Friday's Finds, It's a Heat Wave.. Get Cool

The temperature in my house is 80 degrees and rising. Ugh! We have no air conditioner as of yet.. but I hope that will be changing soon!


Here are some things you can do to cool off :

Close shades/blinds and pull drapes/curtains closed. Cover exposed windows with sheets or towels. Block as much sunlight as possible from coming in the house.

Ahh.. my cat relaxing in the "shade" from a sheet

Wet a wash cloth with cold water and place around your neck or on forehead.

Splash your face with cold water and stand in front of a fan.

Have some fans blowing outside. The upstairs in my house is unbearable in this heat and it is so hard to sleep at night. During the day today, I am blocking all of the windows in my bedroom from the sunlight. And I have a box fan blowing the hot air out. Hopefully, we will be cooler tonight.

Place sheets and pillow cases in a plastic zipper bag. Place the bag in the freezer for an hour or so before going to bed. Cool sheets = Cool bodies :)

Plastic zipper bags filled with ice cubes behind your knees... ahhhhh

Apply an ice pack to the back of your neck, down your spine, behind your knees, ankles, and wrists for about 15 seconds each.

Run cold water on your wrists.

Go swimming if possible or use a sprinkler, and wear sunblock.

Drink plenty of cold water and stay hydrated.

At night, have a fan blowing from the foot of your bed and also the head of the bed.

If your house is not air conditioned, go some place that is. Such as the grocery store.

I have heard of placing a large bowl of cold water behind a fan for cooler air, although I have never tried this.

It may be cooler to sit outside in the shade rather than in a hot stuffy house. Especially if there is a nice breeze blowing.

Avoid turning on the oven or burners.

Any other tips or suggestions you may have would be greatly appreciated!

Interview with Frog Hollow Glass, Dichroic Glass

Here is a nice shop I would like to share with you today. Frog Hollow Glass sells dichroic glass cabochons that are bright and colorful. I love the way dichroic glass reflects different colors. The glass supplies at Frog Hollow Glass can be used in many ways, such as mosaic work or in jewelry. I will let the shop owner, Teri, tell you about the shop in her own words.

Tell us about yourself, your shop, and what you make.

Frog Hollow Glass was created as a place to sell the oodles of scrap glass I generate from my work (art) in my other studio, Sokoloff Glass Studio.

How did you get started making art?

I started working with glass many moons ago because I was intrigued with the idea of melting (fusing) glass together to create a design with-out lead lines I could include in my stained glass windows.

Tell about your favorite piece.

My favorite piece is the dichroic glass horse tile

What inspires you? 

Life, nature and people inspire me, some times while driving, I will look at something and suddenly a idea is born.

 

Teri can also be found at sokoloffglass.com

I hope you've enjoyed today's feature. Be sure to check out Frog Hollow Glass on Etsy!

What Inspires Me, Clays Craft and Candle Creations

My children are my inspiration. We spend so much time together. I am so blessed to be able to stay home with them. They often help me choose which fragrances to use and they tell me which candles are their favorites. 

I also think of holidays as an inspiration. I am looking forward to the fall holidays and Christmas! There are so many possibilities for new creations!  

Any kind of unique container inspires me. With just about every container I see, I picture in my head what it would look like as a candle. I also love cookie cutters and ice cube trays. My new love is my star shaped cookie cutters!

I am also inspired by the colors and scents of candles.. I love every kind of scent no matter the time of year. Pumpkin spice in the middle of Summer?? Heck yeah!!

An Interview with Knot Just Knots, Macrame Gift Shop

Macrame is the craft of creating decorative knotting. Today, I am featuring Steve, the owner of Etsy shop Knot Just Knots, Macrame Gift Shop. Knot Just Knots creates Macrame jewelry, accessories, and home decor! Check out some of Steve's work:

Tell us about yourself, your shop, and what you make. 

My name is Steve, and I began crafting in the 70's. That is when I started macrame. I decided to try to bring macrame back last year and opened my Etsy shop. I now have close to 300 macrame items for sale, plus some vintage items and handmade ceramics which I have poured and painted. My favorite piece is the Ivory Palace Plant Hanger, which goes far beyond a simple planter.

