Country Crafter

and Gift Packs

Hi all, we are full swing into our votive collections at the moment and they are moving well for us! Here is a pic. Wendy

Thanks everyone, they are fun to make and a great change from food items, lol. The glacier is a mold we designed and created for a customer a few yrs. ago. It is popular and a nice piece as a tealight is inserted and can be replaced not ruining the design of the glacier. We also add a small glass skier to the backside of the piece if a customer wishes. Thanks for looking. Wendy

and our Penquins at Play

Ivy Bowl Snowman, (needs his scarf put on, lol.)

Our Glacier

Hi all, thought I would share a few of our Christmas designs we have been working on this past week for the store, none of these are new to us all things that have sold well for us in the past. That you might enjoy them. Wendy

This may help, we use this recipe in our Kids Kamps, they enjoy making them. Tub Crayons Contributed by Kathy Yields two super-sized 6-inch crayons, each 1-inch thick Cheese grater Large bar (4.5 oz) white soap, such as Ivory, or Ivory flakes Large bowl Liquid food coloring Water Potato masher or plastic sandwich bags Molds, muffin tins, ice-cube trays, optional Grate soap into the bowl. Add 1-1.5 tablespoons of food coloring and a few drops of water to the grated soap. Using a potato masher or your hands slipped into plastic sandwich bag “gloves” blend and squish the mixture until it’s of modeling-clay consistency and the color is thoroughly incorporated. Add additional drops of water or coloring as needed. (Note: Make the mixture a few shades paler than desired the crayon will darken as it dries.) Roll mixture into fat logs, create free-form shapes or press it into molds, tins or ice cube trays. Place crayons on a cookie sheet covered with waxed paper and let dry for 2 days or until hard. If you’ve used molds, pop out crayons. (**Crayons might stain grout, so watch kids if there is tile in or around the tub. Try to rinse immediately after play.) HTH Wendy

Hi Donna, we make all our own molds, this one was done from an actual mini bread loaf. Thanks for asking. Wendy

Christine, check you PM. Wendy

Hi Portia, yes they are in fact scented Fresh Baked Bread, we got ours from a supplier up here in Canada, it is just like bread out of the oven. I am not sure where else it is available in the U.S. but I am sure it is somewhere, lol. Thanks for asking. Wendy

Thanks again everyone for the great comments, we think they look quite real too. All finished and packaged up ready to go out tomorrow now! Wendy

Thanks! We use a straight pillar wax with an additive formula we created so we can raise the scent load somewhat as well as increase the melt point slightly. Works well for us. These are done with powders, anything we do up in large quantities I like to use the powders, especially where deeper colours are concerned. Thanks for asking. Wendy

LOL, thanks Portia, they are sort of mini, not full sized loaves of bread. The actually would fit in a five inch loaf tin however they are done in a mold. They are quite heavy. These particular ones are for a country gift store however we do have an account with a local bakery too! I take part payment in all the real goodies they make then I don't have to bake, lol. Wendy

Here they are for those that asked, still have a couple more to pour, gotta get these guys packaged up for shipping. Thanks for looking. Wendy

Thanks everyone, yes it is M and P, lol, haven't ventured into CP or similar yet, too much candlemaking to do and we have a wonderful local lady who does our CP soap for us for the store. I like playing with the M and P, gives me a chance to make something other than candles and use my molds as well! Thanks again. Wendy

Thanks all, I am kind of sick of cinnamon, lol. These are a large bun and your right Laura, quite a bit squatter and wider than most. We do a votive sized cini too but they are much smaller. These are wicked to leave a shell and average burn time is about 90 to 100 hours. I will post the bread loafs when they are done, two more to go! Thanks for asking! Wendy

Thanks so much everyone, they are fun to make, a little tedious when doing so many but I still enjoy it. We get quite an assembly line going and usually pour one type at a time and up to 100 pies at each pour. This is the max we are set up for with our system. This particular order was 288 pies or 24 cases, and after all the embeds were done the pouring was finished in three days, so not too bad. They go quick compared to some other items. Thanks again for the comments! Wendy

Hi all, we don't do alot of soap but do carry a variety of pie slice soaps that do well for us. Our biggest seller is Lemon! A big surprise seller has also been Pumpkin Spice, lol, not my idea of a soap scent but we made it part of our Harvest Specials for October and it is doing surprisingly well. Can't seem to keep away from food type items, be it soap or candles, lol. Wendy

The last of the pies have been poured, yea!

We've been busy this week baking up a storm for an account, pies, mini bread loaves and our Jumbo Cini's, thought you might enjoy a pic! Wendy

Another great thing to do with glitter, we use only cosmetic grade, very, very fine, is make gel cubes in an icecube tray, remove when set and gently sprinkle gel over. Alternate the cubes and a pour of melted gel over top until the container is full. If you pour cool the cubes stand out and if your pour hot the blend together and are almost unnoticable. A good way to suspend your gel! As well you can use different colour cubes for a stain glass effect, although over time they may start to bleed together. Just a couple of ideas! Wendy