Studio Vlog | Wholesale Order

[@MackieJackCreations]

I’ve watched a ton of candle making videos, and I could watch yours all day long. You have such a calming affect, and a confidence that I love. Your products, labels, and shipping are all spot on. Thank you for always being so positive, and for teaching newcomers, such as myself. Blessings!

[@calafiacandleco]

You are too nice!! Wow. What a lovely comment to read. Thank you so much. ❤️

[@MackieJackCreations]

@@calafiacandleco I have ordered some cheap molds from Amazon, but am hoping to get some really good ones & I was just watching another of your videos, and think I will try the 3” Tulip round and straight eventually, from Modern Craft Lab. Is that who you still recommend??? Ty in advance.

[@niyahchyannco]

Love the video! Question: Can you make a tutorial on those oval trays?

[@calafiacandleco]

Thanks for watching! I will try. I've been having a hard time with my cement-all lately. I keep getting bags that are so difficult to work with. Maybe once I get a good one, I will try and make a tutorial!

[@LeBeauMot]

You are a sweet soul. Thank you for your videos!🙏✨️

[@calafiacandleco]

Thank you so much!

[@camelliapolaco241]

Can you do a video on how you marble your trays? I make trays also but love how well your marbling is all over the tray. Also can you try the Eco Advance sealant on the trays to see how it works? Love all of your videos.

[@Franny_577]

Love the trays! Soo beautiful ! How did you achieve the dark gray or black I’m in love!

[@calafiacandleco]

Thank you! i just add iron oxide pigment to the dry concrete before adding water.

[@jasminepambukyan7047]

Hello, thank you so much for awesome and true videos its hard to find many especially with cement, they are all so gorgeous, i had few questions and i hope you cant answer them. Do you seal your cement trays like you do your candle jars? And do you use the same product to seal it? Also will day crack if i put it outside the weather can get 100 degrees here. Thank you so much for your time and beautiful work!

[@lauriewilson4741]

Maybe someday I’ll get into concrete crafts but for now, happy to watch you 😊

[@calafiacandleco]

Well thank you for the support as always!

[@lauriewilson4741]

@@calafiacandleco 🤩

[@andrea_hr]

Hello! is the mixture of with cement and water?

[@bodean2000]

Very Nice, Its great to see you growing bigger every video you post. Great Job!!

[@calafiacandleco]

Thank you!

[@bamelle_]

Love your videos! At the end of it, when you are packing the trays, what type of white wrapping paper is it?

[@calafiacandleco]

Thank you! It just comes with the honeycomb wrap. It’s already layered. Just a tissue paper

[@jessicaramey5966]

Every time I attempt to unmold the seashells, they break 😢

[@calafiacandleco]

Oh no! Are you letting them cure long enough before unmolding? It could also be your mixture..what are you using?

[@jessicaramey5966]

@@calafiacandleco I’m using cement-all. I’ve been watching all of your videos. I started making these a few weeks ago and at first, they weren’t breaking, but now, I can’t even get one out without it breaking. It’s still the same bag of cement-all. Using distilled water. I wait hours and sometimes over night. I thought I might be using too much water, but my mix is pretty thick when pouring it. Idk 🥺

[@calafiacandleco]

@@jessicaramey5966 Hmm that is so strange. Too much water would have been my guess. Are you adding any acrylic paint or pigment?

[@jennifercampuzano1105]

Do you use the concrete pigment on the trays? I know acrylic is not good for candles but wasn't sure if we could use on the trays

[@calafiacandleco]

Yes I do! I use concrete pigments for the overall color, and acrylic paint for the swirls on the trays.

[@Litemeornot]

Do you sand your trays? I spent 4 hours today, obsessively sanding mine. I wait 24 hours before I seal them.

[@calafiacandleco]

Oh my goodness! I hardly sand mine. Just a few quick passes with a sanding block around the edges to make sure they aren't sharp. 4 hours seems aggressive. Are you using cement-all?

[@Litemeornot]

@@calafiacandleco Yes, I use cement all. I had quite a few trays and match holders. I am struggling with the two ends of the tray raising up for some reason. I started to be very mindful to make sure that not too much pour was going in. What do the bottom of your trays look like? If you don't mind showing

[@calafiacandleco]

@@Litemeornot I can’t post any photos in here, but they are usually pretty smooth and even. It sounds like the surface you’re pouring on could be uneven. I would put a level on it and make sure it’s level.