What inspires you?

What inspires me is to create beautiful jewelry, and home design elements which are unique and beautiful.

Be sure to check out Knot Just Knots, Macrame Gift Shop on Etsy! You will find a very lovely shop with over 300 amazing pieces!

Thank you to Steve for sharing your amazing talent! 

Two FREE Sage Scented Votive Candles

**Fragrance of the Week Customer Special**

SAGE is this week's Fragrance of the Week! Here are the sale details:

Spend $20 & receive 2 FREE Sage Votive Candles! June 25 - June 30.

Fragrance is a clean smelling scent of sage.

UPCOMING ETSY SHOP PRODUCT REVIEW

My Product Review Contest

I would like to write a product review. What product shall I review? 

I have decided to purchase an item from an Etsy shop. Which Etsy shop?

If you own an Etsy shop and would like to participate, please leave a link to your shop here in the comments section. I will choose a winning shop on Saturday June 30th using random.org.

The winner will be posted here along with a picture and a link to the purchased item.

More Details

I am a stay-at-home wife, and mother of 3 daughters, ages 4, 8, and 12. We have a small dog and one cat. I enjoy crafts as do my children. I am a candle maker. I also enjoy crocheting, cooking, baking, and experimenting with making my own cleaning and bath products. There is something special about handmade items.

I am open to reviewing just about anything that is family friendly. And since I will be purchasing the product and am on a budget, the product should be around $15 or less (It is up to you if you'd like to offer a discount). Please offer a suggestion of which products you think would be a good fit along with the link to your shop in your comment.

The item will be purchased by me during either the first or second week of July. I will conduct the review and post the results here within two weeks of receiving the item.

The Review

The item MUST be handmade. I will conduct a thorough review/critique and offer my honest opinion based on mine or my family's opinions. 

The winning shop will be featured and promoted here on my blog. I will tweet and post the review on facebook.

I can also promote the winning shop's blog, facebook, and twitter links, and a link to their Etsy shop as well. 

I am offering this review as a free service and am not asking for anything in return. I think this will be a fun and efficient way of helping to promote other Etsy shops. If it goes well, I may consider doing more reviews in the future :)

Any questions??

A GREAT LIST OF TREASURIES!

In the Blue.. http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MjE5OTI5NzR8MjcyMjk3NzgyMg/in-the-blue


Red Hot!.. http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTgzOTg1OTd8MjcyMDQxMzAwNQ/red-hot


Melon Ball Mix.. http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTIwMjEyMzN8MjcyMDQxMjY4Mw/melon-ball-mix


Twitter Team.. http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NTcyMTgzNHwyNzIyOTc2OTQ2/twitter-team

A different shade of blue and a little yellow too!.. http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NTI2MTc1MnwyNzIyOTc2OTQ0/a-different-shade-of-blueand-a-little


Pink Party!.. http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MjIwMDM1NjV8MjcyMjk3NjgxNg/pink-party-featuring-etsians-of-twitter


Etsians of Twitter Team.. http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTc3NDgxOTR8MjcyMDQxMjE1OQ/etsians-of-twitter-team


Greens and Purples.. http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTczMjA0NDJ8MjcyMDQxMzMwMQ/greens-and-purples-featuring-the


Yellow Summery Time!.. http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NzQ2ODc0M3wyNzIwNDEyMTMz/yellow-summery-summer


THESE ARE TREASURY LISTS THAT WERE JUST CREATED TODAY!

Shop and Products Discussion

My Etsy shop, clayscraft, specializes in handmade candles and wax tarts. 

My candles are available in 16 oz & 8 oz jars, standard & wide votives, tea lights, 16 oz pillars, 2 oz stars, .5 oz stars, chunk votives, chunk pillars, cupcake shaped, 10 oz stacked star pillar, 8 oz water bottle shaped, unique glass containers, 16 oz heart glass, and 16 oz tin containers.

