Starr

By 'non coloring' do you mean something that won't turn B&B stuff brown?

More info is definitely needed. Approx how many wicks, how many molds, condition, etc... Also, what everyone else said about the melter applies too!

Though, I will say this, based on the photo she did send you, it does look like she took good care of her supplies which does count for something.

Did you try it yet?

I use a variation of Kat's that I altered just a bit to go with the oils I keep in house.

This is the original recipe (found here http://www.craftserver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54110&page=2)

40% olive

10% fco

5% coconut oil

5% cocoa butter

20% cp or hp soap (shredded)

10% ewax

8% stearic

2% fracrance

preservative i use .05% germall plus liquid

SUGAR- I add 1/2 total weight of batch ( batch 8 oz -4 oz sugar)

Here's my alteration to it:

40% RBO

10% Sunflower

5% Coconut Oil

5% Shea (Or Shealoe)

20% shredded cp or hp

10% ewax

8%stearic

2% fragrance (optional)

preservative - I usually use about an ounce for what I deemed my "single batch" which i threw into the calculator... blah blah, go with kat on this one and do the .05% or whatever the preservative supplier says.

Sugar - I use a little bit more then kat as I like a really scrubby scrub, start were she starts and add if you please.

http://www.cosmo-fragrances.com/

That looks like it could be it but it seems to get any kind of info you'll have to use the "Contact Us" page.

chuck, in a desperate attempt to get REAL bright red in CP or HP I tried relay race. I was NOT impressed. Even with Titanium it did no better then the POP reds. I hope you have better luck, if you do, tell me how please.

As for what I use, almost nothing but TKB's POP colors at this point. Though I still have liquid dyes from C&S in just about every color, I've found that they're not reliable to hold true in HP (don't know if I've tried them in CP). So if I decide to use those, I'm usually having an all-about-me soaping session and I put color in first, see what color it turns into THEN pick a scent to match it. I've had the green turn reddish brown, I think purple turned pink, can't remember how each of them turned out now but that's when I decide to do surprise scents just for me and run like heck once I figure out what color it turns to get my scent picked, weighed, and in the pot.

I had that happen once when I bought some oils from a very small supplier. I bought a half dozen different scents and it happened with all of them. When I asked her about it she said that she made a mistake and sent me the wrong grade of oil. What she sent wouldn't incorporate into wax but was fine for B&B. Lucky enough for me she sent me a brand new order and all of it was fine for wax. I don't want to say that's the case here for you, but it does appear that for whatever reason, your FO didn't incorporate into your wax.

In our old place, I had a HUGE kitchen so half of it was craft-space. That worked pretty well. Now, I have a much smaller kitchen but I got lucky in that I had an extra room right next to the bathroom. So, I do everything in there now and wash stuff out in the bathroom and that's a tiny bit of a PITA but it's not too bad. The big stuff like my crock pot I bring downstairs cause it's easier and candle stuff I bring down to clean in the oven, but it is nice to have a space just for crafting.

Thanks Cathy!

I'll email her right now.

I found some really nice plain clear plastic ones at Ollie's that I use in my bathroom. They suction cup to the shower wall and I really love that. Everyone has their own separate soap dish since we're all usually using a different soap. But dummy me forgot to get one for the kitchen. So when I was at Target, I found this: http://www.target.com/Room-Essentials-Countertop-Soap-Dish/dp/B001J241PS/ref=sc_qi_detailbutton

It's not super decorative but I like it for next to my kitchen sink because it's an area that's usually fairly wet and I don't have to worry about the waterproofer that would be on a wooden dish getting messed up and it's super easy to clean.

HTH

Did you use Titanium Dioxide to help whiten your soap prior to coloring it?

I know that before I started mixing my Titanium into some glycerin to help break it down, I would get little white streaks where it didn't incorporate completely.

I think she did it that way so she could give it a grubby type of appearance without using molds. *shrugs*

I met a woman when I was picking up an order at C&S who says she mixes FO into Plaster Au Paris and covers styrofoam balls with it to make for funky decorate snowball type of things. She said she put iridescent glitter on them and would put them in a big centerpiece type of bowl.

Not sure how well it works, but she was happy with it. I imagine that would work with a variety of FO's.

I want a husband who will do the zap test for me!

Last time I asked I got this... *LOOK*

You know that look that means "Are you freaking crazy woman?! You want me to WHAT?!"

I'm partial to Armour De Cocoa I just can't remember who makes it off the top of my head.

If you're doing a sore muscle something, some Arnica might be helpful, it's supposed to be a natural pain reliever.

I have a red Wilton one I bought on clearance at WalMart for $4. I've used it for candles, soap (MP, HP, and even the last few teaspoons of a CP batch once), w/cupcake liners for bath bombs, to help break down my Soaper's Choice order I melted my hard oils, poured the liquid into the cupcake mold and popped them into the fridge to solidify so it'd be easier to work with. You can use a 'baking' cupcake mold for anything you could use a 'candle/soap' cupcake mold for. Wash it in good hot soapy water and it's good as new, the only thing I won't do with it now is use it for food.

Can't stand the damn thing! I started using Labels by the Sheet's stuff though and their templates are super easy.

CuriosaCandles@hotmail.com

Thanks hon!

Okay, my turn for silly questions.

Is it good on all 1oz samples?

I too didn't get the newsletter and would love if someone could forward it.

Please?

I've seen them done without any extra shrink wrap but admittedly, I haven't done MP in quite a while and never with that type of packaging.

Yeah, that doesn't sound pleasant at ALL!

That sounds like a seriously funky soap. Would love to hear how it works or if anyone knows anything about it.

Witch Hazel instead of water?

What about some reeds? Like the decorative kind you see in vases? I'm thinking something like pussywillow, maybe dried bamboo, stuff like that? If you use just plain uncolored wax, they'd probably be really pretty and scented it would add an extra layer of fancy.

Not really sure what else you could scent. It might be pretty to take some plain-white silk flowers (roses are the first thing that comes to mind but I guess any kind of flower would work depending on your patience) and dip just the edges in some really brightly colored wax.

I'm not a HUGE FO mixer. I did one last Halloween for the Spooktacular Swap that was 60/40 Harvest Spice and Fireside Embers. It came out really spicy, honestly, it was a good smell but it was a little TOO spicy for my own preferences.

I occasionally get in the mood to try a blend. I don't have the greatest nose in the world for it.

FO mixes can get me in SOOOOO much trouble. nmhoneybear, I'm with you on having to go to a buncha suppliers to match some of CBE's blends. She was nice enough to give me her recipe on a perfume she made that just drove me wild I loved it so much. 5 suppliers later.... *shakes head* Oh well... it's lots of fun.