February 16, 2024

How to Make Candle Molds at Home with Household Items

Candle making is a fun and creative hobby that can also save you money and reduce waste. However, buying candle molds can be expensive and limit your options for shapes and sizes. Fortunately, you can make your own candle molds at home with some common household items. In this blog post, we will show you how to make candle molds with cardboard, plastic bottles, tin cans, and silicone. You will also learn some tips and tricks for making your candles look more professional and unique.

How to Make Candle Molds with Cardboard

Cardboard is a cheap and easy material to use for making candle molds. You can use any kind of cardboard, such as cereal boxes, shoe boxes, or toilet paper rolls. Here are the steps to make candle molds with cardboard:

Cut out a piece of cardboard that is slightly longer than the height of your desired candle. You can use a ruler and a pencil to mark the measurements.
Roll the cardboard into a cylinder and secure it with tape. Make sure the cylinder is tight and smooth, without any gaps or wrinkles.
Cut out a circle of cardboard that is slightly larger than the diameter of the cylinder. This will serve as the foundation for your mold.
Cut a small hole in the center of the circle and insert a wick through it. You can use a toothpick or a skewer to poke the hole. Secure the wick with some tape or glue on the bottom of the circle.
Attach the circle to one end of the cylinder with tape or glue. Ensure that the wick is positioned in the center and aligned properly.
Cover the exterior of the mold using aluminum foil. This will prevent the wax from leaking and make the mold more sturdy.
Place the mold on a baking sheet or a tray and pour the melted wax into it. You can use a funnel or a spout to make the pouring easier. Leave some space at the top of the mold for the wax to shrink as it cools.
Let the wax cool completely before removing the mold. You can put the mold in the freezer for a few minutes to speed up the process.
Peel off the cardboard and the foil from the candle. Trim the wick to about 1/4 inch and enjoy your homemade candle.

How to Make Candle Molds with Plastic Bottles

Plastic bottles are another great option for making candle molds. You can use any kind of plastic bottles, such as water bottles, soda bottles, or milk jugs. Here are the steps to make candle molds with plastic bottles:

Cut off the top and the bottom of the plastic bottle with a sharp knife or scissors. You can use the bottom part as a base for your mold, or you can use a cardboard circle as described in the previous section.
Cut a small hole in the center of the base and insert a wick through it. Secure the wick with some tape or glue on the bottom of the base.
Attach the base to the plastic bottle with tape or glue. Ensure that the wick is positioned at the center and remains straight.
Covering the exterior of the mold with aluminum foil serves to stop wax leakage and enhance the structural integrity of the mold.
Place the mold on a baking sheet or a tray and pour the melted wax into it. Leave some space at the top of the mold for the wax to shrink as it cools.
Let the wax cool completely before removing the mold. You can put the mold in the freezer for a few minutes to speed up the process.
Peel off the plastic bottle and the foil from the candle. Trim the wick to about 1/4 inch and enjoy your homemade candle.

How to Make Candle Molds with Tin Cans

Tin cans are another simple and cheap material to use for making candle molds. You can use any kind of tin cans, such as soup cans, coffee cans, or tuna cans. Here are the steps to make candle molds with tin cans:

Wash and dry the tin can thoroughly. Remove any labels or stickers from the can.
Cut a small hole in the center of the bottom of the can and insert a wick through it. Secure the wick with some tape or glue on the bottom of the can.
Place the can on a baking sheet or a tray and pour the melted wax into it. Leave some space at the top of the can for the wax to shrink as it cools.
Let the wax cool completely before removing the can. You can put the can in the freezer for a few minutes to speed up the process.
Peel off the tin can from the candle. Trim the wick to about 1/4 inch and enjoy your homemade candle.

How to Make Candle Molds with Silicone

Silicone is a versatile and flexible material that can be used to make candle molds of any shape and size. You can use silicone molds that are designed for baking or candy making, or you can make your own silicone molds with silicone putty or silicone caulk. Here are the steps to make candle molds with silicone:

If you are using a silicone mold that is already made, simply insert a wick into the mold and secure it with some tape or glue on the bottom of the mold. Make sure the wick is centered and straight.
If you are making your own silicone mold, follow the instructions on the package of the silicone putty or silicone caulk. You can use any object that you want to replicate as a mold, such as a toy, a figurine, or a cookie cutter. Coat the object with some oil or vaseline to prevent the silicone from sticking to it. Press the silicone putty or caulk around the object and let it cure according to the package directions. Remove the object from the silicone mold and insert a wick into the mold. Attach the wick securely to the bottom of the mold using tape or glue. Ensure that the wick is positioned centrally and remains straight.
Place the silicone mold on a baking sheet or a tray and pour the melted wax into it. Leave some space at the top of the mold for the wax to shrink as it cools.
Let the wax cool completely before removing the mold. You can put the mold in the freezer for a few minutes to speed up the process.
Peel off the silicone mold from the candle. Trim the wick to about 1/4 inch and enjoy your homemade candle.

Tips and Tricks for Making Your Candles Look More Professional and Unique

Here are some tips and tricks that you can use to make your candles look more professional and unique:

You can add some color and fragrance to your wax by using candle dyes and candle oils. You can also use natural ingredients, such as herbs, spices, flowers, or fruits, to add some scent and texture to your candles.
You can decorate your candles with some embellishments, such as glitter, beads, ribbons, or stickers. You can also carve or paint some designs on your candles with a knife or a brush.
You can make layered candles by pouring different colors of wax into the same mold. You can also make swirl candles by stirring the wax with a skewer or a toothpick before it hardens.
You can make tapered candles by dipping a wick into melted wax repeatedly. You can also make twisted candles by twisting two or more wicks together and dipping them into melted wax.
You can make container candles by pouring melted wax into any glass or ceramic container, such as a jar, a cup, or a bowl. You can also make floating candles by pouring melted wax into ice cube trays or muffin pans.

Conclusion

Making your own candle molds at home with household items is a fun and easy way to express your creativity and save money. You can use cardboard, plastic bottles, tin cans, or silicone to make candle molds of any shape and size. You can also add some color, fragrance, and decoration to your candles to make them more personal and unique. We expect that you found this blog post enjoyable and gained new knowledge from it. Happy candle making! 🕯️