Waxed Bear Project

By Bob Sherman

Stuffed animals dipped in scented wax make great air fresheners. These are popular gifts as well and are fun and easy to make. Although a teddy was used here, pretty much any type of stuffed animal may be used. Although these are not candles, they are a very popular project among candle makers.

Many 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 (melting wax in this case) can be dangerous if proper safety procedures are not followed. Please read these Safety Rules before attempting any candle making or wax melting projects. If you are not an experienced candle maker, the basics of melting wax safely may be learned in our free Introduction To Candle Making Course.

Wax Formula
If you are making your own candles, this project uses our basic pillar candle formula.

• 1 pound of 140 melt point paraffin wax
• 1 ounce (2 Tablespoons) of scent oil per pound of wax
• Dye as needed - Dye the wax to match the color of the bear as closely as possible. This is not necessary for white bears.

1. A medium size bear was used for this project. Do not use cheap glued seam bears as they will fall apart from the heat - the bear must have sewn seams.	2. My thinking on this was to attach a clip to simplify dipping. This will work, however the clip illustrated here was not strong enough.
3. Submerge the bear in the melted scented wax. Use a wooden spoon or similar object to push the bear down to ensure full coverage. Note that a double boiler setup is used to melt the wax for safety.	4. After a few seconds remove the bear from the wax and allow it to drain. It is very hot at this stage so handle with care.
5. It takes quite a while to drain these so you can position the bear atop 2 wooden spoons placed across the top of the pot. If you plan to make a lot of these you will want to build a drain system such as a grill positioned above a pan.	6. Pose the bear in approximately the final position as desired. Note the heavy rubber gloves to protect hands
7. Comb and fluff out the fur using a dinner fork.	8. Pose bear in final position propping the parts as needed. Note the metal rod supporting the head in this photo.
9. Touch up any spots of fur that need it with the fork. Be gentle so you don't disturb the pose.	10. Allow to cool fully. The bear will hold its pose once the wax hardens.
	Refreshing Scent - Over time the fragrance will fade and it will need to be refreshed by heating with a blow dryer. Warning - Although made with wax, these are not candles so do not try to burn them - keep away from fire and flames. Caution - Setting these directly on fabric or furniture may cause stains or other damage. Always set these on glass.
11. If desired, dress up the bear with a bow, hat, etc...

Candle Making Supplies And Other Materials

The following candle making supplies were used to make this waxed bear. Clicking on the item name will bring you to that item's page with a full description.

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:

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