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I was going through some old online articles and found this cool article for all you more science-minded candle makers. A reader asked "If you place a lighted candle in a sealed jar and drop it, why does the candle go out as soon as someone catches the dropped jar?" What do you think? In the explanation, April Holladay of USA Today explains exactly why, and also tells a lot about candle flames, and why and how the whole "system" works. Neat stuff. And pretty fundamental to understanding the relationship between wicks and wax. Wicks and testing wicks can be one of the most frustrating parts of candle making. This article helped me to better understand just how wicks work. There are also some fun links to further explanations of the experiment and heat convection and the pic of a candle burning in space!

If a Candle Burns in the Forest - I Mean...a Jar originally appeared on About.com Candle & Soap Making on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 20:58:56.

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Chunk Candles - whether votives, pillars, or containers - are fun and easy to make - and one of the most popular variations of votive and pillar candle makers. I decided to make some chunk candles with a twist. Rather than cut the chunks into uniform cubes, I left them as rods and placed them standing up into the mold - leaving them as sort of stripes in the candle. I did some monochromatic ones...and some rainbow colored ones. The effects were really cool. As always, the only limit is your imagination.

Chunk Candles Variation originally appeared on About.com Candle & Soap Making on Sunday, March 7th, 2010 at 14:47:43.

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I know the snow has barely melted in much of the country, but it actually is time to start planning for spring and summer candles. Here's an article that gives 16 great decorating tips on how to transform your outdoors into another great "room" of your house - "a festive entertaining space for family and friends." In the article you'll read how to:

• Decorate with a Casual and Comfortable Feel
• Set the Mood with Outdoor Lighting
• Create an Inviting Seating Area...and more...

There are some fun projects to make outdoor candle lanterns from tin cans...and lanterns in glass jars. So whether you're creating an atmosphere for a fun summer party...or getting ready for crisp fall weather...you'll be able to create a wonderful outdoor oasis. And of course when you're creating this outdoor oasis, you'll want to include some outdoor candles. You'll be amazed at how a few simple candles can transform your outdoor spaces!

Almost Time for Outdoor Candle Projects originally appeared on About.com Candle & Soap Making on Monday, March 1st, 2010 at 21:06:13.

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This week is your last chance to sign up for the amazing 2010 Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild Conference in Denver. The Early-Bird Rate expires at midnight on Sunday, February 28th. At the conference, you'll get to spend 4 days talking soap, business, legislation, marketing, eCommerce, labeling, chemistry and a whole lot more. It's a great way to learn a ton about soapmaking, network with like-minded soapmaking souls, and really jump start your business. Conferences like this are both informational and inspiring!

The 2010 Conference will begin on April 29th and conclude on May 2nd at the beautiful Inverness Hotel & Conference Center in Denver, Colorado. In addition to all of the speakers and information, there will be wonderful parties and networking events by Wholesale Supplies Plus and Essential Wholesale.

I hope to see you in Denver!

2010 Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild Conference originally appeared on About.com Candle & Soap Making on Thursday, February 25th, 2010 at 10:35:26.

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Kelly Bloom of Southern Soapers posted two blog posts the other day that I wanted to pass on. In the blog posts, she gives her formulas for calculating the volume of soap molds...both rectangular/square ones...and cylindrical/rounds ones. As she says, "This is cool information because it frees you up to start targeting any 'mold worthy' container in your house as a possible stand-in for your soapmaking, even getting you over a production hump until you have the finances for buying more molds. Really cool also because it lets you size your soap recipes to fit perfectly, without the leftover soap mixture going to waste, or worse, batches of soap that needed more soap in the mold."
Here are the links to the blog posts:
Calculating Soap Mold Volume
Calculating Cylinder Soap Mold Volume
I'm sure you'll be eyeballing all sorts of containers around the house to put soap in now!

Calculating the Volume of a Soap Mold originally appeared on About.com Candle & Soap Making on Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010 at 08:39:35.

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It has always bugged me when I've been at a craft show or in a soap shop and the salesperson has said, "Our soaps are all natural glycerin soaps." Or, "Our soaps are better because they're glycerin soaps." I can't quite say, "You don't know what you're talking about." They're basically right...but the term glycerin soap is really a misnomer.

All real soap is glycerin soap.

I repeat, all real soap (not made with synthetic detergents) is essentially glycerin soap. Glycerin is a byproduct of the soap making process.

Oils + lye (with some water) = soap + glycerin

What many people call glycerin soap is actually transparent soap. Transparent soap is real soap too...it just goes through a hot process where sugar and/or alcohol are added as "solvents" to keep the soap crystals from becoming opaque. Without this crystallization, the soap remains clear. You could take just about any of your soap recipes and adjust the process to make them transparent. (Naturally, some recipes will work better than others...but that's basically the case.)

Glycerin Soap - What it Really is. originally appeared on About.com Candle & Soap Making on Saturday, February 20th, 2010 at 16:48:14.

