That Coffee Roasters: Coffee & Crafts: Ideas for DIY crafts

martes, 24 de abril de 2018

Coffee & Crafts: Ideas for DIY crafts

From your coffee mug to your coffee table.

We can all make something pretty, and be eco-friendly along the way.

From hot beverages to tasty desserts, in countless articles we have seen the many recipes that can be prepared with coffee, and in recent posts we have listed some of coffee grounds’ benefits in the form of facial masks, deodorant and even as plant compost, but the wonders of coffee don’t end there, dear reader, today we will show you some of the applications of coffee (whether in the form of beans or ground powder) within the world of art and crafts, it’s time to take our creativity to a new level and experiment a little with coffee.

One of the simplest, yet most elegant forms of coffee-involved art is the Mosaic, where you create a two-dimensional figure using pebbles, tiles, or in this case, coffee beans! You can practice it at home and all you need is a flat surface (from a small paper sheet to a huge canvas), some glue and all the coffee beans you can get; you start by drawing a figure on your canvas and then proceed to cover it with glue and put the coffee beans on the glue-covered areas, wait until it all has dried and voilá! A Mosaic.

Coffee Candles How-to guide

Scented candles are always a lovely idea to brighten up a living room, set the mood for a romantic evening or simply taking a relaxing bubble bath, and what aroma could be more relaxing and endearing than fresh coffee? Learn how to make your own coffee-scented candles here, just follow these simple instructions. The best part of homemade scented candles is that the aroma they provide is more realistic and you’ll find the materials you need are all low cost, so it will be a smaller investment than buying them from a store, besides, it’s always more rewarding and satisfactory to enjoy something we’ve made ourselves. So let’s get to it!

Needed materials:

Candle holder (it can be a coffee mug, tin can, mason jar, etc.)
Soy wax flakes (or old candles that you want to re-melt and fuse into a new candle)
Ground coffee
Brown candle-making dye (optional, it’s just for adding some color that goes with the theme)
Tabbed wick
Double-sided tape or superglue
Pot
A measuring cup (for melting wax)
Candy-making thermometer
Wooden spoon, skewer, or craft stic

Firsts steps:

Once you have a holder for your candle, clean it, then set it aside. Don't add the wick just yet. You will need to use your candle holder to measure out the wax.
Set up a double-boiler for candle-making. Set a metal can or a heat-safe glass measuring cup into a pot. Fill the pot with a few inches/centimeters of water. The exact amount doesn’t matter, as long as the water reaches part-way up the side of the can and does not touch the rim. Don’t use your candle holder for this step, even if it’s a tin can.
Clip a candy-making thermometer to the side of the can. Candy-making thermometers have a metal band with a clip attached to it. Slide the clip over the rim of the can so that the thermometer is on the inside. Move the thermometer up or down through the metal band so that the tip is not touching the bottom of the can.
Pour soy wax flakes into the can. Use your candle holder to measure out the wax. You will need enough wax flakes to fill your candle holder 1.5 times. Don't worry if this seems like too much, the wax flakes will condense when they melt and take up less space. You can use other types of wax if you prefer, but soy wax is the easiest to work with.
Melt the wax over medium-high heat. Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat and wait for the wax to melt. In most cases, it will turn clear or translucent. Depending on the type of wax you are using, this can take from 10 to 15 minutes. Do not let the wax get hotter than 200 °F (93 °C), or it may catch on fire. Also, do not leave the wax unattended during this step.
If you are using a different type of wax, check the label on the packaging for the flash point. If you can't find it, research it online.

Adding Fragrance and Color

Add 1 tbsp (5 g) of ground coffee per 12 oz (340.2 g) of wax flakes. You can use any type of coffee, but freshly-ground coffee may give you the best fragrance.
Stir and cook the wax for 2 to 3 more minutes. This will give the coffee time to infuse the wax with its fragrance and color. Watch the temperature on the thermometer during this time. Do not let it get higher than 200 °F (93 °C), or whatever the flash point for your wax is. Use a wooden spoon skewer, or craft stick to stir the wax.
You can deepen the color with brown candle-making dye if desired. Get a block of brown candle-making dye. Use a knife to shave off a thin sliver from the edge of the block, then add it into the wax. Stir the wax with a wooden spoon, skewer, or craft stick until the color is consistent. Add more slivers of dye as needed until you get the color you want. Don't use clothing dye, paint, or soap-making dye. Don't use the entire block. A tiny amount of candle-making dye goes a long way.

Pouring and Cooling the Wax

Wait for the wax to cool to 100 °F (38 °C). Keep your thermometer clipped to the side of the can, and watch the temperature as it falls. You will need to move quickly once the wax cools to 100 °F (38 °C). It would be a good idea to prepare the candle holder while you wait for the wax to cool.
Insert a tabbed wick into your candle holder. Choose a wick that is taller than your candle holder. Place a piece of double-sided tape or a drop of super glue on the bottom of the tab. Tuck the wick into your candle holder and press the tab against the bottom. A tabbed wick is a pre-cut candle wick with a metal disk attached to the bottom. You can find it in the candle-making section of a craft store. For a rustic touch, super-glue a natural/wooden wick into the candle holder instead.
Wrap the wick around a stick (anything from a pencil to a small paintbrush will do) placed across the candle holder. Wrap the end of your wick around the stick. Keep wrapping the wick until the stick touches the rim of your candle holder.
Pour three-quarters of the wax into the candle holder. Save the remaining quarter for later. This way, you can use the leftover wax to fill in any wells or craters that may form in your candle. If you don't want the coffee grounds in the finished candle, pour the wax through a mesh strainer, then clean the strainer immediately.
Let the wax cool completely at room temperature. This can take its time. It all depends on the type of wax you used to make your candle, how big your candle is, and how warm or cool it’s in your kitchen. The remaining quarter of wax will also cool, which is fine. You can re-melt later.

Finishing the Candle

Reheat the remaining wax. Most candles develop a small well in the center as they cool. Reheat the remaining quarter of wax using a double-boiler, just as before.
Pour the wax into the well that formed in the middle of your candle. If you used a strainer for the first batch of wax, you should use a strainer for this batch as well.
Allow the wax to harden again. This shouldn’t take as long as the first time because you are using a smaller amount of wax. Use your fingernail to scrape off any wax that got on the outside of your candle holder at this time.
Trim the wick to 1⁄8 inch (0.32 cm). This will prevent the flame from climbing too high. It will also reduce the amount of smoke. Once you trim the candle, you can light it.

Voila! A new coffee-scented candle. Enjoy!

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