Lightning Bug

Many times the shape of the container makes for the flicker. Taller ones tend to have this problem more and it is caused by the air current being formed by the heat of the burning wick. Never could figure how to totally stop it. Trying just wax to see the results would be interesting. I would make several and wick them with different wicks and give it a try. I think you could always melt down and reuse the extra wax as to not waste it. Good luck. Beth

Maybe add a bit of beeswax. Donita taught me that beeswax helps in the sticking when dipping canes...worth a try if you have any laying around. Beth

Very nice. I like the circles with the sort of faded edges. Beth

I've read the posts on the labeling of the fire starters and had a question. If no color or scent is used in them, could you cook say hotdogs and marsmallows over the fire started with them? Hey, what's a good campfire without marshmallows? TIA. Beth

Thanks for the idea. That might be just what I would like. Will give it a try. I figured the picture wouldn't show up very well in tinted wax. But sponging is a great idea. Thanks. Beth

Do you always use clear wax for a picture cane? Our printer is going on the fritz and have one copy of a cute pict. of my youngest granddaughter so don't want to wreck it...but I do like a tint to the canes I've been making. So thought I would ask before doing. Thanks. Beth

Haven't tried scenting any of them yet Trappeur. Figure it can have a scented tea light or votive. I suppose it could be sort of like a room freshener? I just want to learn to make fire starters and melts that look as good as yours! Luci, I am having fun. And, I appreciate all your kind comments. Thanks. Beth

Love how they look. If I were shopping, I'd buy them in a second! Great job! Beth

I put in this one to thank Donita for all her help. I promise I won't put in every one I've been making. But I do love my morning glories so kept this as a winter reminder of summer. Thanks Donita! And thank you all for looking. Beth [ATTACH]16540[/ATTACH]

Hi. I tried the fake berries and the ones I tried are plastic covered foam. Some worked ok, and others cracked. There again, no light showing through. Wax embeds would be great and I haven't tried that. I thought they would just melt when I poured since my wax is at 200-205 or so. If I could get them to work, that would be ideal. I guess I need to just keep experimenting but I always look for the easy way out if I can! Thanks for the ideas...I'll just try some more. These berries are more what I am searching for. Aren't these just absolutely beautiful? http://www.craftserver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66592&highlight=berries Beth

Very unique. Love the vertical stripes. Beth

Very nice. Did you scent them? I especially like the ones with cinnamon sticks in them. Beth

In my cane making, I need berries of red and purple. I used polymer clay and they look ok, but of course, there is no light shown through. I've thought of beads, buttons or paper cut outs (to pale and don't really get the depth feeling) and now my brain is on hold. Any suggestions?? I'm open to ideas. TIA. Beth

Didn't get the picts in....computer illiterate! Can only load this one, oh well. Beth [ATTACH]16512[/ATTACH]

Here are my two latest. Getting to really love making them. Thanks for looking. Beth

Thank you all for the kind words. I am on a cane binge...haven't done much else. No I need some more ideas for embeds or making the outside sort of more primative instead of smooth. All ideas will be appreciated! Have to post my two latest ones. And yes, mommy of four, you can do it! Donita's tutorials and answers to questions really help. Thanks again. Beth

I like dark candles. Very nice. Beth

Can't wait for you to burn one of those layered babies. They sound like they will small good enough to eat! Beth

Here's another of my trys at dipping. You can see I did have some runs, but am happy enough not to mess with it more...I find the more I do, the worse it gets! Guess that practice will improve it. Thanks for looking. Beth [ATTACH]16462[/ATTACH]

Hi. I would really like to make some hurricanes with western pictures. You know, the lone cowboy riding along, boots and saddles, indian headdress, etc. I've googled and found many places that sell a pict. for a couple hundred dollars...out of my league and for use once makes no sense. How do people get their pictures if not taken by themselves? Don't want to violate copyrights etc. Any info would be appreciated. Beth

Still trying to perfect that silly step. I'm better at the temp and taking it out...less waves in the wax...but now the problem is the overdip wax isn't sticking totally to the flowers/leaves etc. There will be little round spots of less wax in some areas. This leaves my hurricane looking not as nice as it should. Is it me, my wax (plain 140 melt para with a tad of beeswax). temp (200), flower type (morning glories that have been dried and pressed under magazines). It is like little spots of non-adherence. ANY HELP besides tossing them in the waste basket? PLEASE. Thanks. Beth

I had to try making some after reading about them. I used apple pie and it was ok. I think the lemon/citrus scents would be better. But used what I had. It did scent the house and the sink looked pretty clean afterwards. I just bought a small amount of citric acid at a co-op store. After adding the FO and drying, the mixture was sort of hard in areas like maybe I needed to roll it with a rolling pin? Or was this just me? And, my other question...do you color it with food coloring or just leave it white? Thanks. Beth

Are the polycarbonate tea-light cups safe to use? If you were making them colored, the clear would look nicer, but just curious about the idea of plastic like material and melt down. Beth

Bad camera! Truthfully, I am happy with most of it, just the drippy parts that didn't show up in the pict. Thankyou both for the kind words. Beth

Hi. Made my flower cane but still getting some "runs" that look kind of wavy when I take the cane out of the wax dip. I made the shell using 160 mp wax with uv and slight color. Added flowers with beeswax, warmed the shell slightly and over-dipped in 140 mp clear wax melted to 200 degrees for 15-20 seconds and then dipped into cool water. My camera doesn't take good enough pictures to show this but they are there and more on the back than the front. Not sure what to do differently to stop this. Thanks for any advice as I do want to perfect this step. Beth [ATTACH]16376[/ATTACH]