Fern-Marie

115 degrees was usually my thing. Be sure, too, that they aren't getting a draft. Sometimes the fan on the stove will draft on top of the candles and that can cause them to fall.

Our Stella is right on, as usual.

I am so envious. I wish I could use fragranced soaps. Gosh they are just wonderful.

Phew!

Hope it works out for you. Good detective work!

Welcom to you and your furry friends!

Have fun and good luck to you.

I have one purchased recently at Wal-Mart also. I use for sugar.

Missy, I am sorry bit I cannot find that vhs tape of the gel candle making.

I did manage to scrounge up an old bottle of some FO...waaaayyyyy in back of my cabinet. The company I got FO's from was: www.gelcandlecompany.com

They have lots of pics! Embeds were expensive there so I got a lot of mine at http://www.silkytyme.com/embeds.html really cute stuff.

I also got a lot of cute little glass pieces and shells at http://www.orientaltrading.com/ they used to have large bags of shells and glass fish, and their seasonal stuff like hearts, shamrocks, etc. I noticed that when I see their stuff now, it isn't always in the huge lots that I once could get them cheap. You just have to look around.

If you do a web search for gel candle instructions, you will find links to tutorials.

Hope this helps you. You'll enjoy looking at all the embeds.

Good luck, and don't forget to post pics when you can.

Fern-Marie

How about melting the wax down pouring into small embed molds and placing in potpourri. Little gingerbread men look so cute in these. Maybe flower or heart candy molds would work at lease you would not be throwing away. A bowl of these in the bathroom would look nice. Or put the embeds in a mesh bag and put in a drawer for a sachet.

I think that is a very good idea. Very creative.

Missy, are you looking for pics or tutorials?

found some pics at gel candle suppliers and sellers:

http://aglowingcandle.com/gelpics.htm

http://www.pamdesigns.com/index.cfm/fa/categories.main/parentcat/515

When I did gel candles, there was a place out of Florida....somewhere...? For the life of me I cannot remember the name of it...they had lots of pics and tutorials, sold info vhs....I cannot remember the name. Betcha I can find something in my craft room....I'll look tomorrow and get back to you. I actually had a vhs tape too. Let me poke around and see what I can find.

I would use them for melts/tarts. Don't get this, "crayons are un-safe" thinking. They are made for kids to use, color all over themselves, eat, get melted in the cloths dryer(with your favorite shirt) etc. I tried crayons for color when I started making candles and it's true they do clog the wick. I had the prettiest blue candle and the wick was turning blue too as it tried to burn. I don't know how much a drop or two of scent would be able to scent a candle since I use about 1 - 1.5 oz per lb. I would try one and see how it does in a warmer. Can you smell much of a cold throw? Might not be much you can do but save the wax till you learn more about candle and maybe soap making..

Ahhh, see, I'm old school. Crayons to me, an asthmatic, just would be really leary of burning and smelling/breathing crayons. I just would not take the chance for health reasons.

She got these at a "shop", I'm automatically thinking dollar store....usually not the best of quality. Pardon if I am wrong. But I just would not want to take the chance....but that's me. Cheaper crayons made where? But where ever they come from...just not willing to chance it. Whether she's making it and giving it away, or going to sell, for instance...you have a huge liability...even if it is a gift and someone gets sick.

PPl will go after you for the dumbest things.

She's mixed indiscriminate amounts of.....what, made by whom, from where? Really, just too much of a risk. I just would not do it.

I label stuff I give to relatives. It matters. Are you absolutely 100% positive that the crayons mixed with oils and wax of unknown origin are safe? Unless you are....not for me. It's a bad way to start, bad way to learn, I would absolutely discourage it. I don't care what Martha Stewart says.

My opinion. You decide for yourself.

Gosh, I'm sorry. Maybe because this is a newer board? I'm not sure. I did Gel a long time ago. I saw some awesome stuff here. Some of the Gel suppliers post pics of their work on their web sites. A lot of fruit and fish embeds.

Oh, are you lucky.

Someone just posted their review of MillCreek's FO's and commented that the Leather was too strong.

PS Sorry, one last query! Could I not tell people they could use the bodged tealights as the little scented cakes of wax you can melt over an oil burner instead??

FG XXX

I'm sorry, but you are just too cute!

