Craft Cafe Artisan Chat - Sweet Light Candle Co.

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Meet Dina Muzzy from Sweet Light Candle Co.

♥ Please tell us about yourself: 
 I am the proud mother of a 5 month old baby girl! I just turned 40 last May and I'm originally from New York. I currently reside in South Florida with my husband Dave and my daughter, Alora. I attended the Fashion Institute of Technology where I received an Associates Degree in Fashion Buying and Merchandising and an Associates degree in Display and Exhibit Designing. After years of being employed in the creative and corporate worlds, I began my own business of designing and creating custom invitations. My customers loved the invitations and continuously asked me to create a unique favor. They were bored with the standard wedding, shower and party favors, especially when they had one of a kind invitations. I decided to combine my love of baking, desserts and candles and try my hand at creating these unique Gourmet Dessert Candles. Well, it was so much more difficult than I thought! I had never made candles before, not even jar candles. Months and months of research and product testing developed into a passion which evolved into Sweet Light Candle Co. Although I loved designing the invitations, I found my niche in the candle world and decided to create these candles exclusively. Not only do I enjoy creating the candles, I enjoy the freedom I have of being able to set my own schedule each day and juggle being a mom, wife, daughter and business owner. I look forward to many years of creating fabulous Dessert Candles and watching my daughter grow up into the person she will become.

♥ How long have you been in business?
Sweet Light Candle Co. was born in January 2011

♥ Please describe your business:
All of my Gourmet Scented Dessert Candles and Wax Melts are made by me in my candle bakery. Combining the highest quality wax and fragrance, and with careful attention to every creative detail,  they all look as good as they smell. They look so realistic you might even be tempted to take a bite! We are currently a small family involved incorporated business but plan on growing it into a huge success!

♥ Tell us what inspires you:
My inspiration comes in many forms. Whether it's strolling through a bakery, seeing a picture of a mouthwatering dessert, or chatting with my customers. My creative juices flow and I'm constantly thinking "how can I make that dessert into a candle?".

♥ Please share with others, your best marketing techniques:
I've found that social internet sites like Facebook and Twitter, as well as being a part of a group like Sampler Village, have helped spread the word about my company bringing me new and repeat customers.  Providing customers with small samples of my candles allows me to introduce them to my business without spending a fortune on advertising.

♥ What do you love most about your business?
 It's definitely the creative aspect. I've always been creative and business minded, but I'm happiest being creative. I love thinking about new candles to add to my product line, and I get excited when I've developed the perfect candle recipe for that new item.

♥ Please tell us why have chosen Craft Café as a venue for your business?
Being a part of Sampler Village and knowing Traci is in charge of Craft Cafe was just another opportunity for me to be a part of the amazing community of artisans she has gathered.  Craft Cafe is easy to navigate through as a seller, from listing my items, to editing them, posting sales and special offers. And the infinite amount of hours Traci and her team put into advertising Craft Cafe and getting exposure for all of the shops is a bonus. Plus I like being able to add as many products as I want without extra fees.

♥ What advice can you give for crafters/artisans just starting out?
Create what you love. If your passionate about your products it will show and your customers will become passionate too. You also have to be able to change and evolve as your business grows. Test out a new product before dumping tons of money into creating it. Try out different avenues of marketing and advertising. Some things will work and some won't. Don't become fixated on having to do things a certain way because it's working for another business. It's all a learning process until you find out what works for your particular product.

♥ Where do you see your business in 5 years?
I am diligently working on growing by business, gaining new customers and adding new items to my product line so I will be able to move it out of my home and into a commercial work space. As my business grows, I would love to contribute more to the various charities and groups in my community. I'd like Sweet Light Candle Co. to be known not only for fabulous, high quality Dessert Candles, but being involved in the community and helping others.

♥ Lastly, would you like to offer our readers a special or coupon code for your Craft Cafe shop?
Yes. Use the coupon code SWEET2013 to enjoy 10% off my entire Craft Cafe Shop. {Expires 3.31.13}

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We would like to send out a big THANK YOU to Dina for all her love and support.

Be sure to visit Sweet Light Candle Co. soon ♥ ♥ Craft Cafe Shop / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Website

Craft Cafe Artisan Chat - Green Street Mosaics

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Meet Lauren Constantino from Green Street Mosaics

♥ Please tell us about yourself: 
My name is Lauren Constantino and I am the creator behind Green Street Mosaics. I live in Saint Petersburg, Florida with my husband and our yellow labrador retriever Quincy.

♥ How long have you been in business?
Since January 2012.

♥ Please describe your business:
Green Street Mosaics specializes in Custom Mosaics. I make mosaic mirrors, personalized mosaic name plaques, mosaic address signs, and mosaic home decor.