[@GreenWitch1]

What is the purpose of the oval trays? They’re pretty, but I have no idea what they’re for 🤷‍♀️

[@calafiacandleco]

They’re just catch all trays. Can be used for anything really. Jewelry, car keys, place a candle on it…

[@annastamatopoulou2102]

Hello from Greece ...love your video.😍

[@jessicabimpong1494]

Do you sale all the tools and materials needed to do this

[@calafiacandleco]

Hi Jessica, no I don’t personally sell the materials. I do have everything linked in the description box though, and on my Amazon storefront which you can find linked.

[@jessicabimpong1494]

@@calafiacandleco thank you very much

[@jessicabimpong1494]

@@calafiacandleco l like your works

[@1503dorinh]

Hi, I love your video's. Do you brush the finish varnish inside and outside the candle jar?

[@calafiacandleco]

Thank you! No, I just use the varnish for trays and other decor pieces. For my candle jars I use the sealer/preserver on the inside only.

[@jeanninejohnson1861]

Isn't 24 hours too soon to seal concrete? Im always afraid of trapping moisture and stalling the cure. Do you also seal your candle vessels after only 24 hours?

[@calafiacandleco]

With the trays, I don’t notice any difference sealing after 24 hours. For my candle vessels though I definitely wait until they are fully dried out. Lately I’ve been waiting 5-7 days to seal my candle jars. When I first started this, I was sealing my candle jars after 24 hours and experienced the trapped moisture trying to escape when burning the candle.

[@jeanninejohnson1861]

Good to know. I think I'm un over kill mode. I let vessels cure for 2-4 weeks because I'm afraid of everything:/ I also haven't started to sell for the same reason. I need to get out of my own head.

[@calafiacandleco]

@@jeanninejohnson1861 Sometimes the biggest thing holding you back is yourself! I experience that all the time. A good way to know if you jar is fully dried out is to weigh it each day. Once the weight starts to remain the same, you know it's dry.

[@MsSony1978]

@@calafiacandleco I tried to do the marble with rose gold as you suggested but my marble effect goes to the top and the design when unmolded is at the bottom. How can I change it? Thank you ❤️ as you have been an inspiration to trust yourself! Love your videos!

[@calafiacandleco]

@@MsSony1978 Hello! It sounds like the swirled paint flowed in last when you were pouring. I try to make sure when I'm pouring, the paint is flowing in first. If you need to help that part of the mixture get into the mold, you can use your stirring utensil to kind of help push it in if that makes sense.

[@colleenbuford2964]

with your trays, do you seal them at all?

[@calafiacandleco]

Sure do!

[@mrsh1998]

Hi! How do you figure your retail price? Or your labor which you factor into determining your retail cost? I’ve been following you on social media and have learned alot from you. I’m getting ready to do my first market with my beeswax candles and some concrete goods. So wondering about pricing. Thanks!!

[@mrsh1998]

Aysh! This is my first comment ever so need to change my name from “Customer Service”

[@calafiacandleco]

😂

[@calafiacandleco]

Great question! I researched online (mostly on Etsy) to see what others were charging for a similar product and went from there. I took my cost of goods into consideration, as well. I wanted to make sure I was being fair to myself for the labor. A lot of people say to do COG x 4 for retail cost, but for me personally that still seemed too low.

[@mrsh1998]

@@calafiacandleco Thanks Bree!

[@lauriewilson4741]

Customer Service you’re going to get a lot of comments everywhere you go 😂

[@scrapbookstable]

How do you avoid brush strokes showing with the sealer? I’ve done the candle vessel and tray but I don’t like the look of the brush strokes, if I don’t seal the outside of the concrete candle jar and anything drips on the edge it looks horrible any suggestions??

[@calafiacandleco]

I still do have brush strokes. For the trays, I seal with Earth Safe Finish's matte varnish and I do find the brush strokes are less noticeable than with the preserver/sealer. I don't mind them though, and from what I know my customers don't either. Unfortunately, if you do leave the outside of candle jars unsealed the wax will stain. I try to pour very carefully, and wipe the spout before I move on to the next vessel to prevent drips. I have seen Nancy from Earth Safe recommended cutting up a sponge and putting a piece of it in a pair of pantyhose and applying that way to help prevent strokes. I personally haven't tried that method though.

[@scrapbookstable]

@@calafiacandleco thank you for taking the time to answer. I’ll try both suggestions