Welcome to Discount Scrapbooking

You can make gel candles for fun or for profit. This has become a very popular thing being you can do it yourself with by-products of oil. These oil's are normally found at farmer's markets, flea markets, swap meets, and craft shows as a handcrafted item which is made by someone who is building a home-based business. The article here will provide you with an overview of exactly what gel candle making products are needed, a number of safety precautions, but no exact recipes for making gel candles.

Made up of 95% mineral oil and making gel candles have become very popular among the "green crowd". The remainder is a polymer that comes in a powder form and when mixed with the oil, and heated, becomes thick. The polymer comes in 3 thicknesses; CLP (least thick), CMP (thicker), and CHP which is the thickest and most desirable if you want to imbed anything or use a fragrance.

If you wish to do gel candle making, you will have to assemble a double boiler, an accurate thermometer which will tell you when the gel is ready, and a tall metallic or plasticized spoon. It is said that one shouldn't use a wooden spoon since it causes undesirable bubbling in the mixture. Naturally you'll also need some sort of containers into which you can pour your ingredients.

To be safe, you must be sure to have heat resistant containers, often made of metal or glass. Moreover, you must have a fire extinguisher nearby which is good for chemicals. Fire extinguishers are available in two different kinds, and they're a good investment for a kitchen in any situation. You will also need to put on gloves, safety glasses, and an apron which is resistant to liquids and heat. If you take care with everything, these things probably won't be needed, but it's always best if you err on the side of caution.

You'll probably want to blend some coloring and an aroma into your home-made candles. You have to use a liquid dye for this job, one that is polymer soluble. The standard dyeing agents used for clothes, foods, and soaps wouldn't look right and, more important, they will not function properly once the candles are lit. Your scent should also be one that is meant for blending with the gel mixture.

These handcrafted creations have a primary ingredient of mineral oil and will burn longer than wax that is traditionally used in candles. Candle wax is a by-product of the oil industry and with the prices so high these are a great alternative. Handcrafted gifts are always treasured by the people who receive them. But try to use caution when making them including common sense, no embedding of flammable objects, and test and label them correctly before giving. Have fun and be careful.