starlessjade

NOOOO stop giving me ideas!

...and I have so many shiny beads, too...

Oh, I forgot about your Jungle Love project. Have fun!

I'll have to decide which FO I'm going to try today. I think I have like 50 samples now- oops!

gmp, I just remembered- last year my mom was talking about actually making a beach on our back porch for him but never got around to it. Maybe we could do it this year and make/give him all sorts of beach-themed gifts.

You guys are giving me so many good ideas- thanks!

Just last night I tried out black Reddig-glo chips. The black was pretty dark but slightly reddish- next time I want to try adding just a bit of navy blue.

I remember learning somewhere that as far as dye, there are "red blacks" and "blue blacks". "Red black" dye is cheaper, but "blue black" dye looks more... black. I don't know if we're talking about the same types of dyes here, but I'd imagine throwing in a teensy bit of blue might make it look blacker.

What FO are you using? My mom wants me to make black candles for my dad's 50th birthday and I can't think of a fragrance except Black Licorice, which he would love, but it would probably make me gag while I was pouring it. Blech.

So you're passing the addiction on to your boyfriend, huh? You're getting really good at this!

Nah... I couldn't really see him getting into it. He was pretty excited about giving the candle to his mom though, so maybe I can convince him to at least make a few more.

I got 11 samples, but only because Cranberry Marmalade, Rain Water, and Black Currant and Nectarine were out of stock when I ordered... otherwise I would have gotten them too!

I love the Black Currant and Nectarine. It's just... nice. I can't even describe it, lol.

Thanks a bunch!

Time to blow my paycheck.

Okay, I give up. Do I enter the code in the "comments" box (for BCN) or am I completely missing something here?

I helped my boyfriend make his first candle (it would probably help if I knew what *I* was doing, lol) and it came out really nice. I promised I'd post it on the forum, so everyone ooh and ahhh a whole bunch, k?

EDIT: That isn't actually a crack... I'm pretty sure it's just a weird bit of frosting

I also have to post my latest attempt because I love how it turned out. I tilted the mold (in a bowl of rice) and rotated it a little each time I went to pour another layer. Next time I'll try rotating it more than that to see how the layers turn out.

I saw that someone mentioned hearts in another thread and said they used 3 wicks in them... but that was a container so nevermind.

I do agree that it looks like a good size except you should move the wick a little more toward the point.

Beautiful pens! I cover pens with millefiori (I use pen kits from www.pennstateindustries.com and they turn out really nice, you should check them out!) but have never tried that technique. Several of my books include it, I just haven't got around to it. That does remind me though- I really need to make my dad some pens. I made a ton of them for a craft fair a few months ago but sort of forgot to make them for family and friends. Oops! That will definitely be at least part of his birthday or Father's Day gift.

I'll post a pic if I have a chance to try those pens this weekend- thanks for the idea!

I was hoping your guys might be able to help me out. My brother and I have always been involved in way too many arts and crafts, and my parents are very supportive of us and just go crazy over any gifts that we hand make for them. My problem is that while it's easy to come up with something for my mom, or for both my parents, it's hard to think of something to make for my dad. Every birthday, Father's Day, and Christmas I put a lot of thought into his gift, but it usually ends up being something store-bought and I think he's always just a teeny bit disappointed when he sees that I made something for my mom but not him. So... what could I make? Here is some background info.

My crafts:

-Polymer clay- my main craft, and I do some really nice millefiori work

-Origami

-Candlemaking (the newest addition, lol)

-Beading/wirework/jewelry

-I know there are more but my mind is blank right now, lol

My dad:

-Loves to cook, mostly Mexican and Asian. The weirder the dish, the better!

-Smokes cigars (I've already made a polymer clay cigar punch)

-Drinks good beer (even makes his own) and also wine, margaritas, and mojitos

-Loves anything Mexican- or beach-themed

-Loves his electric blue PT Cruiser

-Has an awesome and sometimes bizarre sense of humor

-Is turning 50 in June

Right now all I can think of is to make mojito and/or key lime pie (he loves that) scented candles. I don't know if that would be the best idea, because I can't really imagine my dad burning candles, but at least it would be something specifically for him since the fragrances were chosen with him in mind. Is that a good idea, or can anyone think of something better? Thanks!

If you are so easily confused over whether to pour more than one scent at a time, make all one type of candle at a time, I suggest you walk away now. It shouldn't matter what anyone else does. Wicking must be a heart attack waiting to happen if you can't get over this obstacle.

That really doesn't seem fair. With anything, it does take time to find your own method and rhythm. Although I would definitely agree that strictly following someone else's method without question is not the way to go, finding out what works for other people is often a very good starting point to figuring out what works for YOU. Asking people with experience is not a sign of weakness or confusion; it's just common sense!

I'm a candle newbie and the replies to this thread have definitely helped me come up with good ideas for pouring methods, so now I'm going to try them out and see which one works well for me... makes sense to me!

The bottom of your mold actually makes the top of your candle, so if the bottom of a mold is shaped a certain way ("convave top" molds are common, like at Peak http://www.peakcandle.com/category/Candle-Molds/Seamless-Aluminum-Molds.aspx) then your candle will come out with the top shaped nicely.

I got an order from Peak today including Mandarin Plum and Ginger Passion, and tried the Q-tip in a baggie trick to mix them... WOW. Smells amazing! I haven't had a chance to pour the FOs together yet but maybe tomorrow. I'm thinking maybe 3/4 mandarin plum and 1/4 ginger to start.

My immediate thought was turquoise or teal blue. How often do you find an excuse to make a blue candle?

I just ordered Alabaster's Pomegranate Blackberry after seeing Karen's post... I'm still looking for a good pomegranate (I posted the same question a few weeks ago, lol) and it sounded yummy. If you want a second opinion, I can update once I get it and try it out.

I found Lego ice cube molds- http://shop.lego.com/Product/?p=EL502

That could be fun!

I've always loved lavender with yellow- go for it! The Jungle Love color scheme sounds beautiful too.

this is Peak Bartlett Pear, and it ROCKS! Very strong! I love it!

That's good news, because I just ordered it!

Pretty! I'll take the second from the left, please.

Ohhhh, they are gorgeous! The color is so fresh and juicy... now I'm craving a pear.

I am not trying anything new !!!!

Don't give up that quickly. The very first order I placed for fragrance oils was... scentit.com I think? Every single one of them was absolutely disgusting and of course I tried them all in wax, thinking that they would be better... nope. I was ready to swear off the hobby forever, but luckily I had ordered a couple FO's from Peak and they smelled great, and I found this board, got a few recommendations for suppliers, and have found all sorts of fantastic scents.

When you are considering a new supplier, just ask around and find out what everyone has to say about them. And I know everyone will tell you not to judge a fragrance out of the bottle, but I beg to differ... if it's really weak or nasty in the bottle, it's probably not going to be so great in wax either.

It actually says that the bacon soap is scented with vanilla and honey, because "I'm willing to admit that the bath may be the one place you don't want the aroma of bacon."

Any soapers out there who want to make a real bacon-scented soap? Hey it wouldn't be too bad... nothing says "morning" like the smell of bacon cooking!

OMG did you guys see the bacon brittle? That's just disturbing!

lol I told my boyfriend that a candle supplier just changed their shipping options based on some posts on a message board, and he didn't even believe me. VERY awesome... I just placed an order. And had it shipped priority.