Fern-Marie

Luci, I just went on the site and saw the 'pinch' of salt thing....that was my thing. The guy e-mailed me and asked if he could use it. I forgot to check to see if he did. I remembered when you mentioned that you saw it. I had contacted him because the crystals were dissolving...only to realize that I had mad the mistake of adding too much salt. It had been so long since I had made them, I'd forgotten. He and I were e-mailing back and forth, and when I realized what I'd done, I told him. He'd never heard of using salt as a preservative. But after this one having sat on the shelf for so long, I can testify that it works. He was relieved that it wasn't something gone wrong with his product, I can tell you that. lol Isn't that the oddest thing.

I had to just keep the metal lids that came with them originally. I put material over the metal to cover the goofy fruit basket. These are the ones from the stores. The ones I got from Candle Science were attractive gold lids....ppl liked them. So I left those on and would add the Daisy lids on the side...freebie. Haha, wait until one of those suckers melts onto your jelly. What a mess. Mine didn't melt for a day or so. FO is very corrosive. Ugh...I shudder thinking about the mess. Watch out! I think I remember that site saying something about the garden crystals are not good at holding FOs. Also, I had a Black Cherry Smelly Jelly sitting on my shelf, unopened, for 4 years. I had added a pinch of salt, nothing else. Yet, not a bit of decay or mold. Looked and smelled as though it had just been packaged. But don't add too much, it will 'dissolve' the crystals...just a pinch.

Strawberry Daiquiries. I'm taking the weekend off!

I put: AIR FRESHENER P NOT EDIBLE FOOD! KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN AND PETS! I have other stuff in between, but you get the picture.

Luci, be careful. My understanding from the main manufacturer of the crystals is that there are two different versions of them. See www.crystals.us for their info. I get the jars from the supermarket or Wal-Mart, or online sites. The lids you will need to purchase from the online sites. Now, I have not tried the garden version for smelly jelly. If you have and find that it's the same, power to you, and please give me a heads up. One more thing...the plastic covers will melt from the FOs. Nasty mess. I have them, tried them....run, don't walk, run.

This sounds interesting...if you find that one of these meets your expectations, let me know, I'd like in on this one myself! Happy hunting!

This ought to be interesting to see the progression. I just got some Stevia Herb, haven't tried it yet, but hey, one step at time. The whole project just kind of ticked me off. The Sweet-n-Low, and Equal, Sugar, Honey, and the new stuff in the yellow pack did not disolve, did not work...none of it. What a horror show. I don't want grit raking across my lips. I consider myself a "lip balm connoisseur". It won't get my stamp of approval until I like it...and I am picky.

Use additives or just let it be. Let's face it, the stuff is ugly. It is what it is. I leave it, and apologize for the ugly brain child.

I just double checked my 8 oz tureens...the opening is 3". They bow out to 3 1/2 and taper back in slightly. I also compared them - upside down on their lids - to the width of my smallest and widest warmer plates. I think that the width will be fine, honestly. I would use them . If I had seen these first, I would have scooped them. That price for a jar with a lid is unheard of. I love them. I think that they are very eye catching. I was nervous that the wider plates would not be good for the tureens, as far as a fit goes, but they are working out just fine. I love the tureens, but that particular one is awfully tempting. I can't get over the price! You use what you feel comfortable with. As long as the jar is short and squatty, it will be successful.

Tureens. They have to be short in order to get a qyicker melt. Too large a jar takes too long, and can actually crack the warmer if it overlaps. Candles and Supplies, the PA folk just came out with a multi sided short jar that is just adorable.

Double Ditto...that's just an accident waiting to happen if you have to dodge the label...eeesh!

I did go to Staples and got the Avery labels. There is an address on the package to download free labeling stuff and a link for Microsoft Clip Art...also was free. In no time at all I was designing and printing my own. That way, I don't have to wait for an order to arrive and I can change something if I want.

Aroma Beads are these little plastic-type pellets that absorb fragrance oil. You can add color, and/or a little Mica to make them shiney and purdy. They absorb the FO and are dry to the touch once absorbtion is complete. You put them into sachet, or muslin bags and use them as air fresheners. If it's just for yourself, use an old stocking. I keep one in my linen closet, and in the drawers. They can also be used to make scented ornaments for a Christmas Tree, or as a hanging air freshener for the car...they melt in the oven. They last a few months when scented. Bitter Creek has them with instructions on their site. Good price, versatile, easy to work with, and a nice project to get the kiddos involved in on a rainy day. I like them because sachets are so hard to find, and it is really a neat old-fashioned thing. A nice novelty.

I never actually knew what these were. I assumed that they were tarts shaped like a shell...duh. I feel like I just woke up from a long, deep sleep. What the heck am I busin' my hiney for with the way I make tarts...this is so much more sensible. Is it hard to do? I'll be sure to find a way to screw it up and make a mess, but I sure would like to try this. They look spectacular.

Those jars are really cheap at the supermarket...and Wal-Mart has them too. Use food coloring, not candle dyes. Use a pinch of salt to each batch as a preservative. Use distilled water..also cheapest at Wal-Mart. www.crystals.us I think invented the stuff, and you can get ideas and good info about the gardeners water crystals vs. the smelly jelly crystals...worth the read. Good luck to you.

I use an all natural, bio-degradable detergent made by Bio-Kleen. I got it at drugstore.com Absolutely, hands down, the best detergent I have ever used...and yippee! I'm not allergic. Took the dirt and grease and odor out of my hubby's work clothes, and the whites...holey moley does it whiten! I noticed a difference immediately when I opened the lid to the washer. I didn't realize that my detergent wasn't working so well until I tried this stuff. Unbelievable. Very expensive, but if you can afford it, very worth it. I think it was around $10.00 for a 5# box. The one without the additives actually worked better than the one with...which is a couple bucks more. Great stuff. Wish I could make it.

Lavender.

Yes. I did when I made it years ago. I made lots of votives. I even saw 'tarts' this Christmas. A neighbor got them as a gift. Didn't like them.

oooo, temps are the problem. Heat to 175, add FO at 130, most importantly poor slushy!! You must poor below 120...115 is better. I get rushed and impatient and sometimes pour too warm, and it is just not worth the aggravation of having to fix them. Keep them from drafts, air conditioning, etc., so they cools slowly and your candles will be fine. Promise. Best of luck.

I can't wait to hear about the burn! Looks very promising. Thanks for sharing all of the info. and pics. Nice job.

Ok, so if the CD 16 is comparable to the LX 22...then the CD 16 that I tried and the flame was too bouncy...then wicking down using the LX 18 and I also did one with an LX 20....so hopefully, I'm hot on the trail. I have two jars there then that I can re-pour and wick up, if need-be. Oh, Lord, pleeeeezzzeee, let me be on the right path. I'm sooo tired!

Those HTPs are much bigger than I would have anticipated using. I'll try them just as soon as they get here.

Holey Moley...was I off on that...I thought that they were comparable size to size. My friend sent me some CDs to try, I haven't had luck yet...but I am going to keep at it, if for no other reason but to say that I did it..I won!

I just wicked CB 135 with Mac Apple 1.5% in the jelly jar - BUT the CD 16 in the 3" wide Mason jar - while cleaning off the sides well enough to pass gives me little to no throw, and the wick bounced all over the place...this one was with the Lemongrass FO at 1.5%. Now, the bouncing wick would indicate that I need to wick down, but the data on the wicks does not indicate that a smaller wick would be sufficient in that sized container.

D Bud, do you know if the CD series is comparable by size to the LX? CD 16 = LX 16, etc.?:tiptoe: