CandleMama6

I make my beads ahead of time in 1 gal containers. I use the clear PET and I tested several before I found one that I was happy with.

My suggestions to you are these:

1) Congratulations!! I hope it goes well for you.

2) Limit your scents. The more scents you have, the more you have to make up. If you limit the choices to say 6 or 8, then I think you can have a better handle on the final outcome.

3) Make them ahead of time. They will hold without problems. Store them in a dark place if you are afraid of fading. I have some in an original test container that has been there 3 years and still no diminished scent.

4) Have all your hanging accessories (ribbon, string, etc) pre-cut and ready to go.

5) Depending on the length of the fundraiser, have a turn in day about mid-way through to give you an idea of where you are standing.

6) Start thinking now about how you are going to get holes in them for hanging. When I made them regularly, that was the most time consuming part of the whole process. I am thinking of starting them again but won't commit until I have a better "holeing" process.

Good luck and let us know how it goes for you!!

I think she can participate, she just can't do one of her own.

I just opened a co-op for candlewarmers.com. They have some nice warmers there.

Hi All,

Well, I made some olive oil M&P last night. Did Holiday Pear at my daughters request and it smells wonderful. I was pretty light on the scent since I did not want to over power it. A couple of questions though.

First: The was a royal pain the arzz to unmold. I used the plastic soap molds like you can get at JoAnns and Michaels. I let them sit a couple hours or so before unmolding and I am wondering if I let them sit too long. I am also wondering if I dust the inside of the molds with corn starch, if that would help. Any suggestions to getting these babies out would be GREATLY appreciated.

Second: They were on the sticky side when I took them out. I figure they need to cure, but do not know for how long. Any help there would be appreciated as well.

Thanks!!

Thanks for all the info, I'll make something with it. Add a little here and there. But I really want to get the SLSa to put in some bubble bars. Thanks again.

Hi Sharon,

I have some extras that I got when I did the SLSA co-op for anyone who missed it. If you need some, let me know!!

IMHO everyone should bookmark this website:

http://lorelle.wordpress.com/2006/04/10/what-do-you-do-when-someone-steals-your-content/

don't know of ANYONE yet who has admitted they did it, it is ALWAYS "my web designer, my soninlaw, my son, my nephew, my uncle's cousins brothers friend who did it" ALWAYS an excuse for why they STOLE your content AND it IS STEALING no matter the excuse.

Very good information!! If anyone has not read it, you should!!

It's the Meyenberg brand. Here's the link (I hope it works)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EY5COG/ref=s9_simh_gw_p325_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0WYSTQNKRC12XJQY1EC0&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

That's what I buy at Walmart over by the condensed milk section.

If you freeze the milk in ice cube trays, how many cubes would you use in the recipe that PA posted?

I have gotten the concentrated at Wal-Mart but might look into whether or not I can get it fresh here locally. Also, I would think that anyone worried about the fresh not being pastuerized that you could boil it yourself. I know that it is not the same process, but it would basically have the same affect I would think. Then after it cools, pour into ice cube trays and freeze.

Not positive but makes sense if you think about it.

My MP lasts a very long time. I add just a touch of coconut oil. My additives are very minimal and I use mostly powders, honey, and clays. I add in very little oil and no added liquid. I believe that adding more than a tad of oils completely shortens the life of the bar. My customers always comment on how long my soap lasts.

What type of powders can you add? Do you have a recipe you would be willing to share?

What wax and fragrance load are you using?

Hi Aubrey,

Just a suggestion - a great way to get people to try your tarts and get feedback is to participate in the swaps. We just recently had a tart swap but any swap that's open to tarts would be ideal. You can even host one if you'd like but I suggest trying another host's swap just to get your feet wet and see what's involved. It a great way to sample other suppliers fragrances and see different packaging you can try as well as get feedback on your own stuff.

I find that most swap participants are willing to share supplier information as well. So if you see a package or shape that you like they'll be happy to point out where to find the supplies you need to recreate it.

Also if you want to see some really neat ideas for tarts check out some etsy sellers.

I personally make just the boring tart shaped ones (like yankmee) with my left over wax but when I look to purchase tarts from other chandlers I really go for the creative stuff like this chandler's http://www.etsy.com/shop/WENDYSTARTS?section_id=6482936

I think a little inventiveness can go a long way and it's worth the investment in good silicon molds if your going wholesale with a a few styles. It would definitely give you an edge. Just my humble opinion. Good luck.

