sockmonkey

I've looked through all of my books and couldn't find any information about how frequently they should be used, so I searched the internet. Most sites suggested using a mask only once or twice a week, and some even said only once or twice a month was enough. I read that if you use them too often they can strip the skin of its natural oils which causes your body to ramp up production to compensate and you could wind up with acne. I personally wouldn't go more than once a week, and with my skin type, I probably wouldn't use them but once every other week since I tend to have normal to dry skin and oil isn't a problem.

I would factor the cost of the brochure into the cost of the candle. The best thing to do is to create a generic brochure that can be used for every fundraiser you have. Some people like to customize them for the group that is selling the product, which is fine if you are creating them and printing them yourself, but if you have to take them to the copy shop or the printer, costs can add up quickly. You probably already know this, but the other thing to do is to limit the number of scents you have available, then buy those scents in bulk to save more money. Sure, selling the same 10-12 scents gets boring, but you can always do "limited editions" and add a supplement to your order form listing other fragrances if you ever get the desire. If it's not financially feasible to have a color copies, colored paper is always an option. Neon pink paper gets attention and should be hard for kids to lose! I'm assuming you will primarily be doing only local fundraisers. So, if you can or want to deliver, that is always an option. If possible, you could also let them pick up their order at your home or a mutually agreeable location, telling them you can "save them shipping costs" by allowing pick-ups. Now if people in other states find you and still want to buy from you, then obviously, they should expect shipping charges, so I wouldn't worry about it. I wouldn't worry about packing and someone else getting it mixed up--just include a packing slip in every box with everything listed, and state that it's their responsibility to confirm their order and that any discrpancies or damage must be reported within X amount of days for replacement or credit. To avoid worry about them breaking things when they repackage, you should state in your introductory kit to the person in charge of the fundraiser exactly how the product will arrive to them, meaning whether or not each candle will arrive individually packaged. You might look into how much individual boxes cost for each candle and if it's not too much, you can sell those for an extra fee or factor them in with the cost of everything else. The important thing is that there not be any "suprises" (unless they're good ones!) for the customer.

Well, considering the circumstances, I think you ought to be proud that you made $100! Since it was your first time there, it's quite possible that they let all the previous vendors get all the "prime" spots first, and maybe next year you will find yourself on Main St. In any case, you can talk to the show organizers and let them know about your dissatisfaction. I'm sure you weren't the only unhappy vendor they had.

The question isn't what were YOU thinking. It's what were THEY thinking, charging you $20 for shipping! Do they use glass bottles? Not that it matters, because even if they did it wouldn't amount to $20 no matter what--they could have at least used flat rate shipping, and even in the largest flat rate box it still wouldn't cost $20. I've never dealt with this company, so I can't speak for their practices, but it's not uncommon for some businesses to offer low pricing on their products and then they try to recoup all of the discount by jacking up the shipping fee. It's nice that they corrected the "error", but I wonder how often things like that happen and they count on people not noticing.

Wow! Thanks!

I think we've all had the out of alignment label blues at one time or another.

If she is able to print any other labels on her printer--square ones, for example, and she doesn't run into the same problem, then the issue isn't her printer.

A few thoughts... Does your printer have a specific setting for labels and are you using it? The labels you purchased from your supplier might not fall within the margins they claim they do, so you could print them all day long and they would never print right. Take a ruler to a sheet and see if the margins are even. Have you tried printing a full sheet on blank paper first and then place that sheet in front of a blank sheet of labels and hold it up to the light? That should indicate where the problem lies.

