Stippled Candle Project
By Bob Sherman
This
is another article revived from my 1998 archives due to increased interest
in rustic and primitive candle styles lately. It has been modernized and
rewritten to match its new home at One Stop Candle. This is a very simple,
fun technique that provides a heavily textured candle. This technique
provides a texture reminiscent of terry cloth.
Most of the items you may need can be ordered directly from this page for your convenience. The Materials list is at the bottom of the page.
PLEASE NOTE!! - Candle making can be dangerous if proper safety procedures are not followed. Please read these Safety Rules before attempting any candle making projects.
You will also need to know basic candle making skills before beginning. Basic pillar candle making can be learned in our free Introduction To Candle Making Course.
Wax Formula
This candle uses our basic pillar candle formula. Note that this formula
makes a nice white wax without adding dye, however these look best when
made with dark colors.
- 1 pound of 140 melt point paraffin wax
- 1 level teaspoon of Vybar 103
- 1 ounce (2 Tablespoons) of scent oil - optional
- Dye as needed
Instructions
- This technique uses a basic pillar candle so prepare a pillar candle of your choice. If you are new to candle making, my free Introduction To Candle Making Course will explain in detail how to make pillar candles safely.
- Once you have your pillar candle, melt some wax in the same color. Note that this technique tends to wash out the color, so start with a darker shade than you actually want. To illustrate this note that the wax used in the photo above was fire engine red.
- Bring the wax to at least 150 degrees F. Some folks find this easier to do with hotter wax, so find a temperature you are happy with.
- Dip the brush in your melted wax and apply it to the candle using a stippling motion - tapping the candle with the tips of the bristles. Do not use a brushing motion, only the tips of the bristles should contact the candle, it is an in / out motion not side to side.
- Dip the brush after every couple dabs to keep applying wax.
- Continue applying wax until the you are satisfied with the texture and the candle is covered with texture.
Candle Making Supplies And Materials
The following candle making supplies and other materials were used to make this candle. Clicking on the item name will bring you to that item's page with a full description.
| Item | Amount Used |
| Mold | Any style of your choice, however I recommend a metal or seamless 3 inch diameter round. |
| 140 MP paraffin Wax | Enough to make as many candles as desired. |
| Vybar 103 | Used at 1 teaspoon per pound of wax. |
| Dye
Blocks or Dye Flakes |
In the desired colors. |
| Scent Oil | Optional - used at 1 ounce per pound of wax. |
| Wick | For a 3 inch candle I use a #1 square braid wick. If you are using a different size or different ingredients you may need a different wick. |
| Melting / Pouring Pot | One |
| Thermometer | One |
| Brush | A round brush over 1 inch in diameter seems to work best. Note that it should have natural hair or nylon since synthetic bristles may melt from the hot wax. Brushes known as parts washer brushes work well. |
| Old Pots | For making double boilers. One per color. Find at garage sales or thrift shops. |
| Wooden Spoon, Measuring Spoons. | Purchase at a house wares store or a dollar store. |
Disclaimer: The information presented here is accurate to the best of my knowledge and common candle making practices as of the time of this writing - January 2006. The author and the publisher accept no liability for the use or misuse of any of the information presented in this article. This article is presented for informational purposes and is used at your own risk.
Author: Bob Sherman
Publisher: Bobby's Craft Boutique Inc.
This article is provided free of charge for use. Candles may be made and sold using this design royalty free, however no portion of this article may be reproduced for publication elsewhere without express permission from Bobby's Craft Boutique Inc. with the following exceptions:
- Non profit organizations such as religious groups, scouts, 4h, etc... may use this information without permission for printed materials provided it is used without modification and credit is given to both the author and onestopcandle.com
- Reprinting to the web is prohibited without permission, however web sites wishing to link to this article may do so without permission.
All other requests need to be submitted via our reprint request form.
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