Today I'm sharing with you how to create a Handmade Grubby Candle. This is an older tutorial as I wrote this back in 2007, but is still fun to play with. And please note these tutorials are meant for the beginner or those just curious and wanting to play with wax. I don't have my "Box.net" file sharing gadget up yet but I will share these wax tutorials in PDF format when I get that done. Please read over all the steps to familiarize yourself, plan what you want to create, and will have the supplies needed. You don't need all the expensive molds and such to create fun and beautiful wax creations. I hope you have fun, use your imagination, and share with us what you create!
Handmade Grubbies
© 2007 by Libby Bryant
I wanted to share with you how I make my own grubby candles. Starting out I couldn't afford those beautiful $65.00 molds, so came up with my own technique.
What you'll need:
Double boiler and wax pot
2 pounds pillar/votive wax
Wax color block
2-3 ounces fragrance oil
Wax paper
Old bowl
Old mixer (yard sale item)
Large old wooden or plastic spoon
3" diameter candle mold
Metal cookie cutters (optional)
Pre-tabbed wick
Drill and 1/8" bit
Instructions:
Melt your wax according to supplier's instructions in double boiler and wax pot. Separate 1/2 the wax and add shaving off color block till desired tint. Add fragrance oil and allow wax to cool to 150 degree before pouring in mold. If you don't have a metal mold you can use a plastic frosting container, like the Betty Crocker frosting containers. After candle is set remove from mold. If you have problems getting it to release place in freezer for 5-10 minutes. Allow candle to reach room temp. Next you'll need to drill a hole in your candle if you didn't use a mold and wick pin. Insert wick in drilled hole and set on wax paper. With the other half of wax left in the pot, reheat if needed and color and scent that. I used a much lighter color for this. Allow wax to cool till a film covers the top then pour in an old bowl. Allow wax to cool a little more then use mixer for a few seconds. This will cause the wax to cool faster and start clumping. While wax is still warm use mixer again for a few seconds then start spooning the wax on your candle. Don't try to smooth it out, you want it clumpy for that grubby look. Apply wax all around and on top of candle, getting about 1/4" to 1/2" layer. You'll need to work with the whipped wax quickly as it cools fast. If the wax does cool before you can get all your grubby mix on, repeat those steps and finish the candle. This technique can also be done on a store bought candle but if using one of those, I recommend dipping the whole candle in the wax pot before starting to apply the grungy/clumpy whipped wax. Those candles have a special coating and the grunge wax won't stick too well, so dipping them first solves that problem. You should now have a very cute grungy candle. If you want to use the cookie cutter shapes on them, do that right after you get finished putting the grungy wax on while it's still warm. Carefully roll the cookie cutter from one side to the other so you get a nice cut out on your candle. You can use a toothpick, X-acto knife to remove the cookie cutter wax cut out. You can make the candle one color and the grungy wax another as I have mine. That gives a very nice effect. I also used a star shape cutter on one side of the candle and a heart on the other. These look very cute placed in a candle pan with some rosehip fixins and a homespun tied around the wick or the candle if it's a plain grubby. As always, have fun and use your imagination!
The good thing about wax is you can re-heat and try again till you get what you like. 😊 I hope you enjoy my blog and take time to look around at my handmade wax goodies. Please feel free to ask questions. I may not have all the answers but I'll do my best to help you. I would love to see what you create with this tutorial, please share with us. Till next time, have fun playing with your wax! 😊
Happy creating, Libby
Handmade Grubbies
© 2007 by Libby Bryant
I wanted to share with you how I make my own grubby candles. Starting out I couldn't afford those beautiful $65.00 molds, so came up with my own technique.
What you'll need:
Double boiler and wax pot
2 pounds pillar/votive wax
Wax color block
2-3 ounces fragrance oil
Wax paper
Old bowl
Old mixer (yard sale item)
Large old wooden or plastic spoon
3" diameter candle mold
Metal cookie cutters (optional)
Pre-tabbed wick
Drill and 1/8" bit
Instructions:
Melt your wax according to supplier's instructions in double boiler and wax pot. Separate 1/2 the wax and add shaving off color block till desired tint. Add fragrance oil and allow wax to cool to 150 degree before pouring in mold. If you don't have a metal mold you can use a plastic frosting container, like the Betty Crocker frosting containers. After candle is set remove from mold. If you have problems getting it to release place in freezer for 5-10 minutes. Allow candle to reach room temp. Next you'll need to drill a hole in your candle if you didn't use a mold and wick pin. Insert wick in drilled hole and set on wax paper. With the other half of wax left in the pot, reheat if needed and color and scent that. I used a much lighter color for this. Allow wax to cool till a film covers the top then pour in an old bowl. Allow wax to cool a little more then use mixer for a few seconds. This will cause the wax to cool faster and start clumping. While wax is still warm use mixer again for a few seconds then start spooning the wax on your candle. Don't try to smooth it out, you want it clumpy for that grubby look. Apply wax all around and on top of candle, getting about 1/4" to 1/2" layer. You'll need to work with the whipped wax quickly as it cools fast. If the wax does cool before you can get all your grubby mix on, repeat those steps and finish the candle. This technique can also be done on a store bought candle but if using one of those, I recommend dipping the whole candle in the wax pot before starting to apply the grungy/clumpy whipped wax. Those candles have a special coating and the grunge wax won't stick too well, so dipping them first solves that problem. You should now have a very cute grungy candle. If you want to use the cookie cutter shapes on them, do that right after you get finished putting the grungy wax on while it's still warm. Carefully roll the cookie cutter from one side to the other so you get a nice cut out on your candle. You can use a toothpick, X-acto knife to remove the cookie cutter wax cut out. You can make the candle one color and the grungy wax another as I have mine. That gives a very nice effect. I also used a star shape cutter on one side of the candle and a heart on the other. These look very cute placed in a candle pan with some rosehip fixins and a homespun tied around the wick or the candle if it's a plain grubby. As always, have fun and use your imagination!
The good thing about wax is you can re-heat and try again till you get what you like. 😊 I hope you enjoy my blog and take time to look around at my handmade wax goodies. Please feel free to ask questions. I may not have all the answers but I'll do my best to help you. I would love to see what you create with this tutorial, please share with us. Till next time, have fun playing with your wax! 😊
Happy creating, Libby
