Handmade Candles for the Gift Giving SeasonArtbeat The Creativity Blog: Handmade Candles for the Gift Giving Season
After a long stressful day, do you ever soak in the bathtub surrounded by candles? Just the thought of flickering candlelight is relaxing. Because of that quality, candles always make a welcome gift.
The way to your profitable candle making business goes through knowing how to price your candles. It is obvious that too expensive candles won't sell. But bare in mind that a very low price is not always to best way to go either.
Read this guide from CandleMaking.org.uk to give your candles the best price:
Pricing your candles
Something that causes endless stress even to an experienced artisan is what to price a new creation at. It's not just as simple as picking a figure out of the air and it isn't as easy as finding out what someone else charges for something similar and going for that. To get the correct price for your item involves research and time...
Candlemaking Business Resources - Pricing your candles
I LOVE hurricane candles. They are beautiful, reusable, giving a warm relaxing light. What else do you need? Just put a tea-light or votive container inside, and you are set to go!
Ever wanted to get that pinkish-brownish-greenish light colored candle, but never knew exactly how?
Well, here is something that might help: a Color Chart by Gelly Candle including 30 color and their recipes.
It all comes down to mixing your basics colors: Red, Yellow and Blue. The question is how much to use from each color. Try it out.
Eran.
Forums are always a great place to share information, ideas, or just the fun of a mutual hobby and interest.
If you are a beginner in the world of gel candles, the Candle Making Techniques Forum is just the place for you. Check out its Gel Candle FAQ page. I bet that in no time you can make gel candles as beautiful as this one:
Eran.
At last! Someone took all the wicks of the world and made some sense into them.
This is a very thorough and detailed list of wick information including type, burn rate and more.
Check out this Wick Chart as well.
Thank you, Rustic Escentuals for a fine work!
Eran.
technorati tags:candle, making, wick, information
How do they do it???
Well, it is a combination between a two-colored candle and a hurricane. The holes are actually done with a drill.
Read all about it and try it out.
Eran.
technorati tags:candle, making, drilled, cut, out, candles, project
Why do my candles smoke?
How can you test the color of your candle?
What size wick should I use?
Do zinc core wicks contain lead?
This page of tips from Just Scent would answer all these questions and more. You can use it when troubleshooting, or just learn in advance what type of problems or issues you might encounter.
But the most important tip they give is: test! test! test! You need to learn from your experience.
Eran.
Bob Sherman has updated his 1998 article on making this Tie Dye Candle. This just goes to show how things are still progressing and changing in the Candle Making World.
In these difficult economic times with companies cutting back, out
sourcing, and scaling down many people are being forced to take lower paying
jobs to make ends meet, or even worse having difficulty finding any job they
are qualified for.
One area that has been popular among those looking to
augment their reduced income or even replace their entire income after being
laid off has been candle making...
Candle Making As a Business by Bob Sherman
This nice overview get give a candle maker business beginner a nice start.
Eran.
You can read about David Fisher's experience with his heat gun.
And here is a detailed description and safety instruction about using a heat gun.
Eran.
We've talked before about the great debate between paraffin candles and soy candles.
If you do want to give soy candles a try and see what all the fuss is about, you can try Dittos Candles instruction for melting soy wax, and for making soy candles.
Unattended candle causes fire
Loudoun County Fire and Rescue received a 911 call early Monday morning for a structure fire at 201 F St. in Purcellville.
Times Community Newspapers - Unattended candle causes fire
We sometimes forget that safety is the most important thing we need to pay attention to about when it comes to candles.
Take care,
Eran.
Well, a range of candle making classes from beginners to advance, plus a making money with candles class will be held by the famous Bob Sherman during a January weekend in Long Island, NY.
You can find all the details here.
Eran.
technorati tags:candle, making, classes, courses, business, bob, sherman, hands, on
Benefits of Beeswax - Why Use Beeswax for Candle Making
Most cheap, everyday candles are made of paraffin, but more and more people are looking for beeswax candles. Beeswax candles have been used since the Middle Ages by connoisseurs who prefer their superior scent and other benefits – they have always been a little more expensive than other types, but most would agree that they are worth the extra cost.
