Introduction to Making Dipped Candles with Kids
Dipped candle making with kids is a fun and rewarding activity. With a few materials, and good planning, almost anyone can make their own candles that look great and smell amazing. Not only that, but candle making is also a great project to do with a group of people! There are many benefits to this activity such as teaching kids important concepts like patience, teamwork, responsibility and creativity. Also, young children learn valuable skills like shapes and colors while they are in the process of decorating candles.
Safety should be the first priority when making candles with kids. First, always have an adult present when completing the project who can provide guidance if needed. Depending on how involved each child is, hot wax may become an issue so wearing some sort of protective gear (like an oven mitt) may be necessary for some steps. Additionally all tools used should be checked for safety before giving them to the children – no open flames or sharp objects should be allowed for small children to use.
When doing dipped candle making with kids its important to provide clear instructions and expectations for them during every step of the process from start to finish. Before beginning you will need to go through all of the supplies together, giving a brief demonstration on how it works if needed. Remember – take things slow! Everything from tearing off strips of wax paper covered wicks to heating up the wax needs to be done safely while keeping the end result in-mind so you don’t get too distracted along the way. Provided you properly plan out your time and resources you can have just as much fun watching your students’ work as they have creating these special pieces!
Gathering the Supplies & Preparing the Work Area
When it comes to dipped candle making for kids, the first step is gathering your supplies and preparing the work area. Make sure you have the following items before beginning: beeswax, wax dyes and fragrances, candle wick, a stainless steel or glass pot (for melting the wax), a double boiler or another heat source that can be controlled with precision thermometer (which will help you keep track of temperature), scissors, tablecloth or tarp, tape measure, pencils/pens for taking notes if desired.
Safety should always be a priority when engaging in any activity that involves open flame and molten wax. Always remind children to wear protective eyewear and use caution when handling objects near hot surfaces. Setting up certificates of participation is a great way to make the activity fun while keeping safety in mind.
Gathering supplies together can be a great opportunity for teaching basic organizational skills to kids. Make it easier on yourself by asking all respected children to gather some supplies and then create designated areas in which each respective item should go during the actual creation process. In this way, the entire project becomes an enjoyable exercise for both parents and kids!
Preparing the Wicks and Section Out Areas of the Candles
When teaching kids how to make dipped candles, it’s important to prepare the wicks and section out areas of the candles first. Make sure you use wicks that are appropriate for the size of your candles as well as materials that are easy for small hands to manage. For example, if you’re using larger containers consider using thicker cotton or metal-core wicks.
To prepare the wicks, place each one into a candle holder and loop them onto either side of the container. Secure one shank on one side with a small piece of wax or clay for stability then wrap thread around both sides of the holder to keep it in place.
When deciding which dye/scent to use for your dipped candle making project with children, choose from a selection that is kid friendly and not too flammable! Kid’s scents like bubblegum, raspberries and mint chocolate chip will be best – these can be found at craft stores in liquid form or easily made by melting crayons together in boiling water.
To section out areas for dipping your candles into a dye/scent mixture, kids can dip small sections directly into the mixture using their hands or smaller instruments such as chopsticks. Divide the candle up into separate sections according to the pattern they want before starting ” this makes it easier to create an even colouring pattern once they start dipping. Start off with shorter sections first so they get used to handling them until they gain more confidence in their technique over time.
Pouring the Wax and Dipping Dye
Pouring the Wax: Start by gathering the necessary materials: wax, a double boiler or hot plate, and wicks in a wick bar. Put the desired amount of wax into the boiler/hot plate over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until it melts. Once all the wax is melted, lower the heat to medium-low and make sure all wax chunks are completely melted. Then insert one end of the wick bar into the pot and ensure that it stays in place standing up.
Dipping Dye: Add a few drops of either candle dye or regular food dye to your melted wax to give your dipped candles some color. Stir in dye until fully mixed and then check for desired color strength with a swabbed on piece of tissue paper. If necessary add more drops according to preference ” just keep in mind that too much dye can cause problems with smoking later on. Next, have your child lower their dipping stick into the melted wax being careful not to splash any onto themselves or surroundings! Once submerged pull out slowly but steadily, if necessary (give them some tips here if you’re there!) allowing excess wax to drip off from both ends of the stick as they go. Do this several times alternating between different colors for uniqueness and variety when desired!
