may be necessary to warm it a bit using the heat gun or blow dryer. Strips may be adhered with tacky wax or carefully “spot welded” with a hot knife applied to the junction of the ribbon and the core candle. Apply one strip to each side.
Step 6
Form the bow with another strip. Take a scrap of a strip and wrap it around the bow centre starting and ending on the back. Apply the bow to the top of the candle near the wick. A quick over-dip in hot undyed wax will help hold this together and smooth out any rough edges. If you overdip use a slightly higher temperature to provide a thinner layer than is normally desired when dipping. Dipping in glaze would also help protect the candle.