The only materials you’ll need are: pine cones, wick or a cotton string, and wax.

Gathering the pinecones will get you outdoors in nature. Pine trees are easy to find once you start looking.

This is an excellent project to use any spare bits of wax you have left over from other projects or from the stubs of used candles. This is not project that requires any fancy wax. Soy wax is likely to be too soft and sticky at room temperature to be successful in this application. I certainly wouldn’t use beeswax something like this. If I had any left over beeswax, I’d save it until I had enough to make another beeswax candle.

The technique is straightforward. it’s very much like dipping candles, only you dip the whole pine cone not just the string.

Wrap a length of string around the pine cone, working it in between the segments, and leaving a length of it extending from the end of the pine cone. If you have left over wicking, you can use it but cotton string is generally good enough for this application.

Melt the wax you’ve collected to about 180°. be sure to use a double boiler].

When the wax is hot enough, you can take it off the heat and begin dipping the pine cones. It usually works best if you prepare the pine cones before you start, then dip them each once. After the initial dipping, you can let the wax cool slightly then dip each pinecone multiple times until a nice layer of wax as build up on the segments.

Once the wax has hardened, all you need to do is trim the string and you’re done.

Some people want their fire starters to be a little special. If you like, you can use dye to color them or fragrance to add scent.

To discover even more candle crafts, click here.  And I highly recommend that you follow this link to learn about a complete guide to home candle making.

Have fun trying these crafts.

As I learned when I visited The Candle Making Connection, candle making is the perfect craft for the artistically challenged. Just about everyone loves candles, and with just a little instruction almost anyone can make their own.

I think an important reason why candle making is growing in popularity is because {everyone responds to the gentle glow watching television}.

With so many types of candles to choose from everyone can find one appropriate to their preferences. There are gel candles, beeswax candles, mold candles, multi colored pillar candles and many more. With some wax and a good wick you could even make a dipping candle.

Since most the time you make candles with hot wax a little bit of caution is necessary. One way around this is to make candles using sheets of soft wax that you simply roll around a prepared wick.

Candle Making Crafts offer some good ideas for beginners. But if you want to find out about a great resource that will take you from beginner to expert in no time flat, take a look at

Home Candle Making Made Easy

With the information you'll find there, you be able to make just about any type of candle you might desire. Keep in mind that not only will you enjoy candle making as a hobby, candles make great presents for you to share with family and friends.

Give candle making a try. I know you'll be glad you did.

This project has several things to recommend it. One good point is that it is highly adaptable. You completely change to look of the candle by changing the way you decorate it.

For another, is very economical. You’re going to use votive candles in canning jars, so there’s no big investment and materials. Even if you buy new canning jars, they’re not very expensive. But you probably won’t have to buy them.

Commercially sold jam often comes in very attractive jars that you can use for this project. Garage sales are another source of inexpensive canning jars.

The other part of the project is a votive candle and a plain glass holder for it that you can purchase inexpensively at a discount store.

To assemble the finished candle, partially fill the canning jar with decorative material, then place the votive candle holder on top of it. You can also decorate the outside of the jar. Here are some suggestions, you can attach surface decorations, use paint to create patterns or tie a ribbon around it.

Any number of materials can be used to fill the bottom of the canning jar. A common one is to use potpourri. In addition to being attractive, it adds a pleasant aroma as well.

Since you may be using somewhat flammable material as decoration, you need to use a glass votive holder with the candle. Do not use a votive candle or a tea candle without a glass holder.

It is a good idea to not let the decorative material come up above the bottom of the votive holder and to extinguish the candle before it burns completely to the bottom. And always remember the general safety principle of never leaving the room where a candle is burning.

As you’ve noticed, this project uses purchased candles. You’ll undoubtedly want to craft your own candles sooner rather than later. A good place to get basic instructions is: How to Make Your Own Candles. Not only will you find great instructions right on that page but you can sign up for a free candle making mini course that’s very informative and helpful.

And if your wondering what equipment might be involved in the hobby of candle making, you’ll find answers at Candle Making Equipment.

I’m sure you’ll find candle making to be a fun and rewarding hobby. I encourage you to give it a try.

One of the most abundantly manufactured wax used in making candles today is paraffin wax It is a by-product of petroluem. Most candles are now made from paraffin wax which is readily available everywhere and is cheap to buy. In various parts of the world, plant materials like soybeans and palm oil are extensively used also to make candle wax. Naturally produced wax are refined from such plant materials like soy beans and palm. United States is noted for massive production of soybeans from which natural soy wax is extracted. Soy wax has swiftly grown in popularity as it is commonly available, cheap to make, renewable and eco-friendly.

Another plant-based wax that is rapidly growing in popularity is Palm wax. Palm wax is a natural and renewable resource which is refined or extracted from palm trees. Acres of virgin forests in many countries around the world are now regularly being cleared to make way for palm tree plantations just because of the ever growing popularity of palm oil and palm wax in the world market.

This forest clearing has in many ways contributed to the global warming phenomenon affecting our planet today. it has displaced vast numbers of endangered species like tigers, rhinos, gorrillas and orangutans living in these forests. Try and keep in mind this negative effect on our planet when you are buying palm wax,  and make your own little contribution towards the sustainance of our ecosystem by buying wax that is eco-friendly.

People have been making candles from animal products for centuries. The Egyptians made candles from beeswax as early as 3000 BC, and the Chinese made theirs from whale fat between 221 and 206 BC during the Qin Dynasty. Candles made from natural beeswax is available in white and yellow and it is as popular as ever. Although it is more expensive than paraffin wax or palm wax, candle makers are drawn to this wax by its natural fragrance and its burning characteristics.

A new kind of material people are using to make candles now is Gel. Gel candles are clear and have a rubbery texture but it works much the same way as candles made from any other kind of wax. Gel wax is available in three different densities – low, medium and high. The type of candle you want to make and the amount of scent you want to add will dictate the gel density you need to use. Low density gel works best for candles that contain 0-3% scent, and it is poured at low temperatures. Medium density gel is probably the most popular gel for making gel candles and it is best with candles that contain 3-5% of fragrance. High density gel wax works best for candles that holds a higher amount of fragrance and it is usually poured at much higher temperatures than the low and medium density wax.

Candle makers today are spoilt for choice with the wide varieties of wax available on the market for the candle making enthusiast. You can pick and choose the type of wax that works best for you and the type of candle you are planning to make. A complete understanding of the characteristics and quality of the different types of wax will allow every budding candle entrepreneur to use each one to its fullest potential in crafting the candle of their dreams.