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?

A Craft Tutorial : How to Make Chunk Votive Candles

Today I am sharing how to make a chunk candle. One of my new favorite crafts! I made these last night..

Chunk Votive Candles

Supplies and Materials

Fourth of July Theme!












You will need a pouring pot, paraffin wax, candle fragrance oil (I used blueberry cobbler), candle dye (I used red and blue), wax chunks (I used red, white, and blue), crafting knife, votive molds, and votive wicks.

Wax Chunks in various colors

How to make wax chunks:

Melt the wax and divide into 3 separate containers. You can use pouring pots or soup cans. Color one red, one blue, leave one white. Add fragrance oil to the plain white wax.

Pour the different colors into an ice cube tray. Wait about 45 minutes. Wax should be cooled but not completely set. You can then scoop the chunks out of the tray and using a crafting knife, make about one-inch pieces.

First Layer

Place the votive wick in the center of a votive mold. Start by placing the blue chunks in being careful to keep the wick centered.

Second Layer

Next, place white chunks on top of the blue layer. Be sure the wick stays center and place some chunks around the outside edge so they will show through when the candle is done.

Third Layer

Next, place the red chunks on top of the white layer. Continue to make sure the wick stays in the middle. Don't be afraid to place some chunks sticking out of the cup. This will add to the uniqueness of the candle.

Melting Wax

Melt your wax to approx 175 degrees. Use the white, blueberry cobbler scented wax to pour into the chunked molds.

Initial Pour

Carefully, pour the melted wax over the chunks. Not all the way to the top. Leave plenty of room for a re-pour.

Adjust the wicks, if needed so that they are centered. Leave them to set for one hour.

Re-Pour

Remelt the wax up to approx 185 degrees. Now carefully pour over the set wax to top off your candles.

Leave them to set for one hour.

Finish

After the candles are completely set, they should slide out of the mold. If they don't easily slide out then place in the freezer for 8 minutes. They will pop right out.

Aren't they cute???

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An Interview with Clicks by Karen, Photography

Meet Karen, the owner of Etsy shop, ClicksByKaren. ClicksByKaren creates fabulous photos available in 5x7. Her shop sections includes flowers, landscapes, military, nautical, people, around town, historical, and bridges. You must check out these amazing photos!

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

Photography has been a favorite of mine since I can remember. I decided to open an Etsy store after I moved from PA to SC. My boyfriend and I travel around a lot and both love history and historical places. You will see a lot of history themed photos in my gallery. 


How did you get started in your craft?

Born in Philly but growing up in the "country" I have been taking photos since I can remember-running around with my 110 mm and my Polaroid Instamatic! My mom would complain that I went through the film too quickly and I would have to wait a week or so to get them developed or to get more film. Torture for me, that was for sure.

I was given the honor of choosing a few of Karen's works from her shop to display here. Let me tell you, it was a hard decision given the fact that I love them all!! But here is a taste..

 

 

Tell us about your favorite piece.

My favorite piece is actually one from Charlotte, SC when we went to the motor speedway and stayed in the city. It has painted signs of all colors and the miles to each city. It reminds me of "M*A*S*H" and that reminds me of history and so it goes! (Dating myself a little bit, oops!) 


What inspires you?

Inspiration comes to me in all forms. When I look at things that grab my attention, my mind's eye frames it to a photograph and hopefully, if I like it, I have my camera handy!  

Thank you Karen! I truly enjoyed exploring your shop!!

Visit ClicksByKaren now! ~ www.etsy.com/shop/ClicksByKaren  

Also check out Karen's blog! ~ clicksbykaren.blogspot.com


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

Fragrance of the Week : Pumpkin Spice

**Fragrance of the Week Customer Special** 

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

Receive a FREE Pumpkin Spice votive candle with any purchase! June 4 - June 9.  

clayscraft.etsy.com

Tortoise and the Hare Review/Giveaway with $25 GC of Your Choice

This Giveaway is made possible by Maestro Classics, this Review is done by Colleen at Colleen's Book Nook

A group of wonderful bloggers have joined me in sharing this Review & Giveaway.

Did you know that Maestro Classics has a FREE home school program? It looks really interesting with History, Science, Geography, Language Arts, Art, Music, and Math that are integrated with music on the CDs for PreSchool to Middle School. There are teacher lesson plans, home school curriculum guides and home projects to go along with it. If you home school you should check it out!

The Tortoise and the Hare is just one of their CD's in their home school program.

This story is filled with wonderful music and is for children 5 years and older. You remember the old story about the rabbit so fast and agile who just knows that he will win the race against the poor slow old turtle so he takes detours along the way? This story CD has music by Stephen Simon and the London Philharmonic Orchestra! The music won a Parents’ Choice GOLD award!

A 24 page activity book is included with the CD which contains words and sheet music for a sing-along song, information on instruments, musical notation and fractions, the contrabassoon, games and more. MP3 download from Maestro Classics website includes a PDF of the activity booklet.

Maestro Classics is giving the CD, The Tortoise and the Hare, to one lucky winner! The winner will also be able to choose a $25 Gift Certificate of their Choice.

This giveaway is available to the US only.

Enter by filling out the Rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday's Finds

This is a new series! I am going to start posting totally random, miscellaneous ideas, thoughts, finds, ANYTHING interesting on Fridays! So here goes :)

1. STAR COOKIE CUTTERS

Ok, so these are star shaped cookie cutters that I found at Walmart yesterday. I am thinking of star shaped candles with the Fourth of July right around the corner! There are so many possibilities with these cookie cutters. I could make red, white, and blue stars to make a stacked candle. Or maybe a stand alone star candle. IDK.. we will see. This will be my experiment for next week :)


2. SUMMER SCENTS

 

This is a miscellaneous find. There is an article in Woman's World this week asking What's your perfect summer scent? I thought it was interesting. Here is just a little bit of what the article says. If you ..
Are sporty and active in the summer your scent is Citrus.
Love nature and hiking your scent is Green (earthy, woodsy).
Tend to be near the water in the summer your scent is Ozonic (such as water lily & freesia).
Are romantic & emotional your scent is Floral.
Love fashion & glamour your scent is Oriental (spices, musky, exotic flowers).


3. INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHT ABOUT EFFORT

I love this quote!
 
"One may walk over the highest mountain one step at a time." 

          ~ John Wanamaker  


4. FREE SCRUBBING BUBBLES

This is a really good one! I found a freebie!! Yes, you can go to the store and get Scrubbing Bubbles One Step for FREE. This is how:


Print this coupon for $4 off Scrubbing Bubbles One Step Toilet Bowl Cleaner Starter Kit.  

Dollar General and Family Dollar are selling these kits for $4 this week! Sooo.. take your coupon to one of these stores and get one for FREE! 

How awesome is that ?!?!! You could also get this deal at Walmart if you have a Dollar General or Family Dollar ad and just ask the cashier to price match.

Thanks, Mojosavings!


5. SOUP CANS

I need your help with this one. I thought I would throw these cans in here as an idea I have been tossing around for the last couple of days. My kids (all three of them) were sick last week and I bought more soup than usual. Looking at the empty soup cans one day, I decided to take the labels off of them and thought about pouring wax in them to make candles. They are the perfect size and a very sturdy container. My issue is that they are not attractive on the outside. So I am thinking of ways to decorate them. Maybe some cloth, ribbon, paint.. ANY IDEAS would be greatly appreciated!!!!




And so a new series is born! Thank you for joining me! Please let me know what you thought. And also I would be open to any of your random finds or ideas for a possible feature in a future post. You can email me at clayscraft@gmail.com ~Angie