How to Make Handmade Cards & Candles

Homemade cards and candles make great gifts for a variety of occassions.

Homemade cards and candles make great gifts for a variety of occasions such as holidays, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, or just to remind a friend or relative that you are thinking about them. Handmade cards and candles are relatively simple and cost effective to put together, yet they convey a message to the recipient that you cared enough about them to spend the time to create a thoughtful gift just for them.

Things You'll Need

• Card stock
• Embellishments
• Computer with Printer (optional)
• Scissors
• Hot Glue Gun or Elmers Glue
• Large or Medium Pot
• Glass Jar or Metal Can
• Heat Source
• Candle Wax
• Candle Mold
• Vegetable or Olive Oil
• Candle Wick or Cotton String
• Pencil or Stick

Instructions

Making Handmade Cards

1. Identify the purpose of your cards and whom you will be sending them to. This will dictate the type and amount of supplies that you will need to purchase. Take some time to plan out the design of your cards such as what color scheme you would like to use, the size of the cards and how elaborate the design will be.

2. Purchase card-making supplies from your local craft store. You will need to purchase card stock for the main body of each card. In most cases, depending upon the size of your cards, one sheet of card stock should be enough to make one to two cards. You can purchase different colors of card stock for cutting out designs, scrap-booking embellishments, ink stamps, stencils, beads, ribbon and paint to add interest and character to your cards.

3. Create your handmade cards. To create the wording on your cards you can either type your message into a word processing application such as Microsoft Word and run your card stock through a printer, or you can stencil or print your message directly onto the card. Use a hot glue gun or Elmer’s glue to attach the embellishments that you selected for each card.

Making Handmade Candles

1. Prepare your work area by covering you work surface with newspapers or waxed paper. Making candles requires that you work with hot wax. This may stain or burn a counter or table if some is spilled during the candle making process.

2. Set up a “double boiler” system to melt your candle wax. To set up a double boiler system, obtain a medium to large kitchen pot and fill it with approximately two inches of water. Set it on your stove top or a Bunson burner on low heat. Place a coffee can or glass jar into your pot. The double boiler method allows the wax to heat without burning since the water creates a buffer between the wax and your heat source which creates even heat distribution.

3. Melt your candle wax. Candle wax typically comes in either pellet or block form. If you are using pellets you may pour them directly into your jar or can. If your wax came in block form, use a knife to cut the wax into smaller pieces to allow for even melting. Use a long spoon or stick to slowly stir the wax during the melting process. Once the wax is melted you may add and stir color or scents into the wax. Candle scents and colorants can be purchased at most craft stores. Crayons can also be melted and used as a colorant.

4. Prepare your candle mold. You can either purchase molds at a craft stores or online candle making supply stores or you can use generic containers as a mold. Milk cartons, plastic food containers, and soda bottles or cans can be used as molds. Rub your mold down with olive or vegetable oil before pouring you wax to allow your easy removal of the candle once it hardens.

5. Prepare your wick. You can purchase wicks at your local craft store or you make them from cotton string or yarn. To make a wick, measure the height of your candle and add three inches—cut this amount of string for your wick. Dip your string into your melted wax and remove it slowly. Hang or lay the wick the dry.

6. Pour your candle. Grasp the can or jar containing your melted wax with tongs or a potholder and remove it from the pot. Allow the jar to cool for a minute before pouring. Use you pot holders to slowly pour the melted wax into your mold. While the wax is soft, insert you wick by inserting it into the center of the wax. The wax-coated wick will slide through the soft wax with ease. Tie the tip of the wick to a pencil or other flat object that will rest on the brink of the mold to hold the wick in place until the candle hardens.

7. Allow your candle to harden for 24 hours before removing from the mold. Typically, once the candle has hardened it can be removed by merely turning the mold upside down. However, if the candle is stuck in the mold, immerse the bottom of the mold into hot tap water for 15 to 30 seconds and them try removing the candle once more.

Tips & Warnings

• You may use vases, glass jars or ceramic containers as a "mold". Candles can be given as gifts without removing them from these decorative "molds".

References

• Hand Made Craft Ideas.com: How to Make Handmade Cards
• The Farm.org: How to Make Candles