small business, Self improvement, working at home, mental health, cooking, hobbies, gardening, wellness, health, fitness, motherhood and raising families

When the kids get home from school in the afternoon and say ‘I’m bored’, at least you can point them towards doing their homework – however – when it’s the week-end or school holidays – you know that it won’t be long until you hear ‘I’m bored’ several times a day!

Times are tough economically but entertaining kids has never been an expensive enterprise -  so here are eight ideas to keep your children busy, creative and active during these long summer months.

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Are you fed up with paying top-dollar for the latest piece of over-hyped plastic? Answer “What can we do now Mum?” by making and creating activities from items you already have around the house or that cost nothing at all.

1. Shops. Save all your empty grocery cartons for a week or so and you’ll soon have a shop any aspiring grocer would be proud of. Gluing down the flaps makes cereal boxes, jelly packets etc. look unopened. Clothes, shoes, and toys can all be used as “stock”. Paper bags and real or play money add to the fun.
2. Paper balls. When the kids keep arguing suggest that they throw something at each other! Paper balls are easily scrunched up from torn out magazine pages to make “ammunition”. When it’s time to pack up and tidy, stand the waste paper basket in the middle of the room and see who can throw the most in. A rolled up magazine can be fashioned into a good “bat” too.
3. Scrapbook - using a collection of photos and mementos from the past few years and make up their own scrapbooks

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I often talk about the fact that unless you are going to be selling your candles, or unless you want a particular shape, there are many different ways to make candles other than buying already made molds.   Nothing against them at all, and as I say, if I was selling candles then I would use bought molds because it would add to my consistency of shape.

But in my reading the other day I came across this article which I thought was great (DO READ IT) because not only does Rebecca talk about the various shapes, but her enthusiasm encourages you to try molds other than the bought ones.

Half the fun of candle making is finding out what shapes you will end up with and Rebecca has some great ideas that will help if you want to make candles for men friends.  Some of the techniques will give some exciting shapes and designs.  Don’t forget to read it.  CLICK RIGHT HERE!

If you haven’t started your candle making yet go to this link and get the beginners Candle Making – Start with Confidence.

If you start with simple projects you will get the confidence to make more advanced candles.  There are so many different types of candles that once you have mastered the art of candle making, you really can have a great time.   If you don’t know how to make candles it would be a good idea to get the ebook “Candle Making – Start With Confidence”  where you will be taken step by step through the candle making process, be given all the safety tips and also be taken step by step through some basic candle making projects to help you gain your confidence.

Starting with beginners candle making projects will give you the opportunity to discover what works well with your set up and gives you the chance to make necessary changes.

Initially, work at implementing good safety habits and melting your wax at the proper temperatures. Once you have practiced a few times and sorted out some of the things that can go wrong you will be more confident and then it will be the right time to start experimenting with dyes, scents, and shapes for your candles.   there are just so many alternatives that it can be so much fun. 

AND if it does not work out, pop it back in the pot and start all over again!

The candle making process is easy to follow if you take your time and learn from your mistakes.  Candle making supplies aren’t expensive so use the best you can, especially with the candle making fragrance.  The expensive ones are concentrated so you will only need to use a little at a time.  Good products will ensure your candles form well and burn properly.

There is absolutely no doubt that once you have mastered the candle making craft and find that you enjoy it you will go on to create some wonderful pieces that you probably won’t even want to light.   All artists like to keep their treasured products, not always the best ones, but the ones that they personally enjoy.

Learn how to make your own candle and enjoy giving lovely personalised presents to your friends http://tinyurl.com/cyustg

Learn how to use candle making fragrances to your best advantage http://tinyurl.com/cyustg

Candle making instruction made easy with this ebook that covers all you need to know http://tinyurl.com/cyustg

Learn the candle making craft so that you can make beautiful Christmas presents http://tinyurl.com/cyustg

Construction of a candle
The body of a candle is generally made of paraffin wax. Paraffin wax is a natural wax that comes from plants.  It very easily accepts both color and scent so this is what makes it so easy to make so many different types of candles.

Really, candle making is a hobby that is perfect for a creative person. 

• candle making is easy to learn
• it is not very expensive in either product or equipment
• you can reuse wax you don’t have success with
• you can use cheap mold like milk cartons (how easy is that!)
• they color easily and accept the fragrances well
• they make great gifts as nearly every household has a candle or two or three or more
• they suit as gifts for both men and women
• it makes a great homebased business because of the above factors making them good items to sell

A wick is placed in the center of the wax before it dries. The wick is made of cotton fibers that have been braided together. The wick is very thin, but also very strong.  The different types of wicks determine how a candle will burn.   Thin wicks will provide a smaller flame, and a wider wick will give a better flame.   Wicks have to be given consideration when choosing the size of the candles you are making.  It wouldn’t suit to put a thin wick in a wide pillar candle for example because not only would it look funny with a little flame when burning, it would not have enough power behind it to suvive the amount of wax that is surrounding it.

Candle making hobby

Candle making is a very popular hobby for the creative and for those who enjoy making things.   Candle making  is so enjoyable as a hobby and you can create fantastic shapes and colors and also use different fragrances to perfume them.  There is just no limit to the shapes, sizes, and colors you can make your candles in and it does not even require you to spend a lot of money on candle molds unless you really want to make a lot of them, or particular shapes that will require a particular candle mould.  Look at how this candle has been decorated by scratching lines into the red wax and then putting different colored glitters in the squares.  All so easy to do if you give it some thought.

These days hobby candles have become very popular for the wonderful aromas more than for their ability to produce light. Popluar fragrances such as vanilla or jasmine can easily be added to your homemade candles. Others smell like a chocolate cake or cinnamon rolls.  Candles are great gifts for friends and family alike.