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"The kidneys fail first. Then the central nervous system begins to misfire. Paralysis spreads, making breathing difficult, then often impossible without assistance. In the end, most victims die. Many of them are children, poisoned at the hands of their unsuspecting parents. The syrupy poison, diethylene glycol, is an indispensable part of the modern world, an industrial solvent and prime ingredient in some antifreeze." This is just one article (New York Times - "From China to Panama, a Trail of Poisoned Medicine") about dangerous chemicals showing up in the food and drug items we have come to trust. In this case it links back to Chinese manufacturers secretly substituting harmful chemicals for safe ones - and exporting them to other countries.

Whenever a scandal/tragedy like this happens, I get an increase in the number of inquiries about Propylene Glycol - a common ingredient in many household and personal care products. "Isn't it the same?" People ask. "It's got "lene" and "glycol" in it - it must be the same!" Well, no...not really. Here's an article about Propylene Glycol that should rest your mind a bit...and a number of links about it, from both the pro and con side. As I say in the article, everyone needs to make their own decisions about what is an acceptable level of "natural" in their lives. Proplene Glycol has shown itself to be a safe ingredient - but the ultimate responsibility for what we put on or into our (or our family's) bodies lies with you, the consumer.

Dangerous Chemicals in Your Soap and Toiletry Products? originally appeared on About.com Candle & Soap Making on Monday, February 15th, 2010 at 22:15:58.

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Most of us in the Northern Hemisphere are in the middle of some record breaking snowy weather. I debated whether to feature the Peppermint Ice Soap project, or the Ice Candles. The Ice Candles won. At least the candles will add a bit of "warmth" to the house. But take your pick. Grab some of that snow or icicles and enjoy. Light a candle, make some snow ice cream and wait for things to melt.

Snowy & Icy Soap and Candle Projects originally appeared on About.com Candle & Soap Making on Friday, February 12th, 2010 at 11:21:19.

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"Keep the winter fragrances burning, and slowly start to introduce subtle floral scents like Lilac Blossom. By the time May rolls around, your home will smell as if it is in full bloom!" That's what Harry Slatkin says in a recent press release about moving from winter fragrances to spring fragrances. He also recommends layering. "For a truly unique scent, consider layering two fragrances. The trick is to blend notes that complement each other. Jasmine, vanilla, rose and citrus work well with most scents, so have fun with it, and you'll end up with something that's truly unique and memorable." I love layering fragrances. One of my favorite scents that signifies the end of winter is my Tea with Vita which layers spearmint, clove and neroli (orange blossom.) What fragrances signify spring to you? Tell us...and share your springtime creativity.

Transitioning From Winter to Spring originally appeared on About.com Candle & Soap Making on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 at 12:22:57.

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Whether you are interested in making Valentine's Day soaps or enjoy other types of crafting, the About.com hobby guides have it all covered for you this holiday!

Contests: Maybe you can win some cool stuff to use for crafting by taking a look at this Valentine's Day Sweepstakes List from the Contest guide.

Needlepoint: Embellish a candy heart pillow, stitch a quick heart gift, or create a lovely posted card.

Jewelry Making: Valentine's Day can really be every day of the week if you like to wear heart-themed jewelry or enjoy red or pink colored jewelry. These projects are for those who love jewelry.

Painting: Add some symbolism to your Valentine's this year using this symbol dictionary.

DIY Fashion: Make a cute heart pin, cut out some heart stencils, or try to craft a number of Valentine's gifts.

Collectibles: Find Victorian children and Valentine scraps that are perfect for paper crafts or digital scrapbooking. Frame these antique scraps and postcards as-is or use for your handmade cards and gifts.

Crochet: Enjoy these free crochet patterns for Valentine's Day. You'll find a variety of ideas for crocheting delightful heart motifs, flowers, and other romantic pretties.

Family Crafts: I hope this collection of crafts, recipes, gift ideas, coloring book pages, games, and other activities help you to have a fun Saint Valentine's Day.

Rubber Stamping: Find ideas for gifts and decorations that are ideal for Valentine's Day or quick to make Valentine's Day cards for the special person in your life!

Cross Stitch: Stitch your way into your beloved's heart with a sweetly crafted Valentine needlework. Some charts are simple enough to complete in a day - other's may take until next Valentine's perhaps.

Miniatures: Printable valentines boxes, tiny roses, rose covered pillows and boxes of tiny chocolates made from polymer clay provide lots of unique ways to present or create gifts for a special someone. Fill the boxes with real or poly clay chocolates , make them as beads , or use them to hold special gifts.

I know most of us can't quite contain ourselves to just one craft...so maybe these links from my fellow Hobby Guides will inspire you to new areas of creativity and fun!

Valentine's Day Crafts of All Types originally appeared on About.com Candle & Soap Making on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 16:48:33.

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