♥ Tell us what inspires you:
Colors and patterns! I enjoy mosaics because I love taking so many small individual pieces of glass and forming them into one cohesive unit. It takes patience, but it is worth it.

♥ Please share with others, your best marketing techniques:
I’ll include my top three.... 1) I am active on Facebook, Twitter, Wanelo, Pinterest, Google+,We Heart It... you name it. This has helped to create back links and ‘fans’ (aka potential customers!) 2) I think it is important to be consistent with branding to make my product and store recognizable. 3) I include a coupon with each shipment - a way to say thank you to customers and remind them that new items are added frequently so be sure to come back for another look. This has helped me to become successful at building repeat customers and a loyal customer base.

♥ What do you love most about your business?
I love making my own schedule and meeting customers, fellow crafters, and other business people from all over.

♥ Please tell us why have chosen Craft Café as a venue for your business?
The Craft Cafe community has been so active and supportive from day one. The site is friendly to both sellers and buyers. Listing and managing my shop is intuitive. Prices are beyond reasonable.

♥ What advice can you give for crafters/artisans just starting out?
Know that it takes time and a lot of work to be successful. Things don’t happen overnight. Research your customer base. Decide what makes your product unique and go with it.

♥ Lastly, where do you see your business in 5 years?
I see Green Street Mosaics continuing to be successful.

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We would like to send out a big THANK YOU to Lauren for all her love and support.

Be sure to visit Green Street Mosaics soon ♥ ♥ Craft Cafe Shop / Facebook / Twitter

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**Craft Cafe's Custom Mosaic Sign is in the works! Thank you Lauren!!

Building Your Handmade Online Empire {A Five Part Series} Tip #1

Welcome to my five tip series to help get the web on your side, a little bit at a time.  Each month I will provide a new tip to get you inspired!

Album Release Custom Promotional Favor Candles

Over six years of selling online, I have grown my three shops to generate a stable, steady income. The flow of customers into my shops is not by accident or luck. My customers come from lots of places I have created online to get my products seen. By building my web presence over time, I’ve gone from hoping for one sale per week to accommodating a peak volume of over twelve hundred candles in a single month. With that experience, I hope to give you inspiration and knowledge to build a powerful online presence that supports your growing business.

Tip #1. Just Try It (and not all in one day!)

Building a web presence means generating ideas, content and relationships that lead potential customers to your handmade products.

Spoiled Cowgirl is my newest Craft Cafe Shop

I didn’t get to three shops and a steady flow of orders to fill without my share of despair, stress, major growing pains and yes, even self-doubt. I didn’t always know where I was going or how to get there, but I did, and still do know that if I work hard, create superior products and try new things, I will go somewhere.

Whatever it is...if you’re wondering how it works, whether it will work for you...or why other people do it, then (say it with me) JUST TRY IT! If it works, keep doing it. If it doesn’t (or you hate it...that is okay too), now you know. You can get somewhere without a huge advertising budget. I know because I did it! But first I had to (you guessed it) JUST TRY IT!

Overwhelmed? Too busy? Trade out just one hour of television per week and try simply researching or signing up for something new. Hey, try it while you watch TV or wait for water to boil! Whatever works to fit new things into your schedule. Keep an inspiration notebook near you at all times. Anytime you have an idea write it down. Then when you need something to work on later, you can look at all those ideas for inspiration.

A Newsletter Keeps Your Fans Connected

Try Twitter or facebook, comment on another business's page with words of encouragement or a question, try making a YouTube channel and post a video or set up a blog. Then on your next slow sales day, go back and start writing up your first blog post. Chip away at new things and see what works for you. After a month of trying new things, look around your stats....are you seeing links into your shop from the places you’ve created to support your shop? No? Keep trying stuff! Check back after a month and see what happens. If you're a little overwhelmed with stats, be sure to watch for Tip #2 next month. I'll be talking about the importance of stats, and providing some great resources for making sense of them.

Like I mentioned before, I didn’t get where I am by hoping for sales (although I surely do that). I got there by trying new ideas and then following through on what works best for me, for my customers and for my market. The search results and customers take awhile, but they will come.

Be prepared for ideas! Keep a notebook handy.

Over time we can create something big out of little lists, day-dreamy cups of coffee, time taken reading about people who do what you do, ideas written down, barriers broken one by one. Each step taken is a brick. Build your empire one brick at a time with an open mind and your core gift at the helm....your creativity! Let the life you lead on the web bring your customers to you while you do the fun part...make what you make, filling all those orders.

