Etsy Concerns

I know there have been some concerns having to do with purchasing Spark! Candles on Etsy, because you would need to create an Etsy account in order to do so. I hope everyone knows that to have an account on Etsy is completely, 100% Free! And, you would have access to the Internet's largest number of handmade craft stores, each maker producing miscellaneous crafts like pottery, jewelry, clothing, etc. as well as vintage items for sale!

My candles are also featured for purchase on my eBay account, too. The same as with Etsy, you would need to make and account in order to buy anything through eBay. Again, it is FREE to sign up!
Here is a more detailed explanation of buying items on eBay: eBay Buying

My eBay store is here:  Spark! Candles

Experimenting...

So, I have been doing some experimenting with my candles lately, more like testing them (something I should have done from the beginning). The first test was to figure out my candle's approximate burning time. I tested a regular lead-free, cotton braided, wax-coated, zinc core wick with paraffin/soy wax by first weighing it. It (meaning the glass container and wax) was about 9 ounces so I figured the candle (wax) was about 7 or 8 oz. I let it burn for 3 hours, then weighed it again and it had barely gone down at all! Maybe about .25 of an ounce or less than that, even! So I figured in the numbers to an equation and came to find that the burn time is about 85 hours for that size candle!

I then tried to test a wood wick candle that was also made of paraffin/soy wax. This one was a little tricky to do because the glass container it was in probably weighed more than the candle (came out to 16ozs, so I figured the candle was only about 8oz). Following the same routine as I did with the first candle (weighing, burning, weighing again), the burn time for this candle came out to be about 53 hours...

I was surprised at this number, as I was expecting a wood wick candle could burn longer than a standard wick, though wood wicks produce the largest flames (resembling a fire) and therefore melt the wax down quicker.  I tested it a 2nd time, this time weighing on a digital scale and it weighed 15.7oz. I let it burn for 1 hour this time. Weighed it again and it was 15.4oz after one hour, losing .3 ozs. So, I did the math once more and came out with the same answer of 53.33 hour burn time for an 8 oz wood wick candle. I still love wood wick candles, though, because they produce the best flame allowing the wax to melt down evenly, and a unique burning experience that's both a pleasure for your eyes and your ears!

Painted Mason Jar Candle (continued)

With all the experimenting I have been doing with my candles in the past week, I thought it was time to test a painted mason jar candle. I have had this worried feeling stuck in my head about acrylic paint and the possibility of it being flammable (I wasn't concerned with the ModPodge sealer I use to seal the paint, as I know for a fact it is water-based). You would not believe how much I have researched acrylic paint in the past month!
 So, I had to ease my mind and try one out for myself! 
I chose Lemongrass & Lime, which is one of the first painted mason jar candles I made about a month ago, and I have to say I am very pleased with this candle! I already loved the scent, and even after blowing it out about an hour ago that scent is still lingering in this room!! I loved how the light from the flame illuminated the painted jar!! 

It was beautiful, in my opinion!

Soap Maker in the making

So, I have been thinking about making soaps now. I have already tried it out with a starter kit I was given for my birthday this year,  just the melt-and-pour process which they say is the easiest, and it was! I have ordered a goat milk soap base that is made of all these natural, healthy oils like coconut palm, and safflower along with goat milk - all of which are excellent for your skin, too! It should arrive tomorrow! I have a jasmine scented oil coming with it, and since I bought all this from Peak Candle Supplies (and soap supplies) I will be receiving a free sample size of fragrance oil, so that will be a surprise to me!

Now comes the hard part, deciding on the brand name for my soaps...

Like my candles, I do not plan to stick with just goat milk as a base. I do want to give other bases a try, such as castille, shea, maybe even honey!

If anyone has any ideas, please share them! I could use all the help I can get!

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Painted Mason Jar Candles

So, I've been seeing all over Pinterest and on Etsy these painted mason jars pictured as vases with wildflowers or some other home decor, and I though that's a neat idea.  Being a candle maker it gave me a thought to take just painting mason jars a step further. I have always had a passion for painting..anything!

Now that I no longer use dye in my candles, painting the container is the perfect way to display what color the candle should be.  When I first smelled liquid candle dye, I felt it was like smelling some type of chemical!  It doesn't smell healthy to me.

So far, I have created three scented candles in painted mason jars, but stay tuned for more to come...!

something new

thinking of starting a new line of candles made of natural beeswax!

I love the natural smell of beeswax and I don't even have to add any fragrances to make it smell that good!!

This is my label I have already thought up and created on my computer...what do you think?

I have also made two other labels named "bee calm" and "bee cool" where I would use natural essential oils!  lavender and peppermint, respectively.

to be continued...