My tarts are available in .5 oz roses, .5 oz tulips, .5 oz stars, and standard 1 oz tarts.

These items are very reasonably priced. I only hate that I have to charge for shipping! lol

I currently have 16 available fragrances.

Sexy Little Thing (Pale Pink)
Butt Naked (Melon)
Sage (Sage Green)
Drakkar (Black)
Pumpkin Spice (Spiced Pumpkin)
Creamy Cocoa (Mahogany)
Twilight (Navy Blue)
Jasmine Vanilla (Aqua)
Endless Love (Colonial Blue)
Fresh Biscuits (Maize)
Cool Water (Royal Blue)
Midnight Pomegranate (Burgundy)
Birthday Cake (Maize)
Sweet Serenade (Lime Green)
Whipped Cream (White)
Passionate Kisses (Magenta)

Materials typically used are paraffin wax, candle fragrance oil, candle dye chips, and zinc core wire wicks.

Most of the products in my Etsy shop are available for custom order. Meaning you can request which fragrance you want and you can also request additional quantities.

I would love to start taking on larger orders, such as weddings or showers.

Visit facebook.com/clayscraftcandlecreations for all new listing updates, weekly customer specials, and giveaways. Follow @clayscraft on Twitter for updates.

My listings are updated daily. I have only been posting since the end of April (2 months!) and my shop is constantly being tweaked to perfection. Please let me know if you have any suggestions. If you take the time to visit my shop, it would be much appreciated.

In upcoming posts I will be conducting a product review. We will see if this becomes a regular series. I will continue to conduct interviews with other crafters about their shops on Etsy. There will also be more giveaways!

I plan to talk about what inspires me and how I got started. And don't forget about my Friday's Finds!

Thanks for stopping by :) 

~Angie 

Trend Roundup : Handmade Accessories

What's trending in Summer 2012 in the accessories department? Scarves, chiffons, and hair accessories!

I've gathered a few of my favorites from Etsy and placed them in a treasury list.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTczMjA0NDJ8MjcyMjk3MDY4NA/trend-roundup-handmade-accessories

An Interview with Melinda VerMeer Design, Knitting

Are you crafty? Do you enjoy knitting, sewing, or crocheting? Well, I have a shop for you to check out! MelindaVerMeerDesign creates handmade knitting stitch markers, patterns, and project bags. I just LOVE her project bags, they are so adorable.

Melinda VerMeer

Tell us about yourself, your shop, and what you make.
I live in the Pacific Northwest just outside Portland, OR with two pups - an italian greyhound Umi and chihuahua Chantico. I actually got back into knitting again when I got Tico. He was 3 months old and I would be bringing him home the first of July 2005 and having never had a dog before, especially a small breed puppy, I was sure he would need to have sweaters to get thru the summer. After crocheting a couple I decided that just wasn't ideal and picked up the knitting needles. As it turns out, he would rather be a naked dog.
 
A few months later, a job change had me commuting by bus and I started knitting on my commute every day.
 
I think designing for me was a natural jump having taught myself to knit. I found it easier coming up with the idea of what I wanted to make and creating the design from that than find an existing pattern that was similar to what I had in mind.
 

Nautilina is a great shawl because it is interesting but not overly fussy - both in it's look and when knitting it. Other's completed shawls can be seen here on ravelry: www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/nautilina/people

Bayfront is my most basic pattern and the one that has always been the most popular. I originally designed it as a gift for a friend that was working at a cold and wet shipyard in San Francisco Bay. He wanted something that would be warm, but still thin and light weight and could be worn under a ball cap or hard hat. It's completed projects by others are on ravelry here: www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bayfront-cap/people

My personal favorite kind of knitting stitch markers are those that are light weight, don't hang down, snag or get in the way but have something to keep them from slipping under stitches like a plain ring can - and look like jewelry. These little 4mm Swarovski crystal markers do just that.

These simple little bags are my favorite for small projects like socks and shawls. They are nice because they are light weight and don't take up any more room than the project supplies/tools themselves do so you are not adding extra bulk to what you are carrying.