Thanks for taking the time to read! Watch next month for Tip #2: The Power Behind Stats

If you'd like to see examples from my "online empire", take a look at some of these ideas and links. Maybe something will speak to you for your next slow sales day! Stop by and say hello if you get a chance!

Social networks:  

Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Polyvore

Articles and Blogs:  

Craft Foxes, Published Articles, YouTube Channel , Flickr, Photo Documentaries

Communities: 

 Promotions & Celebrity or Custom Work

Private Groups:
 The Sampler Village, Craft Cafe Social, Card Swaps
Various:  

Newsletter, Craft Cafe Shop, Full Website, Big Cartel

Thanks!
Melissa Machowski
Owner, Designer, Maker at Spoiled Cowgirl by MDB, M Design Boutique, MDB Weddings and Events

Why listen to my advice? I believe in getting perspectives from all over the place. I have learned from other people succeeding at what I am trying to do. I’ve tried a lot, read a lot, failed a lot, and ultimately found some real success at running an online handmade business. My lessons learned can be yours too...at least, I hope so! ----> next tip coming in one month! Follow Craft Cafe and Spoiled Cowgirl to get the anouncement!

"Green" Feature Favorite Post & Vote Winner - Bent Tree Crafts

"Green" Post & Vote Winner

Bent Tree Crafts

St. Patrick's Day Leather Wrap Bracelet

Show your Irish pride with this beaded leather wrap bracelet featuring a celtic knot button and unique pewter clover beads. 

The leather is a rustic, dark brown and the pewter beads are silver and green and have a rustic worn look to them. 

This is a great bracelet to wear alone or along with other bracelets to stack and make a statement!! The bracelet is finished with a unique antique silver metal celtic knot button.

The bracelet measures 7 inches in length, from the loop to the button. 

Be sure to visit Bent Tree Crafts Today!

Craft Cafe / Facebook

Craft Cafe Artisan Chat - Sugared Euphoria

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Meet Sarah Henson from Sugared Euphoria

♥ Please tell us about yourself: 
Hi! My name is Sarah, I'm a 26 year old Canadian mother to an adorable little boy who will be turning 3 in April. I love baking, crafting, art, rollercoasters and loud music. I come from an eclectic family of animal lovers! We have everything from cats and fish, to scorpions and even an albino hedgehog. There's never a dull moment in my life!

♥ How long have you been in business?
I officially started offering my goodies for sale in February of 2012

♥ Please describe your business:
I offer handcrafted glycerin soaps, jumbo bath bombs and fizzy bath salts in all sorts of fun designs and fragrances! Whether you just need something simple and relaxing to pamper yourself, or something more bright and upbeat to liven up your bath, my goal is to offer a diverse collection of gentle, skin-loving goodies suitable for the entire family!

♥ Tell us what inspires you:
To be honest, everything inspires me! Whether I'm following current fashion and colour trends, thinking about holidays and weather forecasts or catching a whiff of perfume as someone passes me in a store, there's always a neverending supply of inspiration all around me. I'm especially inspired by other artisans! There's nothing that can get your gears turning more than being surrounded by such wonderfully talented and incredible people.

♥ Please share with others, your best marketing techniques:
Host giveaways, offer discounts and promote wherever possible! Also, take the time to post and chat with your customers on a more personal level - from my own shopping experience, customers love knowing they are supporting artisans who are genuinely kind and caring!

♥ What do you love most about your business?
 I love knowing that I can create whatever my heart desires, whenever inspiration hits. I love all the amazing people I've had the chance to meet, and the part of me that wants to squeal with joy every time I drop a package off at the post office and picture those goodies going from raw ingredients in my kitchen, to fully finished products ready to be enjoyed in a bathtub thousands of miles away!

♥ Please tell us why have chosen Craft Café as a venue for your business?
 I chose Craft Café as the primary venue for my business because not only does it have surprisingly easy setup and is an amazingly affordable place to sell, but the customer service and sense of community is absolutely unrivaled! Not once have I felt left in the dark to compete or fend for myself, everyone involved is a joy to be around!

♥ What advice can you give for crafters/artisans just starting out?
Don't ever be discouraged or scrap a project you truly love just because it doesn't sell or get tons of attention at first. Even if there are a million other artisans doing the same things you do, ultimately people will notice your products for the love, attention and passion you put into them. Follow your heart and continue to push your creativity!

♥ Where do you see your business in 5 years?
Honestly, I prefer to fly by the seat of my pants! If you asked me 5 years ago what I would be doing now, I probably didn't have any idea then either. I just hope to push myself forward, build a bigger and better business network, offer a wider range of wonderful goodies and take on each day with as much positivity as possible. Oh, and I can bet 5 years from now my son will probably be a seasoned bath bomb making pro! ;)

♥ Lastly, would you like to offer our readers a special or coupon code for your Craft Cafe shop?
Of course! Please feel free to come visit my shop and use code CHAT15 to save 15% off your entire order until 3.8.13.
Thank you for taking the time to chat with me! :)

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We would like to send out a big THANK YOU to Sarah for all her love and support.

