Trae

I just enrolled in massage school, and the director asked if I'd be interested in doing some tins for the school in soy. It'd be a very small soy line, only a few scents. I currently use paraffin. What soy would you recommend I start testing with? TIA!

Absoultely nothing!!!

Don't you just love these people that wait till the last minute? I had two call me this week. One wanted a few of my XMas light gel candles. Told her I could make them. Then she called the next day and wanted more. My order cut-off date was last Friday but I had enough supplies to make the first few she wanted. After the second call I told her I couldn't get any more of the mini XMas lights because they are already clearanced out of the craft stores, so I told her I have other XMas gels already made up and she says, "I know but the XMas light ones are my favorite". Welp, ya should've ordered earlier then! She did end up taking what I had in stock so that worked out. The second call was for my mini basket candles. I had all but two of what the woman wanted so I told her I can make up the other ones. She then informs me she needs them by the next afternoon. It was 8pm when she called! I guess people think we're machines or something. I got my last two orders done today so I'm officially done till after the new year!!

Maybe you could have a clearance sale before Christmas? Mark everything down a bit and see what happens. I do that with my Christmas gel candles that have colored embeds. Can't keep them around for a year because the color bleeds into the clear gel. I have the same thing happen at my open house every year. I send out 80-100 invites and usually average about 25 people. My best sellers change from year to year too. This year I barely sold any Christmas Splendor or Sugar Cookie and those were my biggest sellers last year. Last year I couldn't move Spiced Cranberry or Gingerbread and those were my best sellers this year. I've learned to cut down on the amount of each item I make. If they sell out, people can place orders. I also have a "by order only" table that has things I don't want to stock large amounts of, like larger size jars and B&B items. Hope you can find a way to sell some more!

Did pretty well for Day 1. Had about 16 people show up. Made $870. Big sellers were ornies, gingerbread basket candles and XMas light gel candles. My big sellers have varied every year. Everything that barely moved last year is selling this year and big sellers last year are so-so this year. Doing it again tomorrow but we're supposed to get sleet and rain. Hoping people will brave the weather and venture out and do some shopping!! I noticed people are definitely watching their money this year. Whatever I don't sell this weekend I can take with me next weekend when I do a show at a friend's house. I'll post tomorrows results after it's over.

I'll be attending massage school in January, so I'd like to start playing around with some aromatherapy candles. Also want to try sugar scrubs.

I usually charge $12-15 for a basket with 8 large dipped pinecones, small kindling bundle and pack of matches. For my firestarter cups not packaged in a basket, I charge $3 for a 6 pack.

I tried the food saver thing and it didn't work.

I think this is what you're looking for. It's pretty darn expensive!! http://www.belljar.net/gelcandles/main.htm

I make my own. During the slow months I'll make up a bunch so I have them for my busy season.

Ornies and 8oz jj's in spicy scents.

Guess that's why Butt Naked sells so well for me. An older neighbor came to my open house last year, saw the Butt Naked candles and didn't even smell them. Just said "I have to have this one"!!!! Same with "Lick me all Over"!!

I snagged some of those mugs as soon as they came out. My daughter sells "Cake in a Mug" mix at my home show every year, so she chose the snowman and santa mugs. I'm thinking about grabbing one of the $2.50 mugs for myself for my hot cocoa!!

I noticed after I answered that you said J50 type. Got busy and didn't get a chance to re-post. Hope you figure put what's up with that wax. Some weird stuff happening there!

I was having the same problem with J50, even after heating the jars. I had DH build me a box out of foam insulation so the candles could cool faster and that seems to help. I think j50 is waaaayyyy different since IGI took over. I still like it though.

I sell mine for $3 each, 4 for $10.

I got two bad batches of J50 from Candles & Supplies last year. The wax was a yellowish color instead of white and my wicks kept drowning. They took it back and gave me credit.

Started making candles in 1997, bought my first case of wax from Walnut Hill in PA and first molds from Pourette. Once I got the internet I found I was doing everything wrong and started using BCN and C&S.

I tried using 1.5 oz pp last year with J50 just to see if the throw would be any stronger, and I got seepage. Not right away, it happened over a period of time. After the fact, I really didn't see a difference between using 1oz and 1.5 in the scent throw. If you use good quality oils, you shouldn't need any more than 1 oz.

I used to make those as embeds for gag gift gel candles. I called them "teenie weenie candles". Hope you sell lots!

I've noticed it with my J50 too. I've been filling the jars a little higher so they end up being where I want them. I've also been getting air pockets so I push a skewer into every candle and zap with the heat gun just to be safe. I really like this wax and don't want to switch so I'm just dealing with it right now. I get mine locally too.

I used white fabric paint from a squeeze bottle. Next time I'm trying puffy paint for a little more dimension. Didn't have any on hand when I made them.

Try using the back of a butter knife (the flat end), then buff with a cloth.

Just a few I've started....

The flannel back cover is for decoration mostly. I use the vinyl ones with the flannel back from WalMart that you can get for $3-$5. For example, for the fall I use a beige sheet, then put the flannel back cover on top that has fall leaves. The top cover only hangs about 8 inches from the top of the table so the sheet is the part that covers to the floor. Since the top cover is vinyl, it can be wiped off should something get spilled on it.