For larger projects, I really like the box bags. This one was made from a tragically felted angora bunny sweater that I had been trying to come up with just the right use for it's material. Seeing it as this bag makes me so much happier than seeing the tiny sweater that used to fit an adult sitting in pile (hint - there may be other tragically treated sweaters that make their way to my etsy shop as bags).

How did you get started in your craft?
I grew up around crafts. My mother was always sewing, crocheting, painting, quilting, etc and my sister and I learned to crochet and sew when very young. I taught myself to knit from an all-purpose needle craft book (before the internet) and took on a two-color sweater for my first project. I lost interest in it shortly before it was finished, and didn't come back to knitting for years, but that sweater taught me the basics.
 
In addition to knitting sewing and creating stitch markers I also spin yarn - both with a wheel and an assortment of drop spindles, I do a little embroidery and cross stitch, photography and some car related 'crafts' like hand making custom fiberglass pieces, polishing cast aluminum motor parts to a mirror finish, etc ;)

Tell us about your favorite piece.

One of my favorite designs is my Estonian Flamingo Lace Shawl. It was the design that really kicked off my designing knitting patterns to sell. I designed it as a memorial for my mom who passed away from ALS. She spent the end of her life on a trip thru Northern Europe, including Estonia. Originally as a joke between friends, she and some others had been gifting flamingo items back and forth. By the time she died, she had everything from holiday decorations to socks with flamingos on them.
It was released June 2010 and is available thru etsy, knitpicks and ravelry. Other's projects on ravelry: www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/estonian-flamingo-lace/people

What inspires you?
Being from the NW, simplicity really is the main theme here and with my knitwear patterns I try to create designs that fit into that casual laid back lifestyle we have here with items that are interesting but can be wearable on a daily basis.
 
Inspiration for my project bags really come from the fabrics. I like to have them graphically interesting and keep a variety of styles available to appeal to different people's tastes.
 
When making stitch markers, as described above with the Swarovski posting, I make stitch markers that I personally like to use. I think they are interesting and functionable. I love it when a stranger stops me to take a closer look at a marker in my knitting project.

You can find Melinda by visiting her website | www.melindavermeer.com | which includes a blog as well. 

She also posts to twitter, pinterest, and flickr under the user name gldelx.

On ravelry, also as the user name gldlex and with her knitting designs under her name | www.ravelry.com/designers/melinda-vermeer | 

She also sells some of her designs thru knitpicks under her name | www.knitpicks.com/cfPatterns/IDP/IDP_Pattern_List.cfm?id=K00177 |

Google+ | plus.google.com/101134749468676784207/posts?hl=en |

Thank you so much Melinda for sharing! Your work is fabulous!

In closing, I would like to say the Estonian Flamingo Lace Shawl is absolutely gorgeous!!! And  I loved the story about your dog, Tico. How sweet!! My dog, Milo (a multipoo) would much rather be naked too, although I do like to put him in sweaters. lol

Star Themed Newly Listed Items

In honor of the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, Clay's Craft & Candle Creations has been working on red, white, and blue candles and stars. Check out my star collection here.

Today, I am working on a large stacked star pillar candle and then I will be making some larger individual star candles.

The star candles are available in any of my available fragrances and may be requested in larger quantities. (this does not include the red, white, blue candles at the top of this post)

Sexy Little Thing (Pale Pink)
Butt Naked (Melon)
Sage (Sage Green)
Drakkar (Black)
Pumpkin Spice (Spiced Pumpkin)
Creamy Cocoa (Mahogany)
Twilight (Navy Blue)
Jasmine Vanilla (Aqua)
Endless Love (Colonial Blue)
Fresh Biscuits (Maize)
Cool Water (Royal Blue)
Midnight Pomegranate (Burgundy)
Birthday Cake (Maize)
Sweet Serenade (Lime Green)
Whipped Cream (White)
Passionate Kisses (Magenta) 

Please feel free to email me at clayscraft@gmail.com with any questions.

