Candle Making Trial and Error

Candle making is harder then you would think.  Oh, I thought, as I asked for a kit several years ago, it's just melting and pouring wax.  Yeah, okay.

Look at them over there!  those are my first attempt at votive candles, and of course I had to make 13 in one sitting.  If you click on the picture you will see a distinct horizontal line from the second pour.  What do you mean, second pour, you might inquire.  

When making candles You have to pour the most of the wax first, whether in a mold or container.  Then once it hardens, the wax will pit in the middle near the wick.  Then you have to heat the remaining wax to a slightly higher temperature so it adheres smoothly and doesn't make horizontal lines in your candles.  Well that, and for votives they have you pour the second pour so that the wax comes above the meniscus (the lip of the mold) but doesn't spill over.

Anywho.  Those candles will be my Full Moon candles.  Starting on the next Full Moon (March 16th)  I will be having tea and divination or creating a charm of some sort.  Along with burning the candles of course.  I made these as an Imbolc project (fitting yes?) and will be consecrating the candles on each New Moon prior to it's burning.

I also made my Frankenstein candle!  I used shades of yellow, white, blue, and mostly green from candles past to make these beauties.  I didn't intend to make two, but the wax makes the decisions around here. 

Aren't they beautiful? *tears up*

 A note to anyone who wants to make candles.  One: it's really quite fun despite setbacks I've had.  Two: make sure you put down paper towels, wax paper, or do your pouring over a cookie sheet.  Otherwise you may get wax in places it does not want to be e.g. under your stove grates or on the floor.  Three: Get a wax pitcher!1@!  The metal pitcher (seen above holding the wax) is a great help in keeping mess to a minimum.