Jcandleattic

With the formula I had before adding the OO the colors were spot on every time. Exactly how I envisioned them and I could get the exact color I wanted - each and every time. (maybe not the exact swirl or pattern, but never had a problem with the color) Added a percentage of OO and now I can only get a color to work out once in a while, from batch to batch. Even when 2 of the OO batches are IDENTICAL in every way, sometimes the colors will work and sometimes they won't. And yes, it is frustrating. I have to decide do I want to compromise color? Or ingredients... *sigh*

You may have to play around with your scent load a bit as well as wick size. The one with the mushroom even though you only have 6% - that may be too high of a load for that wick combo, etc. Not all fragrances are created equal.

I have a picture on my phone. when I get a chance I will post the cut pics of the second batch I did because this one didn't turn out. (I don't know - this new oil blend I'm using for soaps, the color learning curve is a long one - half the time the colors turn out exactly like they should and how I envision them, and the other half of the time - even though every factor of making the soap is exactly the same, the color fails on me - I'm sure it's the addition of Olive Oil in my recipe, because I cannot pin-point it to anything else)

It's a parasoy blend in pellet form sold by Candles and Supplies. Check out their site for more details on the wax, and there is another thread here on the board that shows someone bought and is testing it.

I don't really follow trends or the hottest new thing, but it is an interesting read.

It could be wax, or ceramic. Looking at this close up, to me it does look like it could be wax in an over-dip to get it shiny (like with carved candles) IF it's wax, it's made with a mold, and would probably burn very fast, (like a taper) and would most likely need a taper wick. Also keeping the wick in place while pouring? That would be a bitch. If it's ceramic, as others have said, it would be hollow and have a liquid paraffin or an oil in the chamber with the wick to consume the oil/wax.

Mix them with each other!! you would have a creamy coffee cake scent. (that's what I would do with those)

I always shake my package vigorously before sealing just to make sure nothing is moving around inside there. Nothing (know on wood) has ever been broken...

I will be doing a ton of blending of florals, fruity types and spa-like water scents. I love springtime scents and they usually sell year round, but I always like "freshening" things up, so I will do "Limited Editions" and blend. I love love love blending. It's so much fun.

YES!! And this more than anything else is why I don't follow trends and try to find the next newest hottest thing to make and sell. Nothing wrong with doing that, and staying on top of them, but seems like anytime I try something new people are always "what's that?" "what does it do" and then I spend more time explaining than I do selling. LOL

If you are using straight paraffin and not a blend, and not an actual container wax, then yes, that is how you can make your own container wax. Add the shortening to the straight paraffin. The microcrystaline helps the shortening bind with the paraffin. It's not an absolute must, but you risk separation of the 2 components without it.

PM me if you don't care what color or shape the threads are. I have so many it's ridiculous and I'd be more than happy to part with some. I'm not sure of a supplier that carries them, but you could check C&S - I know they sell wax bits for crumbles and such, so they might. It's a long-shot though... I know soap crafter's used too, but now that they are elements and changed their entire inventory and image, I am really not sure. Haven't bought there in years...

I use J-50 which I guess is now 4636 - it's a paraffin blend, has no soy or other type wax, just paraffin.

you will most likely get the same wide variety of answers here. I don't use that wax, but I stopped warming my jars long ago. I mean I don't pour in cold jars, but just room temp. I found that whatever warming the jars try to hide or camouflage, when they cooled off with the wax in them, the flaw (usually wet spots) would just reappear. For my container wax, which is a soft wax like the 4630, I heat to 195ish, add my scent at 180ish and pour shortly after. I say ish because I also stopped taking temps shortly after starting to use a presto pot roughly 15 years ago.

I make my candles by weight, so it doesn't matter if it's melted or solid. I make 5lbs at a time and usually use anywhere between 4-6% FO.

Okay - that's what I thought. Quick or no, it won't be enough time for me to ship it out tomorrow. I'll use a medium FR box.. Thanks...

Apparently someone in my house (and they refuse to fess up) took my 9x12 padded priority mail envelopes. *sigh* Does anyone know if you can get them at the post office, or are they online order only? I did order some, but I need one to ship some soaps tomorrow and now one will tell me where they put them or if they used them or what. So irritating. Anyway, TIA

Exactly what TallTayl said about Google, and what OldGlory said about the color wheel. A color wheel can be found in most art supply stores. They can be simple or elaborate but all do the same basic thing.

I had one guy ask if I used my soap and when I said yes, I would never use commercial again whether I used mine or other handmade soap, he had the gall to ask how old I was!! LMAO I guess to see if my soap helped with the aging process?? IDK... I told him (I'm not shy about it, I do look young for my age and have no idea why other than I have always taken care of my skin since I was a teen) and then he didn't believe me when I told him. HAHA Uh, needless to say, he didn't buy from me. And Suzy, yes, I love that little show. I've only done it 2 years in a row but each year it was right around the same amount of sales. I will be doing it again next year. (and every year they have it most likely)

I don't know. Could be I guess. None of my direct competitors (other soap and candle makers) were in sight of my booth though. I just tried to be as polite as possible, and give them honest answers. Like "It's better because there are no detergents and the oils used are known to be good for the skin" or "I don't know what that person uses and haven't seen the booth, so I don't know" and "It's so much fun making your own products, you'll love it!" Things like that...

The best show I do at every year there are maybe 12 vendors IF everyone shows up, it's a 1-day- 6 hour show in a little fellowship hall of a little church. The booth fee is $10 and I sell almost $1000.00 worth every time in that 6 hours. So, I never worry about the size of a show. The bigger ones that cost more, I usually don't do as well, because there are usually many other candle/soap makers there. The one yesterday had 3 buildings, and in the building I was in there were 3 other soap makers, a few b&b'rs (doing hand scrubs, etc.) but they didn't do any better than I did yesterday. It was just an off day I think. And you know how at shows you always get a few snarky customers asking questions like "why is yours better than what I get in the store?" Or "Why are your prices higher than so-so booth over there?" or "Well, I could just do this at home." ? Well, it seemed that I had a TON of those type of questions/comments yesterday. (Not Saturday, just yesterday - it was odd) Oh well. Because it was such an odd day, and I blame the day not the show, I went ahead and signed up for it next year. Couldn't hurt. - Well, it could, but if it's bad again next year, I won't sign up again, that's all...

No, people just weren't buying, Not really. I mean it wasn't a terrible one, but it wasn't that good. I think I was also not in a very good location at this one. Right by the entrance and people would either pass right by and not even glance my way, or they would say they just got here so wanted to look around first and come back later. well, we all know how THAT goes... Oh well, I guess they can't ALL be good. Next year I think we have a pretty good spot for a few of them. (I do these shows with my niece who always gets a table next to me for her crochet)

Thank goodness my Craft Show season is finally over. I just finished a 2-day show and l will say it was one of the worst ones I've done since October. I've signed up for either 6 or 7 next year. I can't wait. By then I will have to figure out something with my set up. This year it was okay, but I like changing it up every so often. Here was this weekend's set up...

That is probably an overdip or a spray.

Make sure and do a water discount if you do 100% OO - as that recipe can be sticky in any mold, but especially so in a PVC... Good luck!