Be sure to visit Sugared Euphoria soon ♥ ♥ Craft Cafe Shop / Facebook

Craft Cafe Artisan Chat - Fairy Flame Soy Candles

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Meet Leslie Pickering from Fairy Flame Soy Candles

♥ Please tell us about yourself:
I am a stay at home Mother of one awesome little boy and the full time wife of a wonderful man that lets me follow my dreams. I enjoy having a job that allows me to be home with my family and still contribute financially. It is really a treat to see people enjoy products I have created. I love coming up with new scent ideas, creative packaging and I really do love to take my product out to sell personally.

♥ How long have you been in business?
 I have been selling since 2008

♥ Please describe your business:
I make scented soy items for the home in the form of tea lights, container candles and wax melts. I also do many fundraisers, craft shows, online sales and gift baskets.

♥ Tell us what inspires you:
This may sound odd  but I would say myself! I love making candles and melts that I personally would choose for my home. I love colorful, whimsical things. This is how we came up with my name actually! Fairies have been a favorite of mine for years and my good friend Rick suggested Fairy Flame in a brainstorming session.  He then proceeded to make my logo with the fairy lighting the "i" like a candle. There is a lot of myself in my products and I love that!

♥ Please share with others, your best marketing techniques:
Craft shows and social media. I love talking with people at shows and handing out flyers and business cards.

♥ What do you love most about your business?
I love being my own boss and putting a little bit of something that is me out there into the world. It is so rewarding when your products can make people smile.

♥ Please tell us why have chosen Craft Café as a venue for your business?
I really like the idea of not having a per item fee or any other little extra fees. It is really straight forward, easy to manage and they do a wonderful job of promoting the shops.

♥ What advice can you give for crafters/artisans just starting out?
Don't give up! If you are anything like me you will stress out until something is perfect, make it through your beginning stages and just know that everyone started somewhere. I could share many testing disasters myself. Just keep at it!

♥ Where do you see your business in 5 years?
I would love to see it grow enough to consider a store front. I have so many ideas for that.

♥ Lastly, would you like to offer our readers a special or coupon code for your Craft Cafe shop?
Absolutely! Use coupon code CafeChat for 15% off of your entire order at my Fairy Flame Soy Candles Craft Cafe shop
{Expires 5.31.14}

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We would like to send out a big THANK YOU to Leslie for all her love and support.

Be sure to visit Fairy Flame Soy Candles soon ♥ ♥ Craft Cafe Shop / Facebook

Craft Cafe Artisan Chat - Lather Rinse Clean

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Meet Patty Asfour from Lather Rinse Clean

♥ Please tell us about yourself: 
I’m happily married to a wonderful man named Sam. We have been married for 3 years and have built our marriage in a deep rooted faith in God. We don’t have any kids right now, but we do have a cat named Meow Meow.

♥ How long have you been in business?
I’ve been in business for a little over a year.

♥ Please describe your business:
I would have to describe my business as being fun, I really enjoy what I make. From food soaps with fun shapes and scents, to long lasting beauty bars and pampering lotions and sugar scrubs.

♥ Tell us what inspires you:
I’m inspired by the everyday things I see, especially cute and delicious things. I love to make fun, cute stuff that will bring a smile to everybody’s face and a grumble to your stomach.

♥ Please share with others, your best marketing techniques:
 Social media and recognizing my customers by sending them thank you cards and getting feedback from them on how they liked the products.

♥ What do you love most about your business?
I love that I can make my own products.

♥ Please tell us why have chosen Craft Café as a venue for your business?
I chose Craft Café because of its low monthly fees and there are no listing/sales fees. They also advertise my business on their Facebook page and because of all the support groups they offer, I feel that with these support groups my business can really grow.

♥ What advice can you give for crafters/artisans just starting out?
The most important thing to remember when starting a crafting business is to do what you love, don’t worry if you don’t get sales at first, they will come in time.

♥ Where do you see your business in 5 years?
In 5 years, I hope to have expanded my lines of soaps and I hope to see my soap in shops around the country.

♥ Lastly, would you like to offer our readers a special or coupon code for your Craft Cafe shop?
Yes, use coupon code: 15OFF for 15% off your entire purchase from my Craft Cafe Shop. {Expires 4.1.13}

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We would like to send out a big THANK YOU to Patty for all her love and support.

