Every time a gift is given with a sheepish ‘it’s the thought that counts’ dictum, isn’t it, curiously, seen as an empty rhetoric than as an expression of genuine thought for the gift receiver? That phrase does tend to undermine the importance of the actual gift item, as if the gift giver was simply trying to palm off the item to get done with the duty of gift-giving.
But gift giving is an art; a thoughtful art at that. Simply picking up an item as a gift, because it is convenient, undermines the essence of the ‘thought’ packed in the above phrase. Whatever be the occasion, it requires the giver to focus on the receiver; to observe and to engage in conversations to understand what would please or satisfy him/her. While expensive gifts have their own place on the scale of likes, what does make the difference is a gift that reaffirms one’s relationship with the receiver.
And if the gift is handmade, even an amateur work of art will be valued dearly. Agree?
Depending on your creative skills and some Internet help, you could vault on to the DIY club to make this holiday season truly special for all those on your list of recipients. If candles are on your radar,the following guideline will help you get started. Candles are special, more so at this time of the year, when little lights add to the festive décor. Each candle can be customised to suit the taste and even the personality of the receiver, as the options are plenty to design each one uniquely. Besides, you could personalise your candle gifts by infusing specific aromas and colours into each one.
Materials Needed
To begin, visit your neighbourhood craft store to check what kind of wax they supply. While paraffin and beeswax are popular,there is a new variety called soy candle, which could be an easier option.Paraffin wax is easily available though, and if you work with care, it could be as effective as soy or beeswax. Additionally, you would need candle wicks,fragrance oils, colours and pots and pans for melting wax. Read the pots and pans as a double-boiler – alternately, you could place a medium sized pot with water on heat and top it with another smaller pot or a steel bowl on which you could melt wax. You would also need a mason jar, a sturdy glass or any fancy container of your choice to pour the wax into.
Candle Making
Follow precautions while melting wax, as excess heat can cause it to become flammable. It would help to use a thermometer to ensure that the melting wax does not exceed 250 degrees Fahrenheit; but you could manage without one by stirring the wax on the double boiler frequently. Add fragrance oils of your choice once the wax is melted and stir it a couple of times. You could also add colours at this stage with chopped up crayons. Next,prepare the wick by attaching one end of it to the container base with glue or even wax. Tie the top to a tooth pick or a small stick or even a clothes clip and pace it on top of the container in such a way that the wick is exactly at the centre. This is very important to ensure that your candle burns evenly. Now pour in the wax, ensuring that the wick stays put. Let the wax set at room temperature for a minimum of four hours. If there is any crack on the top of the candle, you could easily repair it by melting more wax and adding it to the candle.
Decorative Candles
Once you get the hang of making a basic candle, you will be amazed by the options it provides to decorate and create special candles for special people. From floral candles with dried petals to coloured candles, the options of creating handmade candles that are different from each other are plenty. Besides, you could find interesting containers from any novelty store to add a measure of class to your gift. With some creativity and lots of research on the Internet, you could also create picture candles by transferring your favourite photographs on to the ready candle or by embedding printouts on to the container before pouring in the wax. The options are,indeed, limitless. Find right ribbons and accoutrements to jazz up your candle,and your gift is set to rock the season.