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Candle Pixie > Making Floating Candles
Making Floating Candles
If you think that it's high time you did something really special for yourself, or if you need something memorable for your next gathering, here's a great idea. For spicing up your centerpieces, you can make your own personal floating candles.
The enchanting combination of water and candle flame will give that "something" to the entire room and the twinkling charm will make an unforgettable atmosphere. You can also make your floating candles match a certain theme and in that way let them have an important role in completing a special celebration you had in mind.
You can have the floating candle molds from the craft store, or you can use some pudding dishes, cupcake pans, cookie cutters or Jell-O molds. But if you're really up for it, you can improvise and make a mold that will provide you with the exact floating candle shape you want, just have in mind that wider is better as far as stability goes. It's best that you first do a test - try making a few different improvised molds, make one candle in each of them, and then see if they work, that is, if your floating candles can actually float in the water.
1. Put some old newspapers or waxpaper to protect your working surface. Get your molds and wick tabs ready. If you want your candles colored and scented, prepare the amount you'll need in advance.
2. Get the wax into a double boiler and heat it until it reaches 180° F (you can use a candy thermometer). Stir the wax frequently all the way through. Then mix the color and the scent in, stirring it evenly into the wax just before you turn the heat off.
3. Pour the wax into the molds, but not filling them completely. When the wax begins to form a skin, insert the wicks by pressing the tabs down into the bottom of the molds with the help of a skewer or something similar. Top off the candle.
4. After your floating candles have completely cooled down, you will easily get them out of the molds. If you should have any trouble with this, try putting them in the freezer for 5 minutes first. All that's left for you to do is to trim the wick and your new candles are ready for their floating adventure.
You may consider using food-dye to color the water your floating candles are in or maybe putting fresh flowers or perhaps some pebbles or marbles into the bowl.