Be sure to visit Lather Rinse Clean soon ♥ ♥
Craft Cafe Shop / Facebook / Twitter

"Red or Gold" Feature Favorite Post & Vote Winner #2 - Pandanimal

"Red/Gold" Post & Vote Winner #2!
Pandanimal

Handmade Lampwork Bracelet

This bracelet is a passionate mix of ruby, wine, scarlet and blood reds with a few deep blacks,

each with a wrap of silver rich ivory around their middle for a little bit of extra sparkle. The glass is etched which softens the feel of the beads

Be sure to visit Pandanimal Today!

Craft Cafe / Facebook

"Red or Gold" Feature Favorite Post & Vote Winner - Cornish Dragon

"Red/Gold" Post & Vote Winner!
CORNISH DRAGON

Posy Lampwork Bead

This lampwork Ivory glass bead, has been decorated with red and pink roses and leaves.

Posy measures 2.5 cm long x 1.8 cm wide and was made on a 1.6 mm mandrel.

All my lampwork beads are annealed in a digitally controlled kiln and are cleaned.

Be sure to visit Cornish Dragon Today!

Craft Cafe / Facebook 

Craft Cafe Artisan Chat - La Spice – The Walnut Company

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Meet La Rue Weiland from La Spice – The Walnut Company

♥ Please tell us about yourself: 
Hi there, my name is La Rue and I am the owner of La Spice – The Walnut Company. My favorite thing is being in the kitchen. I love the smells of cooking. I also enjoy spending time outdoors, love camping, hiking and long walks with my beagles. I love flowers. I have a beautiful field of sunflowers in the summer time. I have been a California girl all my life, but two years ago, I moved to Oregon.  I adore anything that is sparkly and that smells good!! Oh and I love everything about La Spice Nuts.

♥ How long have you been in business?
La Spice was started after becoming unemployed in 2009.

♥ Please describe your business:
 La Spice – The Walnut Company began with a fond childhood memory and four generations of preparing walnuts for the holidays and special occasion.  We are a gourmet nut company, our nuts are coated with pristine ingredients, we use only the freshest nuts and we package them beautifully.  We also carry the freshest raw nuts and trail mix.  A simple nut turned into an extraordinary snack is what La Spice - The Walnut Company is!

♥ Tell us what inspires you:
Stories! I love to listen to people telling their stories and experiences.

♥ Please share with others, your best marketing techniques:
Networking and events!  These days you must be able to sell online.  Being in the food industry, you must get your product out there, you must get people to taste it. I have found with my nuts, people think it’s just another nut, but if you taste it, it has now become a wow factor!

♥ What do you love most about your business?
When a customer says, “Wow, this is so delicious”.  Selling one of nature's super foods in terms of nutrition and health benefits. The incredible smells in the kitchen.

♥ Please tell us why have chosen Craft Café as a venue for your business?
 It’s new and has unlimited possibilities for success. The Craft Café staff, always available and responds quickly to problems or questions.  When I found out about Craft Cafe I had be a part of the success.  I love Craft Café's website.

♥ What advice can you give for crafters/artisans just starting out?
 “If you dream it, you can do it” and “Be fearless”

♥ Where do you see your business in 5 years?
My hope is that La Spice - The Walnut Company will become a treasured indulgence that can be found everywhere for you and your families.

♥ Lastly, would you like to offer our readers a special or coupon code for your Craft Cafe shop?
Yes, coupon code will be NUTS20 for 20% off your entire purchase in my Craft Cafe Shop.
Expires 2.28.13

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We would like to send out a big THANK YOU to La Rue for all her love and support.

Be sure to visit La Spice – The Walnut Company soon ♥ ♥ Craft Cafe Shop / Facebook / Website

DIY Project : All Natural Room Spray

How To: Make An All Natural Room Spray

Hello! My name is April Barrese, I'm the owner and operator of Little Leaf Botanics, an artisan shop specializing in handmade nature infused beauty products. In my everyday life and my business I strive for the most eco-friendly, all natural solutions. From laundry detergent to my favorite homemade herbal salves, my cupboards and studio shelves are filled with beautiful, plant based, green products. It took awhile to wrap my mind around a green lifestyle and a lot of time to learn to live it, time that I absolutely loved spending and still do! There's always more to learn  Here is my chance to share a little of that knowledge with you.

Essential Oils

Of all the plant based materials I work with, essential oils are my favorite materials. Versatile, powerful, gorgeous and useful are all applicable words for essential oils. So what are they? They are distillations (by steam, CO2 or other method) that extract the essence of the plant or other substance yet retain the scent of the plant. They are made in various ways but the end result is all natural. Happily, it's more and more common to find organic versions of these oils as well.


