Disclaimer: While we have made an effort to ensure that all the procedures described in this article are as safe as possible, those who follow these instructions must use care and common sense. Remember to get permission from your parents before starting on this project! 

Making a candle is easy and fun! There are several ways to do it.

1. Wax sheets. This is probably the easiest way to make a candle. All you need is a wick (you can use string, or you can buy proper candle wicks which will burn more easily) and a sheet of wax. Roll the sheet of wax around the wick, and you have your candle! Please make sure that the wax you buy is intended for candle-making and doesn’t contain anything that is dangerous to burn.

2. Melting wax down and pouring it into a mold. You can buy a candle mold, or make your own. If you make your own, you will need a plastic container which is open on one end and shut at the other, such as a play-dough container. Cut a small hole in the bottom of the container, and thread the string through it. Seal the hole shut with blue-tack or cardboard (note: It must be sealed VERY well, otherwise it will leak). With tape or blue-tack, fasten one or two toothpicks across the top of the container, so that it/they run parallel to the bottom of the container and bridge the opening at the top of the container. Grease the container with vasoline (any oil should work, too). Then, melt the wax and pour it into the mold. Leave it in a cool place to harden, and then carefully remove it from the mold.

3. Melting wax and pouring it into a jar or glass. You will need to burn the candle in the jar or glass, because the wax will stick to the jar or glass and will be nearly impossible to remove. Stick the wick (or string) to the bottom of the glass. Some wicks can stick by themselves to the bottom of the glass, for others you will need blue-tack. Use toothpicks to hold the wick up (see above for how to fasten the toothpicks). Melt the wax down and pour it into the jar or glass. Leave it to harden.

Notes:

You can buy wax for candle making, or you can melt down existing candles.
If you use beeswax, you will probably need to buy wicks, as beeswax doesn’t burn well without a good wick.
If you want a colorful candle, you can use colored wax, or you can melt down a crayon along with the wax (remember to take the crayon peel off!).
If you are using a candle-mold or making a candle in a glass or jar, you can make a layered candle by filling part of the mold/glass/jar with melted wax of one color, leaving that to harden, and then filling the rest of the mold/glass/jar with melted wax of another color.
You can decorate your candle by cutting shapes out of wax sheets and pressing them onto the candle.

Tell us about the candles you made in the comment section below!