Here are some recipes: Clay in Beauty Care... Disinfecting mask (special oily skin) : Mix 2 table spoons of green clay powder with mineral water until obtaining a consistent paste. Apply to the face using a brush and avoid the contour of the eyes. Let dry naturally for approximately 20 minutes then rinse. Purifying Mask (special oily skin) : Put in a bowl, 3 table spoons of green clay powder and 3 tea spoons of hazelnut oil, add a little mineral water to obtain a consistent paste then apply to the face, leave it on for 20 minutes then rinse. Revitalizing mask (special dry skin) : Put in a blender 2 or 3 carrots get 2 table spoons of juice, mix with 4 table spoons of white clay powder. If the mixture is too thick, add a bit of carrot juice then apply to the face, leave it on for 15 minutes then rinse. Invigorating Mask (special dry skin) : Mix 3 table spoons of Avocado, add 2 table spoons of white or pink clay powder. If the mixture is not sufficiently consistent, adapt it then apply it to the face, leave it on for 15 minutes then rinse. Revitalizing Mask (special dry skin) : Mix 3 table spoons of banana add 2 table spoons of white or pink clay powder. If the mixture is not sufficiently consistent, adapt it. Apply it to the face, leave it on for15 minutes then rinse. Cleaning Mask (special mixed skin) : Mix 1 egg yolk, 1 table spoon of white clay powder and 1 table spoon of soft white cheese apply it to the face, leave it on for 20 minutes then rinse. Cleaning Mask (special mixed skin) : Blend half a pear then mix it with 1 table spoon of yoghourt, 2 table spoons of clay and 1 tea spoon of hazel nut oil. Apply it to your face, leave it on for 20 minutes then rinse. Detoxifying Mask : Blend 3 table spoons of dandelion; add 3 table spoons of clay powder. Adapt it to obtain a consistent paste. Apply to the face, leave it on for 20 minutes then rinse. Mask for around the eyes: Mix 2 table spoons of white or pink clay powder with water of cornflower in order to obtain a consistent paste. Apply around the eyes, leave it on for 10 minutes, rinse with lukewarm water then dry. Capillary Mask – Oily Hair: Mix 5 table spoons of green clay powder with an egg yolk, add mineral water in order to obtain a consistent paste. Apply to the scalp by avoiding the ends if they are dry. Leave it on for 20 minutes then wash with a soft shampoo. Disinfecting capillary Mask: Mix 5 table spoons of green clay powder with mineral water in order to obtain a consistent paste. In a table spoon of sweet almond oil, add 5 essential thyme oil drops, 5 essential lemon oil drops and 5 drops of tea tree essential oil. Mix all the ingredients and apply it to your scalp. Leave it on from 30 to 45 minutes then wash with a soft shampoo. Beauty Mask Mix a little bit of clay with floral or mineral water in order to obtain a flexible paste. Apply it to your face, Leave it on for 15 minutes, but do not to let the clay dry on your skin - then rinse with lukewarm water. Clay Mask, honey and milk. (For all the types of skin) Mix until you obtain a smooth paste, 3 tea spoons of white, pink or red clay, 3 tea spoons of milk and 1 tea spoon of honey. Apply this mask to your face for 20 minutes, rinse it with lukewarm water then apply your tonic. Mask with essential oils (dilated Pores) Mix 2 table spoons of clay, the juice of a half-lemon, 2 peppermint essential oil drops and 1 drop of tea tree essential oil. Mix them well and apply the mask to the T zone (by avoiding the contour of the eyes). Leave it on for approximately 10 minutes, rinse with lukewarm water then with your usual tonic.

Some background info on clays: Green Clay - The most absorbing of the Clays, Green Clay is generally used as a Face Mask for tissue repair, drawing toxins from the skin and to normalise excessive secretions of oil or sweat. Applied as a Face or Body Mask, facial clay masks cleanse, exfoliate, smoothe and soften the skin. Green clay is especially good at drawing toxins out. White Clay - White clay is a mild clay used for normal skin. It has similar properties as green clay and is suitable for Face and Body Masks for young and sensitive or mature and delicate skins. Applied as a powder, White Clay is an excellent body deodorant and a natural alternative to talcum powder. White Clay is the Clay of Choice for use as a Hand Mask to soothe and soften dry hands. Red Clay - Red clay is high in iron oxide, hence its colour, and helpful for broken capillaries, bags under the eyes and sensitive skin types. It is used for toning the bust, thighs, stomach and upper arms. Red clay is an oily, mildly absorbent clay and is used for Face and Body Masks in cases of dry, sensitive or mature skin. Pink Clay - This Clay is intended for use in a maintenance programme for the face and body. The softening effect of Pink Clay refines the skin's texture while toning the epidermis (outer layer of the skin). Yellow Clay - Yellow Clay is used for normal skin and has similar properties as green clay. This clay is derived from the iron oxide, Xanthoria Parietina. Yellow Clay is generally used for Face and Body Masks, particularly in cases where the condition of the skin and body needs revitalising. Yellow Clay is recommended for most skin types to restore tired and neglected skin. Here's an example of how some people package and sell their masks: http://www.purethoughts.co.uk/acatalog/Strawberry_and_Pink_Clay.html

Even if it is faded, it still looks nice and anybody buying it would never know you didn't try to make it to look like that.

Most butters like hemp, olive, shea, mango and more exotic--lavender, lime, etc., you won't find at Walmart. Cocoa butter and coconut oil on the other hand, are used by many people for skin or hair treatments, so you will likely find them there, but they are not packaged for soapmaking so they are in small amounts and what you have to pay for them is a ripoff compared to buying a full pound or more online.

If she liked what you showed her, why worry over the ribbon? If she didn't feel like it would be a good fit with her store, I'm sure she would have said so. Maybe she actually like the fact that your candle didn't look like every other candle in a prim shop.

