candlemama

Thanks, everyone, for your replies and help. I decided to take the plunge and try embedding the image! If I am successful (with a little luck and a lot of help from Donita's tutorial), I will post a photo in the gallery. Thanks again!

I think embedding would be the best option if I had the talent to pull it off! I've tried a few times in the past, but just couldn't get the hang of it. I'm sure if I practiced more, I could get decent at it. But given the time constraints, I am afraid I can't do it. I really can only make a decent container candle. I hate to admit it on this forum of talented chandlers, but I was just going to use a hurricane candle that I bought a while back from someone who knows how to do this stuff! I am hoping someone with experience painting candles will give me their insight into how durable they are over time. The last thing I want is for the to peel off a year from now! Thanks again everyone for reading my post!

Hi everyone. It's been a long time since I posted. I've searched the forums and can't quite find what I need. I want to personalize a hurricane with a simple graphic, name and quote for a friend who just lost a baby. I don't have a lot of time to experiment as I want to get the gift to her soon. I've tried embedding a design printed on copy paper in the past, and it was a disaster. I want something that will last over time. I considered painting the design with acrylic paint and candle medium but have read it won't be durable. If the design is bumped in any way, even six months from now, the paint will slide right off. Something about oil and water not mixing... Next I considered waterslide decals. After researching the forums, it seems they are very difficult to use without getting air bubbles, etc. Another option is the method for printing on tissue paper (since it's a hurricane, it won't be burned) and either applying the design with mod podge or sealing with melted wax, etc. I even considered cutting the design with my vinyl cutter and sticking the vinyl on like a sticker. But I don't know how vinyl stickers would hold up over time. I also looked into the wax paint pens from Marvy Uchida, but I don't want the design to look puffy or raised off the candle. My first preference was using acrylic paint because I think it would look the nicest, but after much research and speaking to other crafters, I am now concerned it won't hold up over time. I would like this gift to be something my friend can turn to whenever she is missing her daughter for several years to come. Any advice/experience/tips/tricks, etc., on using any of these methods successfully would be so much appreciated! Or if you know of another way to make a durable, lasting and elegant personalized hurricane, please let me know! TIA!

Bummer, just checked Aquatech's website, and they are now charging shipping. Before it was included in the price of the product. For me, that means a gallon of the hemp and aloe body wash will be about $40. I wanted to try the sample set, but with shipping it is over $20. That makes WSP and EBC much cheaper for me to buy (about half the price). I like the fact the Aquatech base has no parabens or SLS. Hmmm... gonna have to think about this one.

Red, have you had any problems with adding FOs to their bases or have you had to add salt to thicken it up? I think I may try their samples. I use their hemp lotion base and really like it. ETA: how's the lather on their bases?

I'm looking for a good liquid soap base/shower gel base, preferably something that lathers great, holds FOs and stays thick, and isn't too drying (I'm not ready to start making my own liquid soaps yet!). After reading through the forums here, I've narrowed it down to the bases from WSP, Brambleberry (the natural versions), Aquatech, and Essentials by Catalina. What are your favorites? Any experience with the bases from these companies? TIA!

Too funny! I ordered both and am expecting my package from UPS today. I will definitely give them the sniffer test and let you know. I can't wait. I've been wanting to try these two FOs for a while now. I think they would make great sugar scrubs.

She's got some really cute soaps. Love her motto: life's too messy not to use happy soaps. Did you see these? http://www.etsy.com/listing/51954481/lemon-water-ice-soap-new The topping looks like a sugar cube scrub recipe, but the materials sections looks like a simple M&P ingredient list with sugar added at the end. I wonder if she just loaded the base with sugar, lots and lots of it, to get that consistency? Then was able to scoop it out like ice cream? I imagine it would melt quite a bit faster than the clear base below. Regardless, very creative. Love her candy apple soaps, too. I can see getting lots of inspiration from her store!

Okay, am I the only one that ordered Marijuana FO?!? I joked about it with my DH, and he actually asked me to order it! I think he misses his good ol' high school days... No clue what I'm going to do with it. We can't very well go around smelling like weed and still have the neighbors respect us! Here are the more, ahem, respectable FOs I ordered. I've never tried AH/RE FOs, so they're all new to me. Should be here in a couple of days!! Aqua Type Wine By Candlelight Forbidden Fruit Birthday Cake Island Mist Sweet Tooth Fresh Baby daLimeintheCoconut Lime Crystal Kiss Bamboo Sugar Cane Cedar Sage Blackberry Monkey Farts Cherry Mist Child's Room Cool Water Ezra Fresh Lemon Sugar Fresh Cucumber Green Tea Cucumber Birds of Paradise Vanilla Lace

I've made a few batches layering clear and white bases, as well as layering CP with some clear M&P. The one time I forgot to spray with alcohol, my layers fell apart on some on the bars. Alcohol has worked well for me so far. I haven't tried embeds yet, but I have let the layers cool and harden up before adding another.

Interesting. I would never have thought there would be a difference between oven HP and crock pot HP! Anyone else notice this? I'll have to try CPHP (if I can get my husband to give up the crock pot for my soaps)!!

Beautiful! Love those swirls, and the black is gorgeous. I hope you post some cut pics, too! Don't be greedy with those pics. I love looking at all the wonderful creations everyone makes!:rolleyes2

Heehee... I was about to say the EXACT same thing. Makes me hungry for creamsicles (not sure how to spell that word!). They look awesome!

If you want, PM me with your email address and I'll forward you the newsletter. I don't think the sale will be advertised on their site.

Beware... you'll be hooked! I don't even know what to do with all the soap I've made the last few months... Sounds like you already know this, but HP soaps should still have some curing. I've read everything from 7 days to 4 weeks. I cure mine about 4 weeks on racks and then put them away. But I do always grab a bar from a fresh HP batch to try out in the shower because I just can't wait. I'd do it with CP, too, if I wasn't afraid of burning my butt! :rolleyes2 I prefer oven HP to CPHP because I've never had to "stir down" my batter when using the oven to avoid a soap volcano, and I can just use my 8-quart glass measuring container or my stainless steel bowl. I still use my crock pot for food every now and then! I use dishwashing gloves. I've read medical latex/non-latex type gloves would work, too. I like the dishwashing gloves because they are longer, and they protect you from heat which can be a plus. The downside is if you just want to do a quick check on temps by touching the outside of the container, you can't feel the heat with those gloves on. I also use a silicone spoon for mixing my lye mixture. It has a stainless steel handle. Plastic, wood and silicone are all okay to use with lye. The lye will eventually eat through the wood over time. I've gotten my oils from two places so far: Walmart and Ciabara. Walmart because it's easy, and Ciabara (sp?) because it's near my house, prices are good, and I can save on shipping. I have no complaints about either place. Walmart's a good place to start if you're not sure you'll like making soap because you can buy smaller quantities. Ciabara works out to be much cheaper pp of oil than Walmart, but you have to buy a minimum of 7lbs of each oil. It's so much fun! Be sure to post pics of your first batch.