Stamped Impressions

Full Color Images Stamped onto Candles

Embossing designs into your Candles for a Stamped Impression

Candle Stamping with clear stamps is a unique, yet fascinating form of stamping.  From creating gifts, to adding a theme in your décor, you will find this a lovely, and ‘scent’sational stamping craft.

•      A hot air blow dryer or heat embossing tool.

•      Clear stamps and clear stamping blocks.

•      Candles of any size

•      Square ink pads

            Candle stamping results will vary a little from one candle to the next depending on wax and size.  My preference is votives as they are small and easy to work with.

            The clear stamp you choose for your candle stamping project must of course fit on your chosen candle.  I recommend using a clear stamp image no larger than a 1-1/2” square.  Keep in mind that the clear stamp may be used multiple times if desired.  Clear stamps are preferred for candle stamping as you can see exactly what you are doing as you stamp.

            Once the wax is heated you don’t have much time to get your clear stamping image imprinted in the wax before it hardens again, so everything needs to be ready.  Ink your clear stamp with any color of water based ink.  This is to protect your stamp from wax clinging to the design.  With candle stamping there is always the possibility of wax clinging to the clear stamp but this step will help.

            Use the hot air blow dryer or heat embossing tool to direct warm air onto the candle surface.  Keep in mind that for candle stamping you are only trying to soften the wax, not melt it.  The surface of the candle will become shiny when it is warm. 

            As soon as you turn off the heat you must stamp your image onto the candle immediately.  Candles, being cylindrical, will require you to carefully move your clear stamp across the side of the candle.  Use great care in doing this as the stamp can slide and you will lose the impression completely.  Sliding can also cause wax to build up on your clear stamp. Press gently but firmly as you move your clear stamp around the side of the candle. If the clear stamping impression is not deep enough, heat the candle some more and re-stamp the image.  This is where clear stamps come in handy as you can see exactly where you stamped before and continue with the design.  Candle stamping is somewhat forgiving, but each time the wax is heated it is altered a little.  The less it is heated the better the finished result will be.

            To complete the design, use your ink pad and gently rub it over the clear stamping impression.  I have found that metallic inks work very well for this on darker colored candles.  White also offers a pleasing effect.  On lighter candles, any contrasting ink will work nicely. This step adds dimension and appeal to your candle stamping craft.

            Clean up is not hard, basically you just need to check your clear stamp for wax and be sure you have cleaned it all out of the design so it is ready for the next project.

Candle stamping with clear stamps is a very quick, fun project.  I enjoy giving the candles I stamp away as little thank you gifts.  However you look at it, stamping on candles is its own unique, captivating form of art.

Simple Steps for Rubber Stamping  a Full Color Image onto your Candle

This is a fun and easy technique you can do that creates fabulous candles in just minutes. You will need all the usual rubber stamping supplies. I like using the clear stamps when I use more than one color for a stamped image. You will also need a heat embossing gun, white tissue paper, markers or inks and a candle. Simply follow the step by step process I have provided for you in the next paragraph and create your own fabulous candle centerpieces or other works of art!

1. Choose your clear stamp. I chose the rose from the Rose Sympathy Clear Rubber Stamp set.

2. I inked my stamp using markers coloring in the red rose first then stamping it on the tissue paper. (Before you stamp you will want to put a scrap piece of paper under the tissue paper as the ink penetrates through the tissue paper.) After washing the stamp I inked the leaves with a dark green marker, lined up the clear stamp with the red rose and stamped the leaves in place.

3. I decided I wanted to go for as much color as possible so I colored in the leaves with a lighter green marker and the rose with a light pink marker.

4. Next I cut out the stamped image fairly close to the edges. I would recommend leaving 1/4″ of white tissue paper showing around the edges of your images after you have cut it out.

5. This is the fun part. Place your cut out image on the candle where you want it. Turn on your heat gun and blow the hot air directly onto the stamped image. The image melts right into the wax. Be sure to seal all the edges. You do have to be careful not to overheat the wax or it will run in an unattractive way.

That is it! 5 easy steps and the project is complete. You can’t even tell that there is any tissue paper melted to the candle - it completely disappears. I am going to have to try this technique with colored candles and colored tissue paper…