How to Make Beeswax Luminaries or Lanterns

Wax Lanterns with dried flowers
These luminaries have been decorated with dried pressed flowers
There are many variations in decoration that are possible with these of course,
including latice work by making paterns with holes in the wax.
 
 

Materials required:

    • Bees wax
    • A container for the melting wax (Bain marie, double-boiler, slow cooker, or stainless pot devoted to beeswax melting) and/or a container for dipping the balloon into the molten wax, if not one and the same
    • 9 Inch Balloons (these make a 5-inch diameter luminaire)
    • Parchment paper/grease proof paper
    • Dried Flowers/Ferns etc to decorate
    • Mod Podge – This is a water-based sealer, glue and finish (available in Gloss or Matte) that dries to a transparent finish.
    • 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)
    • Possibly a hairdryer - to correct a misshapen bottom (if only!)
    • Newspaper or cloth to work on, so making cleaning up any disasters easier
(Candles - You can of course use battery operated tealights instead of real ones if you don’t have the insurance cover for naked flames or if you are not yet ready for the high-octane adrenalin fuelled world of real beeswax tealights.)

 

 
 
Luminaires
Dried Pressed Flowers and Mod Podge ...

 

 
 

Asian Hornet
Bain marie, double-boiler 
This one is purpose built but you can use a smaller saucepan
inside a larger one

Asian Hornet
Beeswax This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory

Wait for it....

Before you kick off, you first need to measure your dipping container in order to calculate the amount and fill level for the molten wax, this is done using just water in place of molten wax and a water filled balloon.

Filling your balloons with water

Hopefully you will have a kitchen tap that accepts a balloon neck size, pinching the neck of the balloon to the tap, fill your balloon slowly supporting it in your hand, you want it to be about grapefruit size. Once filled and before tying it off, let as much air out of the balloon as you can i.e. carefully let it deflate until only water is weeping out before finally tying off the balloon. This is because molten wax can burst your balloon if it comes into contact with a part of the ballon that only has air.

 

Ballons
fill your balloon slowly supporting it in your hand,
you want it to be about grapefruit size. 

Asian Hornet
Holding the balloon, add water into the container
until it comes up to the level on it that you will require
the wax to be on the balloon. 

Getting the measure of your dipping container

Using a balloon filled with water put it in the container that you are going to use, holding the balloon add water into the container until it comes up to the level on it that you will require the wax to be on the balloon. Now remove the balloon and make a note/mark the level that the water is currently at in the container without the ballon, this gives you the level that you will can safely fill up to with molten wax knowing that it will not come over the top when you dip the balloon in. At this point you may also have discovered that you need a totally different container of course! This measurement also gives you an idea of the amount of wax that you will need to melt as a minimum just to get started with.

Ok, but it's a bit wonky?

You can gently massage the balloon into shape if it hasn’t got the correct shape by simply squeezing the balloon a few times. This evens out the shape.

 
 

Wait for it....

Before you kick off, you first need to measure your dipping container in order to calculate the amount and fill level for the molten wax, this is done using just water and a water filled balloon.

Filling your balloons with water

Hopefully you will have a kitchen tap that accepts a balloon neck size, pinching the neck of the balloon to the tap, fill your balloon slowly supporting it in your hand, you want it to be about grapefruit size. Once filled and before tying off 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. This is because molten wax will burst your balloon if it hits a part that is only air.

It's a bit wonky?

You can gently massage the balloon into shape if it hasn’t got the correct shape by simply squeezing the balloon a few times.

Ballons
fill your balloon slowly supporting it in your hand,
you want it to be about grapefruit size. 

Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
European and Asian Hornet
A European hornet next to an Asian Hornet on a jam jar lid
This picture is from Canterbury beekeepers newsletter March 2019
Canterbury Beekeepers
European and Asian Hornet
A European hornet next to an Asian Hornet on a jam jar lid
This picture is from Canterbury beekeepers newsletter March 2019
Canterbury Beekeepers
Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory

Materials required:

    • Bees wax
    • A container for melting wax (Bain marie, double-boiler, slow cooker, or stainless pot devoted to beeswax melting) and a container for dipping the balloon into
    • 9 Inch Balloons (these make a 5-inch diameter luminaire)
    • Parchment paper/grease proof paper
    • Dried Flowers/Ferns etc to decorate
    • Mod Podge – This is a water-based sealer, glue and finish (Gloss or Matte) 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)
    • Possibly a hairdryer - to correct a misshapen bottom
    • Newspaper or cloth to work on, so making cleaning up easier
(You can of course use battery operated tealights instead of real ones if you don’t have the insurance cover for naked flames or if you are not yet ready for the high-octane adrenalin fuelled world of real beeswax tealights.)

 

Asian Hornet
You will need enough wax for ...

 
 

Wait for it....

Before you kick off, you first need to measure your dipping container in order to calculate the amount and fill level for the molten wax, this is done using just water and a water filled balloon.

Filling your balloons with water

Hopefully you will have a kitchen tap that accepts a balloon neck size, pinching the neck of the balloon to the tap, fill your balloon slowly supporting it in your hand, you want it to be about grapefruit size. Once filled and before tying off 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. This is because molten wax will burst your balloon if it hits a part that is only air.

It's a bit wonky?

You can gently massage the balloon into shape if it hasn’t got the correct shape by simply squeezing the balloon a few times.

Ballons
fill your balloon slowly supporting it in your hand,
you want it to be about grapefruit size. 

Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
European and Asian Hornet
A European hornet next to an Asian Hornet on a jam jar lid
This picture is from Canterbury beekeepers newsletter March 2019
Canterbury Beekeepers
European and Asian Hornet
A European hornet next to an Asian Hornet on a jam jar lid
This picture is from Canterbury beekeepers newsletter March 2019
Canterbury Beekeepers
Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
 
 

Wait for it....

Before you kick off, you first need to measure your dipping container in order to calculate the amount and fill level for the molten wax, this is done using just water and a water filled balloon.

Filling your balloons with water

Hopefully you will have a kitchen tap that accepts a balloon neck size, pinching the neck of the balloon to the tap, fill your balloon slowly supporting it in your hand, you want it to be about grapefruit size. Once filled and before tying off 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. This is because molten wax will burst your balloon if it hits a part that is only air.

It's a bit wonky?

You can gently massage the balloon into shape if it hasn’t got the correct shape by simply squeezing the balloon a few times.

Ballons
fill your balloon slowly supporting it in your hand,
you want it to be about grapefruit size. 

Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
European and Asian Hornet
A European hornet next to an Asian Hornet on a jam jar lid
This picture is from Canterbury beekeepers newsletter March 2019
Canterbury Beekeepers
European and Asian Hornet
A European hornet next to an Asian Hornet on a jam jar lid
This picture is from Canterbury beekeepers newsletter March 2019
Canterbury Beekeepers
Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory
Asian Hornet
This specimen is shown on ivy and is about 1 inch (25mm) long
This picture is used with the kind permisson of David Walker
The Dungeness Bird Observatory

baking sheet lined with aluminum foil in

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The Association maintains an apiary at an organic farm in North Shropshire. We hold regular meetings at the apiary during the summer, where members old and new can gain experience in handling bees.

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visionWe strive to educate
Through group meetings, practical out apiary events and educational support 

NSBKA

The North Shropshire Beekeepers' Association - to encourage and develop the art and science of bee keeping