FRAGRANCE OF THE WEEK : CREAMY COCOA

**Fragrance of the Week Customer Special**

CREAMY COCOA is this week's Fragrance of the Week!

Receive a FREE Creamy Cocoa votive candle with any purchase! June 18 - June 23. 

clayscraft.etsy.com

Friday's Finds, Handmade Movement

I am truly amazed by the wonderful supportive teams that Etsy has to offer. I have been posting items in my shop since April and only recently discovered the power of the teams within the last few weeks. I have joined a few and continue to learn so much from them.

The Handmade Movement Team was brought to my attention earlier this week. What is the Handmade Movement you ask? Well, let me tell you, they bring the term "supportive" up to a whole new level.

This team is not for new shops, exactly. This team is a group of people determined to help the new shops. If you are all about helping the new shops then this team is for you! If you have a successful shop on Etsy, maybe you remember what it felt like in the beginning when the sales were not coming in. You know how hard it can be getting started and how frustrating it is waiting for those first few sales.

Handmade Movement actually searches out those new shops that have no or just a few sales! They go in and give those shops a sneak attack. A sneak attack, from what I understand, can be done by purchasing items from that shop, adding the shop to their favorites or circles, adding items to their favorites, and generating lots of traffic into the shop! How amazing is that?!?!

So, in closing, I would just like to say that this team is doing a truly wonderful service for Etsy and if you are able to become a sponsor on this team, check them out today!!

http://www.etsy.com/teams/7565/handmademovement

A Little Bit of New and a Little Bit of Old

Clay's Craft & Candle Creations has some upcoming projects in the works. Here are projects that I am working on and will soon be for sale on Etsy.

The containers shown above will soon be filled with candles. Upcoming new fragrances include Sage, Butt Naked, Sexy Little Thing, and Hawaiian Breeze. 

 

Sage ~ A clean smelling scent of sage

Butt Naked ~ A green fruity bouquet with strawberry, banana, peach and melon topnotes with sweet lactony background.

Sexy Little Thing ~ A fruity-floral blend of apple, exotic jasmine and sensual cashmere woods.

Hawaiian Breeze combines Orchid, Tuberose, and Awapuhi with a hint of vanilla, sandalwood, and a light musk.

Here are some oldies but goodies from Clay's Craft & Candle Creations on Etsy..

Stop by my Etsy shop and check out my new "About" Page :) 

Clay's Craft & Candle Creations also has an excellent selection of container candles! Check out the container section here.

All of my candles and tarts are handmade using a paraffin wax blend with additives that allow the candles to hold their fragrance and provide excellent hot and cold scent throw.

Through 6/16 save 10% using coupon code CUSTOMER10 and receive a FREE Endless Love votive candle with every order. 

Q & A List : 50 Random Questions

50 Random Questions

1. Where were you 3 hours ago?

430am: In my kitchen making coffee for my hubby.

2. Who are you in love with?

My husband, Eric.

3. Have you ever eaten a crayon?

Not that I can remember, lol

4. Is there anything pink within 10 feet of you?

Yes, my cell phone case :)

5. When is the last time you went to the mall?

A couple of months ago

6. Are you wearing socks right now?

Nope

7. Do you have a car worth over $2,000?

No

8. When was the last time you drove out of town?

Wow, I think the last time was about 3 years ago

9. Have you been to the movies in the last 5 days?

No

10. Are you hot?

No

11. What was the last thing you had to drink?

coffee

12. What are you wearing right now?

pajamas

13. Do you wash your car or let the car wash do it?

The last time my car was washed my kids washed it in the yard

14. Last food that you ate?

yogurt

15. Where were you last week at this time?

730am: In bed

16. Have you bought any clothing items in the last week?

No

17. When is the last time you ran?

About a month ago

18. What's the last sporting event you watched?

A football game when my daughter was cheering

19. What is your favorite animal?

kittens

20. Your dream vacation?

Florida, I would love to take my kids to Disney

21. Last person's house you were in?

My parents'

