This is a favorite of the young and almost anybody else who enjoys the beach or who likes playing with sand. With sand candles, the sand not only serves as the mold shape, it also becomes a component of the candle itself by forming a crust on the outside. Essentially, sand candles are very simple — an impression is formed in wet sand and this is the mold from which the candle is made.

Because of the higher melt point required, candlemaker Betty Oppenheimer recommends melting the wax over direct heat instead of the usual double-boiler method. If you choose to do this, the safest way is in a concealed-element heater, such as an electric Crock-Pot or cooker.

And always keep items for extinguishing fire close at hand; baking soda, wet towels, and a large pot lid are acceptable options. On the beach, you could have a bucket of wet sand ready in case of accident. You know the old adage: an ounce of prevention …

Sand Candles 1, 2, 3

To cast candles in sand you will need the following:

• Sand

• Cored or primed wick

• Wax with a high melting point

• Color chips for wax, optional

• Scent oil, optional

• Large basin to hold sand

• Direct heat source

• Thermometer

• Large wooden spoon

• Skewer or ice pick

Once you have assembled your cast candle–making items, you are ready to begin. There are three components to successful sand-casting: (l) temperature of your wax; (2) compactness of the wet sand; (3) ratio of sand to water. The first step is to wet the sand. (Beach sand may already be wet enough.) To do this, fill the basin with sand, leaving some room for mixing, and add water. Mix or stir (use your hands or a trowel) until the sand is wet enough to hold a shape when you squeeze a handful. It must be well compacted.

The next step is to dig a hole in the sand in the shape you want to make. For example, if you want a bowl shape, impress a bowl into the wet sand. A gelatin or baking mold in a fancy shape, such as a fish, bunny, or other decorative shape, can be used successfully if your sand is properly compacted.

Have your primed or cored wick ready and cut it to the length needed. Use multiple wicks for larger candles.

Pour your hot wax (at a temperature of 275° Fahrenheit) into the sand-shape (having first removed the object with which you formed the shape). When pouring, go slowly, because the sand is absorbing some of the wax. As the wax fills the shape you have created, it will seep into the surrounding sand, making a shell. For this first pouring, use uncolored wax. If you want a colored candle, allow the wax to cool before adding the color chip: very hot wax muddies color. Add scent if you are using it. Pour again until the mold is filled, holding the spoon under the stream of wax so that the wax does not splatter. Try to disturb the sand as little as possible when pouring the wax into the shape.

When the cast shape is full, wait until a thin layer has solidified on top. Then, insert the wick straight down through the wax to the sand, keeping it carefully centered.

Once you have inserted the wick, set the basin of sand in a protected place where it will not be disturbed (you don't want your candle spilled) and allow it to cool for several hours. Carefully dig the cast shape up from under the bottom and brush off the excess sand. Congratulate yourself! You have just produced a unique work of art.

Colored Sand

Craft shops sell beautifully colored sand — but it's expensive to use except for small shapes. You can use this brilliantly colored sand in clear glass containers of any shape suitable for a container candle. It is also used without wax to make decoratively colored layered objects.

Freeform Sand Candles

By mixing sand with wallpaper glue, you can get a “dough” made of sand that will hold together while you shape it into freeform decorative shapes. Proportions of sand to glue will vary with the type of sand, so you'll have to experiment. Just add the glue to sand and mix until it is of a consistency similar to bread dough. Then, make shapes with your hands. This is just like kneading. You can press the dough into a bowl, an ashtray, a shell, or any other shallow vessel to get a basic shape. Manipulating it with your fingers — just as you would pastry dough — will result in interesting textures as well as a decorative shape. Allow the sand/glue container to dry for forty-eight hours before filling with wax and wicking as with sand candles.