Candles are a lovely and romantic gift, perfect for a boyfriend, girlfriend, long-term partner or spouse. Candles hand made by the gift giver are that much more special and personal. Some types of candles are easier to make and make nice Valentines Day presents. Rolled Beeswax CandlesHand rolled beeswax candles are beautiful and have the lovely scent of honey. Purchase bright red honeycomb sheets and the thickest cotton braid wick available. Before rolling the wax around the wick, heat the wax briefly with a heat gun or hair dryer. Warm wax will stick to itself and cold wax will not. Place a strand of wick along the edge of the wax sheet, and gently roll the wax around it to make pillar candles.
To make tapered beeswax candles, cut one edge of each wax sheet with a craft knife. Start one-half inch away from the top corner, and cut out to the bottom corner to make a slanted side. Place the wick on the strait edge and roll the candle; it will be thicker at the bottom than at the top. Floating CandlesAll wax floats. The shape of floating candles keep them upright in water. Purchase heart-shaped mini tart pans to make floating candles for Valentines Day. Other supplies needed include a double boiler, candy thermometer, wooden spoon, candle wax, red dye, candle scent if desired, wire or paper core candle wick and old newspapers to protect kitchen countertops from wax spills. Keep candle making equipment separate from food preparation equipment.
The methods for making floating candles and votive candles are similar. Always melt wax in a double boiler. When the wax is 195 degrees F, add the candle dye, scent if desired, and stir gently. Pour into hear-shaped tartlet molds. Check the candles every 10 minutes, when the top of the wax is skimming push a wick in the center. Wire and paper core wicks stand on their own. If the wax is forming a well in the middle, pour a little more hot wax into the candle. Let the floating candles cool for a few hours or overnight. Before popping them out of their molds, place in the freezer for 15 minutes.