And The DIY Continues...
But not today. Today, I decided to tackle yet another DIY area and make my centerpieces a little more unique.
Instead of using the usual smooth-wax pillar, taper and votive candles, I am going to make hand-rolled beeswax pillar candles of different lengths in ivory and sage.
I am loving this idea for many reasons, but the top two are: 1) first, it's a cheaper alternative to buying a zillion candles (since I am having a cadlelight ceremony and reception, I am going to need A LOT of them) and secondly, they are too easy to make.
They sell the beeswax sheets at just about every craft store, and even Wal-Mart, as well as the wicks, and those are the only two things you need.
And this is also a craft I am very familiar with, and have done before. While Forever*Hubby was deployed to Iraq, I picked up a few new hobbies to keep myself busy -- card-making was one, and candle-making was another. I was not a fan of the boiling the wax and making the smooth type (too time-intensive and messy), but I fell in love with making the hand-rolled kind because it was easier and there was virtually no clean up. Many nights, I would pop in a DVD, pull out a few sheets of the beeswax, gather some wicks and roll the night away. I used some, and gave many away as gifts.
The directions for these are as easy as this; this craft is so easy, it's usually suggested as a child's craft project.
Basic Rolled Pillar
Ingredients:
Beeswax Sheet
Square Braided Wick
Step 1
Warm the wax sheet slightly with a hair dryer (if necessary). Warming the wax will make it easier to work with in cooler room temperatures. Just a slight heat is needed – do not melt the wax.
Step 2
Cut sheets long ways so the width of the newly cut sheet will be the height of the finished candle.
Step 3
Place sheet shiny side down, and position wick as shown below. The wick should be offset ½ inch so it extends ½ inch past the top and ½ inch from the bottom.
Step 4
Carefully fold the wax over the wick trying to keep the edge as round as possible and keep rolling firmly like you would roll a sleeping bag or like how paper towels are rolled around the cardboard tube.