Yesterday, I had the good fortune to attend class aimed at teaching inexperienced people like myself how to pour candles that would make suitable gifts for our friends and loved ones around the holiday. It was hosted by Creative Girl Studios, and was taught by The Higganum Company, which is of course famous for their deliciously scented candles. We had a wonderful time, and the refreshments helped to create a casual and friendly atmosphere. I can’t say enough about the studio. It is beautiful! It’s the perfect place to meet up with friends or to make new ones. The candles I made are beautiful, so beautiful in fact that I can not part with them. I will definitely go back again. Here are my takeaways from my art candle making adventure:
1. Do not put essential oils on your skin.
Repeat: DO NOT PUT THE OILS ON YOUR SKIN.
As our instructor was quick to emphasize, essential oils are an extremely refined and distilled form of the oil, making it not just potent but an actual irritant when not diluted by waxes, harmless oils, etc.
2. Bring a friend!
There’s time to socialize while the wax sets up, and the set up of the wax takes awhile. What better activity to pass the time with than getting to know the new friends around your table, or chatting with someone you already know? I went with my daughter and it was so very nice to do something new together! The refreshments seemed to make everyone a little more talkative, so it was all very friendly.
3. Experiment wisely.
Just because two scents smell nice on their own does not mean they will smell nice together. This is something the instructor had told us, so I played it safe and stuck with vanilla!
4. Looks can be deceiving.
Dye looks much darker when wet than when dry. Several colors looked black initially but dried into periwinkles and strawberries in the end, so be very careful when evaluating how much dye will create the right result. It won’t look like it does in the cup.
5. Ask for help!
The process looks straightforward enough, but I had no difficulty knocking the wick crooked or over-pouring the votive. It’s surprisingly easy to do!
Wendy Campbell Creations 