Friday, August 14, 2009

Hurricane Tealight Holders


So I've started several projects but this is the first one I have documented. The venue will not allow real candles so I found some flameless tealights in downtown LA. I dont mind this, but i want something that is gonna cover up the fakeness of the candles. The cheap clear glass votive holders wont do that, so i thought PROJECT TIME.

So me and the lil sis went to Michael's Craft store and bought a few things.

I got this idea from www.candletech.com Thanks a lot. I love the internet.

You Will Need:
High-Melt Paraffin Wax (IGI 1260) or another high melt wax
Balloons
Double Boiler
Cookie Sheet

Here are the steps

1. Fill a water balloon with lukewarm water.

DSC_1340


2. Break up your wax if you have a slab of it. We used a huge screw driver for this job. DSC_1334Melt your wax. DSC_1338DSC_1339Depending on the type of wax, the best temperature for this project is between 150-180 degrees Fahrenheit. Try to maintain this temperature by keeping it on a double boiler and monitoring the wax with a thermometer.

3. If you want to dye your wax, then put a little at a time. We put red and yellow dye until we got the color of orange.
DSC_1342<> 4. Slowly dip your balloon into the wax to just below the water level in the balloon. Warning: Do not dip the balloon into the wax past the water level. This could cause the balloon to pop.

DSC_1349

5. Hold the balloon in the wax for a few seconds, and then slowly lift it out of the wax. Dip the balloon a few more times, allowing some time between dips to let the wax cool.

6. While it is still quite warm, carefully set the balloon down onto a piece of paper or a cookie sheet, making sure it is level. This will create a flat bottom for the luminary.

7. Dip your balloon a few more times until it is the desired thickness. A good target thickness is 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch.

8. Set the balloon on the paper or cookie sheet again and let it cool.

9. When the wax is completely cooled, hold the balloon over a sink or bucket, facing away from you. Carefully pop the balloon with a skewer or knife and let the water drain out. Throw away the balloon shards.

10. To level the top of the luminary, heat a cookie sheet on the stove and place the luminary top-down onto the hot sheet and carefully melt the edges until it is level.


DSC_134611. If some crack, its ok just throw them back into the pot to melt and start again.
DSC_1348

12. So as you see they didnt turn out ORANGE but rather peach. So yeah now I will need to paint them. Maybe i will paint them brown, that seems easier than painting them orange. hmmm gotta think about that.