Home and Garden

Ideas For DIY

Giveaway: Candlemaking and Soapmaking

by

In continuing our month’s worth of giveaways for National Craft Month, Lark Crafts has offered several book titles we know you will love! There will be a new book giveaway each week, as well as other fun prizes throughout the month, so make sure you watch daily.

This week Lark brings us two beautiful and practical books by Rebecca Ittner: Candlemaking the Natural Way and Soapmaking the Natural Way. I recently did a review of the candlemaking book and shared some of its beautiful contents. If ever you wanted to get started in soap making or candle making, these are both excellent resources.

HOW TO ENTER
Simply leave a comment on this post and tell us if you make candles or soaps or if you have wanted to! Share the types of candles or soaps that you make, and if you have an etsy shop or tutorial blog, feel free to tell us about it! Tell us all about it before March 15th at midnight CST!

ELIGIBILITY
As much as we would love to include our Canadian and international friends I’m afraid this giveaway is restricted to those with a U.S. mailing address. If you live outside of the U.S. but have an address within the U.S. that we can ship to then you’re in! Otherwise, we truly apologize. You must be 18 or older to enter. Winner will be randomly selected on March 16th and notified via email. Winner will have 72 hours to respond with their shipping address, otherwise an alternate winner will be drawn. Good luck!

Please note, all prizes will be shipped at the conclusion of our National Craft Month celebration. Winners should allow 4-6 weeks for delivery after April 1, 2011.

Be sure to visit our new blog here at Craft Gossip, Candle Making with Sandra Williams. Don’t forget we have a Bath & Body blog too edited by Nellie Lurhmann!

Keep your eyes peeled for more fun to celebrate National Craft Month!

Comments

  2. My closet… woe is me. It has so much potential, so much wasted space, so much inefficiency, so boring. Definately could benefit from a makeover!

  3. I’ve never made soap before but have always had the intention of learning to do so. When I was 10, I was given a candle making kit which I had a great time with making fun colored candles. I’d like to make some more now that I’m old enough to actually burn them! 😀

  4. I make glycerine soap–but have always wanted to try lye soap and I love recycling old candles into new ones!

  6. I’ve made both before. I plan on making egg shaped candles for Easter again this year, by pouring the wax into a hollow egg shell.

  7. I am just starting to get into soapmaking; so far, I’ve only done m & p, working with a castile base. I would love to win the soapmaking book!

  8. I have been wanting to try and make my own soaps. Candlemaking is fun, but I always make a huge mess in doing it.

  11. I’ve made candles once but never soap. I think that would be fun. maybe I’ll win and then I can learn now!

  12. I have never made my own soap or candles, but these books sure would be a good start to helping my husband and I live a more self-sustaining lifestyle. Thanks for the opportunity to win!

  13. I am interested in trying both candlemaking and soapmaking. I have not tried either. I have done stamping on candles but never made them from scratch. I’d love to get good enough to sell them.

  14. I love candles but lately have felt like buying them is wasteful. I’d like to make my own natural candles so that I can reuse the same containers.

  19. I’ve made candles and would love to try soapmaking. They look like beautiful books!

  20. hi, i have made both before and make soaps every few months. Have been wanting to get into candle making again as well as expand knowledge on soapmaking.

  22. I made soap for a biology class in college and LOVED IT! I always wanted to keep it up but got sidetracked (life, kids…). I would love to get into it once again 🙂

  24. I’ve always wanted to try making both soap and candles…but find the process intimidating.

  25. I’ve never made either, but I would love to know how to make wonderful candles. I love them! Always lit at my house 🙂

  27. I have never made either, but I have been looking for the right time to try. This could be it!!!

  28. Hi! I am a stay at home Mom and a new crafter! I would love to learn and experiment with making soap and candles! Not only for my kiddos but maybe as gifts?
    Thanks

  30. I used to make soaps when I was younger to give as gifts to family. I remember how much I loved to do it. I’ve been wanting to learn how to make candles. Thanks for chance.

  31. I’ve made candles before, but it’s been awhile. I’ve been dying to try my hand at soaps!

  32. I use to make candles and made some for my neighbors Christmas gifts but haven’t made any for more than 3 years. I really miss it and want to get back into it again. I’ve experimented with soap but it never came out right.

  34. I made candles and soap with my mom as a little girl. I am almost knocked over with nostalgia when I think of how fun it would be to work through these books.

