How to Make Rolled Beeswax Candles
Learn how to make your own rolled beeswax candles and decorate them too! Making your own candles is a rewarding craft with very little preparation and clean up, which makes it a great project for large groups and the entire family. These rolled beeswax candles are made with sheets of beeswax which makes it an easy beginner candle making activity for both kids and adults!
I love the atmosphere candles create, especially during these dark winter days. This is a perfect activity for winter solstice when the days are long and the warm glow of candles make your house oh so cozy. Plus, rolled candles make beautiful Christmas gifts for friends, teachers or neighbors.
Rolled Beeswax Candles are Great for Beginners!
You will be so surprised as to how simple it is to make these DIY rolled beeswax candles, even my four year old completed (almost) every step on her own!
If you have always wanted to make your own candles, this is a great place to start!
There is no hot wax involved in the process and little room for error, which makes it a great first experience for kids of all ages. Rolled beeswax candles are the easiest candles to start your journey into candle making and with just a little bit of time you and your kids will have your own beautiful candles!
If you are interested in decorating them there are instructions included for that as well, my kids had a lot of fun making their polka dotted candles.
My sisters and I also had a fun time making flowers and mistletoe designs on our candles. There are a lot of different ways and different sizes you can make your diy beeswax candles.
I will cover the basics and then you can get creative with making your own 🙂 Let’s begin!
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Supplies to Make Rolled Beeswax Candles
How to Make Hand Rolled Beeswax Candles
It’s a good idea to clean off your work surface so your candle doesn’t collect dirt and dust.
Start by cutting your sheet of beeswax in half. This will give you a sheet that is approximately 8″x8″. However you can cut it however long you want to make pillar candles of varied heights!
Warm your sheet of beeswax either with your hands, by just placing your hands on top of it for a little bit. Or you can use a hair dryer and warm it for 5-10 seconds. This will make it easier to roll and less likely to crack in the process. I just gently pressed the beeswax sheet with my hands for a few seconds and that worked great for me!
Cut the length of the wick about 1 inch longer than your sheet of beeswax. Lay it the cotton wick on the long edge of the sheet and crimp the beeswax around it to secure it.
Lay your beeswax sheet on a flat surface and begin to roll your candle. Roll slowly so you do not crack your beeswax sheet. Try to roll it tightly and keep the bottom edge straight, but don’t worry if it isn’t perfect!
Once your candle is rolled all the way press firmly along the edge in order to secure the candle and make sure it doesn’t come apart. If you need to, you can use the hair dryer again for 5-10 seconds in order to warm your candle along the end of the sheet and help it fasten together. Be careful to not warm it too much so you don’t melt the honeycomb pattern of the beeswax sheets.
Now cut the length of wick to 1/2 inch.
Ta da! You now have your own handmade taper candle!
Ideas for Decorating Handmade Beeswax Candles
The candles are so beautiful as they are, but decorating them was the best part for myself and my kids as there are lots of ways to be creative in the process! 🙂
We used modeling wax to make polka dots and flowers on the candles. It can be tough at first to mold the modeling wax and you will need to warm it in your hands to make it easier to work with.
You can use a small craft knife or cookie cutter to make shapes to place on your candle.
My youngest just rolled her wax into little balls and squiggles and placed them all over her candle.
My nephew cut strips of the colored beeswax sheets to make a cross and a candy cane design.
I love the mistletoe design my sister made on her candle!
Warning, once you start you will definitely not be able to make just one candle. Which is okay, because they make great gifts and you will have beautiful homemade candles to last throughout the winter! Now you can light your new candles, grab some hot cocoa and a book and enjoy your cozy night in 🙂
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