Tallbabydoll

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Since you intend to sell these, it's very important that you use hurricane wax. Yes micro will increase the mp, but not enough. If your customer decides to use a votive inside a hurricane made with normal pillar wax the heat will start to melt the inner wall, and if left burning long enough, possibly start to warp it. In my testing using 145 mp pillar wax both of these happened with a votive, but was fine with a tea light. However no matter what you tell people, or how many warnings you place, the customer will do as they please. It's also a good idea to line the bottom of the hurricane (on the inside) with cork for protection. The bottom of the votive holder can get quite hot and melt the hurricane. But reg pillar wax will work fine for the time being, just to learn the technique. HTH Personally I haven't had the need to use addatives, just straight hurricane wax. I believe some use micro to make it less brittle, but I see no need for UA. There's no chance of mottling, or need to enhance sent throw, or increase the amount of fo the wax will hold. THe only advantage I know of would be to raise the MP a bit, and aide in mold release. With a seasoned mold, it should release just fine, at least thats my experience. Everyone does things differently.

Has anyone tried these? If so what did you think about the quality/throw? I've learned to be leary of low cost fo's, and these are pretty cheap. TIA

To Adorable!!!! Rubber DUcky your the one, u make bath time lots of fun! Rubber Ducky your the only one for me. :o Oppsy, not in the shower right now.

So sorry, hope you were able to get it all cleaned up. At Christmas time I was making up a decent sized batch of Whipped Shea and dropped it all over the floor. I wanted to cry! That was one expensive boo boo.

I tried gloves, but they didn't work for me. Not only did I burn myself pretty badly, but when I moved on to another bear, the hardened wax started coming off of my gloves onto the new bear leaving ugly chunks of wax and made them yucky looking. So I started thinking of other ways to do it. What I came up with works beautifully, and I don't mind sharing. The product is whats for sale, not the tools, and your already making the product so if I can help make your life a little easier, why not? I dip the bear using tongs, then place him in a metal mess strainer, using a flat wooden spoon push out the excess wax. Then I position him on a cooling rack with foil underneath. When I'm going on to the next one I just place my tools in the hot wax to melt off any wax build up and start the process over again. Oh and I have a metal bowl that I place the strainer over to collect the excess wax, which I just poor back in with the rest when I'm done with each bear. HTH

Yes I have given out votives as free samples, and it has resulted in orders. What most of oy orders have been though has been for Photo Hurricanes and have been the result of people seeing them and ordering some for themselves. A free votive has resulted in my first wholesale account. I started a thread a day or two ago telling that story.

Thank you everyone. I've thought about the points of interest angle, and have considered using some nice photos I've taken of sunsets on Lake Michigan, which is really the only local thing of interest. I've been thinking of putting either "Lake Michigan" or "Petoskey Michigan" on the pic in a pretty font. Considering the Inn is built right on the lakeshore they may go for that, and people like souviners with the name of the place they visited on it. I just don't know cuz the gift shop/cafe is so small and cramed with stuff already, including the local major manufactorer "Bullfrog"'s candles. Oh forgot to mention that Yes they do plan to sell them, saw it on the P.O. today. As for the "in the suites" idea, I already mentioned that a bit in conversation. I think that was the original intention, then it turned to gifts, now they want to sell them. So I took my boss in my tart burner and some of my melts and I'm trying to convince them to buy burners for the rooms, and melts for the rooms from me. This place is all about providing luxury and customization, so I'm trying to hit that angle. Let the guest choose the scent they want, mix melts to make their own custom blend, etc. Again, thank you for the incouraging replies.

I work at a Marriot/Renissance hotel and I gave a votive to my boss. Well I have a small pic of my photo embedded hurricanes on my hang tags. She asked me about it and after I explained them to her she asked me to make her one with a pic of the Inn. I did and took it in. She showed it to the GM and other managers at a managers meeting and everyone loved it. They placed an order for 25 of them to start off with. I know thats not a huge number, but I'm excited about it. They first told me that they intended to give them to our "elite" guests. But then when my boss told me that they wanted 25 to start with she said they wanted to see how well they sell before ordering more. I really hope that they don't try to sell these, cuz I don't think they'll sell and they wont end up ordering more. Who's really going to want one of these with a picture of a hotel on it in their home? I wouldn't. Plus I priced them a little low thinking that they wouldn't order if they were to high because they wouldn't be making any money off of them, they'd be gifts. They'd also go through them quicker and reorder faster. Oh well, it's still my first real order and I'm excited about it. Now I gotta go order me some wax LOL. Wish me luck on more orders, and getting these pics to come out straight on the first try.

