Making Candles and Soaps For Dummies E-Book

Kelly Ewing

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 392

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2010

Beschreibung

Make floating candles, herbal soaps, and even a home spa Discover the secrets of color, shape, and scent the fun and easy way? Whether you're a beginner or seasoned craftperson, this fun book offers everything you need to make beautiful, professional-looking candles and soaps at home. You get practical tips on dyeing and scenting wax, using unusual molds, adding embellishments to candles, working with soap ingredients, and even turning your hobby into a business! Discover How To: * Stock a safe & efficient work area * Work with all types of wax * Add color and scent to your projects * Make melt-and-pour soaps * Turn a hobby into a business

Leseprobe

Making Candles and Soaps For Dummies

by Kelly Ewing

Making Candles and Soaps For Dummies®

Published byWiley Publishing, Inc.111 River St.Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, 978-750-8400, fax [phone]. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, 201-748-6011, fax [phone], or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions.

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2004105127

ISBN: 978-0-7645-7408-5

Manufactured in the United States of America

10 9 8 7

1B/TR/QT/QY/IN

About the Author

Kelly Ewing is a writer and editor who lives in the wonderful community of Fishers, Indiana, with her husband Mark, her daughter Katie, her son Carter, and furry canine friend Cheyenne. She has coauthored several books, including The Internet All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies, PCs All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies, and Direct Mail For Dummies. She has ghostwritten several books and edited more than 75 books on a variety of topics. She also writes articles on sports, travel, and human interest for several newspapers. In her spare time — when she can find it! — she enjoys spending time with her kids, reading, walking, writing, scrapbooking, cooking, and doing crafts.

Dedication

To Mark, Katie, and Carter. You mean the world to me and bring smiles to my face every day of my life. With each passing day, you make me a better and even happier person.

Author’s Acknowledgments

First of all, I’d like to thank my husband, whose support, patience, and understanding have enabled me to write this book. He also provided the photographs throughout this book as a personal favor to me.

I also want to thank my young children, Katie and Carter, who understood that Mommy needed to write in the “office” and that when I was done, I would be all theirs to play with and cuddle.

A big thank-you goes to Lois Hensley, my aunt, whose kindness and generosity early on enabled me to write from home on a once-a-week basis while she bonded with my little ones. She willingly gave up a day each week to come to my home and play with her great-niece and great-nephew while she also worked full-time as a nurse.

I’d also like to thank my mom, Judy Steadham, and sister-in-law, Megan Ewing, and her friend Jake Metz for helping me concoct candles and soaps in my kitchen. They came from Plainfield, Bloomington, and West Lafayette, Indiana, to help out.

My sister, Shannon Ryan, deserves a thank-you as well. She put her computer degree to good use researching resources for these appendixes.

Another thank-you goes to Wiley Acquisitions Editor Tracy Boggier, who approached me about writing this book last fall. Other Wiley staff members who deserve a big thanks include Project Editor Allyson Grove, for her wonderful edits and insight, and Copy Editor Chad Sievers, for his eagle eye and humorous suggestions.

I’d like to thank Wiley’s Composition Services staff, who transformed the electronic files into an actual book. Project Coordinator Nancee Reeves guided the book through Composition. A big thank-you also goes out to the PLTs, proofreaders, and indexer.

Lastly, a thank-you goes to the book’s reviewers. Edward Stephens III, Darryl Chapman, Cliff Rayman, and Karan Hall reviewed the candle information. Michelle Lewis and Kathy Miller reviewed the soap-specific material. Their suggestions and collective experience added to the quality of the book.

Publisher’s Acknowledgments

We’re proud of this book; please send us your comments through our Dummies online registration form located at www.dummies.com/register/.

Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:

Acquisitions, Editorial, and Media Development

Project Editors: Allyson Grove, Georgette Beatty

Acquisitions Editor: Tracy Boggier

Copy Editors: Chad R. Sievers, Jennifer Bingham

Technical Editors: (candles) Edward Stephens III, Darryl Chapman, Cliff Rayman, Karan Hall; (soap) Michelle Lewis, Kathy Miller