Getting Ready to Dip
Before beginning, it is important to make sure all the materials needed are gathered. This includes a wax pot large enough to fit the candles that need to be dipped as well as wick, colorants and scents (if desired). Next, the wax should be melted in the wax pot. Depending on the type of wax being used, it should be heated anywhere from 140-180 degrees Fahrenheit. It is best to melt any colorant and scent with the wax in order for them to fuse together and fully incorporate into the candles. Once everything is prepped and ready, the candle dipping process can begin with kids!
Dipping the Candles
1. For children, begin by gathering the materials and supplies needed for dipped candle making – one small pot, one pound of wax, wick for at least six candles, measuring cup, coloring dye or crayon shavings, a spoon or stir stick and a safe work area such as a kitchen counter on top of newspapers or paper towels.
2. Children of all ages can pour the desired amount of wax into the pot and then carefully place this over low heat. To prevent any burns be sure to supervise them during this step.
3. When the wax has melted, have your little ones add in their desired color via candle dye or crayon shavings then stir with a spoon or a stirring stick until combined evenly throughout the liquid wax.
4. Place each wick into its own container such as an empty yogurt cup with tape around the base to hold it in place and make sure that there is approximately two inches of extra length hanging out at the bottom so that it can be placed into the cooled liquid wax afterwards.
5. Dip one end of each wick in melted wax and twist around fingers lightly to help shape it when removed from heat source; hold for about five seconds before setting aside two cool completely ” this helps create hooks for once inserted later on into cupcake liners used as molds for candles
6. Once adequately cooled down replace colorful liquid wax on low heat once again then instruct child to carefully lower each shaped candlewick one by one into hot substance until fully submerged ” should take about 30 seconds; remove from heat carefully and set aside onto flat surface covered with newspaper/paper towel again allowing it sufficient amount time reduce completely according temperature used during melting process
Finishing Touches
Creative Decorating Ideas: Candle making with kids can be a fun and educational activity, and there are a variety of ways to make it even more exciting. For example, you could let the kids get creative and decorate the candles after they’re dipped in wax. They can use paint, markers or glitter to add personal touches to their creations such as names or patterns.
Sanding and Trimming: When the candles have been taken out of the wax and dried, you should use sandpaper or a file to smooth out any sharp edges that may have been created when taking them out. You can then trim any excess candle wax away with a knife or scissors.
Packaging Suggestions: Once you are happy with your creations, it is time to think about how best present them! There is a range of packaging options available to choose from – including simple cardboard boxes tied up with ribbon, clear cellophane bags, or personalized gift bags with names printed on them. Whichever option you choose, make sure that the finished product looks professional so that the recipient knows they have received something special!
Final Thoughts
Recap: Dipping candles is a fun and easy activity for kids of all ages. To make this craft, you need materials such as beeswax, wicks, double boiler or melting pot, containers for cooling, cookie cutters or some type of shaping implement, and any other colorants or fragrances desired. Begin by melting the beeswax in a double boiler or melting pot. Once melted, use cookie cutters to shape the candles and dip the wicks into the wax to get desired lengths. Allow them to cool before adding colorants and fragrances.
Pointers For Future Projects: It’s important to use heat-safe materials when making dipped candles with kids; this includes using silicone mats for cooling and safety goggles if dipping above a flame source like an electric stovetop. If you can’t find bee wax locally, look for it in health food stores or online retailers that specialize in candle supplies.
Explore Other Forms of Candle Making: Kids may want to explore other forms of candle making after having fun with dipping. Some ideas that can be discussed include container candles (usingsafety containers made from custard cups or tins); rolled candles (using wax sheets stamped with designs like stars or hearts); soy candles (which are easier on the environment because they release fewer toxins when burning); or even cupping/floating candles (which involve floating several tea lights in water).
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.
