DanaE

Okay, I did the pinwheel effect on top. Took me a while to get it right because the wicks were in the way. I think I needed the cake to be another 2" wider and it would have worked better. DanaE

Here are two pics. Obviously, these aren't as pretty as Eugenia's candles, and the 4045H may not be the best wax to try this experiment with. I just lit it so in a few hours I'll post a pic of it burning. *Edited to add* - the candle looks completely different than Eugenia's. It really does act more like OK6228 or 4625 when I put the additives in it. I'm going to try a few more variations - using the Fisher Trop and no vybar and using vybar and no Fisher Trop to see if I can get a better finish to it. DanaE

I agree with Linny. Put it out and burn it again for 3-5 hours. Then do it again and again. See if it blows out somewhere along the way. I've had candles start out like that, and then halfway through they just die. My grubby pillar started out looking like it was going to be too hot. After 4 burns it's now struggling to get a decent sized melt pool so I'm changing wicks and trying again.... DanaE

Okay, I tried Eugenia's experiment yesterday, but used 4045H mottling wax. 1 lb of wax, 3 tablespoons stearic, 1/2t of vybar 103, 1 teaspoon of Fisher Trop, some UV inhibitor and 1-1/2 ounces of FO. My candle is completely dry - no seepage at all. I'll post a picture in a little while, after the sun comes up . I do have a rustic effect, although I lost part of it to the inside of the mold. The candle itself has a very creamy look, like a preblend pillar wax, and the sink holes were much deeper. One question though - Eugenia, since you're currenting burning your experiment, is the scent bound up because of the amount of vybar? That's a lot of vybar for 1 lb of wax (for me, I usually use about that much in a 4 lb batch). I'm going to burn it today, using a low smoke 19 wick (don't have a 30 ply). I'll post pics after it's been burning for a couple of hours, although I don't know if the 19 is the right size or not.. DanaE

That's really neat. I think this technique is really classy looking DanaE

Definitely give the Mod Podge a try. I use it in pails and a few ceramic holders and it works great for those. Can't say if it'll work for your seashells but you could try one and see what happens. Try at least 3 coats, letting them dry between coats. Mod Podge is pretty clear so it won't interfere with the look of the shells. DanaE

I tried the pinwheel and it didn't work - I don't know why. It could be, because as soapymomma says, the apple slices aren't quite the right shade. They actually look good until they are put up against the tannish color of the icing.... In the morning I'll try the pinwheel on the un-iced cake and see what I can get. That was my first thought because that's how I do my pies, but something's not working right. I feel like the top of the cake isn't big enough to get the slices right and I couldn't get any cinnamon sticks in. I have smaller apple slices but don't like them (they actually look more like shriveled apples) so I don't want to use those on top. These apple slices are very large - if I could get some in-between sized apple slices I could probably get the correct pattern. I'll try again tomorrow. And if I hate that arrangement I'll keep it, burn it for myself and try another one! lol Thanks guys.

I use the drawstring bags. They can hold 5 tarts and I put the label on the bottom of the bag. (KY has them, and I'm sure other places do too). When I'm not making the 1 oz tarts I use the plastic 6 square tart boxes. DanaE

another view...

Okay, I don't like the embeds on top. I made 2 of these cakes but 1 isn't iced yet because I can't figure out how I want it to look. I'm going to keep this one and burn it. Anyone have any ideas on the arrangement of apple slices, cinnamon sticks, etc. on top? (I'm going to post 2 pics from 2 angles) Thanks!

I started out using preblends, simply because I found it too confusing to figure out what additives I might want to use in what wax. (let's face it; if you read up on candlemaking before you make them, the plethora of information is mindblowing). After spending a while making candles and understanding their properties, it becomes MUCH easier to understand the use of additives and which applications you want to use them with. I'd recommend that you stay with your preblend until you feel you really understand everything about your candle. There's plenty of time to play with all the various waxes and use them in different ways. And hey, you may decide that you like your preblend better than any straight waxes! (even with preblends you can still put additives in them to change their properties- make them harder, hold more FO, etc.) DanaE

I think they're very pretty . Is it because they didn't come out the color you wanted? The best part of unmolding a rustic or mottle is wondering exactly what they're going to look like - lol! They are great - and I love the decorative detail you put on them. I'm simply not creative enough to come up stuff like that, and my photography is always bad so feel free to make fun of all my pics! DanaE

Eugenia, do you think, that since I use 4045, I could actually increase it's scent load by doing the same thing? It already holds probably 6-7%, but I'd like to increase that and I have the fisher trop here, as well as the stearic and vybar.. Hmmm...nevermind. I'll just go try it myself and see what happens! I have certain scents that weep like crazy at 6% with the 4045, so maybe trying this combination will get rid of that problem. Thanks for letting us know of your experiment. I'm going to print out your experiment and see if I can increase my scent load. DanaE

I hope someone answers, because I have some of these I'd love to use, but looking at the difference between the opening and the actual widest part leaves me to think that I'll have a torch for the first half of the candle, and then a perfect burn the rest of the way. I don't know if it's even possible to find a perfect wick for these jars - just some type of compromise. DanaE

I've never sold a 3-wick candle - I've made probably 10 all together, and they were always presents. I've seen some of them sell for $25-$35. It's 7+ lbs of wax, and about 12 ounces of FO (used 6228 wax and 1-1/2 ounces of FO per lb). I haven't frosted the apple cake because I can't decide how to arrange the apple slices and cinnamon sticks on top. I've made a million patterns and don't like any of them. I'm thinking about just breaking up some apple slices and making them stick up out of the frosting. I don't know. I'll work on it it today. I have 2 of them, so if I don't like the pattern on one, at least I have another chance to get it right! DanaE

I agree with Eugenia - they look completely real. I'd try to drink it if someone handed it to me! I have to try that - looks like fun DanaE

I really like the way the froth came out. Those are very neat DanaE

Pam, I'd go up on the wick size personally. I try to make mine where it ends up as one large melt pool instead of 3 smaller melt pools. I think it's probably personal preference though. DanaE

Yeah, it's crumbs. My picture is blurry but I'm too tired to try to get it right, upload to my computer and crop it, then load it here. I used to do this type of votive all the time, but they're way too time consuming. It takes so long to get all the embeds made that I end up bagging up the embeds and putting them in a drawer for a while until I'm ready to assembly the stuff! DanaE

I guess you could call it a grubby. In this instance it's simply frosting on the cake. I have two apple cakes to finish and some more coconut cream pie and then I'm through making frosting/grubby for a while! My arms ache already. Oh, it's a 6x6 mold, although I guess it's a little larger than that now with the frosting on it. DanaE

My husband hates grubbies. He said "Why do you do all that work to make something that looks like a mistake?" LOL I don't do grubbies very often....usually just in the winter. I used to love to make them, but if I have to grubby 8 or 10 of them it takes forever.... DanaE

These haven't been wicked yet (wick pins still in them), but I fill the mold with apple slices and then overpour. Then I add a few crumblies on top for good measure. The apple slices overflow the top, but it's okay since they're going to be burned in tight fitting containers. DanaE

Another view.....I use dazzle dust on top to make it look like it has sugar on it.

This is for a friend who is absolutely crazy for carrot cake! It's a 3-wick candle that weighs approximately 7 lbs...I couldn't really get good lighting with it, but it's close enough.

Another view....