Since my favorite use for essential oils is creating products that smell gorgeous and create an  energetic, happy feeling, I thought I'd show you how to make a very easy room spray/spritzer. I like to use these in place of commercial room sprays for a variety of reasons. Essential oils are reputed to cleanse the air in ways synthetic scents cannot and they are so refreshing and uplifting, once you have used them, it's hard to accept substitutes.

Safety First:
Before we start, it is important to know that essential oils are very potent. All essential oils should be kept out of reach of children and pets, and they should NEVER be used undiluted on the skin. Also, when using a room sprayer, (natural or otherwise) please avoid spraying the eyes of yourself, children or pets. And yes, I know these are pretty obvious precautions, but it doesn't hurt to reiterate them :). If you treat these oils with care and respect, you will have an enjoyable experience. Just keep these guidelines in mind.

You'll need:

• A few essential oils from the grocery/ natural foods store, or purchased online

• Distilled water, approx 1/4 cup or more

• Small glass dropper bottle

• Small spritzer container (preferably glass or aluminum, over time, essential oils like to destroy plastic)

• Funnel (optional)

Mix:
I recommend a fresh, peppy blend of citrus oils such as lemon, lime and grapefruit, or a very stimulating blend of rosemary, peppermint and spearmint to get you started. The sky is the limit with combining, the only requirement is that you have to like the end result.

Mix and match your essential oils to your taste preference in the glass dropper bottle. If you have extra it's handy to keep it for a quick refill of your spritzer.

Add between 10-20 drops of your essential oil blend per 1/4 cup of distilled water. This is a ratio that can vary depending on the oils you use and the strength of scent you like but don't go overboard. Remember, essential oils are quite potent.

Finally, add your mixture to your spritzer bottle (this is where a funnel comes in handy if you have one). Shake your spray bottle before spraying every time you use it. The essential oils will separate from the water without a chemical binder. And that's it! You can spritz this anywhere you'd use a room spray and feel good knowing you aren't pumping chemicals into your house. Maybe you'll even feel a little more 'pep in your step'. 


Thanks for reading, happy blending and Happy Valentine's Day!

All photos subject to copyright, images courtesy of Little Leaf Botanics, 2012-2013. Do not use without written permission.

"Hearts" Feature Favorite Post & Vote Winner #2 - Cornish Dragon

"Hearts" Post & Vote Winner!
CORNISH DRAGON

Patchwork Heart Elves

Set of two hand painted Elves in green with a rose dotty heart motif. and plum felt hat.

Be sure to visit Cornish Dragon Today!

Craft Cafe / Facebook 

"Hearts" Feature Favorite Post & Vote Winner - BKD Signature

"Hearts" Post & Vote Winner!
BKD SIGNATURE

The Friendship Bag in Red - BKD Signature Original Design

The Friendship Bag: How grownups wear the friendship necklace.

Original design by BKD Signature

Inspired by my popular Love in Bloom pendant, the tote comes in red, yellow, green, and blue. Sold in pairs, the back of the bag features half of the tree - the other half is featured on your friend's bag. Much like a friendship necklace, when the bags are "linked", they form a full tree.

"There is nothing on this earth to be prized more than true friendship."

Have a big group of friends that you want to share the bag with? No problem! You can buy as many as you want to "link"! These make great gifts. Going on a special vacay with your girlfriends? Remember your special time by getting them each their own tote so you can stuff it with souvenirs from your amazing trip.

Handmade from durable canvas. Trees are appliqued on using heavy duty iron-on adhesive. Tote can be easily modified to include pockets and snap for additional costs.

Dimensions are 13"x19.5"
Handles: 23"
This listing is made to order - please allow 7-14 business days until your order ships.

Spot clean or gently hand wash in warm or cool water. If you choose to machine wash, wash on delicate cycle. Lay flat to dry and press with an iron if needed.

Meticulously and lovingly handmade in a smoke free, cat friendly home.

Be sure to visit BKD Signature Today!

Craft Cafe / Facebook 

Craft Cafe Artisan Chat - Quilted Keepsake Ornaments

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Meet Renee Osborne from Quilted Keepsake Ornaments

♥ Please tell us about yourself: 
My name is Renee and I am married to my husband Kurt.  In fact we just celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary.  We have a son Cameron who is turning nineteen very soon.  We also have a dog and cat who for the most part get along pretty well.  I worked in the corporate world for twenty seven years until I was laid off in 2011.  I have been unemployed since.  My family and I are originally from Southern California and now live in Olympia Washington due to my husband’s job relocating.  We’ve been planning this move for three years and it finally happened this past June.  It’s a beautiful state and I’m enjoying the changing seasons that you just don’t get in Southern California, but the one thing I miss the most is my family and friends back home.  I can’t wait for them to come up to visit us.

