Candle Making??

you can get parafin wax at the grocery store - just drop some crayons into it to get the colors right. Oh - you can also melt down the little bits of old candles that are too small to burn anymore. We used to melt ours in an old tennis ball container (a metal one) placed in a hot water bath. You need to be a little careful because the parafin is, obviously, flammable! We made these when I was a kid and it was fun. You can decorate pretty jars (mason jars work well and if you decorate the outside with torn up tissue paper painted on with watered down glue that's pretty) and then just pour the wax in. You can buy wick string at any craft store like Michaels. Make sure you tie the wick to a pencil or something and lay the pencil across the top of the jar so that it stays in the right place while the wax hardens.

When i was a child, i remember going through all my crayons. The broken or short ones my mom helped me melt down on the stove top(an old garage sale pan will do just fine) Let the wax cool in the pan until a thin skim is on top, then pour into glass jars. place a candle wick into the jar before pouring it in. Tie the wick to a pencil to keep it upright and straight and in the middle. Place the pencil parallel on top of the jar. Dont plan on using the pan for cooking after this, set it aside with your left over art and craft stuff, it will come in handy sometime down the road. We also had gotten the big sheets of wax they sell at walmart or most craft stores. Now days, they do have smaller portions of wax. even the dust like kind you dont even have to melt down. The best part i remember was making my colors with crayons(because back then they only had a clear-white wax to melt down.) They even have different scents of wax or oils to add to make everything smell pretty. Good luck! make it fun!

I make soy wax candles and there are so many ways to decorate jars. The great thing about soy is that it is "kid friendly". The melting point is lower and you pour it when it is about 110º. Great thing to do with your kids, plus it gives the homemade personal touch. Have fun!

Hi J......I make soy candles and I suggest not to use anything other than soy, beeswax(a little harder to work with) or a pure vegetable wax. It's alot safer than paraffin and a whole lot cleaner.
K.

I just want to suggest you be very careful with this, especially with your kids being so young. There are many variables in making candles, and you'll want to make sure each jar is the same size so you can keep all the variables the same. Test burn one yourself to make sure it's safe, that it burns properly and doesn't get too hot or a huge flame. Don't add glitter or anything into the candle or on the inside of the jar.

As for the decorating, check out a craft store. There are paints for glass as well as stuff (technical, I know) that makes it appear embossed. I'd do the test burn in a decorated jar too, just to make sure the decorations can stand the heat.