Britt

I charge $8 for my 8oz Mason Jars. It costs me $2.00 to make one so I multiply it by four. Of course that doesn't work for every one because of product cost, packaging, etc.

I think you are having the same problem that made me put everything away for a week and then go back. I got so frustrated. Get some universal additive. It solved my frosty problem on the first go.

I love the colors I used in this candle. They were from a company called Fancy Cat Candle Supply. Wonderful customer service and great products.

Hi everyone. I've been making candles since early January and it's mostly been votives, jars, and tarts. I decided to try my hand at a pillar (my first) and then decided to make it layered (I'm an over achiever...lol). I needed a color scheme and choose my bedroom...lol. Anyway, here is my very first pillar candle.

I got Fresh Brewed Coffee as my free sample and umm...I don't like it. I usually love the smell of coffee but it was just...off to me. My grandmother loved it and wants some votives in that scent..so yeah. I'll be smelling like stinky coffee for a few hours.

I second the Reddi-Glo dye chips. As of right now, I am making 8 oz jar candles and I use one chip for every half a pound because I like my colors to be very deep (with the dark) or bright and popping (with the pinks, bright greens, etc.). They work wonderful and I get pretty much the same color every time. No real noticeable difference unless I get down and look very closely. Like eye ball touching the glass closely.

I purchased Lavender FO and decided to test it out last night. I don't know if I got too close or what, but my eyes started stinging and I felt like I couldn't breathe. Twelve hours, a shower, and every fan in my house on and I still reek of lavender. No more of that for me. I've tested well over 30 FO's and I have never had this happen. Has anyone else had a FO that caused this? Edit : Oops...this may have been better off in the FO Discussion. Sorry.

I was that way. I worked all day the day my supplies arrived and stayed up all night experimenting. I usually let my votives sit for about three days before I test burn them. It's a struggle just to wait that long. I get so geeked.

I'm not sure if this goes here. I live in Greenwood, Mississippi which is on the west side of the state. Does anyone know of a supplier near me? Shipping is killing me and I actalluy paid more for shipping on one order than I did on what I bought. I'm looking into Alabastor in AL and I think that might be alright because I travel that way about once a month and it's only 20 minutes away from where I go. Is this a good company? Would you recommend it? Any one know of anywhere else around here?

I will definately be trying vanilla because I already have it ordered...lol. Thanks for all you help and I'm off to get ready to babysit. If anyone else has any input or advice for this, that would be great. Just need to get a consensus to make sure I'm not crazy for trying this...lol.

If I used my wages, my bank account would be non existent. I really hope your hourly wages are more than mine or you making some huge tips. As of this point (and keep in mind this is WITH the raise I got a few weeks ago), I only make $2.15 an hour. I usually average about $40-$50 on weeknights and almost a hundred on weekends. But a good portion of that goes to my car and college fund. I usually have about a hundred left over to do whatever with so that will be my candle making fund...lol. Are there any scents you would recommend for this type of thing other than bubblegum? I'm looking through Peaks now and nothing is jumping at me.

My poor bank account got quite a hit from Ebay over the past few days. Oh and the Classifieds from here...lol. Good thing I got loads of money for Christmas. Haha I've got FO's and wax and wicks and jars and a bunch of other things on the way to my house as we speak...lol.

Yes they are metal. They are also extremely cheap at my local Wal-Mart so that's a plus. It's a pretty thick metal so I'm thinking no problems. I'll be trying this later today, so I'll have to post a picture and get a few opinions on the look. I'm going to try a few without scent because my FO's aren't in yet. If they work without it, then I'll be alright. I might try them with FO's at a later date.

I might try that. Oh and I have one more question...lol. I'm full of those lately. Say I wanted to make several small "crayon candles" to put in a bowl for show and scent but no flame. You know the tiny cupcake pans? They are extremely small. Would they be safe to use as molds? I don't plan on making tarts as the moment, so I hate to spend MORE money than I already have on a mold. If the cupcake is not safe, I guess my CC can stand a little more charge...lol.

Pretty much. I'm may add a kid friendly scent like bubblegum or something along those lines. I didn't think there would be a problem, but seeing as how I'm very new to all of this...I don't want to start something and end up with a dangerous product in the hands of a seven year old.

My brother's room is done in Spider-Man and my mom wants candles in there, but doesn't want them to have a wick because he's already a little pyro. So I know that crayon shavings can clog the wick, but if there is no wick and they are just for decoration with no scent, would this be okay? I just plan on melting the wax, taking a few blue and red crayon shavings or chunks and pouring the molten wax over this little crayon mixture. Would this be safe? They'll be pillar type candles, but just colorful ones. Anyone ever done this?

