“What to do during Quarantine” is a collection of how-to articles that explore different hobbies and activities you can do during quarantine. These are meant to be fun, relaxing activities that will allow you to take a break from the screen and keep you from becoming too bored. Some of these activities will be very simple, others will require more time and ingredients, but all are guaranteed to ensure a fun way to pass time.
Candles! Candles may not seem like the most entertaining things, but they can be very fun to make because you control everything! You can choose type, color, size, scent and how crazy you go with the glitter. Candles have been around for more than 5,000 years. The exact origins are unsure, but it is believed that they were first created in Ancient Egypt, using melted animal fat. Luckily you can use store bought wax instead. Now you can choose what candle you want to create and what ingredients you can use.
Twisty and Curvy Candle
These candles have been popping up all over tik tok and Instagram and the best part is that they are super easy to make. You will need:
Paraffin Wax Candle Sticks (You can choose how many you want to use)
Bowl or sink
Warm water
Timer
Roller (optional)
Step One
Make sure that the candlesticks you choose can go in water and won’t break or lose color. It is recommended that you use Paraffin candles, but if you can’t find any try experimenting with different candles to see which works best.
Step Two
After you have all your ingredients ready, warm up the water in the bowl or sink. It needs to be hot enough to be able to mold the candles, but make sure that you can still place your hands in the water without burning them. Once you have a comfortable temperature, place the candles in the water for 15-20 mins.
Step Four
During those 15-20 mins start gently touching and moving the candles to see when they start to bend. Make sure not to bend them too hard or you will end up breaking your creation before you even finish it.
Step Four
After 15-20 minutes take the candles out and start gently blending. If the candles are too hard, place them back into the hot water and wait a few extra minutes. Once the candles are easier to bend, start molding them either inside the water or outside the water.
Step 6
Use the roller to gently flatten the top of the candle. Mold the bottom part of the candle to a round shape. Lay the circular part to the side so that the flat part is facing upwards. Then twist the flatten part as many times as you want to create a twisty shape. The candle shape will allow the candle to stand up on its own so you don't need to use a candle holder. Run it under cold water to harden it and you are done. You can experiment with molding the candles in many different forms, such as squiggly lines or connecting two candles to make a giant candle. There are so many different ways to do this activity so let your imagination run wild, you might be surprised at what you can come up with.
Tutti Frutti Candle
This festive candle is perfect for a homemade gift to others, or to yourself. You can choose a single color of sprinkles, or go full rainbow to add a splash of color to any room.
Ingredients
White/transparent wax (This can be bought on Amazon or etsy or you can reuse old candles)
Sprinkles! (Bonus if they are multicolored)
Essence (Vanilla or tutti-frutti is recommended, but you can add any scent you think will go best with your candle)
Popsicle sticks
Pot and large spoon
Glue
Candle sick
Glass/transparent container for candle
*Hair dryer (If your candles top is bumpy and you want to smooth it out at the end)
Important Notes
The measurements for the ingredients such as the amount of wax depends on which container you chose. A smaller container requires fewer ingredients, while a bigger container requires more.
Step One
Once you have chosen a container, Start applying a thin coat of glue on the inside of the container. Before it dries, generously apply the sprinkles and maraca them around until the inside of the container is covered in sprinkles. Set the container aside and let the now sprinkle-covered glue dry.
Step Two
Pour the desired amount of wax into a pot and set it on a stove. The temperature needed for the wax to melt will depend on the wax, so try setting the temperature at a lower temperature and then start increasing. I recommend stirring the wax regularly so that the wax doesn’t fuse itself to the bottom of the pot. And of course, use a large spoon so you minimize the risk of getting burned. Working with wax can be risky if you are not paying attention, so make sure to keep your eyes stuck to the pot until all the wax has melted.
Step Three
Once the wax has melted remove the pot. WARNING: Don't place the very hot pot on top of a wet surface. Por a few drops of chosen essence into the pot and stir. Dip the wick you plan on using for the candle into the wax. Then place it in the middle of the container, which should be at this point be dry and not have any stray sprinkles. The wax will help make the wick stick.
Step Four
Now position the popsicle sticks on top of the rim of the container to hold the candle wick upright and in the middle of the container. This may take a few tries to ensure that the wick is as close as possible to the middle and as straight as possible. Then SLOWLY pour the wax into the container. A few sprinkles may betray you and get loose but so long as not too many do, you are good. Let the wax semi-harden and feel no shame in freely showering the top of your candle with even more sprinkles. You are going to want to cut the candlewick between 1 and ½ cm away from the candle’s surface.
Tea Light Candles
Tea light candles are these super small and simple candles that you can buy in bulk. They generally don't last too long and are not the most attractive candles ever, but you can give these candles a full Cinderella makeover, too.
Ingredients
The desired amount of tea light candles (Remember the more the merrier!)
Colored crayons
Dried flowers. Dried flower petals
Glitter
Small rocks or seashells
The essence of the desired scent
Pot
Stick or spoon.
Step One
Place the tea lights inside the pot and place them on the stove. Since these are small candles, they will not need to be on the stove for too long. You will have to wait until they have completely melted.
Step Two
Once they are completely melted, chop the colored crayon into very small pieces and place them inside each tea light. Gently stir until the crayon is no more and the wax is now colored. It’s better to start off with just one colored crayon, but once you get the hang of how to do things, try mixing different crayons to get different colors. Just remember to put as little crayon as possible to ensure that the candle is still able to burn.
Step Three
Pour some essential oils into your now colorful candles. A few drops in each should do. It’s recommended that you don't mix scents as it can go wrong in many ways, so instead just mix colors, not scents. After that’s done, wait around five minutes for the wax to start cooling, but make sure it does not completely harden without adding the flowers and decoration! Once it has gotten to the semi liquid, semi-hardened stage, you can add the flowers and rocks/seashells. Make sure to use dried plants and flowers. You might end up getting a few petals singed, which can leave a not so pleasant burned stench, so to avoid this occurring too much, keep the flowers far away from the wick. After placing the dried vegetation, add the little rocks. If you live near a beach, good for you! You can get free seashells and have an ocean-themed candle! Last but most certainly not least, add glitter!
hgtvhandmade. “TikTok Made Me Do It: How to Make Twisted Candles.” YouTube, YouTube, 9 Feb. 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-E-oTtw1Pk.
“History.” National Candle Association, National Candle Association, 23 July 2020, candles.org/history/#:~:text=Early%20Origins,reeds%20in%20melted%20animal%20fat.
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