CandleFreak

I have to second CDGM's scrub - it is awesome!!!! Hubby and I use it at least 3 times a week. At 30, I have acne prone skin similar to a teenagers....and the tendency to get very oily! Since using her scrub the breakouts have almost disappeared (the exceptions are when Aunt Flo is around and times of severe stress - but nothing helps then!)

I also switched over to mineral makeup shortly after using CDGM's scrub and it really helped with my complexion as well!

Moisterizing even with oily skin is a MUST!

WOW - 60 miles - don't think anyone could justify it!

Looks beautiful and I'm sure it will be enjoyed! The arrangement looks safer this time around too! Great job!

I always put a wick in mine so that they can be set into the fireplace...lit...and by the time the wick has reached the wax all the kindling and logs have been arranged around the firestarter

...if you wanted to try another "see through" approach that is softer and lends more to the "romantic" feel of the basket try using some tulle...it's pretty cheap as well - walmart usually carries for 77 or 87c a yard....

*keep a tight control on inventory so that you do not have to "express" ship for items needed immediately

*limit "freebies"; they are great advertising but a drain on the budget

This may not help you out...but may others...

IF you have to CHARGE it...it is NOT on sale!!!! You often spend waaayyy more in credit card costs than you "save" with the supplier.

Labor can be a drain on business (if paid hourly)...during slow days/times of year keep a minimum staff...cut hours here and there....I realize this may be hard since some of your employees are relatives...

found these...not wholesale but cute...

http://www.rustybarnstar.com/catalog.aspx?cid=6&c=Plates,+Bowls,+Enamelware

for a lot of us FO's eat at the profit margin....just have to try this and that from everyone! it really blows the budget out of proportion....and testing never ends! As soon as you have one thing mastered you start on 5 other projects!

Discipline is the key! (I am slowly learning!!)

mine doesn't have a pine smell...but it does remind me of cough syrup...uugghhh

ohhh I really wish I could smell that one!!! Looks good!

wow!!!!!

when I used to do hang tags...I used the business card size and folded them in half like a card so that I had a front for my logo...center for candle specific info (scent, net wt., etc).....back for safety info

I think they are a wonderful representation of shabby chic....the glory of shabby chic is that you can use an eclectic mix of things (old, new, fabrics, ribbons, etc) to achieve an overall goal of elegance, sophistication, and feminine softness. White is the predominant color of shabby chic, so your soap color is perfect...you could even use a real light cream color....(or the palest of pink, green, peach)

pastels are preferred...and the flowers are NOT limited to roses.....all flowers can be used...

as for packaging...the sky is the limit! Let me know if you need any ideas in that area!

I love decorating....just don't have the time anymore....I'm 2 semesters away from my Int. Design degree (I'll finish eventually...just taking a break while I raise the kids!)

Scent Works is 10 miles from me, but darn it - they don't allow pick-ups!

that's just crazy! like it would be so difficult....it isn't like you'd have to operate an actual storefront...just have a door marked for pick-ups.....jeez even "sit down" restaurants have curb-side.....

the egg nog soap could be a nice natural creamy color and then sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg or a light swirl on the top only....

or you could just make your packaging to look like mini presents and keep your bars in their normal scheme....or pakage in little stockings "stocking stuffers"

or make circle soaps and place them on a tray to look like santa's cookies...you could decorate the cp soap with mp for "icing" or a little color stripes like the do on the chocolate candies

or find some individual soap molds that are christmasy....like bells or stockings, etc

or you could make a "yule log" a swirled cylinder soap...which could be even further decorated to your imagination and sliced at the shows (if you are doing any)

if you have jewish customers you might want to consider hanukah (sp?) like star of david soaps...you could find a stamp or even carve it into the soap....or a menorah (sp?)

speaking of stamps you could probably find plenty of christmasy shapes in wood and make your own stamps......

there are a gazillion things you could do...just takes some time and creativity!!! get to thinkin" and post what you come up with!

so THIS is why I bought the box of transperancies???? Jeez...I need to make a list of all the off colored things I've bought in the past couple of years and do a CT search on each one to find out why in the heck I've purchased them!!!!! :laugh2:

we always got trashed on jungle juice...we bought the largest cooler they make (only used it for alcohol!!) and threw in just about every fruit we could get our hands on...let it marinate all day and i don't remember what we did after that..... (Just don't let Jill drink it!! - my old roomie - I don't think it helped that she only weighed like 95 lbs soakin' wet!)

most of the reading I've done is using it as part of a linen spray....althoug i'd think you'd be better off using cyclo or something like that...

Just be careful with the everclear when drinking....it's sooo much more potent than vodka....had to rush rommate to hospital for alcohol poisoning - Freshman year of college....uuuggghhh...that was an experience!

looks good to me!

I have room for a few more people I think. I'll probably ship them in a week or even 2 (have to check exactly when I made them) cause I want them to be at least 3 weeks old, pref 4, when you use them.

Thanks everyone.

Thinking of running a swap at some point where we ALL use the same basic recipe (no color, no FO) and just vary one item or thing, so we can look at: gel vs non, different ways to incorporate goats milk maybe, impact of titanium dioxide on feel, whatever interests you! Sound interesting? I know they've been done but I'd like to get my hands on some variations myself!

excellent idea...because experimenting takes so much time and money...interesting to see what little things may make such a difeerence.....everyone would have to pay strict attention to detail and take notes...so that it would be as accurate as possible!

I'd be in for some experimenting!!!

Here is a link that may help as well....it's from this forum...

http://www.candletech.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=27

my best advice to you...is too clear some free time...'cause you'll be sucked into the CT vortex (and lose all track of time) and learn to use the search feature on this site!!

Good luck!

it may help us help you by posting the recipe you used....you may not have had enough lye...it's hard to guess with out an exact recipe

actually if you read the first post there is no color or FO....she is seeing what the additives do to the recipe...such as color, texture, cure time, feel of soap before/during/after use, and if anything "off the wall" should happen it will get noted as well!

so why would you heat gun it? i thought the purpose of rustics was to have all the white on it? and most people were upset to not get it - and your trying to remove it? i don't get that?

i think the candle on the left is perfect for a rustic - i wouldn't change a thing!!!!

I think Scented is one to something with that....I'd explain why your doing the cost increase (new location) and especially if there are benefits with the new location (more people, etc) then offer them a discount on the spot say 10% and another discount in xx months of 5% (but make this before the general submission of applications is due!!!) That way they have first dibs on entrance into the show...i like the waving jury rights as well...especially if you want them to return!

or you could allow them to pick their spots....or waive and extra fees like electricity, guest passes, etc