A FEW MORE THOUGHTS.

SO WHAT THE HECK ARE WICK STICKUMS?WHY WOULD YOU NEED TO BUY SOMETHING TO STICK YOUR WICKS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CONTAINERS?OR SOMETHING TO HOLD TOUR WICKS IN PLACE ON TOP OF YOUR CANDLES.WELL YOU DONT NEED TO BUY THESE SPECIALTY ITEMS.TO HOLD YOUR WICK IN PLACE ON THE BOTTOM,JUST DUNK THE BOTTOM PART OF YOUR WICK(THE ONE WITH THE METAL TAB ON IT)IN YOUR HOT WAX,AND POSITION IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR CONTAINER.WAIT TILL IT SETS AND POUR A LITTLE MORE WAX IN TO COVER THE BOTTOM OF THE CONTAINER.LET IT SET.GO TO THE DOLLAR STORE OR YOUR FAVORITE SUPERMARKET AND PURCHASE A PACKAGE OF WOODEN SKEWERS.THE KIND WITH A POINT ON ONE END USED FOR KABOBS.YOU CAN USE THESE TO HOLD YOUR WICK IN PLACE.WRAP THE WICK AROUND THE SKEWER,AND LAY IT ACROSS THE TOP OF THE CONTAINER.FINISH POURING YOUR CANDLE TO 1 INCH FROM THE TOP.MOST WAXES WILL REQUIRE A SECOND POUR SO SAVE SOME WAX FOR FILLUPS.YOU CAN COOL YOUR CANDLE BY PUTTING IT IN A COLD WATER BATH(NOT ICE WATER)IF YOU CAN WEIGHT IT DOWN WITH SOMETHING BECAUSE IT WILL FLOAT.DO YOUR SECOND POUR WHEN THE CANDLE IS ALMOST COOLED BUT NOT QUITE.LEAVE 1/2 INCH OF SPACE AT THE TOP.IF IT DOESN'T COME OUT PERFECT AND THAT IS WHAT YOU WANT,PLACE YOUR CANDLES UNDER THE BROILER FOR A FEW MINUTES JUST TILL THE TOP STARTS TO MELT.BE CAREFUL,CANDLES WILL BE HOT.REMOVE AND LET COOL AGAIN.SOME PEOPLE SAY TO LET THE CANDLE COOL AFTER THE FIRST POUR AND THEN TAKE YOUR WOODEN SKEWER AND POKE HOLES IN THE CANDLE ALL AROUND THE WICK TO RELEASE ANY AIR BUBBLES THAT MAY HAVE FORMED THERE.THEN CONTINUE WITH YOUR SECOND POUR.I CAN'T ATTEST TO THIS METHOD AS I HAVE NEVER TRIED IT BUT WHATEVER WORKS FOR YOU IS WHAT YOU DO.THE THING IS TO ENJOY WHAT YOU ARE DOING.IF IT STARTS TO BECOME A HASSLE THEN IT'S A WASTE OF TIME BECAUSE NOTHING WILL COME OUT RIGHT.

   THESE ARE YOUR CREATIONS SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT.USE YOUR ARTISTIC LICENSE.ALWAYS WEIGH YOUR WAX AND YOUR FRAGRANCE OIL.WHEN THE RECIPE CALLS FOR 1 OZ OF FRAGRANCE PER POUND OF WAX THEY MEAN YOU HAVE TO WEIGH IT ON A SCALE NOT PUT IT IN A MEASURING CUP.THERE IS A DIFFERENCE.YOU CAN PURCHASE VERY REASONABLE SCALES HERE ON EBAY.THERE IS ONE COMPANY THAT SELLS SCALES THAT GO ALL THE WAY TO 55 LBS AND UP AND THE SCALES ARE VERY GOOD.I HAVE BEEN USING ONE SINCE I FOUND THEM HERE.

