“It is better to light just one little candle than to stumble in the dark…” this is one of the oldest children songs we usually hear about candles. Candles, what are they for?

Through time, the uses of candles have been changing. For some countries, they are basic tools for worship. They would always be found on churches, temples and other worship places. Cakes come with candles too; this gives them the “symbolic” touch. This makes them as part of ceremonies such as inauguration, commencement activities and the like.

Today, candles are a part of a growing industry. They are making it big on the market especially the “gel candles”. What makes gel candles so in demand for costumers? Well, since it is made of mineral oil and plastic polymer, it could last long and in fact, it is so easy to make. At home, one could try making these gel candles without too much hassles and expenses.

You could follow the steps below:

1. Find a container that would best hold into form the candle you have in mind. Make sure that you will be using non-flammable containers. Use glass if available, they could show the gel.
2. Plan to have the wick like about 1.5 inches from the sides and dribble a spot of hot glue on the bottom of the container you used.
3. Stick the wink on the hot glue and let it cool down for a few minutes. Don’t use cotton as core wick, zinc is the best choice.
4. For the gel, cut the gel wax into small parts or cubes and place it into a container and heat it up. Make sure that the heat is not too hot or too cold. 200 Fahrenheit could make it melt well.
5. Maintain the advised temperature until such time that the wax would melt and turn into a smooth and a bit thick liquid. For more attractive effects, you could use coloring materials that would create a better effect to the product.
6. Do not use coloring materials that would make the gel lose its transparency. Ignore the use of water-based and paste dyes as a combination. They do not complement each others components.
7. Pour ¼ of essential oil or gel scent for more effects that would make the candle “marketable”. When pouring such, add more wax cubes if there is a “cloudy” effect on the liquid.
8. Scents you use must be alcohol-free.
9. When you are about to pour the candle liquid on a container, set a level mark and make sure that the liquid will not pass over it.
10.  Make it a point to preheat the container (150 degrees). This would minimize the presence of bubbles that may ruin the form of the finished product.
11.  Then pull up the wick and be sure that it goes up in the center of the candle. Let the candle cool down for 3-4 hours. Trim the wick at about ¼ inch.

These steps are so easy to follow. You do not need to let go of your cash every time you need candles at home. You could pour out your own artistry and put a personal touch in the candles you use. This would be a very good past time as well as a way of cost-cutting. In the long run, this may be a great start of putting up your own candle business.

With just a low amount of capital and your determination to make it big, you may have the heart of an entrepreneur beneath your chest.

When a loved-one or any special person celebrates a memorable day of his or her life, gifts would always be at the top list. Gifts may vary from the simple greeting cards to the most luxurious car. Does the cost matter? It does but it does not matter the most. As always said, it is the “thought” that counts.

Though for most people the tag price of your present may “tickle the spine”, it is beyond denial that a “personal” touch expresses more sincerity for the receiver. Your creativity plus a few tips from us would make that special person feel extra special because of your own custom gel candles.

1. Prepare the following materials:

* Ceramic containers like mugs or any fancy-shaped figurine that could hold the candle wax when melted and cooled. Glasses are also great
* Gel wax
* Candle wicks
* Pencils
* Pot (for melting wax)
* Candle scent and color (non alcohol-base)
* Sharp scissors

2. With the use of a pencil, twine the wick around it but leave some of the wick free that it could reach the bottom part of the candle container. It must be straight down the center of the container.

3. Put the pencil with the twined wick on top of the container; allow the wick to hang down the center of the container. As what the directions tell, melt the wax by cutting them into cubes first to hasten the melting.

4. Add color and scent but make sure that they will not make the wax cloudy.

5. After the melting, pour the gel wax into the container you have prepared. Fill the container but set a limit. Before getting to the next step, make sure that the wax turned gel fully cools down.

6. Check out the wick if it really takes the focal point of the container.

7. Trim the wick to ¼ of its total length.

8. You could tie a ribbon around it or stick a piece of fancy paper with a special message or a mini-picture of the receiver. Give it with the purest sincerity.

As you follow these quick and easy steps, you could unravel both the artist and entrepreneur in you. This way of preparing gifts would tickle your resourcefulness and creativity. Moreover, it may be an initiation of your new business specializing in candles. They are making it big on the market today.