Media Development Specialist: Kit Malone

Editorial Managers: Michelle Hacker, Jennifer Ehrlich

Media Development Manager: Laura VanWinkle

Editorial Assistant: Elizabeth Rea

Cover Photos: Royalty Free, © Infocus International/Getty Images/ The Image Bank

Cartoons: Rich Tennant, www.the5thwave.com

Composition Services

Project Coordinators: Maridee Ennis, Kristie Rees, Nancee Reeves

Layout and Graphics: Denny Hager, Michael Kruzil, Lynsey Osborn, Jacque Roth

Proofreader: Andy Hollandbeck

Indexer: Aptara

Special Help Elizabeth Netedu Kuball

Publishing and Editorial for Consumer Dummies

Diane Graves Steele, Vice President and Publisher, Consumer Dummies

Joyce Pepple, Acquisitions Director, Consumer Dummies

Kristin Ferguson-Wagstaffe, Product Development Director, Consumer Dummies

Ensley Eikenburg, Associate and Publisher, Travel

Kelly Regan, Editorial Director, Travell

Publishing for Technology Dummies

Andy Cummings, Vice President and Publisher, Dummies Technology/General User

Composition Services

Debbie Stailey, Director of Composition Services

Contents

Title

Introduction

About This Book

How to Use This Book

Conventions Used in This Book

Foolish Assumptions

How This Book Is Organized

Icons Used in This Book

Where to Go from Here

Part I : Getting Started in Candle Making

Chapter 1: Stocking a Safe and Efficient Work Area

Stocking Up on the Basics: Equipment and Supplies

Getting Ready for the Dirty Work: Preparing Your Workspace

Playing It Safe

Chapter 2: Working with Wax

Waxing On about the Types of Waxes

Figuring Out How Much Wax You Need

Melting Wax

Venturing into New Ground: Using Wax Additives

Chapter 3: Achieving the Look You Want for Your Candles Again and Again

Communicating in Candle Lingo

The Sky’s the Limit: Knowing Your Mold Options

Working with Flexible Molds

Proper Care and Feeding (er, Cleaning) of Your Molds

Chapter 4: Finding the Perfect Wick

Understanding How a Wick Works

Identifying the Types of Wicks

Matching Your Wick to Your Candle

Avoiding Lead-Cored Wicks

Priming the Wick

Attaching a Tab to Your Wick

Considering Gel Wicks

Adding Your Wick

Deciding Whether Your Wax and Wick Are a Match Made in Heaven

Chapter 5: Creating Simple Projects

Starting Simple: Basic Molded Candle

Looking for Elegance: Basic Taper Candle

Sweetening Things Up: Beeswax Candle

Using Everyday Objects: Container Candle

Broadcasting Your Successes — and Remembering Your Failures

Part II : Jazzing Up Your Candles

Chapter 6: Adding Color and Scent

Coloring Your Candles

Playing with Fragrance

Chapter 7: Decorating Your Candles with Flair

Venturing into Appliqué

Embedding Items in Your Candle

Painting Designs on Your Candles

Trying Sponge Painting

Leaving Your Mark: Embossing

Working with Stamps

Punching Up Your Candles with Stencils

Embellishing Your Wick

Chapter 8: Making More Advanced Projects

Mastering an Advanced Technique: Overdipping

Achieving an Old-World Look: Cracked Candle

Relaxing on Water: Floating Candles

Looking for Elegance: Frosted Candle

Having Fun: Gel Candles

Maximizing the Look: Layered Candle

Going for a Classic: Multiple-Wick Candle

Getting a Little Chilly: Ice Candle

Adding on the Pounds: Chunk Candle

Chapter 9: Displaying Your Handiwork

Burning Your Candles the Right Way

Decorating with Candles

Giving Candles as Presents

Storing Your Finished Candles

Chapter 10: Handling Common Candle Problems

When Your Candle Doesn’t Look Its Best: Appearance Problems

Burning Issues

Fragrant Blues: Color and Scent Concerns

Part III : Tackling Soap-Making Basics

Chapter 11: Preparing to Make Soap

Stocking Up on Equipment

Investing in Materials

Preparing Your Workspace

Cleaning Your Workspace and Equipment

Chapter 12: Grasping Soap-Making’s Basic Techniques

Everything Old Is New Again: Hand-Milled Soap

A Step Ahead of the Game: Making Melt-and-Pour Soap

Working with Molds

Chapter 13: Delving into Additives

Using Additives

Storing Your Soap

Chapter 14: Creating Basic Soap Projects

Starting Small . . . or Not

Making Melt-And-Pour Magic

Reshaping Your Home: Basic Hand-Milled Soap

Part IV : Fancying Up Your Soap

Chapter 15: Creating Scent-sations: Adding Color and Scent

The Ins and Outs of Coloring Your Soap

Scenting Your Soap

When You Have Sensitive Skin . . .

