How to make homemade candles

Earth Hour is all about making a personal commitment to reduce our carbon footprint and a good way to start is with the candles we burn.

Paraffin candles actually contribute to indoor air pollution. When you burn paraffin candles (a petroleum by-product) you releasing carbon soot into the air containing the same toxins found in diesel. A better alternative are beeswax candles. Not only do they burn longer but they release a delicious honey-sweet aroma and emit a warm golden light.

These candles can be pricey to buy but are simple to make at home.

Hand-rolled beeswax candles
Making your own beeswax candles can be done with minimum equipment. There's no hot wax involved, this a safe and simple project you can complete with smaller children.

Materials
sheets of beeswax (20 cm x 40 cm). You can find them in most craft stores, at speciality candles shops or with online suppliers
• 100 percent cotton thread or primed wick
a sharp knife
cutting board

Directions
1. Cut cotton thread the length of your candle adding 7 centimetres. To prime the wick, dip them into melted beeswax. Let the wicks absorb the wax and then put them aside to dry.
2. Lay a beeswax sheet on your work surface. If the wax is especially stiff soften it by running a blow dryer over it for about 10 seconds.
3. Place the wick along one edge of the Beeswax sheet, folding about half a centimetre of the sheet over the wick. Press lightly to anchor the wick. Use the edge of the counter to get a straight and even edge.
4. Start rolling the candle, keeping the sheet fairly tight and straight.
5. When the sheet is rolled up, gently press down on the exposed edge into the beeswax-but gently so you don't squash the candle.
6. Pick the straightest end for the top and trim the wick to about 1.5 cm. Cut off the exposed wick at the other end, which will become the bottom.
7. For a shorter candle, cut the sheet in half lengthwise.
8. For a skinnier candle trim the sheet vertically.
9. For a tapered candle cut the sheet on a diagonal.
Safety Tip: Watch the fingers when cutting the beeswax. The wax is sticky so you want to keep the knife clean.

Tin lanterns
Add some soft romance and a personal touch to your lighting with a hand-patterned lantern, created with a recycled tin can. This project requires minimum equipment and can be done by all ages.

Materials
medium- to large-sized tin can. Heavyweight cans are the best
nails with different widths
hammer
permanent marker
paper
picture hanging wire

Directions
1. Wash the can, remove the label. If there is a smell from the can, rinse it with some diluted vinegar.
2. Press down any sharp edges along the top using a flathead screwdriver.
3. Fill the can with water and let it freeze solid. Depending on the size of the can, this may take several days. The ice will prevent the can from buckling when you start your design.
4. Sketch out your pattern on a piece of paper. Using your pattern, draw the design on the can with a permanent marker. Simple geometric designs like stars, circles, triangles and lines are the easiest to follow.
5. Place the tin onto towel. Start hammering around your pattern, using different sized nails to change the pattern. If you want to make a handle for the lantern, make holes along the top
6. Continue hammering out the pattern over the rest of the tin.
7. To create a handle, thread the wire through the two holes you made along the rim
8. Place a small candle in the bottom of the can-soy tea lights are ideal since they don't smoke. To keep the candle in place, melt a little wax on the bottom of the tin and place the candle into the hot wax.
9. Lit your candle, turn off the lights and watch your patterns come be softly lit up.