WAX MELTERS?DON'T BUY EM .MAKE YOUR OWN.WANNA MAKE VOTIVES?MOLDS ARE TOO EXPENSIVE.YOU CAN BUY A VOTIVE STRIP AT A LARGE RETAIL CRAFT STORE.I PAID 10.00 FOR MINE ON SALE.IT HAS 6 VOTIVE CUPS ALL CONNECTED TOGETHER.FIRST TIME I USED IT, I CUT MYSELF SO BADLY ON THE METAL I BLED FOR 10 MINUTES.VERY NASTY.GO BUY SOME DIXIE CUPS.SMALL ONES.THEY ARE PREWAXED INSIDE SO RELEASE IS NOT A PROBLEM.IF THEY GET STUCK JUST TEAR THEM OFF.SIMPLE.I SUGGEST PUTTING THEM IN A LARGE RECTANGULAR BAKING PAN BEFORE FILLING THE CUPS.ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.THE CUPS AREN'T ALWAYS PERFECT SO BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY.I HAVE POURED CANDLES IN PLASTIC MOLDS AND FORGOTTEN TO CHECK TEMPERATURE BEFORE POURING.BINGO,MELTED MOLD,WAX ALL OVER THE PLACE.SO I NOW PUT THEM IN A PAN OR COOKIE SHEET BEFORE POURING.IT'S EASIER TO CLEAN UP IF YOU HAVE AN ACCIDENT.MORE ON THERMOMETERS.BUY A DIGITAL ONE.THEY ARE EASIER TO READ AND YOU CAN SEE EXACT TEMPS.

PACKAGING:ALWAYS SEAL YOUR CANDLES AFTER THEY HAVE COOLED.THE SCENT WILL NOT LAST IF YOU LEAVE THEM OPEN TO THE AIR.MOST OF YOUR SCENTS HAVE ALCOHOL IN THEM WHICH DOES TEND TO EVAPORATE.IF YOU ARE USING JARS,MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A TIGHT FITTING LID.IF YOU MAKE TARTS WRAP THEM IN PLASTIC.I HAVE BEEN USING SAM'S CLUB RESTAURANT PLASTIC WRAP.THIS STUFF IS AWESOME.NO NEED TO BUY SHRINK WRAP,THIS STUFF IS BETTER.IT CONTAINS 3000 FEET IN IT FOR A VERY REASONABLE COST.IT ALSO HAS A BUILT IN CUTTER THAT SLIDES RIGHT ACROSS THE TOP.NO NEED FOR AN EXTRA HAND WHEN YOU ARE CUTTING.

DON'T BUY INTO THE ADS THAT SAY TRIPLE SCENTED CANDLES IF YOU ARE BUYING CANDLES.WAX WILL ONLY HOLD SO MUCH SCENT BEFORE IT SPITS IT OUT.AND I MEAN THAT LITERALLY.TOO MUCH SCENT IN A CANDLE WILL LEAVE IT FEELING WET AND THERE WILL BE A POOL THAT FORMS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CONTAINER.VYBAR ALLOWS CANDLEMAKERS TO ADD A LITTLE MORE SCENT BUT TRIPLE SCENTED WOULD MEAN ADDING 3 OUNCES OF SCENT PER POUND OF WAX.HIGHLY UNLIKELY.BESIDES THE COST FACTOR INVOLVED IN USING THAT MUCH SCENT.IF YOU SEE A CANDLE FOR SALE FOR 4.99 AND IT SAYS TRIPLE SCENTED,BEWARE.

GEL WAX:EASY TO WORK WITH.REQUIRES MORE TIME TO MELT.CAN BE DONE IN THE MICROWAVE BUT TAKES A LONG TIME.YOU CAN EMBED ALL KINDS OF THINGS IN GEL WAX CANDLES BUT MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT COMBUSTIBLE.WAX EMBEDS ARE IDEAL AND SO ARE GLASS.THESE CANDLES ARE MUCH MORE FRAGRANT THAN REGULAR CANDLES.START WITH LESS SCENT THAN YOU NORMALLY WOULD AS TO NOT OVERPOWER.MAKE SURE YOU USE THE RIGHT WICK FOR THE GEL CANDLES.ITS THE ONE WITH THE METAL WIRE IN IT.OTHER WICKS CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS LIKE FIRE.NOT GOOD.

