Lighting candles transforms the mood of a room completely. You feel calmed and relaxed by such a simple thing as the soothing glow of candlelight. Instead of buying expensive candles, you can easily make them at home. For some bright colors, you can use the small bits and pieces of leftover crayons to make a beautiful multi-colored candle. What’s more, you can add some essential oils to add a delightful fragrance. Read on to find out how to make your own candles using old crayons:
Supplies you require to make your candle:
Wax flakes
Candle wicks
Small glass containers for the candles
Old crayon pieces
Essential oils
Wooden popsicle sticks or chopsticks/skewers
Dixie cups / or microwave safe cups
Tape
Scissors
Directions:
The first thing you have to do is to clean the glass containers which would hold the candle. Dry the containers thoroughly before using.
Step 1
The crayon’s paper has to be peeled off. This has to be done as only the crayon wax would be used and not the paper.
Step 2
Take some of the wax flakes in the microwave safe bowl and microwave for about 30-60 seconds or till it is melted completely, in intervals of 30 seconds. Use oven mitts as the wax and the bowl would be quite hot.
Alternately, if you’re not comfortable in melting the wax in the microwave, you can use a pan and heat it on the stove. Fill the saucepan with water just below the halfway level. Place the measured quantity of wax flakes into the glass container. The level of water has to be low enough, so that the water does not splash into the glass container containing wax. Stir using a metal spoon occasionally. The heat stove should be turned up to medium height. Once the wax is melted completely, take it out of the sauce pan with a pair of tongs.
After the wax is melted, you can add the fragrance. You can choose any essential oil you like, such as lavender, chamomile, rose or any other – just put a few drops of the essential oil in the molten wax for a moderate scent.
Step 3
Pour the melted wax in the glass container you cleaned earlier, and put in the candle wick too immediately in the molten wax, right in the center of the container. Give it 30 seconds approximately, for the wax to harden.
Step 4
Now, the next step is to melt the colored crayons. Use one Dixie cup or microwavable bowl per color and microwave for about 2 minutes, and in intervals of 30 seconds, keep microwaving till the crayon is completely liquefied. Let this cool for 30 seconds and pour the colored wax into your glass candle container. Let the first layer of colored crayon wax dry for about 20 – 30 minutes.
Repeat this entire process and continue pouring different colors into each container, so that you get the different color layers. Be sure to let the layers dry well, before adding each layer.
Add the essential oil drops to each layer to get the perfect scented candle.
Step 5
After all the layers have hardened, you should trim the wick to about 1 cm from the candle’s surface.
Step 6
If there is any excess wax or melted crayon, pour that into the trash can. Do not pour the melted wax/crayon down the drain. You can wipe the paper cup’s inside with the help of paper napkins or towels but never rinse it with water.
Step 7
Your colored scented candle is ready to be lighted! Making a colored candle using old crayons is a simple process, though it takes a little time. You would feel the satisfaction of creating your own candles and also using up all the crayons that lie around in your home. Your kids can also get involved in the process, though you’d have to supervise them, and handle the hot wax yourself.
Adding different essential oils like lavender promotes comfort and relaxation, and oils like citrus and lemongrass make you feel energized and alert.
So your colored crayon candle can do much more than light up your room – it can enhance feelings of comfort, relaxation or alertness, depending on your choice of essential oil.
