Beeswax is one of my very favorite materials to work with. There’s so much you can do with it, it’s totally natural and smells like heaven! My girls and I used some to make impressions for Valentine’s day. Perhaps you have seen some of these around. They are so simple to make and even your children can help with the pouring. There are several options for molds. Here, I’ve used a ceramic cookie mold from Brown Bag Designs. If you search for ‘cookie mold’ on Etsy or even Ebay you will come up with many beautiful designs. You may even have one hiding in your own stash, that’s where I found mine. I think it was a hand-me-down from my mother. If you’re looking for a less expensive option that can be picked up from most craft stores try plastic candy molds, silicone molds or even shaped metal baking pans. I’ve used the kind with many different shaped compartments that are meant for cookies or cupcakes. They will need to be poured more shallowly but work great!
The process is quite simple. Begin by melting your beeswax. We use a tiny little crock pot that is reserved only for beeswax. You can also use a double boiler or an empty can or heat proof bowl placed inside a pot of water on the stove (like this). DO NOT place beeswax directly in your pot on the stove. Also, don’t use anything you are not willing to set aside for beeswax use only.
For ease of pouring you will need to pour the wax into a container with a spout. We use an old plastic milk bottle that I have cut the top spout off of. Any plastic drink bottle can be bent into a pouring spout and is easy for children to handle.
Fill your mold and once it begins to set up (which will happen rather quickly) you can make a hole for hanging with a toothpick. Another option for hanging is to place a loop of ribbon or string in the wax before it sets up.
Now, in my experience, I have found that if you place the mold into the freezer when the edges have firmed up but the middle is still a little ‘soupy’ that it will come come away from the edges beautifully without contracting too much, too soon. You won’t need to keep it in there long at all. From start to finish you should have one completed in less than a half an hour Find what works best for you and remember, the beauty of working with wax is that if it doesn’t come out right, you can always melt it down and try again!
Beeswax impressions look gorgeous hanging in a window where the sun can show off the design. Wouldn’t this make a beautiful Valentine for your children to make for loved ones?
If you’re not up for making your own, two of our Natural Kids team members sell several different designs in their shops, Harvest Moon By Hand and Pretty Dreamer.
Julie Hunter is a wife and mama, raising 3 spirited girls, two babydoll sheep, angora rabbits and a gaggle of chickens and ducks in the North Carolina Foothills. She spends her days at home, crafting with her children, homeschooling, taking long gathering walks in the woods and knitting Waldorf-inspired toys. You can find her blogging and keeping shop at This Cosy Life.