Benefits of Beeswax - Why Use Beeswax for Candle Making?
Beeswax may be a bit more expensive than the other types of wax, but you just cannot go wrong with its unique honey-like scent. Read Corinne Waldon's article to learn more.
Eran.
Let's Get Started Making Christmas Container Candles
Fill your home with holiday scents with these great Christmas Container Candles. You can use any container you like, from Christmas coffee mugs, to a holiday shot-glass, to a hand-painted bucket. Just make sure it's heat safe and won't leak the melted wax.
How to Make Christmas Container Candles
With the holidays approaching, it's time for some more holiday candle projects. This is a nice and easy one from CandleAndSoap.about.com
Eran.
technorati tags:candle, making, container, holiday, christmas
Surviving a life in craft
My candle business is a full time venture that I invest part time hours in. I am a stay home mother to a toddler and a baby and they are my full time priority during the day. I am often asked how I manage to run a successful business as well as staying home bringing up my children and the key is organization.
The Essential Survival Guide to Candlemaking Business Resource
These real life ideas from a mother and a home-business owner brought by candlemaking.org.uk are extremely valuable. Little things that can help you divide your "work time" and your "home time" and make each of them more efficient.
I especially appreciate the "set a closing time" suggestion. It may look trivial, but it is really something you have to do, otherwise you'll have no home-time left. And that would be a shame, wouldn't it?
Eran.
technorati tags:candle, making, business, life, surviving, maker, tips, ideas
Part1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjrNTuR-VrE
Part2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlIZDQBdrjI
Part3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57oEoNNdAn4
She also explains how she learned it from a book and practiced. Looks good!
Eran.
Would you look at these chunk candles!
I just adore them! They are so beautiful. And the best thing, they are no more difficult to make than regular mold candles. See for youself. You can use either previous left-over chunks you have, or make new chunks. It is preferred that the chunks and the overpour would be of the same wax to insure an evenly burn of the candle.
Eran.
The Bottom Line: "The Cat in the Candle Factory" ends, "So the factory was fine until Christmas...but that's another story!" It was another story...a story I've been waiting for eagerly!I'm happy to report it's here, and just as wonderful as the first. This is a fun and heartwarming story with a wonderful subtle lesson for kids who struggle to get along with their younger siblings. And anyone who has ever busily made candles for craft fairs or as gifts will certainly relate to the story as well, and also relate (like I certainly could) to the trouble that little ones (feline or human) can cause in the candle shop!
Christmas at the Candle Factory by Barbara L. Johns - Book Review
What a great gift idea for the upcoming holidays! Enjoy the adventures of Elvis the kitten, and get great ideas for some Christmas candles.
Here are also some beautiful pictures from the book thanks to the illustrator, Carolyn R. Stich.
Eran.
Soy vs. Paraffin Candles - The Great Debate, By: Stephanie Davies
You may have heard stories recently about the benefits of soy wax, or about how paraffin wax is unhealthy or not good for you. In this article we will examine the myths and rumors and give the straight facts on both soy and paraffin wax candles and allow you to see what the truth and fuss is all about.
Soy vs. Paraffin Candles - The Great Debate
Isn't this one of human kind's biggest questions? So many websites and articles were written on the subject, and the debate is still not setled. There is no doubt that both parffin and soy candles have their advantages and disadvatages, but the question remains whether either of them have health related issues, or is one truly superior to the other.
Eran.
Making beautiful candles pays off if you know how to display them properly. Using different heights and colors are only a few ideas from Expressive Candles' list of decorating tips.
If you have pictures of your candlescaping experiences, you are welcome to add links to them in the comments section.
Eran.
technorati tags:candle, making, candlescaping, tips
Are you ready to turn your candle making hobby into a money making hobby?