Hurricane shells with old photos embedded from Your High School Days. Then People could order ones with photos from the reunion? Coconut shells would be a good idea, and seashells with candles made in them would also go with the theme. Embed seashells and or little starfish in containers? Sand candles? Hawaii is famous for Pineapples and coconuts, so I'd use thoses scents. Since Hawaiian is from Hawaii, I'd ask her. I'm sure she'd have a ton of suggestions.

I'm usually asked if my package contains Liquid, flammable, etc contents. I was honest and was turned away. I asked about it and was told that they dont allow flammable because they don't know which packages will end up by the engines, so they wont take the risk with the heat. Also liquids are not allowed because of the possible leakage and running other packages. Having to possibly pay multiple people insurance because of one box, etc. So now I use click and ship, don't have to face someone. I think though that they ask that their too, but easier to lie with a mouse I suppose.:undecided

I would love to be a tester for either, espeically for B&B. I've been making candles for about 4 years now, and just started making a few B&B items not to long ago. In the future I'd really like to make soap and other B&B. Not making much of anything right now, but maybe testing for others would help with the cravings LOL.

I use dyes from Alabaster. Great quality. I don't like the bottles though. So I take off the top and use a skewer, dip the tip in the dye, then into my wax, repeat as necessary. Works great, no spills, rarely overdye my wax, and they have over 30 colors to chose from. HTH

Simply Gorgeous! They don't go with my decor at all, but if you ever get tired of them, I'll gladly take them off of your hands!

LMAO SO Sowwy Val!

Hey, just put a little skin safe fo on the crystals before putting them in the bandana, and that'll cover up your stinky ummmmmmmmmm self.

Congrats!!!:highfive:

Very pretty! I love the soft colors.

Welcome to CT and the art of candlemaking. There are tons of suppliers and prices do vary. Generally you'll find waxes to be very close in price, but shipping is what's going to determine the best overall price. Candlewic is actually one of the cheapest sites I've found. Their molds are by far the cheapest I've come acrossed. Many sites charge at least twice as much if not 3-4x more. But their 4144 pillar wax is the only product I've actually used, and I do like it. For fos (fragrance oils) price should not be your determining factor. This is one case where quality is very important. I found this out the hard way. I've placed big orders based on price and sales, and was very unhappy with the products I received. Some good quality fos can be purchased from a number of sites. The ones I'd recommend checking out for fos (based on personal experience and recommendations from others here) Peaks (link on right) Natures Garden, Bitter Creek North, Indiana Candle Supply, Aztec, Just Scents, and Candle Cacoon. A warning here though, you should always try a sample first before you by a large amount of an fo. Everyones nose is different and just because everyone is raving about a scent does not mean that you'll like it. Oh and another helpful hint, you can save alot of money by participating in the co-ops the members run here. There's always a co-op for something going on. Theres fo co-ops for Peaks here almost monthly. For dyes, (if you want to try liquid, which I recommend) Peaks and Alabaster Candle Supply sell good qualtiy dyes, and Alabaster has 30 colors to choose from. For wicks there's a new sites which I can't remember the name of right now, but they're offering a free sampler pack. Run a search, I'm sure you'll be able to find it. Or order a sample pack yourself. You'll be needing the different sizes when you start testing to find that perfect burn with your formulation. Oh and Candlewic offers a "wick builder" where they'll make your wicks to your specifications. Hope this is of some help. Be sure to read the tips threads and the archives. They're full of useful info. Wish I would've known about this site when I first started, would've saved myself a ton of $.

Sara, I absolutely LOVE the look of your soaps, both the bars, and round. But I have to say, I perfer the look of the round. Your keepin the best looking ones for yourself to "test" ah huh right. LOL JK beautiful work. Now I am leavin this galery before I drive myself nuts.

LOVE the swirls!!! Need a tester?

Why oh Why do I let myself come to this Gallery? Everytime I look it makes the craving to try soaping WORSE! Michelle, I just had to tell you that I LOVE the look of your soaps, and the fact that you got those gorgeous colors naturally is amazing. Keep up the wonderful work. And if you get overloaded, I'll gladly test for you. Or anyone else for that matter. Testing volunteer!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was just on ebay and saw an 18oz container of Red Devil Lye. The bid was at $9.50 + $4.50 shipping. That seems pretty darn steep to me. I know it's like gold to soapers, but isn't lye like $2.00 pp?

Grumpygirl, I just wanted to say that your tiles are beautiful! Very ncie work. It'd be interesting to see how the finished product comes out.

Oh I see. Yes the more you order, the cheaper they get, at least to a point anyways.