A fun and easy
project with a beautiful payoff. Learn how to make these Balloon
Luminaries.
1. Fill a water
balloon with tepid water.
2. Melt your wax. Optimum working temperature for this project
is 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Try to maintain this temperature for
your wax while working by keeping it on a double boiler.
3. Slowly dip your balloon into the wax to just below the
water level in the balloon. Warning: Do not dip the balloon into
the wax past the water level. This could cause the balloon to
pop.
4. Hold the balloon in the wax for a few seconds, and then
slowly lift it out of the wax. Dip the balloon a few more times,
allowing some time between dips to let the wax cool.
5. While it is still quite warm, carefully set the balloon down
onto a piece of paper or a cookie sheet, making sure it is level.
This will create a flat bottom for the luminary.
6. Dip your balloon a few more times until it is the desired
thickness. A good target thickness is 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch.
7. Set the balloon on the paper or cookie sheet again and let it
cool.
8. When the wax is completely cooled, hold the
balloon over a sink or bucket, facing away from you. Carefully
pop the balloon with a skewer or knife and let the water drain
out. Throw away the balloon shards.
9. To level the top of the luminary, heat a cookie sheet on the
stove and place the luminary top-down onto the hot sheet and
carefully melt the edges until it is level.
10. Place a tea light or votive inside the luminary and burn on
a candle holder in a dark area.
Here is an example of these luminaries when using
dye.