I was just going to say maybe you would be happier with round labels, or maybe if you just revamped your art on the 2x2 you would be more pleased with it. I'm sure if you post a picture of them people will be happy to offer suggestions.

Besides allergies, eating late at night or eating a lot of salt can contribute to the problem. I had always heard about using cucumbers on your eyes, but just recently I read that you can also use raw sliced potatoes too.

Are you looking for recipes? There are tons of books out there with a variety of recipes for facial masks, milk baths, scrubs, lotions, make up, conditioner, hair spray, perfumes, etc., with many of them using common "kitchen" ingredients. If you go to Amazon and type in terms like lotion making, beauty recipes, aromatherapy, etc., you'll be amazed at what's out there. I've looked in my local libraries and was greatly disappointed to find that they offer little to nothing in book selections concerning soapmaking and b&b.

Very unique. I like the name too. Some guy actually love candles and this would be perfect for any guy that thinks he's too macho for a pretty candle jar.

Do you have a website Luci? You don't have to post it here, of course, I was just thinking that it would be a good marketing tool to promote the fact that you offer prize winning candles! Of course even if you don't have a website you can still include that information on any brochures or business cards you have. I think it's very impressive.

If you're interested... http://www.craftserver.com/forums/showthread.php?p=761770#post761770

Here are a couple of more recipes for using clays and fruit extracts you can purchase in the current co-op. http://www.craftserver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=82116 CLAY FACE MASK: Masks (homemade or otherwise) should stay on for 10-15 minutes. Follow with a cleansing and a thin layer of moisturizer. Ingredients: 1½ tsp green clay (French is preferred) ½ tsp kaolin clay 1½ tbsp aloe vera gel 1 tbsp rosewater 2 drops rose essential oil Preparation: Mix green and kaolin clays together. Add in the aloe vera gel, rosewater and oils. Refrigerate mixture for up to four weeks. Banana Face Mask: 1 T Banana Fruit Extract 1 T Honey 1/2 teaspoon Jojoba oil 1 T Yogurt 1 egg white 1 T Kaolin (white) clay In a small mixing bowl, whisk the egg white, then blend in the Yogurt, Jojoba oil, Honey, Banana Extract, and then the Kaolin clay until it becomes a smooth creamy mixture. The best way to use this masque is while sitting in the tub because it is a bit messy. Apply to the entire face, neck and shoulder area. As it sits, keep applying more while you build the masque up as well as massage it in. Let sit for at least 10-15 minutes and then remove with a warm washcloth. Finish with a tonic or hydrosol on a cotton ball to remove any excess product from the skin, then moisturize as usual. This is a wonderful softening and firming treatment in one.

Here is a recipe I lifted off of the internet that sounded interesting to use with clays and extracts I'm offering in my co-op. http://www.craftserver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=82116 JJ's Soap Recipe Green Clay and Eucalyptus Soap Ingredients: 1 pound any opaque melt & pour soap base 4 tsp. Green Clay powder 12 drops eucalyptus essential oil Pinch of chromium oxide green if desired Instructions: Melt MP base over a double boiler. Take out a small amount of soap to mix with the green clay powder. Add the soap back to the warm batch and stir well. Add Eucalyptus essential oil and colorant, if desired. The clay will give it a bit of a green tint, or green speckles depending on how well you blend in the clay. Pour into molds.

Has this lady ever bought a single candle from you before? It is completely unrealistic to expect someone would place an order for 10,000 candles and put their name on it without ever sampling one or knowing anything about your company. Legitimate business deals simply do not happen that way. No offense to you or your candles, but people pull these scams all of the time. The next thing you know, she'll say she would need to try one first before she orders 10,000, thinking you'll be so eager to land the deal you'll supply her with anything she desires. Don't fall for it. If she needs to try them, sell them to her at full retail price and when she places that big 10,000 candle order, give her credit for the candles she already paid for-- like that's really going to happen, but at least once she realizes you're onto her, she'll set her sights on some other unsuspecting person.

I've had pleasant experiences with them. I was hesitant to order from them initially because they are so far away from me I figured they would take longer to deliver and charge more for it. To my suprise, they took no longer to deliver than other suppliers closer to me and they didn't gouge me on the shipping either.

One thing that can help is to use a box that is close in size to that of the container you're using, put the container in it and mark the side edges of the box with tape or a marker to designate where the top and bottom edges of the label should go. Then the container should be stationary and you will have a guide to show you about where the label should be placed.

That's a good tip Wildcrafter, but there are many people using credit cards who don't have access to the internet or simply don't want the spam on their computers from credit card companies. Credit card companies are raking in so much money by having people paying their bills online and not having employees manually processing paper statements and checks. But are we seeing any benefit? No.