Monday, November 13, 2006

Beautiful Candle Carving Video


Have a look at this woman's work as she carves a beautiful candle:

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.



technorati tags:, , ,

Home Business Success Video

Just in case someone missed the video from the Candle Home Business Success Story post, here is a direct link to it:

Click here to watch the video

Mind you, this was taken off TV, and there is a 10 seconds commercial at the beginning of the video.


Eran.


technorati tags:, , , , , ,

A Hunk Piece of Chunk

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.


technorati tags:, , ,

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Some Wick Tricks


How many times did your wick have its own will? Sticking to where
it wants, saying: "Hi, I think I'll bent a bit and rest on the side
of the mold instead of standing upright. It's too tiring!"

Well, here are some good tips on how to train your wick to do what
you want. I especially like Fragrance-Oil-Reviews' bic-pen idea. Its great that you can
use just everyday stuff to make your life easier.

Check it out!


Eran

technorati tags:, , , ,

A Great Christmas Gift for Kids

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.

technorati tags:, , , , ,

The Great Debate

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.

technorati tags:, , , , ,

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Candlescaping Tips


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:, , ,

Money Making Hobby


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:, , , , , ,

Friday, November 10, 2006

Quicker, Faster, Better!

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:, , , , , , ,

Huge soy candle gallery

Check out this amazing soy wax candle photo gallery. It has over a 100 photos of beautiful and colorful candles. A great place to get inspiration and original ideas.


anniv snifters.jpg    Rose_on_stand.jpg


Eran.

technorati tags:, , , , , ,

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Who wants to join NASA?

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.

technorati tags:, , , ,

Is your wick sick?

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 Home Business Success Story

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:, , , , , , ,

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Are Gel Candle Safe?

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


This is a good safety reminder and a thorough safety research on gel candles done by David Fisher. He shows why gel candles are as safe as any other type of candle. Seems like rumors and urban legends (in this case about gel candles) are so common these days, you really should verify things using a reliable source.

Eran.




technorati tags:, , , , ,

Wax On, Wax Off


Who knows which movie this post's title is from?

If you know the answer, you were probably an 80's kid (likely still are). If you don't know the answer, look at the bottom of this post.

But we are actually talking about candle wax (surprise, surprise). And it is time to make some sense in all the different kinds there are out there. Read MyCraftBook's overview on the different kinds of wax, and you can wax off your questions and dbout.

Eran.

p.s. The "Wax on, wax off" phrase is from this movie. Did you know that?



technorati tags:, , ,

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Candle Making Beginner Kit

I found this reasonably priced Candle Making Beginner Kit on eBay.


It seems that looking for supplies and goods online is one of the easiest things these days. But make sure you check the shipping costs and compare them to any local supplier you might have.

Eran.

technorati tags:, , , ,

A Colorful Romantic Idea


Looking for some color romance?

Watch this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvua6sP3zto

What else would they think about???


Eran.



technorati tags:, , , , , ,

Who are you calling lazy ?!?

Easy Candle Making for Lazy People

...What I want now is lazy people's candles- I want to make candles that look pretty close to how I want them, and to be cheap and easy. Once you learn to make candles, it is impossible to be able to ever buy them again ($30 for a small scented pillar?!), so if you don't have the time to do it right- do it lazy.

Easy Candle Making for Lazy People - Associated Content


I don't like being called lazy, but I do like to get ideas and tips that will help save time, evergy and money!

Read L. Shepherd's fun article for all of that! I love when people like Shepherd remind us how you can enjoy your hobby in such a relaxed way, easily and without spending too much money.


Eran.

technorati tags:, , , , ,

Cold as Ice Candle

Looking for a new project?

How about this one:

Ice Candle

Or these:














What is it, you ask?

It is an Ice Candle. All those holes and cracks were made by using ice cubes. Now, that is original!

You can go through CraftBits' Guide to do it yourself. Don't forget to fill the ice tray after you finish :-)

Eran.

technorati tags:, , ,

Monday, November 06, 2006

Having Problems? We've Got Solutions

Free Candle Making Troubleshooting Guide
Candle makers - we have set up this candle making problem troubleshooting guide to help you with to troubleshoot common candle problems.

Free Candle Troubleshooting Guide For Candle Makers


You can count on One Stop Candle to give you their full help and support. This is an interactive troubleshoothing guide. It asked a few simple questions, and tries its best to give you tips and ideas on what the problem might be, and how to fix it.

Try it!

Eran.

technorati tags:, , ,