  36. I have made candles before but really want to try soapmaking… it looks like so much fun to do…

  37. i have not crafted these yet but would like to add thes to my never ending love of crafting

  39. These are 2 things I’ve been wanting to try but am so turned off in that isle of the craft store when I see how artifial all of the ingredients are. I’m intrigued that these titles are for making both “the natural way.”

  40. Many years ago I made candles and I enjoyed making them, so, I am not sure why I stopped making them. I have never made soaps but I enjoy all kinds of crafting so I’m sure that I would enjoy that craft also. Thanks for this giveaway.

  41. I’ve not made candles/soaps, but I have always wanted to do it. I’m such a sucker for both at craft fairs/art shops… Thanks for a chance to win!
    kmassmanATgmailDOTcom

  42. I have been wanting to learn how to make both of these. I started researching last year how to make candles, so I could give them as gifts. 🙂

  45. I’ve made soap with glycerin before but haven’t made candles. I would like to win either of them.

  46. I make both candles and soap and have even made lotion for my family and friends. I would love to win the great books and make some of the items in the books…. Good Luck to everyone….

  47. Hi!! I have made candles, but never soaps. I would LOVE to learn to do those!! Thanks for the opportunity!! I DO have a USA mailing address (I live in Ecuador for now) so YAY I’m in!!!

  49. I make scented soy container candles, as well as other produts, and have an etsy shop called Beach In A Box

  50. I’ve rebatched soap and made a few melt&pours with my daughter–lots of fun. I haven’t tried candles yet, but I sure I’d like it too.

  51. I unfortunatly have not tried either but I would love to try them both. I love pretty scented candles and also the awesome shapes that you can make with the soap molds.

  52. I make soy candles they last longer and don’t smoke as bad. As for soap I would really like to make some. I want to thank you for the book giveaway.

  53. i have always wanted to make candles! i would love to learn how to do it! thanks for the opportunity!!

  54. I made gel candles once – my dining room table was consumed, the smell of “cinnamon spice” almost killed a loved one :), and I vowed never to do it again. Knowing there’s a far better way…wow. I’d love to try making soy candles or candles using organic products and essential oils. Could use them anywhere or make gifts!

  55. I make beeswax candles from our bees and goats milk soap from our nubian goats and sell them at the farmer’s market. I’d love to learn some new techniques!

  58. I used to make simple candles when I was a kid (a looooong time ago) but never soap. I’ve checked into doing both at times as I’d like something to bring in a bit extra money since I’m on disability. These books look like they would answer my questions. Thanks for the chance to win!

  59. Been making candles for about 50 years. still enjoy making a good sand candle now and then. Haven’t tried soap yet. Never too young to try new things.

  60. I’ve made soap before but haven’t made any for a really long time. I want to try candles sometime in the future.

  61. i have tried making candles and soap. my candles dont turn out to good,i amke a lot of hand and body soap. i also make laundry soap it really pays off.

  62. I made candles when I was younger (the hippie thing to do! lol) I would love to learn to make soap for our family and friends…naturally! Thanks for the chance to win!

  64. I have never made candles but have always checked out the supplies and things when I am in the craft shop. If I had the book I know I would give it a whirl. Love the front cover!

  66. Since I’m a science major in college, making candles and soap had always been interesting to me though I’ve only made soap in class before.

  67. I have done a bit of candle making but no soap making as yet. I have been studying herbal combinations for soaps and want to learn more, especially milk-based recipes.

  68. I just started my at home spa product company and I think that adding handmade soaps and candles to my line of products would definitely add to the spa at home experience.
    Thanks for the giveaway and the possibility of a chance to win.

  69. I made glycerin soaps and beeswax candles what seems like a hundred years ago 🙂 and just was thinking recently about a trip to A I Root Co in Medina OH where I grew up. They had all kinds of bee products and with bees environmentally threatened, wanted to learn more about their work&harvesting as they change and work to preserve the bee population. They have evrything! Sheet wax for lil bits to make roll candles, etc. In fact, that was the first candle I ever made.

  71. I’d LOVE to win the soap book particularly….as I’ve gotten older, my skin has become so sensitive to everything! 🙁 I’d love to learn how to make some pure/organic soap products for my house…and the skin I’m in! 🙂

    Thanks for the chance to win!

  72. I am going to make candles and soap in the future.Right now I am in the process of learning.

  75. I’ve always wanted to try and make soap but am a little bit afraid. I’ve been given handmade soap and loved them.

  76. I would LOVE to make soap on a rope. We always joke about it…but this would push us to actually do it. 🙂

  77. I have collected all kinds of candle-making and soap-making supplies — I’m dying to get going on these projects!

  79. I have tried melt and pour soap before and it’s fun. Just made it for fun for the family. I would love to learn more techniques though.

