Violetsexoticcandles

Thanks guys! I put him in his basket last night and am going to pack him up soon as I can. I never thought I'd try dipping bears, but it was fun.

I am lookin for maybe a medium sized votive mold or a small pillar mold. I've seen some on Ebay, but before I bid/buy, I am wondering if any of you know of a supplier? I'd be happier to buy off of Ebay... Thanks! Vi

This poor guy suffered 3rd degree burns but he came out like a true champ! He's only got a santa hat on right now, plus his bow, but I plan on putting him in his bed (basket) before sending him to my aunt for xmas. [ATTACH]13770[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]13771[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]13772[/ATTACH]

So far, so good... he's still naked, though...

ROTFLMAO!!!They do?!? Haha! He doesn't look as happy or cool this AM (no pic, yet, but one coming soon, I promise...)... hehe.

I went to the dollar store and got this bear... it was hard to pick out a bear I wanted to stick in 120 degree plus wax! So I decided to take this pic before I bought and dipped him. OMG I admire you guys who do this on a daily basis! Stuffing that bear in my pot was a hard thing to do and man, seeing him all sticky with wax made me feel bad! He looks cool tho. I'll post another pic when I get him all dressed up again. [ATTACH]13741[/ATTACH]

Stella, Can you tell me which CD's you use for your votives and tealights in palm? I've got another pillar made, but I, too, am still having wicking issues. I may break down and get your CDNs before all my hair is torn out. LOL.

Yup... done it! Popped a votive out of the mold, thought it was 'cool,' then had hot wax all over my hand after trying to get the wick pin out. Even now, I pace :tiptoe: while watching them cool... knowing what's happened before.... but OH GOd it kills me to see them. I have that urge to test and what's 12 hours?!!?! LOL...

You're welcome!

Lindsay, Thanks for all the advice. I am definitely going to rethink and reword stuff... Good to know there are so many chandlers and crafters on CT who will lend a helping hand before we go and do ourselves in here! I like the hard copy idea, too... I seem to be so disorganized sometimes. I take a day or two and put everything in order, then I have a craft event and things just get lost! I went looking for the inventory I did after my last fair and I couldn't find it!!! Ugh... So had to do it all over again. This time, I put it on a word File. Can't lose that, well... not unless I lose my pc. Should print it out, tho. I am a novice at this, but I am so happy that you guys are here to steer me in the right direction. Retail seems sooooooo much easier. Vi

I decided to cut my 5 oz bulb jars and add 2 oz hex jars instead, after reading on here about how well they sell for some people. My question is, what labels do you use? I get mine from Labels by the Sheet and have 2" rounds, but I have a feeling they will be WAY too big for these little jars. TIA

I used the goodie bags last Christmas. They were bigger than the candy baggies you hand out at halloween, though, and they weren't as strong as some... I ended up not using them because one holding an order of mini melts ended up in shreds when I shipped it. I still use the heavier ones from WalMart (the ones for wedding favors, etc).

Hey Cleanglow, Do ya mind my asking what wicks you're using? I have been trying (and crying over) CD's, am on a Premier 760 right now because I've given up on CD's... Stella said a CDN 14 would work, but before I get them I want to exhaust what resources I have left before I order more... I have CD's, HTP's and premiers, plus I'm getting a sample pack of zincs because I know they burn pretty straight and evenly. Thanks! Vi

I was melting soy in my microwave to make my candles for a while, because I'd heard it was 'ok' elsewhere, but one day my pyrex blew up inside of it! I will NEVER do that again. Luckily the microwave didn't blow, too. I don't really like the idea of wickless candles, after I've read some of the stuff people have experiemented on here. Occasionally people will ask me if they can use mine as wickless candles for electric burners and I tell them I don't advise it. I wish I could get my server issues down so I can edit my website, because at one point, I had stated that if people wanted wickless, to let me know when they order. I want to take that off and put a warning on it about using my candles as wickless ones. Except for tarts and melts, of course. I can't imagine why any chandler would tell their customer it's ok to get their wickless candles started by popping them in the microwave, either. Wow! If a pyrex container with soy and no FO can blow up, think what a scented glass candle would do!:embarasse

:embarasse I saw your post and was hesitant to reply because I don't use the wax or wicks you're using..., but I do make the 5" pies. Also, I don't know what your shells are made of. I use soy (C-3) for the fill, and beeswax shells and embeds. The people I buy from sell them on Ebay and that is who I got my wicks from. They're a cotton coreless wick, size 60 something. I forget exactly.. but I had tried 3 wicks and they drowned out, so I emailed them and they told me to use 4. Also, you have to burn them in a pie tin (with a plate or something non-flammable or damagable underneath). They are basically meant to be burned like container candles, like votives. As for the pie liquifying all the way to the edge, I think that's a personal preference? But, that being said, the idea of a container candle is that it develops a full melt-pool within a certain time frame. For a 5 incher, I'd say you'd have to burn them for about 5 hours or so? Maybe someone else will jump in on this. My customers typically don't burn them- they say they're too nice to burn and just use them as air fresheners or to display as a decoration. Hope this helped some. I wish I could help a bit more on the wick question, but I just can't remember what they are. Violet

Hi Deb, I've taken what everyone's said into consideration, and won't be posting this on my website. I think the private labeling thing won't be a real issue. I will have to give it some thought, though. I mean, while I'd love to have my name on all of my candles and hated the idea that my last wholesale account didn't use my labels on my tealights... but money's money, too. So I'll have to mull it over. I think what I'll do is just put my contact info on the page and once I receive interest from a retailer, I'll just tell them the conditions and expections. I will probably end up requiring full payment up front. I tried contacting the school district's PTA for fundraising opps, but have not heard back. I think that Angi was right on this one- most have probably already chosen theirs for the year. I will probably try to call them again this week, though, to follow up. My son's been in a teeny bit of trouble at the high school lately, so I'm not sure the AVP will want to talk to me, even though we were in grad school together! LOL. Kids!!:rolleyes2

Thanks! I sent an email to my current customers and hopefully they'll plug it for me I have a website but having issues w/it my server.

Very true! I have a lot of repeats from Ebay, but they seem to want the same thing- cheap candles. Usually, they buy when I put a sale up or offer free shipping. I opened my store on eCrater today. Hopin for some sales on it!

LOL Me too!

Yah, probably candy molds- that's what I used and why I hated making them... can we say wax all over the place? LOL. My hands aren't always THAT steady. Thanks for the tip on eCrater. Never heard of it.

I agree with the fee part (I think paypal charges 10%, though), which is why it stumps me.... but your explanation does make a lot of sense. I used to make and sell mini tarts, myself, but stopped because they were such a pain in the butt to make and I didn't feel it was worthwhile. But, that being said, I may just start making them only for Xmas, if I can find the time. There's no way I'd sell that cheaply, though. I used to sell them for $5 for 50, starting bid. That way I at least recouped my costs. I know they can be a good marketing tool, especially given people are buying candles without smelling them first.

I feel your pain. I've been at this for two months now and still haven't 'gotten' it right. On my 4th wick as we speak. Good luck!

Save on Scents has some naughty named scents like orgasm and pussy... haha... I tried them... orgasm smelled like papayas and pussy smelled like baby powder.

I knew it before I even opened the link... hehe. I saw some molds for those just last night. Very cool... Hmm... something like that would fit into my biz name. Haha. IDK if I'd have the guts to sell them, though. Good goin! Vi

Ohhh where did you get that mold? I like it! Totally cool looking!