LuminousBoutique

Dear Brambleberry: 8.50 shipping, for 10 sheets of water soluble paper that cost 8.50? really? Cost the same to ship 50 sheets as it does 10.

nuscents was even worse! 10.50 shipping!!! There is NO way I'm paying that, but I really want to play with this stuff. I dont need 50 sheets though.

GAH

...I hate shipping.

Does anyone know of another source for water soluble printer paper? I contacted a manufacturer of it, but never heard back.

In the long run I'd say its better to NOT low-ball yourself. If they continue to undersell their product they will eventually go out of business, they cant be making a healthy profit. Re-evaluate for sure... double check your prices.. but dont undersell yourself.

I use liquid colorants from peaks - http://www.peakcandle.com/category/Bath-and-Body-Colorants.aspx because they are affordable and I've found them to be incredibly vibrant and stable. Aside from that, I use micas. To use those in M&P, I mix the mica into oil first (castor) and create a paste so it will not clump in the soaps.

I'd also think about some Vitamin E, maybe some Jojoba, and if you can afford it- Red Raspberry Seed Oil

Yeah sounds about right- They would be pretty cute in rainbows of colors but that would be a very specific buyer, hehe

his case like I said, its very little- but yes there are people who wont buy it. doesnt mean a thing, as long as you market it properly to those that will I use M&P for some things and simply tell those that wont buy it... too bad! lol

PS.. I have had reviewers purchase my items before. they dont even tell you until AFTER they have made the purchase, and sometimes until after they have made the review. That is legit.. and if they've spent money with me I'm much more receptive to the idea of a giveaway.

The legit places either #1, have US begging them to review US... or #2, PAY for the product they review, then contact to see if you would like to do a giveaway.

I get these messages everyday, I kid you not. Unless they have 500+ followers and an ACTIVE base, meaning people comment (so they are actually reading) I wouldnt even consider it. Think about it this way... for every 100 people who read it, maybe half will click through to the link. Of those, how many will buy? You really have to weigh the cost versus benefit.

Yes Yes Yes on the 4 for... deals, also. Almost always gets them!

its a PITA, but yeah- electric beater worked best for me because im a weakling and hand beating took awhile. So I let my wax slightly cool, just a little film on top, and then whip away! I found it helps to keep the pour pot in a warm (not hot) water bath. Helps it cool slower. you have to work SO fast once its at the right temp, that I've found its more work than its worth, lol!! I kinda wonder about making silicone molds of meringue or royal frosting, and just using those in the future instead of piping. Not as creative but less work and more consistent.

Brown ones!

anyone think people might like them in green?

I only make HP or Milled soap Logs (for this purpose), so that the soap may need time to cure to get more solid, but not nearly as much CP would need.

Generally if a customer is buying a loaf, its because they are a regular customer. I have one that buys a loaf of oatmeal milled soap, unscented, about 3 times a year. She keeps most for herself but gives some as gifts. For her, shes buying "a loaf" but I cut it into bars and it gets 4 weeks cure before shipping. I always offer to cut it for customers, almost always they take me up on that.

What I started doing in the past few years was making two loaves of any soap I'm pouring. One for cutting and selling online and at market, another for setting aside and offering up as a loaf at a later date, or for cutting and selling if the first sells out quickly.

Its honestly not a huge seller for me.. even though I've offered it up for a long time.. but repeat customers sometimes will ask for one. Rule of thumb is they know they will wait 4 weeks for it.

yep.. price is a bit high unless the bar is 6+ounces (depending on the market, some soaps you can get that for but its a specific customer and they tend to be looking for something specific).

The general rule of thumb I go by is $1.00 per ounce, plus a bit maybe for more expensive fragrances or essential oils, or additives like rare clays, botanticals, or- milks.

I dont agree that the soaps being M&P have "nothing" to do with the sales.. but probably very little. Very few consumers know the difference... but some do. That doesnt mean you cant sell alot, you totally can... but you really have to sell the benefits.

his cheesy pitch immediately turned me off... egh... I agree with Traci, I see them selling as gag gifts but I truly dont see anyone buying them to burn them in their house over and over. I showed it to my husband and he goes "uh... no. I prefer stuff that smells good even if its not "manly"

If he sold the idea to some place like spencers he could do well.. but those fragrances are available to all of us. He says he made 53,000 last year- wonder how much he charges per candle.

yesssir.. i have a spigot and a non spigot. The non spigot I keep beeswax in- and you know, never thought twice about putting a spigot in. the spigot i just keep full of my container wax. Unless I'm only pouring one or two, I ladel. If I'm pouring only one or two candles, I put it on the countertop, pull open a drawer below it, and put my pot on top of the scale. That lines the pot up right under the spigot. Open and let flow, and you can measure right there! Rae has a raised shelf hers sit on that allow her to do the same thing, its awesome. But as I said.. unless im measuring out 1lb of wax or less, its easier to just pour straight from the presto into my pour pot, or ladel.

I've never had fragrance in any of mine.. I am looking to get a third for pillar wax, eventually. I dont have need for a large melter, presto's are perfect for me!

...I do have three crocks... two for soap making, one for cookng. LOL

I learned to make soap at age 5 with my grandma.. of course I have a 6 year old and 4 year old and cant IMAGINE letting them do it! lol, isnt that just the way it goes though? Truly I think as long as they are properly clothed and gloved, and properly supervised, it would be awesome to teach them

Cute!!

thanks! Wish we had birch trees around here, those would make pretty candles!

6", and 5/8" dia- pretty small for tapers but cute! I'm going hunting for better branches with my kids this weekend and I'm going to start a series I think.. need to order more silicone though, I had some I bought over a year ago, opened the lid and went to mix some today to do a small cast of a little owl I have, and it was rock hard in the bottles, lol.. woops. Guess it doesnt have a long shelf life.

wicking, especially tealights or small containers.

testing new scents.

love them! I bought this mold but I'll be making my own in a few weeks because these are too skinny to fit in a standard taper candle holder, so a PITB to burn and likely even more of a headache to try and market to customers. They are beeswax and burning beautifully though.. I overwicked a tad not knowing about the knobs burning evenly and I think I made the right decision for my first go.. no flickering, but flame is a bit large, so smaller next time around and we'll see how those burns go.

Overall, cute little candles! Now the challenge will be hunting down branches that are the appropriate thickness for a standard candlestick, and straight enough... oh how the neighbors will talk, lol:laugh2:

looks great! So clean and fresh. Congrats and heres to many more!

Scented I have the same problem with sunscreen, makes me break out like crazy. The only thing I've found that works is the dry formula "sport" spray on kind, I have to apply them more often (I'm really fair) but I can use them on my face with no issues and no breakouts. That, combined with my mineral makeup foundation thats.. supposedly.. about spf 15, and I havent had any issues even when i was in Maui for a week.

agree with Bruce and Ashee. Sorry if you think its rude, but I tend to help people who help themselves.

Awesome!! WTG girl