How To Make Gel Candles
Making gel candles can be a lot of fun, but I warn you….it is very addictive. The variety of candles that can be made from a few basic ingredients is staggering. You will never be satisfied until you have at least a couple mastered. Making a basic votive candle is very easy and requires very few components.   Ingredients: Clear candle gel Glassware Wick Wick Tab Safety bead Colour tab Glitter (optional) Fragrance Warning label Directions: Melt enough gel to fill your glassware in a clean dry saucepan over a low heat. The hotter your molten gel is when poured the less bubbles will form upon setting, but endeavour not to take your gel past the 95 degree point for safety reasons. If you like lots of bubbles pour your gel when it is cooler. While your gel is melting cut your zinc cored wick to a length just over that of your glass and attach the tab to the bottom with pliers. Slide a safety bead on the wick Dunk the tab in the molten gel to cover it and place in the glassware. Press it to the bottom of the container with a long skewer. When the gel is melted use a vegetable peeler to scrape a little of the colour tab into the molten gel and stir well. You should only need a little. You may also add some glitter now if you choose to, or you may even prefer to use it instead of colour. Allow to cool a little and add some gel safe fragrance oil (3-5%) Stir very thoroughly so no oil remains visible any where throughout your gel. Pour into your glassware carefully. Leave some room at the top to ensure melted gel is well contained during burning and to protect a little from breezes rather than filling to the brim.   When the gel in your pan is cool it may be peeled from the pan and reused later. Make sure the wick stays upright while the gel is setting by tugging gently occasionally. When the candle is completely cool place a warning label on the base of the glass and it is ready to go. by Kerry Pearson Heirloom Body Care

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