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Candle Power

Lighting up winter from FamilyFun

In This Article

Hand-Dipped Sparkle Candles

Hand-dipping candles is an almost hypnotic process. My girls found the carefully regulated rhythm and the simplicity of the steps wonderfully old-fashioned, like something out of . The slow building of layers takes time, though. For safety and enjoyment's sake, don't start this project unless you have a free afternoon. This is one craft you want to savor, not rush.

AGES:

8 and up

SAFETY NOTES

Before you begin, discuss some working rules with your kids. Wax is flammable and must be melted over boiling water--an adults-only job. While the wax is melting, kids should stay out of the area. All candle dippers must have their hair pulled back and wear aprons, shoes and socks. Just in case, have the pot cover handy to snuff out a flame (don't try to use water). Never leave melting wax unattended.

MATERIALS

Pot (a deep but small one works best)
Rim of a canning jar lid
2 to 3 lbs. paraffin wax, broken into chunks
Tall metal can (a 7-inch-high baby formula can works perfectly)
Kitchen tongs
Candle dyes or crayons (optional; see Candle-Making Resources)
Newspaper, wicking, ruler and scissors
2 dipping sticks per child (chopsticks or
6-inch lengths of doweling)
Permanent marker
Hot plate
Tall container of water
Drying rack (narrow cardboard box with one side cut out)
Pot holders
Cotton cloth
Aluminum foil or paper
Assorted sequins and beads

Fill your pot with 4 to 5 inches of water, and drop in the metal rim from a canning jar lid. Pack about half the paraffin chunks into the tall can and set it on the canning lid rim so the bottom of the can is not in direct contact with the bottom of the pot. Turn on the burner to medium-high. As the paraffin melts, use tongs to add more chunks until the level is about 1 inch from the top of the can. It can take up to an hour for the wax to melt. If you want to make colored candles, shave in candle dye or add broken crayons until you achieve the desired hue.

While you tend the wax, enlist your kids to clear the dipping area and cover it--and the floor below--with newspaper. Have the children measure two 9-inch lengths of wicking and tie the pieces to their dipping sticks. Mark each stick with each child's initials. Set up the hot plate, water bath and drying rack on the table, with plenty of space between items, and establish the path of traffic flow with your children. When the wax is melted, carry the can to the table using pot holders and place it on the hot plate, set on low heat. Stand or seat yourself next to the wax station for close supervision.

1. Invite the kids, one at a time, to prepare their wicks. Each child should dip one wick into the wax, let it cool momentarily, then pull it taut to straighten. Dip it in water and run the clean cotton cloth down the wick to dry it. Leaving this wick on the rack, each child can repeat the process with a second wick.

2. Alternating between candles, the children can begin dipping in earnest. Encourage them to dip and raise their wicks in a smooth, continuous motion, counting off 1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 1 as they go. The important thing is not to stop in mid-dip: If the wick stays in the wax too long, the candle will melt away.

3. After dipping their candles in the wax, the kids should move aside to dip them in the water and dry them with the cloth. This cools and straightens the candles. It takes about 25 wax dips to form a candle 1/2 inch in diameter.

4. In between rounds of dipping, let the wicks air-dry on the rack.

5. Once the candles are 1/2 to 3/4 inch in diameter, set out a piece of aluminum foil or paper, and sprinkle on a generous amount of sequins and beads. Your kids should dip their candles and quickly roll them in the decorations.

6. To seal in the beads, dip each candle quickly in and out of the wax.

7. Allow the candles to air-dry or dip them in water and dry them following the overcoat. The kids can repeat these steps a few times to get good overall coverage of the sequins and beads but should not apply more than two or three layers, or the candles will look too lumpy.