Earth911 saw my egg candles on my Flickr account and asked for me to create a tutorial for their blog, uh yes! Way to motivate me to finally get this tutorial together.
Let's get started!
Supplies Needed:
a. Candle thermometer
b. Clean, empty egg shells
c. Old pot for boiling water
d. Wick (or old birthday cake candles)
e. Used candles (once melted, you can also reuse the wicks)
f. Melting pour pot
You can probably find most of these materials around the house, but you may want to head to your local crafts store for the candle thermometer and melting pour pot. in handy for candle crafts for years to come.
You have three different wick options. Brand new wire wicks can be purchased from your local crafts store. But I recommend recycling old birthday candles or wicks from used candles to cut back on environmental impact.
You can salvage wicks when melting down old candles: Once candle wax is melted, simply extract the wick from the melting pot using tongs or a skewer.
Next time you're scrambling eggs, remember to salvage your egg shells for use in your candle project.
Start by cracking the top of each egg with a spoon. Break shell away carefully until the hole is large enough to pour content out.
Rinse your eggshells using hot water, and run your finger around the inside of the egg to remove any remaining shell pieces.
Let them dry, and they're ready for crafting!
I repurposed wax from old, un-burnable candles for this reuse project.
Reusing old candle wax is a great way to cut back on waste, but it can be tricky if you don't know what you're doing. So, keep these safety tips in mind while working on your project.
>> Firstly, candle wax is flammable. This includes parrafin wax, soy wax and beeswax. So, do not use direct heat to melt your candles. Keep flammable items away from the stove, and never leave melting wax unattended.
On the off-chance that the wax does catch fire, do not douse it with water. Keep a fire extinguisher or baking soda handy, and reach for one of these instead to avoid a crafting mishap.
Cover your workplace with newspaper for easy clean-up - since wax is not fun to clean off counters,.
To begin melting your wax, boil water in an old pot or saucepan and place the melting pot inside.
Add used candles to the double-boiler setup, and heat to between 125 and 150 degrees Farenheit.
Check the temperature frequently with a candle thermometer, and never leave wax unattended.
Tip: Don't let your mixture get hotter than 250 degrees Farenheit or the vapors could become flammable.
Trying to fill your egg shells with wax all in one pour could yield less-than-perfect candles so I do two pours to give the candles a smooth surface.
For the first time around, pour melted wax into eggshells about three-fourths of the way.
Allow your candle wax to cool for 10 to 15 minutes. Once the wax has slightly hardened, gently insert wicks into the center of your egg shell candles.
Before moving on to the next step, your wax should be soft yet thick enough to hold up the wick by itself.
The first pour will create a concave around the wick. So, a second pouring will fix this.
Top your candles off with more melted wax, enough to create a smooth surface.
Allow your candles to set for at least two hours before using.
Float them in a bowl of water or use egg candle holders.
Happy upcycling!
EcoMonster