Oh you have one of those too? LOL. My brother will look all over the house for something that's laying in plain sight. He's very specific in that if he opens something, it gets left open for something (water, coffee, etc.) to fall in and ruin. I'm thinking my shed will be good though. It's set back far enough from the house that it's peaceful, but not so far back that if I start a fire or something it will be seen and I won't be all alone in my little self-built inferno.

I wasn't trying to be snotty or anything (really sorry if it sounded like it). I'm just really organized, but my back porch is crammed with garden stuff. My shed would probably be overflowing is I hadn't put my foot down. I worked my butt off to pay for it and my sister was throwing in things left and right. I just meant that we all have to make-do with what we have.

If it works, it works, right? lol. I'm a very organized person, so I already have shelves built onto one side and cabinets above those. Years of helping my dad with his construction buisness has taught me many things. I don't need no man to build me a shelf...lol. (Nothing against men...I find a good majority of them intelligent, thoughtful and hot...lol) I have a very odd sense of humor. Just so you know. Oh and I laugh at myself. Yea, I'll be quit and hit the post button now.

I ordered wax for both (the container and pillar) and several wicks to try out, so I figure I'll give it a go in both and see how they turn out. Only way to find out is test the heck out of it, right? I don't expect a masterpiece the first go round, but I think these would be unique, at least around here, because we only have one candle-maker in the area that I know off and her candles are horrible. Once lit, it smoked and actually smelled so bad that I blew it out within thirty minutes of lighting it. I took it back and demanded my money back. It was supposed to be an apple-cinammon candle and it smelled like...well...I hate to say it, but the garbage can. On a good note, she gave me my money back and I learned my lesson.

I hope this is okay in here. I'm in kind of a sticky situation, because my mother (who is an absolute neat freak) has discovered my new hobby...lol. Not that she's complaining because she loves candles, but she doesn't want them being made in her spotless kitchen. I don't have a spare bedroom or anything like that. I'm thinking of turning my brand new shed (which did have my exercise equipment in it and is huge) into a craft room. It's air conditioned (for the HOT Mississippi summers) and heated for the winter time. It has plenty of opening for venting and is safe from rain, wind, wtc.. It also has several plug ins, lighting and such. My question is where do you make your candles? The kitchen? A hobby room? Anything like what I am thinking of doing?

Thanks for the advice. I ordered just about all of those colors and I'm checking on some scents now.

Hvae any of you ever done this? In my area, people are big into camoflauge and someone just asked if I could make them one after I get the hang of actual candle making. I know I'd want it to be a woodsey smell, but I was just wondering if any of you have done this and if you have any certain color suggestions, etc? Any help would be appreciated.

Hi. My name is Britt and while I'm new to the candle-making craft, I am not new to creating websites and I'm willing to offer my help to those who need it. I've gotten some great tips just from browsing through here so I wanted to extend this invitation to create and work with you to build you a website. My site can be found at http://fan.silently-shattering.net/index.php. It has no candle's on it, as I am not selling anything yet. It is a fanlisting collective. I did all of the coding myself, and created all graphics. I can make you a custom banner with pictures of your candles or whatever it is you prefer. Also, depending on the request I might get (I'm hoping to get a few as I work part-time, make candles and then have not much else to do seeing as how my money is taken up by the newly-developed candle habit ), I can even give you some webspace without having to use GeoCities or another free host. It would be http://yournamehere.silently-shattering.net or http://silently-shattering.net/yournamehere . Whichever you prefer. However if this is the case (and I promise I'm not trying for freebies), I'd prefer a small sample. I am giving away webspace that cost me a good amount of money. It can be a tealight or a tart or even a small votive. I'd don't want to promote something that isn't well done It will have link on my site and I get a decent amount of traffic. I'll even pay for shipping and a resonable price for the sample. You'll get plenty of space to put your pics, information, contact, etc. and I'll even help you set up a "shopping cart" area so that you don't have to work through email. I hope to see some takers and if you prefer I can give you some samples of my design. Hope to hear from someone.

I'm new to candle-making and I know you can use paraffin wax. I'm waiting on my wax I ordered to come in, but I have a question. While browsing in my local grocery store the other day, I came across some paraffin wax in the canning section. It's called Gulf Wax and says "For canning and candlemaking". Is it okay to use this to start with until I get my other wax in? Or do you not recommend it? Thanks.