    As for candle, haven’t tried it yet but would like to try. I like soy candles that are aromatherapeutic. Would love to learn how to make those.

  81. Having made both candles and soap, I love both making and using the fruits of my labor. These are two of the oldest crafts and almost a lost art. Thanks for introducing it to crafters.

  82. Have made candles for years and still am inspired by books and new styles that I see in the stores. Just getting into soap making, this book looks awesome!

  83. The only types of candle I have made have been re-purposed candles that I have melted down. I have not made soap before but have wanted to try. These books look very interesting.

  85. I made candles with my aunt as a child, and I’ve made M&P soaps as an adult, but I’ve always wanted to dive into soap and candlemaking.

  90. Making soap is fun and makes a great gift. I have only done this a few times and would love to experiment some more. Thanks.

  91. I want to start making my own soaps. I have a limited number of commercially availible soaps I can use due to perfume allergies and it’s time to try the homemade route!

  92. My family made candles when I was a kid and soap too, but I haven’t done either since I grew up. I would love to try both with my girls.

  93. I have never made candles or soaps, but I really really want to!
    hisprincess886(at)yahoo(dot)com

  94. Never made candles before, but always wanted to. I’m always buying candles for my place.

  95. I have friends that make candles every year for Christmas. I’ve always wanted to make soap, but the whole lye business scares me.

  96. I have made candles in the past for friends who are getting married and I have even done my own unity candles at my wedding….the next conquest is soap making….I have always had a fear that I would make it wrong and cause someone to “break out”…I would love to learn how to make soap and be confident I know what I am doing. There are so many beautiful organic soaps…and I think to my self,”I can do that but how?” I guess even if I do not win I will still resolve to teach my self soap making.

  97. I have been wanting to make soap for some time, this would be great. Use to make candles with my mom when I was a little girl but have not made any in a very long time, would be nice to do some with the grandkids.

  98. I haven’t ever done soap or candle making, but I would love to! Thanks for the chance to win!

  99. I am yet to make soap, but candle making is a favorite hobby of mine. I always recycle old candle hollows and melt them down and re-pour them to make recessionista candles.

  101. I want to learn to make soap! I’ve done candles a couple of times, but just haven’t been able to get them quite right. Would love some help in making them better.

Have you read?

10 Tufted Wall Hanging Tutorials for Creating Cosy Textile Art

There is something wonderfully comforting about a piece of handmade textile art hanging on the wall. Perhaps it is the softness, the slightly uneven tufts or simply the fact that yarn instantly makes a room feel warmer. Whatever the reason, tufted wall hangings have moved well beyond the craft room and are now turning up in living rooms, bedrooms, nurseries and those awkward little corners that have been waiting patiently for something interesting.

Tufted wall art can be bold and colourful, soft and neutral, wonderfully shaggy or surprisingly neat and graphic. You can create it with a tufting gun, punch needle, latch hook tool or even a few humble pom-poms and tassels. That makes this a lovely craft trend to explore whether you are ready to invest in rug-tufting equipment or would rather begin with yarn already tucked away in your cupboard.

I have gathered ten tufted wall hanging tutorials covering a good mix of styles and techniques. There are proper rug-tufting projects for anyone intrigued by those mesmerising tufting-gun videos, along with smaller latch hook and yarn projects that are far easier to tackle at the kitchen table.

One small warning from a long-time yarn hoarder: textile wall art is an excellent excuse to buy more yarn while insisting that it is technically home decorating.

Beginner Rug Tufting and Tufted Wall Art Tutorials

How to Tuft a Rug: A Complete Beginner’s Tutorial

This detailed guide walks through the full rug-tufting process, including choosing a simple design, stretching the backing cloth, transferring the image, threading the tufting gun and securing the finished yarn. Although demonstrated as a rug, the same method works beautifully for a soft, graphic wall hanging—and wall art does not have to survive muddy shoes or Aloo racing across it.

Make Your First Mini Tufted Rug

Starting small is one of the least intimidating ways to learn rug tufting, and this mini-rug tutorial covers the project from design planning through to finishing. A small piece is also ideal for wall display because it is lighter, quicker to complete and much easier to fit into an existing gallery wall.

Beginner Step-by-Step Rug Tufting Guide

This beginner tutorial explains how a tufting gun pushes yarn through tightly stretched backing fabric to form either cut or loop pile. It is a useful starting point when all the equipment names sound like another language and you want to understand the complete process before ordering half a craft studio.

