candles
 

a question about stamping on candles.
Wether you stamp on it with tissue paper or do a wrap around it, is it safe to burn??
If you give them away or sell them, do you give people directions to be careful burning them because of the paper on them?
Just wondering, I have been wanting to try some of these, but I am afraid to sell them if they are a burning hazard.
What are your thoughts on this?

Laurie

If the paper is just a wrap, then I guess it could be a fire hazard, but you would think people would be smart enough to realize it. If you are melting the tissue paper into the candle, I would think it would pose less of a risk.

I've never had a candle's flame burn the outside of a candle. Most candles just melt down the middle. However, most companies cover themselves by making a statement that candles should never be left unattended.

If I demo a candle, I make that statement. If I were to sell, I'm not sure if I would include anything or not.

I haven't tried this yet but I have heard that your can make a 'hollow' in the top of your candle to place a tealight candle in . . . that way, it is safe because it will burn in the tealight holder AND you don't burn up your beautiful work, you just replace the tealight.

I like the idea of the tealight inside the candle, but my question is do you burn the candle down to make the 'hollow' or do you bore it out with some kind of tool?

As I said, I haven't actually done this but my understanding is you soften the wax (maybe with a heatgun?) and then bore out a hole in the shape of the tealight. When I DO try this, I plan to use an empty tealight cup to mark the top of a softened candle so I know how big and deep to make it.

Anyone actually done this?

Sharon! We could start a whole thread on the warnings manufacturers include with their products so they don't get sued. Like the iron, "Warning: Never iron clothes while on body"!

(Sorry for the hijack)

You are soooo right. And when I mention that kind of stuff I do my very best "over the top, roll my eyes" stuff. I really don't worry about it too much. I can't keep up with how messed up our world is.

I suppose you could always melt out the hole by burning the candle before decorating it....that way you wouldn't have to worry abut messing it up. Cutting it out probably wouldn't look as smooth....

Like Sharon said, embedding the tissue in the candle poses the least risk; however, whenever I've sold or given candles, I ALWAYS add my own "do not leave unattended" warning. Not like it costs anything, kwim?

I've done this using the tissue method and actually used the candles myself. I usually use just the cheap candles so they just start to melt in the middle (don't know about the expensive candles) anyways, when the fire gets to the center of the candle the image glows and is really pretty. I used the Memories of the Heart basket of flowers. It's pretty safe.

Drill Press and Forstner Bit
 

I learned about this idea here on SCS: My husband uses his drill press and a Forstner bit to make a two-inch wide and 1 3/8 inch deep hole in the top of the candle to hold a glass tealight holder (usually about a $1 each at Michael's), so you can use a tealight and they are safe to burn. I did try the controlled burning to create the hole in the top of the candle, but it takes a long time, constant supervision and not always great results. The drill press approach is much faster and neater. However, all those candle wax shavings from the drilling does create a very big mess! This makes a great gift when you combine the stamped candle, the glass tealight holder, an inexpensive round glass base and a small package of the plastic lined tealights. Here's a picture of one I did for a shower gift basket:

http://gallery.splitcoaststampers.co...00&ppuser=7835

I also prefer to use the tealights that have the clear plastic holders so the light shines more through the design on the candle. BTW, although the plastic holder tealights are a little more expensive, but you can always cheat and refill the empty plastic liner with the cheaper ones you buy in the metal holders.

Hope that helps. :)

Linda

I knew that drill press my dh just "had to have" would come in handy someday!!! Thanks for the info!

Gotta love men who have tools . . . it amazes me how often my husband uses MY scrapping/stampin tools for HIS projects, now it is pay back time! I'm gonna stamp me some candles! ;)

Thanks for sharing Linda . . . and your gift set looks lovely!

I thought you were suppose to use wax paper not tissue paper?? :confused:

Nope you use tissue paper.

You stamp on tissue paper and hold the wax paper around the candle to hold the tissue paper in place.

Okay - so my question is how do you get the wax "plug" out after you drill? Do you have to dig it out? I have used my (here comes a real technical term) circle-cutter-outer-bit on things that it goes right through (like a piece of wood) but never something like a candle. I am so confused .....

Hi Danielle - There is no wax plug when you use the Forstner bit. It bores the wax out, hence the big mess of candle wax shavings that it creates. Here's a picture of what the drill bit looks like (we use a 2 inch bit), and also what the hole looks like inside the candle after drilling:

http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/product...rings_id=11404

Hope that helps. :)

Linda

Thanks everyone for the ideas!!
Linda,
thanks for the links. I had seen your candle and in the gallery before and thought that was a great idea. I even printed it off and showed my husband and said...can you do that?? (of course, he thought I meant the stampin part of it!! :)
He didn't know what a forstner bit was, he has the bits that go all the thru to make a hole. So the link the drill bit link is very helpful!
Thanks again for all of your help!
Laurie

LaBullard,

Your link to the drill bit and the link to your project were great!!! I love the candle set you made!!! In fact, I loved all of your projects - I have a baby shower next weekend and I gotta make the little cradle favors!!!