22. Worst injury you've ever had?

Falling down stairs and hurting my back when I was little

23. Have you been in love?

Yes :)

24. Do you miss anyone right now?

Both of my grandmothers

25. Last play you saw?

White Christmas

26. What is your secret weapon to lure in the opposite sex?

I don't know that I have one

27. What are your plans for tonight?

Working, making candles, house work

28. Who is the last person you sent a MySpace message or comment?

Either my mom or sister on facebook

29. Next trip you are going to take?

Hopefully going to Kennywood next year

30. Ever go to camp?

Yes, girl scouts & band

31. Were you an honor roll student in school?

Yes

32. What do you want to know about the future?

I want to know that my children will be happy and successful adults

33. Are you wearing any perfume or cologne?

No

34. Are you due sometime this year for a doctor's visit?

Yes

35. Where is your best friend?

745am: Probably on her way to work

36. How is your best friend?

I haven't talked to her in a couple of weeks :(

37. Do you have a tan?

No

38. What are you listening to right now?

Happy, Leona Lewis

39. Do you collect anything?

Teapots

40. Who is the biggest gossiper you know?

Not mentioning any names, a couple of family members

41. Last time you got stopped by a cop or pulled over?

A couple of years ago

42. Have you ever drank your soda from a straw?

Yes!

43. What does your last text message say?

Call me when you get up

44. Do you like hot sauce?

Not especially

45. Last time you took a shower?

Yesterday

46. Do you need to do laundry?

YES!!!!

47. What is your heritage?

Indian, German, Irish, Dutch

48. Are you someone's best friend?

Yes

49. Are you rich?

NO

50. What were you doing at 12AM last night?

Watching George Lopez

Top Ten List - Best Myspace Quizzes

Would you like to take this survey? http://www.the-top-tens.com/50-random-questions.asp

Interview with juBEADlation, Handmade Jewelry

I love jewelry and handmade jewelry is extra special! I would like to introduce you to Kelly, the owner of juBEADlation on Etsy. juBEADlation creates one-of-a-kind handmade jewelry including necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. I love her shop!

Tell us about yourself, your shop, and what you make.

I am a married mother of 1 son, 1 step daughter and 2 fur babies (dachshunds). I work full time in a fiber glass factory. Jewelry making started off as a hobby to help de-stress. I have always been creative, took Commercial Art in High School at the Vocational School. I like to paint plasterware and make floral arrangements as well. There is just something special about jewelry making that is satisfying when someone wears your work and loves it as much as you did when you created it.

I started juBEADlation on my birthday last year. I wanted to share my passion for jewelry with others as my friends and family loved it. My shop is a work in progress as I am constantly learing new things on the team forums and tweeking as I go along. The name of my shop came from the word jubilation (the feeling I get when creating new pieces) and bead (my primary medium).

I make beaded jewelry ie: necklaces, bracelets and earrings. I have some new ideas that I plan to work on in the near future for additional categories. I love to work with lampwork glass beads, cat's eye glass beads and any unique beads that catch my eye. I love to work with different colors.


How did you get started in your craft?

I started making jewlery last summer. My son was in his second year of college and I wanted something to do in my spare time. I bought a jewelry making kit at Michaels and used up everything in the kit in 1 sitting. I was in love with this new hobby and had to get more supplies. From then on I knew this could turn into more.

Tell us about your favorite piece.

My favorite piece is a 3 Piece Set in Turquoise and Black. The beads are gorgeous with turquoise and black swirls and I added some black and silver beads to accent. I try very hard to get the photos to capture the beauty of my pieces but they are so much better in person.


What inspires you?

I am inspired by color and the uniqueness of the beads. I see a bead that I have never seen before used in jewelry and have to have it. I like to mix colors that are unexpected.

I am always open to creating custom pieces for a specific outfit or style.

Here are some items for sale at juBEADlation! These pieces are gorgeous and she has excellent prices. There are over 100 more items in her shop. Go check it out today!

