Beeswax Candles

Beeswax candles look great on a shelf and make thoughtful gifts. You can roll up great-looking beeswax candles made from sheets of beeswax. Beeswax has an interesting texture and has the same pattern beekeepers use to give their bees a head start in making the combs where they store honey.

Materials:
Sheet of beeswax
Candle wick
Ruler
Scissors
Candleholder
Cutting tool such as a table knife or a plastic spatula from a toy kitchen set
Hair dryer

1. You'll find sheets of beeswax at craft stores. They usually come two sheets to a package, along with a piece of wick that you can cut to the length you need. One sheet of beeswax can be used to make several candles, depending on the size.

2. To make miniature candles, cut a 4"-square piece of beeswax with the knife. Make sure you have a parent's permission -- or a parent's help.

3. Use scissors to cut the wick about 1" longer than the square.

4. Set the hair dryer on low temperature and low speed. Turn it on, and blow warm air over the piece of beeswax you've cut. This gently warms the beeswax so that it becomes soft enough to work with. It should take only about 15 to 20 seconds to warm the wax so that it's soft enough to bend without breaking.

5. When the beeswax is ready, lay the wick along one edge of the square. Gently fold the edge of the wax over the wick so it holds it tightly. This step takes a little patience and practice, but you don't have to worry too much about the way the fold looks, as it will be hidden inside the candle. Roll the candle all the way up (figure A).

6. When you've rolled up the candle, warm the seam with the hair dryer for a moment, then press it closed with your finger or the dull tip of your cutting tool.

You can put a pair of mini beeswax candles in small wooden candleholders you've decorated yourself. They look great on a shelf.

by diynetwork.com