The Case of the Missing Glue Gun

Hoorays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My candle making equipment has arrived! Finally!! The company apparently had some shipping issues, but no matter tis here now!

I haven't written or made much since my last post, mainly because I have been right royally knackered. Yes woe is me who gets to finish at quater past three! I know, I know, all the usual teacher jibes, its fine . . . get them out of the way now . . . thank you. I shall continue.

Today was the first of our SATs week and my nerves for several work related reasons have been on edge for a couple of weeks. I spent last night not sleeping well, and when awake feeling as if I was going to throw up any second. I hadn't been so nervous since, well, never! I didn't even feel that bad during my own exams! Poor little sods having to go through this at 10 years old! Bring on the scrap heap. Science tests over with but tomorrow is the one that I am most concerned about. The writing tests.

This is what has concerned me for the last couple of weeks. I, who wants to become a successful writer, am now in full on stress mode about wether or not I have given my kids all the skills they need. There is nothing more I can do now, but I am a little unsettled to say the least. Hence, distraction techniques!

When I got home to see my shiny new toys I got rather over excited (yes a 2kg wax does that for me!!). So I dug out the shot glasses, cleaned them up - all 50 of them! - found the instructions again about how to make them, got ready to start and then . . . brick wall. Twice! Firstly I realised I had no suitable pot in which to melt the wax. Secondly, I couldn't find my glue gun! I need to attach the wicks to the base of each container using hot glue, but alas! it has gone.

I just can't work out where I have put it. How do you loose a glue gun?!!!! Its in none of the places I can see, maybe the attic? hmmmm.

So before I can venture into the world of molten wax, I need to do two things, hunt down the glue gun and glue sticks, and go to the charity shop for a wax pan. Bummer. Was really looking forward to distracting myself this evening. Looks like I'll just have to wait til Sunday.

Kirstie's Kandles

My absolute new fave TV programme has to be Kirstie's Homemade Home! ( http://www.channel4.com/4homes/on-tv/kirstie-s-homemade-home/ ) Not only is she seemingly building and refurbing my dream house but she is so inspiring! She is making and creating things that, actually, I think I could do as well! Maybe not as professional as would be preferable, but it has interested me in other avenues of crafty finance. In particular - making candles.

In episode 2 Kirstie learnt how to make various candles - the ones I especially liked were container candles made in china cups. ( http://www.channel4.com/4homes/design-style/how-to-guides/how-to-make-candles-intro-09-04-21_p_1.html ) By the way, during this post I am aware that I may end up sounding like Kirstie's personal fan club / stalker, but I love her!

It looked so easy, so simple, and so fab for my whole 'recycled' craft thing. But I do think it will take a lot of practice. The problem with me is, when I get excited about an idea I have to do it NOW, regardless of what other things I have on the boil! Steve is going to kill me, our dinning room just keeps growing ever more into a junk shop and I have a horrible feeling it's not going to stop. Todays additions to the pile include these:


This is a box of shot glasses and a couple of china cups which I aquired for free. Since watching this week, I have been desperate to have a go. I have researched on the internet costs etc of wax and wicks, and its all very reasonable - this is assuming that the wax melts down to a decent quantity.

I thought these shot glasses would be a good way to test out my ability to create something functional and pretty. There are a few quite pretty glasses in the box anyway that should mask my crapy initial attempts!


There are also a couple of really pretty china cups, granted they have a couple of chips on the rim, but surely this is just another reason to recycle them into something useful?!!

















As I have got my containers, this morning I thought I would go to the craft shop. There is a fab art store on the Chester Road, Boldmere (The Vesey) which has framed many of our prints and is a veritable aladdin's cave a crafty goodness. However, they didn't have any wax or wicks. The lovely assisstant had recently uncovered a box of 'random' bits which happened to have some candle dye. As it had been there some time, she let me have the dye for 75p! I liked her a lot actually, she had a similar aversion to Hobbycraft as I have! She too thinks they are vaguely evil and "not very nice!"

So I have my containners, I have some dye, I am still missing the all important ingredients of fire and fuel! I am thinking, to stick with my theme, I might go round the chairty shops this afternoon and see what tatty, old bits of candle I can pick up. However, I think it is only right I actually buy new wicks and wick holders! Not entirely sure I can get away with using pre-used wicks, it could be a unique selling point . . . but I doubt it!

There are some really fab websites with steps and advise for making candles, the best type of wax wick etc for the candle you want. This one I find especially good:

http://www.candletech.com/candle-making-basics/how-to-make-container-candles/

For me, as I am not particularly good with the whole maths thing, the most difficult part will be working out exactly which type and size of wick I will need. This is a good starting point I think:

http://www.happynews.com/living/create/guide-choosing-wick.htm

However, I think this is going to take me a little time to perfect! I shall let you know how I get on with my experiments!