Sand-Cast Candles

Early Romans created candles so that they would be able to find their way in the dark, and since those days until the prevalence of gas, then electrical lighting options, candles and torches were used as a matter of necessity.  Today, candles are used more to provide ambience and special effects than as sole nighttime light sources, and there has never been such a creative and expansive variety of candles available on the market for anyone wanting to decorate their surroundings with their ornamentation.  Some people prefer to buy their candles, ready-made, while others enjoy creating their own, from scratch.  There are numerous, creative ways to both make and embellish candles, and the ones made by hand offer a certain charm.

 

Sand-cast candles saw a resurgence in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and proliferated among the avant-garde decorating trends of those times, sharing the spotlight with beaded curtains, shag carpets and lava lamps.  They were sold in numbers of retail establishments, but as they were fairly easy and fascinating to make, many people could be found creating these lovely forms at home.

 

To create your own sand-cast candle, first break up a quarter of a pound of household paraffin (or you can use old candles for this,) into a used, clean can from which the label has been removed.  Place the can of wax in a cooking pot 1/3 full of water and set it on the stove over a low heat.

Next, fill a large tub or flowerpot with moist sand and using your hand or small object, press the shape you desire into the sand.  You could press in three legs all of the same depth, or keep the bottom flat.  Tie a pebble around one end of the wick and embed it in the sand, towards the bottom of the mold. The pebble holds the wick exactly where you place it; and it will be at the top when you unmold the candle.  Wind the other end of the wick around the pencil and lay it across the top of the sand in the tub or across the top of the flowerpot. Make sure the wick is straight in the mold.

Next, pour in the melted wax.  As some wax may sink in slightly, add more to level the bottom of the candle with the level of sand.  Now, simply allow the wax to cool and solidify.   When ready, dig around the sides of a tub-made candle to extract, or simply turn the flowerpot-made candle over to unmold. 

Once removed, brush as much sand off as possible.  Allow it some more time to dry, then brush it off again.  A thin coating of sand should remain on your candle...and voila, you have a new, sand-cast candle!