Monday Madness with Martha

On this getting very cold and starting to snow Monday. We all know that it is Monday Madness with Martha the letter of the day is

So in our great Encyclopedia of Crafts the letter c is for
1.Calligraphy
2.Candlemaking
3.Clay

We are going to look at Candlemaking. Now this week I will be cheating because I have NOTHING to make candles so I went on Martha's webpage and pulled up 2 ways to make sand Candels..Now my goal is that in the next few weeks that I make my own real sand candels and i will post them and the way I make them so check out....When it happens.

Sand Candles

One of the best sources for distinctive candles may be your own home. With a few easy-to-find materials, you can create an array of candles that are every bit as beautiful as any you'll find ready-made. This project is inspired by the charmingly irregular, free-form sand candles of the 1960s.

Tools and Materials
Beeswax, 1 pound per candle
Candle dye
Candy thermometer
Scissors
Wooden spoon
Assorted molds with flat bottoms
Sand
Paintbrush
Wooden craft sticks
Large plastic container or bucket
Square-braided cotton wicking, number 4

Sand Candles How-To
1. Place beeswax in a double boiler over medium heat. Each 1-pound piece will yield a 4-inch-tall, 3-inch-wide pillar candle. Monitoring with a candy thermometer, heat beeswax to 175 degrees. For a heavier coat of sand, heat the wax to 190 degrees.

2. Add about 1/8 of a cake of dye per 1 pound of wax. Blend with a wooden spoon. To test the color, dip a wooden craft stick into the wax, and allow to dry. Add more dye in small pieces until you achieve desired color, remembering the finished color will be slightly darker than the stick.

3. Combine sand with water by mixing with your hands until sand packs firmly enough to hold an imprint. Cover bottom of container with several inches of sand. Set mold on top, and pack additional sand tightly around it, making sure mold stays upright. Grip mold firmly, and carefully ease it straight up and out of the sand. If the sand wall crumbles, mix in a little more water, and begin again.

4. Cut a piece of cotton wicking to several inches longer than the height of the candle, and dip it into the melted wax to stiffen it. Use a pencil to make a hole in the bottom of the mold. Place one end of the dry wick in the hole, and bury it, using the pencil.

5. Making sure the wick stands upright and centered, pour the wax into the mold in a slow, steady stream. Don't pour too fast, as the wax will make a dent in the sand. If you are making more then one candle, return the wax to the stove between pours. Let the candle set until completely cool (overnight, if possible), and remove it. Dust off excess sand with a paintbrush, and use scissors to cut off the excess wick and wax at the base.

Copyright 2010 Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. All rights reserved.


Easy Sand Candles
Pay tribute to the Stars and Stripes (emphasis on the stripes). Red, white, and blue bands of sand dress up votive candles to make flickering lights that are cheerful and fun. Sand is available in a variety of colors at art-supply stores; designing a candle is as simple as pouring layers into a glass. Make several, and create a patriotic centerpiece to coordinate with china or linens for outdoor dining.

To make a sand candle, fill a clear drinking glass with enough sand so that a votive candle placed on top falls just below the rim. Set the glass inside a clear glass vase or jar. With a funnel, fill the gap between the two containers with layers of colored sand, using enough to reach the rim of the drinking glass.
Copyright 2010 Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

I hope you have fun making Candles this week. Check out Martha's Encyclopedia of Crafts it has a ton of ideas for candle making

Till Next Time....