joanncat18

Very nice. Love the look of the Cucumber Melon one.

I live in Spokane, WA.

Let it shine I think is pretty spendy.

There is Swans in Seattle area. You can google them. None in Eastern WA that I know of and I would NOT shop at Michaels either. Way too expensive and who knows what kind of wax or FO you even get there. Unless you are just wanting to play around and get a kit there, but I wouldn't even do that. My kit from Peaks was nice.

Anyone familiar with this scent from Candle Lite? Can anyone describe the scent? Still trying to find a dupe or something similar. Thanks.

Anyone know of a rainforest mist dupe. It's from candle lite but I don't know if they still make it. I can't find a description of it but a girl from work loves it and would like something in that scent. Thanks.

They are for xmas gifts for friends and family. I went to the dollar store tonight and found some acceptable baskets to use. Thanks for all your input.

Jamie

Eeew.

Thanks for the sugesstions...I will try the hot water bath next time.

I use 8oz. paper coffee cups from Sams, mix wax scent and color in them and pinch the edge to pour. You have to make sure you get the cups for hot beverages, ask me how I know:)

Thanks

Any place special to buy a good quality, good priced basket?

So if you want 1 oz tarts...then you would have to go with the 2 oz ones since you probably wouldn't be able to fill the 1 oz up enough??

I made some Tarts with Sugar Coookie FO from Peaks. 6% FO added at 183 degrees. Tarts are made with 90% 4794 wax and 10% Acu Para 30 (parasoy container wax). The flash point of this FO is >200 degrees. I stirred it very well but after I poured some into a dixie cup there are some small oil beads at the bottom. Is there anything I could have done to help the FO mix better? Is this a "heavy" scent...I am assuming since it's sort of like a vanilla scent. I had this problem with one other scent so far too. Should I have added the FO at a higher temp?

Thanks in advance.

Jamie

Never used the portion cups but considering it. How do you guys pour without spilling? I usually overflow my 1 oz scallop tart molds a bit because I hate the look when they aren't full all the way...then I just peel the excess off the wax paper and melt it in my own warmer. I wouldn't want to pour and overflow a portion cup for obvious reasons.

I make origami boxes for soap in my special gift baskets. They are purely for show. I used to make my own pillow boxes but the time to make them negated any cost savings I may have had.

Buy your boxes, and spend your time on some label design to jazz up them up.

~Julia

That's what I was thinking...that if you took the time it would take to make the boxes and made more candles...then it would make you more money than the boxes would cost.

That is too bad...how do you order from a manufacturer?

It is no different then selling a 1 oz tart just in a different package.

Agree.

I don't bombard them with meaningless sales pitches.

Most of the time they are excited about getting a promotion.

the marketing changes when they purchase something. I then personalize the promotions.

Something like...

"I know how much you like burning Cinnamon Bun in your home...well for the next seven days you can buy one get one half off"

What's the harm in marketing to people who you know like to burn candles.

Not every person who stops by your booth will purchase.

Do you think that it's possible that a certain percentage of people who stop by and don't purchase at the fair could potentially make a purchase in the future?

They sometimes do.

Totally understandable...this works in lots of businesses...

When I sold real estate this applied too. We didn't care about selling the houses that we had open houses for, but we did want to use it to find other potential customers. Lots of people go to open houses just for fun and aren't even in the market, BUT if you get their contact info and send them promotions throughout the year, then when they are in the market they might call you. Selling the house that you have open would just be a bonus.

You talking about melts in containers? Those shooters? I know of whiff and sniff.

http://whiffandsniff.com/

Yeah...a picture of your workshop and copy of your supply list. Great job on making such a great product...they are just jealous...or someone is and they told on you...lol.

Yeah I would be real careful with a griddle...don't want your temps getting too high. You can order a combo warmer with the plate and a removeable ceramic bowl at many of the online candle supply companies...they are designed to melt wax, so they would be safer I would think. Keep your thermometer in it to make sure it doesn't get too hot...wax heats up fast and can be very dangerous. Picture grease fire.

Oh and if your waste is comming from wax spilling, then just put down wax paper and the spills peel right off. You can remelt them and make tarts or votives...or just throw the peices right in your tart warmer if you want to enjoy some of the scent too.

I agree. I had the problem of filling mine too full when I was doing a layered votive and then when I did the repour you could see the pour line on top...worked better when I filled just under the full amount then did the repour.

I have found that it works better if you don't fill them to the top. I fill them almost to the top then do the 2nd pour. That way you don't have as much run over & pour very slowly til the wax just comes to the top.

HTH

I add my dye in the presto, but am considering waiting till the wax is in the pour pot so i can better see the color. I guess until i have my color formulas down pat. Could you use a candle warmer plate to put your pour pot on to keep it warm while you mix the color?

Just because it doesn't seem right or even logical...doesn't mean people wont still try to sue. Like the people who sue McDonalds because their food was horrible for them...or when they sued because the coffee was too hot and it burned them. Someone could try to say that your candle made the glass shatter because it was too hot and that is what caused their house fire or injury. Or that the flame got too big and caught the curtain on fire. Just an extra protection.

If you make soap too then you can get insurace through the Soapmaker's Guild

http://www.soapguild.org/insurance.php

This will cover all your products, but you have to have at least one soap in your line...since it's the soapmaker's guild. This one is $500 per year.

There is also the Indy Beauty Network. This one you don't have to make soap too. Just candles is ok...or other handmade products. This is $545 per year for the insurance and membership to IBN.

http://www.indiebeautynetwork.com/channel-ibnyou/insurance.asp

To be honest with you...before I started making candles I also burned votives like pillars...I didn't know any better. Never read the warning labels before. I think a lot of people burn them like that on a plate. Your warning labels will help you not get sued, but you need to also have insurance on your products if you are selling.

I am glad your party went well. And please don't quit asking questions. It helps us all learn.

Glass glow is a container palm wax that has a crystalized finish. Wont come out of tart molds unless they are silicone because it's a container wax.