♥ How long have you been in business?
I’ve been an online seller since 2006 when I was making rag quilts, but then in 2009 I ventured into making quilted ornaments after being introduced to this beautiful technique a year earlier.  After making the first one, I was hooked and just kept making more and more of them.  My goal was to improve my technique to where I felt they were ready to sell to the public.  So in June of 2009 Quilted Keepsake Ornaments was opened for business.

♥ Please describe your business:
I make and sell novelty Christmas ornaments by applying beautiful fabrics, ribbons and embellishments to Styrofoam ball forms.  It’s a gorgeous technique that requires patience, precision and lots of passion which is why I love it so much.  Even though Christmas ornaments are seasonal, my shop is open every day for those who are looking to buy a unique gift for family and friends throughout the year.   I also specialize in photo ornaments.

♥ Tell us what inspires you:
My family and friends!  I’m so blessed to have such a wonderful family that supports and encourages me in my business.  Their positive energy keeps me inspired to do what I absolutely love to do, and it shows in my work.  Aside from that, I have this love for fabrics.  I get inspired just looking at all the beautiful patterns and colors that are available to me.  My favorite fabric pattern is the Paisley design, and I hope to get more ornaments with this design into my shop very soon.

♥ Please share with others, your best marketing techniques:
I use Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.  I recently received two custom orders from separate individuals who saw my ornaments on Pinterest.   That was pretty cool!  I also have a YouTube video that gets a lot of daily views and visitors to my website.  It’s a great medium to advertise your business and showcase your beautiful work, so I highly recommend a video on YouTube.

♥ What do you love most about your business?
I love everything about my business.  Aside from making my products, I love the whole behind the scenes of taking the product photos, listing them and keeping up with all the social media stuff.  It’s a lot of work, but I enjoy the challenge.  I’m always looking for new techniques or improvements to old ones that will give me that competitive edge.

♥ Please tell us why have chosen Craft Café as a venue for your business?
When I heard about Craft Café opening a new online venue back in the spring of 2012, it piqued an interest.  I liked what I had read, the pricing structure was the best I had seen compared to other venues and after being here now for seven months, the level of service from the staff members is top notch.  The sellers here are nice too!

♥ What advice can you give for crafters/artisans just starting out?
First of all congratulations in making your dream come true!  When I started out in 2006 I had no clue what I was doing.  If it wasn’t for the community of sellers where my website was being hosted at the time, I probably wouldn’t have learned as much as I did in that first year.  So I guess my advice for someone starting out would be to join a community where you can also learn and get great support from other sellers.

♥ Where do you see your business in 5 years?
I have a few ideas brewing in the back of my mind that I’m hoping will come to fruition within a year or two.  If it’s successful, it should bring in a new customer base for my business.  I also want a new updated craft room with a color palette that is calming and inviting, like blue and white which are my two favorite color combinations.  We are renting right now, so therefore I am stuck with plain ol’ white, blah!

♥ Lastly, would you like to offer our readers a special or coupon code for your Craft Cafe shop?
Yes, I would like to offer a 15% discount on everything in my Craft Café shop, including custom orders.  Please use coupon code ccLuV15 during checkout.  This offer expires end of day on 2/14/13.

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We would like to send out a big THANK YOU to Renee for all her love and support.

Be sure to visit Quilted Keepsake Ornaments soon ♥ ♥ Craft Cafe Shop / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

Craft Cafe Artisan Chat - Purveyor of Geekery

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Meet Shell Bufton from Purveyor of Geekery

♥ Please tell us about yourself:
Compulsive adventurer, gardener, Purveyor of Geekery, seeker of swoon.
Before starting PoG I had a corporate addiction: creating marketing and UX engagement strategies for clients on the Fortune and Inc. lists. I’ve had an ecommerce project highlight among the likes of Flickr, Instructables, Wikipedia and more on PGMag’s Top 100 Website list and created strategies for a nonprofit foundation whose javascript code is found on over %54 of the top 10,000 websites in the world. I love geekery.
I slowed it down when our family was expecting an addition. As we all know: sleep deprivation + stress = no good things. I had to cut out one or the other, and sleep deprivation wasn’t going anywhere for a while. So I cut out the corporate clients and returned to my roots. I loved working with small businesses owners. I loved their passion and curiosity, their creativity and problem solving.

♥ How long have you been in business?
I started Purveyor of Geekery in January 2012 when I was pregnant with my son, so one year now. Where does the time go? Lol. I’ve been a marketing consultant and designer for over 13 years. Cringe. Did I just reveal my age?

