Section targetingKids love making these sand candles. The melted wax is fascinating.
Teach your children how to be safe, though. These need to be made with an adult's help. (Suits kids over 6)
What you'll need:
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Paraffin wax
Wax dyes (or several crayons in one colour)
Candle wick
Sandpit or bucket full of slightly moist sand (see 'spark' below)
Wooden skewer
Plastic pot in the shape you want to make your candle (eg: yoghurt pot)
Clean tin can without the lid
Metal nut or washer
Saucepan
Spoon
Section targetingThe candlemaking supplies are available at craft shops.
What to do:
Pack down the sand, then push the pottle into it to make a container-shaped impression. It does not need to be deep (7-8cm is enough). Kids can do this.
Put the paraffin wax into the tin can and stand the can in simmering water in the saucepan until it's melted. An adult must do this.
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Add wax dye or coloured crayons and let them melt.
Tie one end of the wick to the nut or washer. Dip it into the wax let it cool a bit, then pull it straight until it sets.
Hang the wick into the centre of the sand impression with the washer sitting at its base. Lay the wooden skewer across the top of the sand, and tie the other end of the wick to it.
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Pour the melted wax gently over a spoon into the impression. (An adult shuld do this too.) Add more wax as the level goes down (some will soak into the sand). As the candle cools, add still more wax, otherwise there will be a dip in the top of the candle. (Wax shrinks as it cools).
When the wax has fully hardened, gently dig out your candle (the fun part for kids!) and brush off the excess sand. Trim the wick to 1.5cm.
You could press shells into the sides of the impression before pouring your candle.
Experiment with how damp the sand is. Dryish sand will make a candle with a thicker sand crust. Very moist sand won't stick to the candle much.
Think of other crafts to do with kids, using sand. How about dying sand with food colouring, and gluing it onto card to make sand pictures?
Enjoy your sand candle, but be careful, and only light it with an adult. Never leave a lighted candle in a room unless an adult is in the room too.