HAND ROLLED BEESWAX CANDLES:ONE OF THE EASIEST CANDLES YOU CAN MAKE.CUT THE SHEETS TO ANYSIZE YOU LIKE WITH A SHARP KNIFE OR AN EXACTO TOOL.GIVE IT A QUICK ONE OVER WITH YOUR ELECTRIC HAIRDRYER TO SOFTEN THE SHEETS.(MAKES EM EASIER TO ROLL)DIP YOUR WICK IN SCENT OF YOUR CHOICE.PLACE IT ON THE EDGE OF THE WAY AND ROLL TIGHTLY.CONTINUE WITH OTHER SHEETS AS DESIRED TO ACHIEVE THE THICKNESS YOU WANT.YOU CAN CUT OUT SHAPES FROM CONTRASTING WAX SHEETS AND JUST PLACE THEM ON THE CANDLE.WORK THEM IN WITH YOUR FINGERS.THEY WILL ADHERE PERFECTLY AND LOOK GREAT.TO MAKE THEM SQUARE JUST PUSH DOWN ON A FLAT SURFACE WITH EACH SIDE OF YOUR CANDLE,THEN PINCH THE EDGES TO MAKE THEM CRISP.ALL DONE!!!

COUPLE OF ADDED TIPS NOT RELATED TO CANDLE MAKING:SHIPPING CHARGES.IF YOU ARE NEW TO EBAY BE CAREFUL.THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT MAKE THEIR MONEY CHARGING REDICULOUS AMOUNTS FOR SHIPPIN AND A SMALL AMOUNT FOR THE ACTUAL ITEM.IE:1 CENT FOR THE ITEM AND 25.00 FOR THE SHIPPING.THIS IS TO AVOID PAYING FEES TO EBAY.EBAY MAKES NO MONEY ON SHIPPING CHARGES BUT THEY DO CHARGE A FINAL VALUE FEE WHEN AN ITEM IS SOLD.BEWARE OF THESE DISHONEST PEOPLE AND AVOID BEING TAKEN IN BY THEM.MOST SELLERS ARE HONEST PEOPLE BUT THERE ARE ALWAYS A FEW THAT TRY TO GET AWAY WITH SOMETHING.THAT MAKES IT HARDER ON THE REST OF US.

SECRET TO EXTENDING YOUR COLOGNES:YOU RECEIVE A GIFT OF COLOGNE FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY.VERY EXPENSIVE STUFF.YOU HATE TO USE IT BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO USE IT ALL UP AND YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY MORE.WELL HERE'S THE SECRET.GO TO YOUR LIQUOR CABINET AND TAKE OUT THE VODKA.ADD 25%TO YOUR COLOGNE.SHAKE WELL AND ALLOW TO SIT FOR A FEW DAYS SO THE VODKA CAN ABSORB THE SCENT.USE AS USUALL.WILL SMELL THE SAME AND YOU HAVE A LOT MORE THAN YOU STARTED WITH.IF YOU ARE LEARY ABOUT USING ALL YOUR COLOGNE IN THIS MANNER,YOU CAN DO A TEST SAMPLE WITH JUST A LITTLE BIT OF THE COLOGNE AND A LITTLE VODKA.IF YOU LIKE IT THEN YOU CAN DO THE REST.MAKE SURE YOUR BOTTLE HAS A TIGHT FITTING CAP AS ALL COLOGNES WILL EVAPORATE IF THEY ARE NOT TIGHTLY SEALED.I FOUND THAT OUT WHEN I RECEIVED A BOTTLE OF REAL CHANNEL #5 FROM PARIS MANY YEARS AGO AND FOUND THE LIQUID DISAPPEARING.I THOUGHT MY DAUGHTER WAS USING IT,HOWEVER WHEN I ASKED HER SHE SAID SHE WASN'T.BEFORE I REALIZED WHAT WAS HAPPENING,HALF THE BOTTLE WAS GONE.ANYWAY,I HAVE USED THIS METHOD ON ONE OF MY FAVORITES,TABBU,AND IT WORKS VERY WELL.HELPS TO SAVE A BUCK OR TWO WHICH THESE DAYS YOU NEED MORE OF TO FILL YOUR GAS TANK.

HOPE THESE THINGS HELP.I WILL BE ADDING MORE INFO AS I THINK OF IT.ENJOY,AND FEEL FREE TO EMAIL WITH ANY TECHNICAL QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.