Complete Beginner’s Guide to Rug Tufting

This guide is worth bookmarking if you want a thorough introduction rather than a quick project overview. It takes you through the essential tools, frame preparation, yarn placement and finishing stages needed to create rugs or tufted wall art with clean, defined shapes.

Three-Step Tufted Wall Art Finishing Tutorial

Finishing the back and trimming the front are what turn a fluffy experiment into something you are proud to hang on the wall. This tutorial focuses specifically on tufted wall art and demonstrates a heat-activated adhesive method, surface trimming and optional backing for a tidy result.

How to Hang a Tufted Rug on the Wall

Once you have made your gorgeous tufted piece, you still need to stop it sliding down the wall at three o’clock in the morning. This practical guide covers several display methods, including D-rings, wooden slats, hook-and-loop strips and stretching the work over a canvas frame.

Latch Hook Wall Hanging Tutorials

DIY Latch Hook Wall Hanging

Latch hooking gives you that wonderfully thick, tufted appearance without needing an electric tufting gun or a large wooden frame. This beginner-friendly wall hanging is a satisfying way to experiment with colour, pile length and geometric designs using a simple latch hook tool.

DIY Latch Hook Wall Hanging Tutorial

This project creates a tactile yarn wall hanging using latch hook canvas and short lengths of yarn. I particularly like latch hook projects for using leftover yarn because even small quantities can become colourful stripes, arches or deliberately shaggy sections.

How to Latch Hook for Beginners

This guide explains the basic latch hook technique and how the yarn knots are formed on the canvas. Once you understand the simple movement, you can use it to create wall hangings, small rugs, cushions or wonderfully retro pictures that would not look out of place in a 1970s craft book.

Easy Yarn Wall Hangings with Tufted Texture

Easy Pom-Pom Boho Wall Hanging

This CraftBits tutorial combines handmade pom-poms, tassels, beads and a natural twig to create a soft bohemian wall hanging. It is not made with a traditional tufting gun, but it delivers plenty of plush yarn texture and is a far more accessible choice for children, group crafting or a relaxed afternoon project.

You may also like the DIY Boho Tassel Wall Hanging, another easy CraftBits project that turns ordinary yarn into soft, layered wall décor.

Choosing the Right Tufting Method

A tufting gun is the fastest option for producing dense textile artwork, but it also requires the largest investment. You will generally need a tufting gun, sturdy frame, primary tufting cloth, yarn, adhesive, backing material and a set of clippers or scissors for shaping the pile.

Punch needle and latch hook projects are slower, but they are much easier to begin at home and require fewer specialised supplies. They are especially good for small wall hangings, abstract patterns and projects made from leftover yarn.

For an even simpler interpretation, pom-poms and tassels can create a soft, tufted effect without any special textile tools. These are ideal when you want a quick project, something suitable for younger crafters or a reason to use the mysterious collection of half-finished yarn balls living in the cupboard.

Tips for Making Tufted Wall Art Look Polished

Begin with a simple shape or bold graphic design. Fine lettering, tiny curves and intricate facial details can be difficult to keep crisp when you are still learning how the yarn behaves.

Choose colours with enough contrast that the design remains clear from across the room. Subtle neutral shades can be beautiful, but it helps to vary the pile height or yarn texture so the different sections do not blend into one woolly beige cloud.

Trim gradually. You can always remove more yarn, but unfortunately there is no magical reverse haircut for an overenthusiastically shaved tuft.

Always secure the back carefully before removing or displaying the work. Wall hangings experience less wear than floor rugs, but the yarn still needs adhesive or another stabilising finish to prevent loose tufts.

Finally, choose a hanging method that suits the size and weight of the piece. Small designs may only need stitched rings or a dowel, while larger tufted wall hangings benefit from a wooden support that prevents sagging and curling.

More DIY Textured Wall Art Inspiration

Tufting is only one way to bring texture into your home. CraftGossip’s easy textured canvas wall art tutorial creates raised, sculptural artwork using joint compound and paint. It would look lovely displayed alongside a small tufted piece, particularly if you repeat the same colour palette across both projects.

Whether you choose a proper tufting gun, a latch hook tool or a fork full of pom-pom yarn, these tufted wall hanging tutorials offer plenty of ways to add handmade warmth to your walls. Start with something small, embrace the occasional uneven tuft and remember that those tiny imperfections are exactly what stop handmade décor from looking mass-produced.