Your wedding day is very special for all involved. The love you feel is projected to your guests in many ways. Floating wedding candles provide a touch of romance to the occasion. Make your own with paraffin wax. Color the wax with old crayons or colored wax chips.
Floating candles are made in candle molds that are wide and thin. Muffin tins work well for this project or look at your local hobby and craft store for additional shapes.
Things You’ll Need:
1 pound box of paraffin wax
#10 metal can
Pan large enough to hold the #10 can
Stove
1, Candlewick and tab per candle
Scissors
Candle mold
1, Toothpick or wooden skewers per candle
Scissors
Wax coloring – old crayons or colored wax chips (Optional)
Hot pad
Instructions:
Step 1 – Break the paraffin wax into 1- to 1 1/2-inch wide chunks. Place the paraffin in the #10 can.
Step 2 – Fill a large pan approximately 1/3 full of water. Place the #10 can in the water.
Step 3 – Heat the water and bring it to a medium boil. Stir the wax periodically to help promote melting. Allow the water to boil during the melting process. Keep an eye on the wax to remove it as soon as all wax is melted. The boiling water heats the can which causes the wax to melt.
Step 4 (Optional) – Before turning off the heat, add three to four old crayons or colored wax chips to the melting wax to create the desired color. Continue to add coloring until the wax is slightly darker than the desired color. When the wax dries, it will dry slightly lighter than the liquid wax.
Step 5 – Measure the span of the candle mold’s opening. Use either a toothpick or a wooden skewer to span the distance. The entire distance must be spanned in order to hold the candlewick and tap in place. Determine whether to use a toothpick or wooden skewer is needed. Cut a wooden skewer so the edges extend at least 1/2-inch on both sides of the mold if necessary. Use a pair of scissors to cut the skewer. Either item works to hold the candlewick in place while the was is cooling.
Step 6 – Tie the candlewick to the toothpick or wooden skewer so the tab sits on the bottom of the mold. This process is trial and error. Position the candlewick and tab in the center of the candle mold. Adjust the candlewick around the toothpick or wooden skewer until the tab sits on the bottom of the mold and the candlewick is perpendicular to the mold without any drooping.
Step 7 – Carefully pour the melted wax into the candle mold. Fill the candle mold until the wax is level with the surface or the desired depth. Allow the wax to harden completely before continuing. This may take from 2 to 12 hours depending on the thickness of the wax, the room temperature and the humidity. Note: When using a muffin tin to make floating candles, the entire opening does not have to be filled. If you would like a candle that is only half the height of the mold, only fill the mold to the desired height.
Step 8 – Tip the molds over and remove the floating wedding candles. Cut the candlewick approximately 1/4-inch from the candle’s surface.
Tips: A very interesting floating wedding candle design is to place small ice chips in the candle mold. Make sure not to disturb the placement of the candlewick. Place the molds on a cookie sheet then place the ice in the molds. Pour the melted wax over the ice. Carefully place the candles in the refrigerator to harden. The ice chips melt while the wax is setting thus making voids in the wedding candle. Just as a note, the wax hardens immediately when it hits the surface of the ice. The ice melts slightly but the very thin wax layer holds the remaining wax from filling the void.