Facebook: www.facebook.com/#!/pages/JuBEADlation/202370033174920
Twitter: twitter.com/#!/kelr72
Pintrest: pinterest.com/kelr72/

Thank you to Kelly! I LOVE jewelry and am so excited to feature your shop!!

This Week's Handmade Blog

Last week, I was a featured seller in a blog post by Clicks by Karen! You can find that post here. Be sure to come back and let me know what you think!

While I am at it, I would also like to recommend Karen's blog Clicks about Clicks. Check it out!! She features all sorts of neat things including her awesome photographs and really cool treasuries from Etsy.

Thanks for stopping by! ~Angie

CANDLEMAKING for the first time

Crafty Book Review

I would like to recommend this book for anyone who is considering trying their hand at candle making.

Why I like this book

1. Offers a complete list of the basic tools and supplies you will need to get started.
2. The table of contents is very detailed.
3. Easy to follow step-by-step directions.
4. Great Pictures
 
The book begins with candle making basics, such as how to prepare your workspace, how to melt wax, how to add dye and scent, molds, and troubleshooting.
The next section goes over 8 different candle making techniques to get you started. You will learn how to make a basic dyed, scented candle using a mold. This section also teaches how to dip candles and ends with using bead wax and beeswax.
In section three, you will go beyond the basics and experiment with 22 different projects.

• Multiple-wick Candle
• Snowflake Candle
• Layered Candle
• Corrugated Candle
• Star-filled Candle
• Embedded Rustic Candle
• Double-molded Candle
• Seashell Gel Candle
• Blender Candle
• Candle Tart
• Floating Candle
• Citronella Candle
• Stacked Heart Candle
• Whipped Candle
• Decoupaged Candle
• Pressed-flower Candle
• Sponge-painted Candle
• Painted Candle
• Bamboo Candle
• Jungle Candle
• Cracked Candle
• Embellished Wicks

 The projects include pictures and detailed step-by-step directions.
The last section of the book offers many different ways to decorate with and display candles.
Also included is a metric equivalency chart.
Including the index, the book is 112 pages. Written by Vanessa-Ann.

FRAGRANCE OF THE WEEK : ENDLESS LOVE

**Fragrance of the Week Customer Special** 

 

ENDLESS LOVE is this week's Fragrance of the Week! Here are the sale details: 

10% off STOREWIDE plus receive a FREE Endless Love votive candle with any purchase! June 11 - June 16. 

USE COUPON CODE CUSTOMER10 On Etsy!

clayscraft.etsy.com

Friday's Finds, A New Etsy Team

TGIF Everyone! Today, I am pleased to mention my most interesting find for this week, The Asian Pacific Islanders of Etsy Team! You really must check out this new team and be sure to stop by and show some love. I have spoken with Catherine of the Asian Pacific Islanders Team and here is what I learned:


Asian Pacific Islanders of Etsy Team was started in order to build a strong community on Etsy. Some of our goals include:

Sharing our different traditions and celebrating them.
 
Offering support to fellow teammates and other Asian Pacific Islanders across the internet
 
Helping to make our shops more visible through promotion
 
Helping to promote other shops and people in the spirit of goodwill

We just started the team recently, and are still very small; we’re always open to new members. Anyone who is willing to learn, share, promote, and support the team is welcome to join (even people who aren’t of Asian Pacific Islander descent)!

OUR LINKS:

On Etsy: www.etsy.com/teams/12708/asian-pacific-islanders-of-etsy?ref=pr_teams

On Twitter: www.twitter.com/API_of_EtsyTeam

Message us on Twitter: @API_of_EtsyTeam

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/AsianPacificIslandersOfEtsyTeam

On Tumblr: www.asianpacificislandersofetsyteam.tumblr.com

On WordPress: asianpacificislandersofetsyteam.wordpress.com/ 

Please be sure to check out this team on Etsy, you will be glad you did!! 

Thanks for stopping by! ~Angie 

An Interview with Dream Papercut, Hand-cut Paper Silhouettes

I am so excited about today's feature Etsy shop! Meet Dmytro and Iuliia, the owners of Dream Papercut. DreamPapercut creates hand-cut paper silhouettes inspired by nature, life, and people who like their works. Paper cuts are made from a single sheet of paper and all of the pieces are interconnected. This process and their work is truly AMAZING!