Cheers,

Jacqui

I love those tarts on that site!!! So cool!! Maybe she could join the swap you have going now? I know we are a week into it, but it would be a good experience for her and she would see how much fun (and addicting) they are.

I had a really big problem of a few oils not incorporating once and so I started shaking and heating them to solve the problem.

Now, I think more out of habit, I shake all my oils before making anything. I don't shake right before I pour though as it can lead to bubbles in the oils. I take out what I am going to make and shake it several times as I turn on my presto pot. By the time my wax is ready, any bubbles in the oil have dispersed and I am ready to go!!

Very nice!! I like yours better than mine and I have mine in an extra kitchen!!

Wanna have a play date??

You had me TOTALLY panicing!!!! :laugh2:I kept reading my recipe looking for stearic acid.

Ok, no idea where my brain is but will someone give it back? I have no idea how I got stearic acid on my list for PA's recipe. What I had, I dumped out of the molds and put in a glass measuring cup and left on the counter because I was so frustrated! Good grief I should have been more patient because now it's all set up! I'm going to try melting it one more time, pouring and walking away! :tiptoe:

Next time I do so many silly things someone come up here and smack me.

I would be more than willing to test them for you. I am picky about the "little" things and it might be something really small that is turning them off. If you need my help, PM me and I will do what I can!!

I like the Bitter Creek Dogwood. Nice, strong scent.

WOW!! That is a big change in color? Is that normal?? Makes me nervous to do CP now!!

Thanks Candy!! I have some down stairs that I ordered and then could not remember why in blazes I got it. I will give it a try and see what the difference is.

I also have beeswax prills and candlelillia wax. Would either of those work? Just asking since I ordered them for lip balms and then got frustrated with them and quit trying for a while.

One of my favorites is Fresh Waterfall Mist from Southern Scentsations. It is very light but sooooo good in lotions. Also, Citrus Splash from BCS is good in lotions as well.

And without hardening agents the bars are a little softer, but nothing liquidy. It still makes a nice bar of soap.. just might not last quite as long as when a hardener is used.

So, if I want the bar to last longer, should I add stearic? If so, how much would you add?

I might try a batch with and one without to see which I like better.

I think I messed up big time. I used everything PA listed but have no stearic acid.. thought I'd be fine without it but it's now all just separating. Any thoughts?

I don't see stearic acid on the recipe!! Did I miss something?

Make a bath size bar of soap like Dial, Ivory, Dove, etc. I think you get better lather with a regular bar of soap.

To make your soap more moisturizing try adding some butters and oils. I love using 1 tsp castor oil and 1 tsp coconut oil and 1 tsp olive oil and 1/2 tsp glycerin to 1 lb of base for all my soaps. This will make your soap more emollient and add creamy lather.

For more bubbles and lather add a liquid soap such as Dr. Bronners. Another ingredient is shaving soap. If your supplier has shaving soap base get some of that and add to your soap. Either will make more lather in your soap. Start out with 1 tbs per lb then adjust from there.

I have not used SLSA so I can't comment on that. But I don't see why you can't try it to improve lather.

What kind of coconut oil Candybee? Is that the 76 one or a different one??

I have never added a preservative, and I have never had any of my soap go bad! And no, you're not being too ambitious using this recipe. It's easy peasy, and I would highly recommend it for anyone with any amount of soap making experience... I hope you love it!

Would someone with NO soap making experience be able to make it??

All the bases that I have used already have a preservative in them so I just add color and FO. The supplier that you get the base from should be able to give you what the maximum % is for FO. As for color, I just add drop until I like the shade.

I use BCN bases and this chart is one that Doneen did up that helped me tremendously when I started. Remember that this is based on the usage for her bases but it should give you an idea. If the link gets removed, PM me and I will send it to you.

http://www.candlesupply.com/BBfochart.html

Just make sure that with colors and FO, that you use body safe. You can run into serious problems if you don't!!

I only have about 6 pour pots right now and I actually wash them out with soapy water and then hand dry. I would love to have 1 pot per scent but I don't have the room for 100 pots.

I have wiped them out with paper towels before, but I have never used one for one scent after the other without washing them. I have always been too afraid of the scents mingling.