Mind and Body
 
 

Home > Lifestyle > Craft Center > Candlemaking > Make Candles Using Old Crayons
  Discussion Boards Free Newsletter Shopping Refer this page Readers Craft Ideas

How to Make Candles Using Old Crayons
By LeAnn R. Ralph

As featured in the story "A Candle For Christmas" from the book: Christmas In Dairyland (True Stories From a Wisconsin Farm)

Materials:

  • 1 wax carton (quart) (milk, fabric softener, or orange juice)
  • 1 pound of paraffin wax
  • 4 or 5 old crayons
  • two trays of ice cubes
  • a double boiler (or an empty coffee can and a saucepan)
  • 1 piece of ordinary white package string about six inches long.

Caution: Do not heat paraffin directly over the burner. Paraffin is easily combustible. Use a double boiler or a two-pound coffee can set in a pan of water. I put the coffee can on top of home canning jar rings (the rings, not the flat lids). If the can is not set on top of something, the concave bottom creates a vacuum when the water begins to heat up, plus if it’s on the bottom of the pan, it's just that much closer to the burner.

Trim the top part of the carton off so that what remains is about six inches high.

Cut the string so that it is six inches long. (To make a wick that lasts longer, try braiding three pieces of string together.)

Melt the paraffin wax over medium heat in a double boiler or a coffee can in a pan of water. Use three-quarters of a pound for a somewhat smaller candle or use all four squares for a larger candle. Once the water begins to boil, it will take 10 or 15 minutes for the paraffin to melt.

Break the crayons into small pieces and add to the paraffin. If the crayons are added first before the wax is melted, the color makes it difficult to see if all of the paraffin is liquefied.

Use a pair of tongs (a scissors works, too), and dip the string into the paraffin. Dipping the string will ensure that it is coated with paraffin since the ice cubes may prevent some sections from coming in contact with the liquid wax. Hold the string so that it is in the middle of the carton and fill the carton with ice cubes. Pour the hot paraffin over the ice cubes.

The candle will be set in about 30 minutes. Let the candle stand for another hour or two until most of the ice cubes are melted. Pour off the water. Peel off the carton. Place the candle in a tray or on a plate to catch the rest of the water from the ice cubes as they finish melting. Let the candle dry for a day or two.

The candles I have made with a single piece of string only burn for an hour or so and burn quickly enough so that most of the paraffin remains intact. To use the paraffin again, melt the candle and pour the wax into other containers to make solid candles.

Solid Candles

To make solid candles, select several glass containers. Pint or half-pint canning or jelly jars work well. For the wick, measure out a few more inches of string than is needed to reach the bottom of the container. Tie the string around a pencil. Put the pencil across the top of the container to hold the wick in place. When the paraffin and crayons are melted, pour the liquid wax into the container(s). When the candle is set, snip off the wick about a half inch above the wax.

Scented Candles

To make scented candles, put three or four teaspoons of vanilla extract into the bottom of the double boiler (or the coffee can) and then add the paraffin and crayons. When the wax is melted, pour into containers.

 
The Author
 

LeAnn R. Ralph is a freelance writer for two newspapers in west central Wisconsin, is the editor of the Wisconsin Regional Writer (the quarterly publication of the Wisconsin Regional Writers' Assoc.) and is the author of the book, Christmas In Dairyland (True Stories From a Wisconsin Farm) (Aug. 2003); trade paperback. For more information about Christmas In Dairyland, visit http://ruralroute2.com/

Source: ArticleCity

Article Posted: November 30, 2005

More Candle Related Articles

Crafts Discussion Boards

print this article

submit an article

refer this page to a friend

Mountain Rose Herbs. A herbs, health and harmony company. Since 1987
Shop For Your Supplies Here

Since 1987 Mountain Rose Herbs has become the Leading Organic Supplier in not only the finest organic botanical products, but the freshest as well. From their bulk organic herbs and spices, to their essential oils and herbal teas, the quality and integrity of what they offer is unparalleled. In fact, we firmly believe nobody can deliver a better product.

Google
Web PT

Follow us on Twitter

Join us on Facebook

Menu

Craft Basics
General Crafts
Childrens Crafts
Soap Making
Candle Making
Floral Crafts
Holidays Crafts
Crafting For Business

Related Articles

Using Recycled Items In Your Crafts

Sewing A Button On By Hand

How to make Scented Candles from your own kitchen!

French Bead Flower Making - A Vintage Craft Is New Again

Wood Frames Can You Make Your Own

How You Can Dry Flowers/ Wax Fresh Flowers

How To Make Gel Candles - 11 Easy Steps

click for more

Craft Forums

Explore the art of soap making, paper making and candle making. Share your techniques and tips or ask questions...
 
click for more

 

OUR NEWSLETTER
Enter your name and email address below to subscribe to our newsletter. It's FREE!
Name:
Email:

  Channel Guide
The Craft Center
Financial Center
Automotive
Food and Entertaining
Home Center
Gardening Center
Pets
Small / Home Business

 

Contact us About Us Advertising Privacy Terms Of Use Article Submissions Beauty Secrets Of The World
© Copyright 1999 - 2010 Pioneer Thinking. All Rights Reserved Worldwide
* tm; the property of Pioneer Thinking Company.
 
No part of this website may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means
without the expressed permission of Pioneer Thinking
Pioneerthinking.com Logo
Ingredients for a Simple Life