Bee’S Wax Solstice Ornaments

yesteryear Marci Tsohonis
Originally published inwards the Nov/Dec '17 upshot of The Essential Herbal

I accept a tradition of making Winter Solstice ornaments for our tree too for gifting, because they are difficult to discovery inwards gift shops or online. In years past, I accept made clay, quilted, embroidered too felted wool ornaments. I am making solar ornaments alongside Bee’s wax this year.

Do you lot accept Brown Bag clay cookie molds inwards the dorsum of a drawer somewhere?

You know, the ones you lot saved for making that cool homemade paper-craft projection you lot accept ever meant to try? I did! Wax ornaments are my favorite agency to role them now. Some of the molds are also large for ornaments, but others are simply perfect. If you lot don’t accept any, you lot tin sometimes discovery them on the inexpensive at Antique stores. I accept acquired several that way.

I desire to brand a condom mold of our Sol doorbell because it is the perfect size for a tree ornament.

I could non locate whatever condom mold making kits inwards our town, solely acrylic clay mold material. It didn’t concur the pressed icon well, or, I didn’t practise it correctly. It lost around details when the clay relaxed. I accept since learned Amazon has the condom mold material, but I couldn’t expire it delivered inwards fourth dimension to role it for this article.

To brand wax ornaments inwards the clay cookie molds, kickoff spray 2-3 build clean molds lightly alongside vegetable spray. Arrange the molds on a cookie sail lined alongside parchment or wax newspaper hence you lot tin reclaim whatever spilled wax. Melt almost 1 to 1½ cups of bee’s wax to sixty degrees inwards a wax-melting pitcher (or other small, metallic container) inwards a saucepan alongside 2 inches of simmering water. The metallic container volition permit the wax to rest fluid long plenty to pour it into a few molds. Using a ladle volition non move well. The edges cool hence apace that whatever pouring irregularities volition hold upwards highly visible.

Add 1 one-half teaspoon of Cassia essential oil to melted wax afterwards it has cooled to fifty degrees. Pour into cavities immediately, slightly under-filling each mold. Tap the border of the mold on the counter too liberate over a soft towel afterwards they accept cooled an hr or two. Most volition popular out of the cookie molds rattling easily. If they don’t, refrigerate them for almost twenty minutes too effort again.

To practise a smoothen hole for ribbon or string, rut the goal of an H2O ice alternative or narrow paring knife over a stove burner or candle. Press lightly, too the hot metallic volition easily pierce through the wax to practise a smoothen hole inwards the ornament. If the edges are stone oil or irregular, rut the apartment side of a butter knife too apace smoothen it over those areas of the ornament.

Happy holidays!