Chapter 16: Going Beyond Basic Soap

Matching Your Bath: Colored Soap

Jazzing Up Your Interior: Decorative Soap

Capturing Your Favorite Smells: Scented Soap

Looking Inside Your Soap: Variegated Soap

Inserting Small Soaps Inside a Larger Bar of Soap

Getting Creative: Embedding Items Inside Your Soap

Making Your Mark: Imprinted Soap

Creating a Design: Stenciled Soap

Getting Fancy: Three-Dimensional Soap

Rolling It Up: Soap Balls

Making a Chain: Soap-on-a-Rope

Chapter 17: Creating a Home Spa

Disappearing in Bubbles

Relaxing with Bath Salts

Scrubbing Away with Bath Bags

Cleaning the Day Away with Shower Gel

Getting Pampered with Massage Oil

Creating Your Own Shampoo

Pampering Your Hands with Liquid Soap

Sanitizing Your Cooking Area: Kitchen Soap

Chapter 18: Solving Soap-Making Dilemmas

You Don’t Look So Good: Appearance Problems

Stay Where You Are: Embedding Issues

You’re Not the Soap I Thought You Were: Color and Scent Calamities

That’s Not How You Do It: Soap That’s Stuck

Part V : Moving On in the Candle- and Soap-Making World

Chapter 19: Experimenting with Aromatherapy

A Little Moody Today? Choosing the Right Scent

Playing It Safe: Cautions When Working with Essential Oils

Your ABC Guide to Essential Oils

Playing Mad Scientist: Blending Your Own Scents

Discovering Great Scents for Candles

Sniffing Some Fantastic Smells for Soap

Chapter 20: Turning a Hobby into a Business

Weighing Your Decision Carefully

Knowing the Rules and Regulations

Creating a Business Plan

Minding the Details

Insuring Your Business

Setting Your Price

Packaging Your Product

Marketing Your Business

Part VI : The Part of Tens

Chapter 21: Ten Easy Holiday Decorating Ideas

Be My Valentine, Please: Heart-Shaped Soaps

Cutting It Up for the Holidays

Making Easter Eggs in a Basket

Painting Festive Holiday Candles

Trick-or-Treating: Jack-o’-Lantern Fun

Say, Cheese: Wearing Your Smile on Your Soap

Going Back to Basics: Simple Votives

Mold One for Me: Soaps for All Seasons

Layering One for the Fourth

Stenciling Shamrock Candles

Chapter 22: Ten or So Great Gift Ideas for Family and Friends

Serving Up Decorative Soaps in a Glass Bowl

Harmonizing Sand and Shells with Surf — er, Make That Candles

Presenting a Candle Gift Basket

Softening Skin and Hearts: Body Lotion

Cooking Up Something: A Kitchen Gel Candle

Finding Fun in a Toy Soap Bar

Taking It Easy: Foot Oil

Showing Off Patio Candles

Concocting a Home-Spa Kit

When Sleep Is Elusive: Good-Night Votives and Soap

Making Magical Mosaic Votives

Chapter 23: Ten Super Projects for Kids

Making a Bead Wax Candle

Rolling Around in Beeswax

Pouring a Liquid Gel Candle

Creating Painted Artwork

Creating Candleholders

Helping Out with Precolored Melt-and-Pour Soap

Bagging Up Bath Salts

Making Up a Batch of Lip Balm

Quack, Quack! Embedding Rubber Toys

Getting Creative with Soap Chunks

Chapter 24: Ten Musts for Attending a Craft Show

Asking the Right Questions

Starting Locally

Selling Out Isn’t Necessarily Good

Thinking About How You Set Up Your Booth

Remembering the Weather

Showing Off Your Wares

Creating a Mailing List

Chatting with Your Customers

Offering Rewards to Loyal Customers

Being There

Part VII : Appendixes

Appendix A: Candle-Making, Soap-Making, and Aromatherapy Suppliers

Candle-Making Suppliers

Soap-Making Suppliers

Aromatherapy Product Suppliers

One-Stop Shopping: Candle and Soap Sites All in One

Appendix B: Additional Resources for Avid Candlemakers and Soapmakers

Reading More about Candle Making

Perusing the Web for Your Soap-Making Pleasure

Finding Some Information about Cold-Process Soap Making

Tracking Down Aromatherapy Resources

: Color Insert

Introduction

I don’t know about you, but I’ve discovered that as I get older, my interests change. Now that I’m a mom with two small children, I’m starting hobbies that I wouldn’t even have considered ten years ago. I now look forward to the 40 and 50 percent coupons from my two local craft stores printed in the Sunday newspaper. A while back, I would’ve just tossed them. Now, I’m sure my local craft store employees know me by name, thanks to my weekly ventures.

Thanks to all my new hobbies these past few years, I know that starting something new isn’t always easy. Take candle and soap making, for example. If you’re just starting, you probably have a long list of questions. What should you buy? What’s a waste of money? What’s the best material to use? What should you avoid? And how do you make professional-looking candles and soaps in your own home?