Candle Making Techniques: Decorating with Botanicals

To Apply Pressed Flowers - start with a warm candle base and have your pressed flowers laid out.  Heat a spoon and use the back of it to soften a portion of your base where you want to place the first flower.  Immediately press the flower onto the softened wax.  Keep applying flowers until you are finished.  Now you are ready to overdip your candle (do not use stearic acid or it will opacify your surface).  After overdipping, immediately plunge the candle into cool water to give it a glossy finish. 

To roll your candles in herbs/petals - Spread out your finely minced dried herbs.  Use lavender buds, calendula petals, finely crushed rosehips, hibiscus, and other colorful herbs.  Coat one half of your candle base with regular craft glue and roll in the herbs. Repeat on the other half and let it dry for several hours.  Go back and fill in the bald spots.