Beeswax Luminary
Once you have everything assembled and you now know it will be big/small enough etc, we can begin…
Filling your balloon
Hopefully you will have a kitchen tap that accepts a balloon neck size, fill your balloon slowly, supporting it in your hand, you want it to be about grapefruit size. Once filled let as much air out of the balloon as you can i.e. carefully let it deflate until only water is weeping out before tying off the balloon.
(Molten wax will burst a balloon if it hits a part that is only air.)
You can gently massage the balloon into shape if it hasn’t got the correct shape by simply squeezing the balloon a few times.
Melt
Each luminaire weighs about g depending on how many dips you do etc.
Materials required:
Bees wax
A container for melting wax (Double-boiler, slow cooker, or stainless pot devoted to beeswax melting) and container for dipping the balloon into
9 Inch Balloons (these make a 5-inch diameter luminaire)
Parchment paper/grease proof
Dried Flowers/Ferns to decorate
“Mod Podge” – A water-based sealer, glue and finish (Gloss) that dries transparent.
Beeswax Tea lights – Glass tealight holder, wick sustainer / Wick (beeswax wick)
Rice, sand or small glass beads (to make a bed for tealight in luminaire)
(You can also use battery operated tealights instead if you don’t have insurance cover for naked flames)
A hairdryer - to correct a misshapen bottom
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Once you have everything assembled and you now know it will be big/small enough etc, we can begin… Melt Every couple of dips gently place the balloon on your parchment paper, just lower it slowly and hold it suspended there for a bit as the wax hardens then it is safe to let go, this will produce a flat bottom allowing the luminaire to sit . |
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Once you have everything assembled and you now know it will be big/small enough etc, we can begin… Melt Every couple of dips gently place the balloon on your parchment paper, just lower it slowly and hold it suspended there for a bit as the wax hardens then it is safe to let go, this will produce a flat bottom allowing the luminaire to sit . You can now dip the next |
Once you have everything assembled and you now know it will be big/small enough etc, we can begin…
Filling your balloon
Hopefully you will have a kitchen tap that accepts a balloon neck size, fill your balloon slowly, supporting it in your hand, you want it to be about grapefruit size. Once filled let as much air out of the balloon as you can i.e. carefully let it deflate until only water is weeping out before tying off the balloon.
(Molten wax will burst a balloon if it hits a part that is only air.)
You can gently massage the balloon into shape if it hasn’t got the correct shape by simply squeezing the balloon a few times.
Melt
Each luminaire weighs about g depending on how many dips you do etc.
Every couple of dips gently place the balloon on your parchment paper, just lower it slowly and hold it suspended there for a bit as the wax hardens then it is safe to let go, this will produce a flat bottom allowing the luminaire to sit .
You can now dip the next one while this one sets more.
Filling your balloon
Hopefully you will have a kitchen tap that accepts a balloon neck size, Using warm water fill your balloon slowly, supporting it in your hand, you want it to be about grapefruit size. Once filled let as much air out of the balloon as you can i.e. carefully let it deflate until only water is weeping out before tying off the balloon.
(Molten wax will burst a balloon if it hits a part that is only air.)
There are many variations possible with these of course but I
You can melt shaped holes into them, small stars etc to let light out and give a different effect.
Another idea would be to use a balloon to make a plaster of Paris mould so that all your luminaries are the same size and have a smooth finish?
Every couple of dips gently place the balloon on your parchment paper, just lower it slowly and hold it suspended there for a bit as the wax hardens then it is safe to let go, this will produce a flat bottom allowing the luminaire to sit .
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
This picture is from Canterbury beekeepers newsletter March 2019
Canterbury Beekeepers
This picture is from Canterbury beekeepers newsletter March 2019
Canterbury Beekeepers
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
