old bed sheets, wax paper or towels to cover your work surface. i just roll them up when i'm done and put them away in a box with the other candle making materials to reuse.
put a couple of inches of water in an old sauce pan. then put your wax in a metal container, preferably a pitcher for ease of handling. this container goes in the sauce pan on the burner, and this is how you melt your wax. the pitcher is easiest because it has a spout and a handle, and you can pour the melted wax better. you can also use a large juice can and just pinch 