Tell us about yourself, your shop, and what you make. 

Our names are Dmytro and Iuliia and we live in Ukraine. We love creativity and handmade things, because looking at them you can feel the inner world of the person who made them. So this encouraged us to share our handmade works with other people.

We are creating hand-cut paper art silhouettes from a single sheet of paper and all of pieces are interconnected. All our works are made with love and soul.



How did you get started in your craft?

Our story begins from the childhood, when being children, we visited creative classes such as painting, drawing and paper craft. Growing up and studying at university we didn't pay proper attention to creativity, but it always lived in our hearts.
 
Once, we created a greeting card with hand-cut elements for our friend's birthday. It was the first realized step how much creativity occupies an important place in our lives. After that, we took interest in paper cutting art and started creating paper cut silhouettes.


Okay, now I am going to show you some of their works! I have to say the word "neat" to describe these pieces is an understatement! I am sure you will agree!

Tell us about your favorite piece. 

All paper cuts in our shop are unique, intricate and the most favorite for us.

What inspires you?

All our works are inspired by nature, life and people who like our works. To get inspiration we go for a walk to the parks, forests to enjoy the nature. Also we like meet with our friends and spend time talking and having tea. It helps us to relax and get new energy to create original works.

Thank you Dmytro & Iuliia! It was such a pleasure interviewing you and stepping into your amazing world!!

Check out their shops:
www.etsy.com/shop/DreamPapercut
www.zibbet.com/DreamPapercut
shoply.com/shop/dreampapercut/
www.craftisart.com/DreamPapercut
en.dawanda.com/shop/DreamPapercut 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/DreamPapercut

If you have an Etsy shop and would like to be featured, please feel free to contact me. 

How to Make a Container Candle

How to make what I make : Container Candle

I love pouring candles into glass containers. They may be more decorative than a jar candle and they can be quite unique. Choose a container that can withstand the heat of melted wax.

You will need:

• Metal pouring pot and double boiler
• wick sticker (optional)
• zinc core wire wick (may be pre-tabbed)
• wooden spoon
• paraffin wax
• a glass container
• candle thermometer
• candle fragrance oil
• candle dye chip(small diamond)

1. Prepare the glass container ~ If using a pre-tabbed wick, you can use a wick sticker to stick the wick in the center of the container. You may wish to tie the wick to a pencil and balance the pencil on the rim of the container to keep the wick centered. Or you can add the wick later if it is not pre-tabbed.

2. Melt wax ~ I use one pound of granulated paraffin wax blend. Use the thermometer and heat wax in the pouring pot using double boiler method until it reaches approx 175 degrees.

3. Add color ~ Keeping the temperature at approx 175, add the diamond shaped dye chip and stir for approx one minute with wooden spoon.

4. Add scent ~ Turn off the heat source, add fragrance oil (1-3 tsp), and stir for one more minute.

5. Pour the wax into the container leaving at least one inch on the top so the glass is not completely filled. Save the remaining wax.

6. If you are using a pre-tabbed wick, you will need to recenter the wick and keep an eye on it to make sure it stays centered.

7. If you are not using a pre-tabbed wick, you still need to add the wick. Wait for approx one hour after pouring the wax. Then, using a long needle or a wooden skewer, pierce a hole through the center of the wax and form a narrow tunnel just big enough to place the wick. You will then be able to fill the space you've made with the wick making sure it reaches the bottom and stays staight.

8. Allow the wax to completely cool. Depending on how large the container is, this will take between 4-8 hours. 

9. Melt the remaining wax to approx 185 degrees (10 degrees higher than your original pouring temp). Top off the candle carefully forming an even layer. You do not have to fill completely to the top for the candle to look nice. But you do need the top to be even.

10. About an hour later, that wax will be set and you can trim the wick to 1/4". And all done!!

WAS THIS HELPFUL?