How to Make Gel Candles for Decoration Purposes
Decorative gel candles may appear to have objects floating inside the candle. If you make gel candles for decoration purposes, you may wish to alter your design so you can include plastic figurines, dried flowers and other objects. If you embed the decorations in a separate container of gel and use a gel candle insert, your design options are not limited by flammability. You can also remove the gel insert and replace it without remaking the entire candle design.
Things You'll Need
- Clear fish bowl
- Glass cylinder
- Release agent
- Glass measure and pour container
- Oven
- Metal spoon
- Candy thermometer
- Decorations (shells, plastic figurines, sea glass)
- Long tweezers
- Clear candle gel
- Wick
- Glue gun
- Glue sticks
- Pencil
- Tape
Instructions
-
-
1
Clean and dry the inside of a clear glass fish bowl and a glass cylinder. The glass cylinder should fit in the center of the fish bowl with 1 to 2 inches of space between the outside of the cylinder and the inside edge of the fish bowl.
-
2
Preheat the oven to 225 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut the gel candle wax into cubes and place them in a glass container with a pour spout. Melt the candle wax in the oven until it is liquefied. This could take up to one hour, depending on the amount of gel you are melting.
-
-
3
Remove the wax from the oven and stir it with a metal spoon. Test the wax temperature with a candy thermometer. The temperature should be at least 225 degrees but no higher than 230 degrees. The gel will cool as it sits.
-
4
Spray the outside of the cylinder container with a release agent; non-stick cooking spray will work. Position the cylinder in the center of the fish bowl.
-
5
Test the gel; if it is lower than 185 degrees, place it back in the oven to warm it up. Pour the gel into the fish bowl around the cylinder. You can pour the gel up to within 1 inch from the rim of the fish bowl.
-
6
Dip the decorations into melted gel using clean, long tweezers. Seashells, glass stones, rocks and other embellishments work as decorations embedded in gel. Position the embeds into the gel in the fish bowl using the tweezers. Allow the gel to set up and become firm.
-
7
Remove the center cylinder. Place a drop of hot glue in the bottom center of the cylinder. Position the metal end of the wick on top of the glue. Hold the wick in place until the glue sets up.
-
8
Rest a pencil across the top of the glass cylinder. Tape the top of the wick to the center of the pencil.
-
9
Repeat Steps 2, 3 and 5 to melt gel and pour it in the cylinder. Allow the gel to set up and become firm. Remove the pencil. Place the cylinder gel candle back inside the fish bowl.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Do not embed flammable items in gel candles.
