Appropriate age group(s):
Elementary School
Middle School
High School & Beyond

Estimated time to make this gift:
5-7 minutes per pair

Materials:
sheet of beeswax approx. 8 1/2 inches by 16 1/2 inches

wick

hairdryer

clean, flat surface to work on

Instructions:
Cut the beeswax sheet in half, creating two pieces about 8 1/2" x 8 1/4".

Lay a piece of wick along the cut edge; roll the beeswax gently over the wick to just cover.

Use the hairdryer Briefly, to warm the beeswax every few inches, as you roll to form the Cylinder that will be the candle. Keep the cylinder as even/straight as possible. Gently smooth the remaining edge of the beeswax flat against the candle.

That's it! Put your candle into a fireproof holder, or wrap as a gift. Store in a cool place!!

Other comments or suggestions to consider:
Cream and white colors seem to be most popular, but beeswax sheets can sometimes be found in shades of pink, lavender, and blue as well. Inquire at crafts stores for supplies. The wick is equally important; it's not just ordinary string.

Turn the hairdryer off between rounds of warming; it's easy for it to overheat in use.

Parents should handle the hot hairdryer, and help secure the wick initially, but Kidpower can likely finish the job. Think of playdough snakes...who rolls more cylindrical shapes than children? ;-)

The sheets were packaged with tissue paper separating colors, so Logic sez to use tissue for wrapping candles as gifts. A candle holder set can be included, too, but the candles tend to fit a standard holder, and many people already own those.

Rolled Beeswax candles that are purchased ready-made are about twice the price, and no better. I did look 'em over in order to see what one looked like; they had 2 candles rolled onto one wick, (roll one, then the other, onto the same string), uncut. That makes 'em resemble colonial 'drip' candles, which were dipped and cooled, dipped and cooled.

Our grocery store's organic foods division brought in beeswax sheets for customers, during a promotion for local honey, and products containing it.

Never leave a candle burning unattended, or near window curtains, and exercise caution around children and pets.