Many families spend their summer vacations at the beach for a week of sun, surf, and sand. If your plans include a trip to the beach, try this simple candle project and bring home a unique, natural, and creative souvenir. If your plans do not include a trip to the beach, this craft can also be done at home in a sand box or even a cardboard box or dishpan full of sand making it a great project to help beat the summertime boredoms.
Things You’ll Need to Make Your Own Sand Candles
- Sand, either at the beach, in a sandbox, or a container of sand
- Spray bottle filled with water
- Wax, either candle wax or paraffin
- Crayons
- Tin can
- Candle wicking with wire
- Very soft paint brush
When assembling what you need to make your candles, keep a few things in mind. First make sure your sand is fairly clean and free of leaf debris or grasses. Litter such as that can make an unwanted mark in your candle. Secondly, your sand will need to be just damp enough to hold its shape, but not so wet that the sand begins to fall down on itself. You can also use different types of wax. Candle wax sold in craft stores is preferable, but paraffin wax, such as the kind you can purchase in the canning section of the grocery store will also work.
You can also get creative with your candles by including some sea shells or small beach stones in the sides of your candles. Those items should be cleaned and dried before you get started making your candles.
How to Make Your Sand Candles
- Prepare your sand, making sure it is clean and sufficiently damp. If needed, use the spray bottle of water to get the sand to the correct molding consistency.
- Dig a hole the size of the candle that you want to make. Again, use the spray bottle if it starts to fall in on itself.
- If you are using stones or shells, gently press them, outside out, into the sides of your hole.
- Cut a piece of candle wick the depth of your candle. If your candle is going to be made so that the bottom of the hole is the top of the candle, push the wicking down into the sand and gently pull it so that it is standing straight up the middle.
- Melt your wax using the double boiler method. Wax should never be melted over direct heat. Instead, put your wax in an old washed can with the label removed. Set the can in a small pan with one or two inches of water in it. Melt the wax in the double boiler over medium heat, stirring as needed.
- If you would like your wax to be colored, add an old peeled crayon or two to melt with the wax.
- Once the wax is completely melted, carefully take the can to the prepared hole and slowly pour it in around the wick. Continue to pour until the hole is completely filled – the center of the candle will probably sink down a bit so by adding as much wax as you can will minimize the depression that forms.
- Let your candle sit in the sand for an hour or two. Covering it with a pail is an easy way to protect it while the wax sets up.
- Carefully dig up your sand candle. Brush off as much sand as you would like using the soft brush, letting the stones or shells show through.
This project is very simple and easy. Not only that, but it allows for children to get into the sand and see it as a tool rather than just a toy. Collecting shells or stones for the candles can be an activity all by itself, and by customizing the accessories and the colors of the candles, each candle is its very own unique design.
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