You can do that by starting your own home-based candle making business. But like any other business, you need to follow some procedures. Use this article by 2 Minute Commute for as a good starting point:
Basic Home Based Business Legalities
Starting a home business is the ideal kind of business for many people because it not only offers you the freedom to do what you want with your time, it also affords you the opportunity to have no other boss but yourself. Yes, it does seem like a dream come true but before you start to fly to cloud nine there are some considerations in starting this endeavor you really have to consider first. It is not that difficult to get past these obstacles but they sure are hindrances to your goals...
Home Based Business: Basic Home Based Business Legalities
Eran.
technorati tags:candle, making, home, based, business, procedures, legalities
Water Baths
Basically, a water bath entails placing a weighted mold, filled with molten wax, into a bath of cool water. Here we will discuss some of the benefits of water baths and how to use them.
Water baths are sometimes referred to as cold water baths, but are seldom actually made with cold water. Water at room-temperature works just fine. When we use water baths, we are taking advantage of the high capacity of water to absorb the heat from our molded candles. It dramatically accelerates the cooling of our candles. This accelerated cooling also has the added benefit of providing a shinier and more lustrous surface finish for our candles. Many of the surface blemishes common with candles cooled at room temperature become a non-issue.
Candle Making Techniques: Water Baths by Alan Wallace
Here's a great and simple way to speed your candle making process. Using the a water bath to absorb the wax heat reduces the time it takes the candle to cool down. Pay attention to Alan Wallace's warning that a water bath should be used with molded candles only. Glass or ceramics containers may break inside the bath due to thermal stress.
On the other hand, this type of candle bath looks a bit more appealing and romantic, doesn't it?
Eran.
technorati tags:candle, bath, wax, making, romantic, faster, water, cold
Candle wax is rocket science: Paraffin fuels test launch
BY CZERNE M. REID
On Oct. 18, a scorching blaze lit up the moonscape of Nevada's Black Rock Desert as a 10-foot rocket burst 16,000 feet into the air. The launch was powered by an unlikely but potentially safe and effective new rocket fuel -- candle wax.
Candle wax is rocket science: Paraffin fuels test launch
And I always thought candles are a relaxing and quiet hobby. Seems like you can launch rockets from your very own backyard...
I'm guessing the next step would be soy fuel :-)
Eran.
Candle Wicks and Health
The purpose of a wick is to draw wax to fuel the flame of a candle. Various types of wick are used for different purposes in candle making. They can be divided into two main categories: cored and non-cored wicks.Non-cored wicks are generally made of a braided or twisted plant fiber (most commonly cotton). These wicks are considered to be the safest to burn.
Candle Wicks And Health .:. Global Healing Center, Inc.
Is it time to take your wick to the doctor's for a health check?
Well, before you do that, read this GHC article focusing on types of wicks, scents and color additives and their health implications. Another issue the article is touching is the growing debate about the paraffin wax vs. soy wax. Is the latter really "cleaner" and healthier? It is still a not-answered question.
Eran.
technorati tags:candle, making, wick, health, paraffin, vs, soy, wax
Candles : A Growing In Home Business
by Donna McCollum
Nikkie Strahan works over a stove much of the day and her home always smells good. So do the homes of Terry Barrett Green and Michelle Egan. All three women work together in a scented candle business. Green said, "Locally we're the only ones that do the soy based candles. Other ones do the paraffin and the paraffin is a lot easier to pour. The soy is like a three step process, so it takes longer."
KTRE-TV - Lufkin/Nacogdoches, TX - Candles : A Growing In Home Business
Seems like more and more people are not only enjoying making candles, but turning it into a business. Did you know that the home based business is a 427 billion dollar industry? Try thinking about your potential part of that number. Now, that's what I call positive thinking.
Eran.
technorati tags:candle, making, business, success, story, home, based, industry
Gel Candle Safety
I was making a couple of gel candles for a friend the other day (actually for her mother). When I brought them into her house, one of her other friends got a horrified look on her face. "Oh Abby," she said, " you can't burn those in your house - they will explode!" My friend and I looked at each other, and back at our friend, who added, "I know...I've seen it...and read it on the internet!" Well...I decided to do some research on the matter, and was interested in what I found:
Are Gel Candles Dangerous? Gel Candle Safety
