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Handmade Christmas tree ornament made from beeswax using a clay cookie mold image.

Beeswax Christmas Ornament Tutorial

Charlotte Anderson @ Carolina Honeybees, LLC
Use clay cookie molds and melted beeswax to create these traditional wax Christmas ornaments. An easy project to complete in one afternoon.
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Tools

Supplies
 

  • 1/2 pound beeswax (or enough for number of ornaments)
  • 12 inches jute twine for hangers (twine, ribbon or wire)
  • 1 can Mold Release Spray

Instructions
 

  • Melting Beeswax:
    Beeswax has a low melting point of about 147° F. We want to get the wax just hot enough to melt.  It will discolor and turn dark if over heated.
    The flash point of beeswax is 400°  F . We do not want a fire so proceed with caution – not fear!
    I am not a big fan of heating beeswax in a microwave.  However, if you choose to do so: use a glass container and heat at short intervals at low power. This will take a while. 
    **Do not leave unattended. The safest way to melt beeswax is with the double boiler method. This process allows the wax to heat evenly and is considered a safer method. 
    Melting bees wax for christmas ornament in double boiler image.
  • Prepare Your Mold:
    Place the mold on a table or counter. Don’t forget to protect the counter surface against spills.
    You want the mold to sit level. If it is not level, you will not be able to fill the mold full of wax without making a mess.
    It is important to use some type of mold release. This is especially true when you are using cookie molds with a lot of detail.
    If you do not want to use a spray, some people report good results using vegetable oil. Lightly brush the inside of the mold. Just a thin coat is enough.
    Clay cookie mold sprayed with mold release for wax christmas ornament image.
  • Prepare Ornament Hanger
    You can use any type of hanger for your beeswax Christmas Ornament.  Wire, cord or ribbons are just a few possibilities for hanger material. 
    Choose your material and cut to a suitable length. You want enough length to push some down into the wax and still have enough to hang.
    Ornament mold with hanger material image.
  • Pour Melted Wax in Mold
    Pour melted beeswax into your prepared clay mold. You do not have to work fast but you want to pour the wax consistently. Don’t have a lot of stops and starts.
    Continue until the mold is full and almost to the point of running over. If you do have some run-over don’t worry, you can trim any excess off later.
    The melted beeswax will start to cool and set right away. 
    You will notice this first along the edges of the mold. Then the surface will skim over.  Let’s place our hanger quickly before the wax cools too much.
    Clay mold with melted beeswax image.
  • Insert Ornament Hanger
    Bend the hanger into a U shape.  Insert both ends into the melted wax. 
    If the hanger material starts to float to the surface, use a toothpick or similar object to gently press the hanger back into the wax.
    In a few seconds, you can let go and it should stay in place.
    Illustration of insert hanger material into hot beeswax image.
  • Cover and Cool
    As the surface (back side) of your beeswax ornament cools, the wax surface will become wavy. Honestly, the slower the wax cools – the better it looks to me. 
    My work room is cool this time of year. My clay mold is sitting on a towel.
    Once I have finished pouring and inserting the hanger, I cover the mold with a cardboard box and place a towel over all. My project is left to slowly cool for a couple of hours.
    Covered beeswax ornament in mold image.
  • Remove Cooled Ornament
    After several hours, remove beeswax ornament from mold. If it sticks, place it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
    Santa ornament made from beeswax image.

Notes

** Take care when melting beeswax and do so safely.  Do not over heat.
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