Let me suggest to you that I would not tell ppl to use those as Tarts, or Melts as some call them, because without the proper mixing of ingredients it could actually be dangerous. Remember, they will be breathing whatever you put in there....like crayon. I would not want to do that.

Also, keep in mind that what you use for fragrance has what is called a 'flashpoint'. A flashpoint is what the maximum amount of temperature the oil can be heated to without causing fire.

If I were you and just starting out, here's what I would do: There is a very reputable supplier,

www.candlescience.com where you can go, pick out a wax and go to their 'wick guide' and they will tell you what type of wick they have that will work with that wax in whatever type of container you wish to make with it. They also have top notch fragrances that you can get in 1 oz. sizes, and smaller portions of wax that you can practice with. Most of us use 1.5 oz of fragrance (FO) to a pound of wax. But you can get a good idea.

Now, don't go crazy getting stuff you can't afford and don't need, especially since this is a new thing for you and you may decide that you don't want to do this. You don't have to use dyes, I do not use dyes. But you can get a sampler pack of dye chips which contains lots of colors to play with....but not really necessary.

However, I truly hope that you do stick with it.

It is a wonderful and very rewarding hobby that you can use as a side biz, or as wonderful gifts for family and friends. You will get a lot of pleasure out of it.

You're going to do just fine. We're always here if you need help.

Good luck to you,

Fern-Marie

Soapymomma!! Wowza! Beautiful stuff!

Druin, your questions are no weirder than questions we all have asked starting out in our crafts. In fact, they aren't weird at all. If you can't find the answer and you are in need of help...ask away!

Why, thank you Sliver, I'll have to move my entire operation out to the street now.

You are just too funny!

Missy,

Vicky won't toot her own horn, so allow me to do it for her.

You wanna see professional pics of gel candles....research her links in the picture gallery.

Check right now, she just posted pics of Gel Skulls that just take your breath away.

She's your gal. A truly talented professional.

Welcome to the board, and we all wish you great success. Your willingness to do research will be your best asset!

Fern-Marie

Incredible!

Have you burned one...all the way down? How do they sell for you?

You should send one to Harrison Ford.

Jeese, you are unbelievably talented!

:yay: :yay:

MEEEEE!

lol

Well, I had to say something.

I make these to , get a metal pot for gel candels you can get them for like 4.99 at candle and supplies . com. If you use the dollor store, smaller tp its easier. Dip in the metal pot and swish it around. I take it out and let it dry on foil, then i decorate them. They smell great and look beautiful.

How do you attach the flowers, stick them through the wax, or glue, or stick them straight through the wax and tp? Would the wax then crack?

Would you attach when the wax is still warm?

Inquiring minds want to know, lol. They are so pretty.

Fern-Marie

I feel so badly for you.

I wish that you had come here first and researched the boards on how to make good tealights, what waxes, eo's, and proper wicks to use. For what you spent doing it they way you did, you probably could have had a nice bunch of tealight that worked properly.

Don't give up. Just read, and do it correctly. You will be so excited that you did it.

Lots of help here

I wish you all the best,

Fern-Marie

I think it sounds great! Good for you if you can do it.

...and congrats on the new home!

Bohemian Rhapsody.

Just Rhapsody would be reminiscent of Rhapsody (in Blue), to me. When I hear Rhapsody, I think of Rhapsody in Blue, or Bohemian Rhapsody.

Whatever, it is purdy!

I would have sworn that I just saw this FO.

I checked and I have no idea where I saw it.

HOWEVER: there is a site, www.perfumeemporium.com that has the perfume...for ppl.

Driving me crazy, where did I see that!!!

We got about 4 inches. DH said it was very heavy and wet snow. The problem is that it's going to rain tonight and then the temp will drop and everything is going to freeze over.

If that snow up there freezes, yikes!

I'm nearer the cape and am avoiding the heavier snow. But I pity the rest. It's like cement...frozen solid cement.

wait...one ice storm in your life? You're lucky if that's all you have experienced.

MAINE! Heard you guys are getting nailed!

Uggghhh!

DH's parents are up there, I have to remind him to call them....you reminded me!

www.papermart.com has an awesome array of decorative bags that I love for beads. From elegant lace and beads to lingerie shapes, and every material you can imagine.

You can get cello bags to wrap them in too.

Good luck with your project.