Georgia

oh, pics please, DeAnna!

be careful that you don't have the iron hot or you will have a burn to explain instead of a drop of wax!

I still have some odd ones that are that old. If they have gone bad one sniff will tell you. If they smell OK but 'em in wax!

I am not a fan of patchouli, but I like Witches Brew. go figure. I have only used it in melts so I can't help with the wicking, but I call it Harvest Moon!

Happy birthday! And those are just adorable! I love that you treated yourself.

I use the name badge template to print and I am small time - I buy my labels at Office Depot or Staples whoever has it on sale.

I print mine on full sheet labels and cut them out myself with a scrapbook paper trimmer.

I never had any luck with the dye blocks when I started. I splurged and ordered red, blue and yellow liquid dye and learned to mix. I have since added some other colors and one was black. I can get a nice deep black without clogging the wick. I got my dyes from Peak and I remember Alan posting once that he used 50 drops of dye and it didn't make any difference in the burning of the candle.

Thanks for the replies! I'm rather fond of the name and I'm glad that they aren't just confusing my name.

oh, and I know the public is a bit confused. I had one lady smell the burners I had on display. And TWICE ladies made a comment about "that candle store in the mall"...I said Yank-me and they both said YES!

I don't know about your clamshells, but mine hold 3 ounces so I melt 12 ounces at a time. I think you will find they finish up a lot better if they are full to the top. (Mine are actually over the top while still liquid.) And, if you are using Peak's peppermint use less! I only use 4% and still get a mind blowing throw. For what it's worth, I like the darker green better.

I'm just a crafter, but I have a "biz" name on my labels. My name is Scintillating Scents. I make pillars, ornies and clamshell melties. Several times recently I have been confused with Scentsy. I politely tell people I am not "them" but make all my own products. I'm wondering if it is the clamshell, the name, or a combination. I was thinking about changing my name but, oh, the headache of relabeling everything...ugh.

Does anyone else with clamshells get confused with them?

Anyone have opinions on changing my name? I have had the name for almost 10 years but I only do a few craft shows in the fall. My "following" is pretty small - not nonexistent - but small.

If it is what you have and it is made well, yes, it's enough. You need time to test new products and if you are rushing them to get them ready you may fail. I would rather have a small selection and be confident in it...

Catholics always have beer at festivals - and at turkey shoots around here. makes me nervous.

I have done a small church festival for about 7 years now and do very well there - but it is an indoor craft show. I'm not sure people will come to the festival to buy candles or soap.

But, they have beer so who knows...

GFS - Gordon Food Service - has them. Do you have them or another restaurant supply by you?

jeniryan, I've hung them on the Christmas tree, too. I've also stuck a suction cup hook on my son's bedroom window and hung one up - no more "old sneaker" smell.

In my car they last at least 2 months - some a bit longer. I know that my nose gets accustomed to it so I have others check. The other day at the BK drive thru the cashier commented on how great my car smelled...it had been hanging about a month at that point.

I really like that blue, but I would love to own that raspberry truffle! nice work!

Good grief! I haven't posted here in a while either (I do read a lot) and I get TWO spam responses. smh

I closed my biz in 2009 and have just been a hobby candle maker since. I do an occasional craft show, but nothing big. I haven't bought wax in a few years and realized I needed some 1343 for pillars. It's almost $110 delivered! I could pick up at The Candlemakers Store if I didn't work...pick up 9-3 Monday thru Friday. Sheesh! I'm pretty sure the last case I bought was $70 and that included shipping. If I wasn't so addicted I would give up this very expensive hobby!

Do you have a restaurant supply near you? Or a GFS? I don't use a ladle, but I have a restaurant stainless steel slotted spoon for mixing. Hit it with the heat gun and it's clean!

since it is a firestarter and you aren't really going for looks, pour your wax a lot cooler. I use pine shavings in muffin cups. Just fill the cup with shavings and pour the wax in.

I list it as "glycerin base(blah, blah, glycerin, yada yada), honey, fragrance, color. I have no way of knowing the percentages of what's in there already....

Seven waxes in a year? You haven't stuck with one long enough to figure it out...

Pick a wax and a fragrance you like, try different wicks, different temps and then give one away!

I use the bags from Hobby Lobby in the candy section