♥ Please describe your business:
Ostentatious Business Finery. Our best sellers are our shop sets, logos, web ads, product labels and business card designs but we provide a full range of marketing, design, and advertising services to small businesses.

♥ Tell us what inspires you:
Business owners! Whether they are just starting out or have been in the business for a while, I love working with business owners. I love teaching and answering questions almost as much as I love seeing clients succeed.
One was recently featured in HGTV magazine, one was named to the top 5 Crafty Moms via Babble.com, and we helped another two open brick and mortars. And that is just four! Last year, even with maternity leave we had over 370 clients from 12 countries!

♥ Please share with others, your best marketing techniques:
I’d love to, but they’ll have to contact me. :) My best advice: make friends wherever you go. Never ever ever underestimate the power of your network but remember it’s a karma bank: in order to take anything out, you have to put it in.

♥ What do you love most about your business?
Freedom, but that is really love or hate, depending if I am sleeping or working at midnight on any given day.

♥ Please tell us why have chosen Craft Café as a venue for your business?
They have amazing customer service and a positive and supportive community. It’s refreshing.

♥ What advice can you give for crafters/artisans just starting out?
Don’t get so caught up in the idea of becoming an “entrepreneur” that you forget the real reason that you are in business. The journey isn’t about you but what you can bring to the world. Your gift brings happiness to others so when you make it about that and not about yourself, the doubt and self criticism goes away and you have the freedom just to do.

♥ Where do you see your business in 5 years?
I’m at a point where I don’t need or want the business to grow, but I feel obligated to. There are growing pains. I’ve been resisting the need to grow.
With the economy the way it is, every business that I can play even a small part in helping to succeed is one step closer to healing the financial needs of a family somewhere. That level of sustainability is what our communities need right now and should be an obligation to everyone. But growing at this point would require bringing on more help. Job creation is also really good right now, but I have to admit that idea scares me a bit.

♥ Lastly, would you like to offer our readers a special or coupon code for your Craft Cafe shop?
Free stuff rocks! Let’s do a giveaway! You can enter right here!
Ends Midnight on 2.7.13, winner announced 2.8.13 :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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We would like to send out a big THANK YOU to Shell for all her love and support.

Be sure to visit Purveyor of Geekery soon ♥ ♥ Craft Cafe Shop / Facebook / Pinterest / Website

Gift Certificate Giveaway - Purveyor of Geekery

Purveyor of Geekery
$24.98 Gift Certificate Giveaway

Facebook / Craft Cafe Shop
*Be sure to read the giveaway rules before entering..Thank You!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DIY Project: Bath Melts

Hello! This is Ashley from Aqua Blossom :) I am so excited to be writing this guest blog for Craft Cafe! I make handmade, natural bath and body products, and while it is a super fun and interesting job, I am usually pretty exhausted by the end of the day.

My favorite way to relax and unwind - especially during cooler weather - is with a nice, hot bath. I know, it sounds amazing right now! But what if I told you there was a way to make that bath even more relaxing? Oh, trust me, there is. Bath melts can turn your relaxing bath into a luxurious spa experience, and the best part is that you can make bath melts at home using just a few ingredients, and some kitchen tools that you probably already have.

First, get you'll need to gather the ingredients. I realize not everyone has a slab of cocoa butter just laying around, so I'm including links to Craft Cafe supply shops where you can buy these items.

Here's what you'll need:

• 2 oz, or approximately 1/2 cup cocoa butter
  (can be found at Blue Ridge Body Supplies)
• 1/4 cup sweet almond oil
  (also at Blue Ridge Body Supplies)
• fragrance or essential oil
  (CandleLynn Supplies has a huge variety of fragrance oils to choose from - just make sure you buy one that is safe for bath and body use)

Next, you'll need a few things from your kitchen: a glass measuring cup, metal pot or saucepan, spoon or bamboo skewer to stir, plastic dropper, ice cube tray or mini muffin cups to pour the melts into.

To get started, measure out your cocoa butter and sweet almond oil in the glass measuring cup. Next, you'll need to fill the pan with water and make a double boiler by setting the measuring cup in the water (but do not let any water get into the cup). TIP: if you're using a measuring cup with a handle, you can hang the cup from the side of the pan so it is suspended in the water. Allow the butter and oil to melt slowly, on medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. I like to use bamboo skewers to stir, but a spoon will work just fine.

Once it has melted completely, carefully remove from heat. Now you can add a fragrance oil or essential oil. With an essential oil, you'll only need about 6-8 drops. With a fragrance oil you can use slightly more. If you are using natural cocoa butter, it is going to have a chocolatey smell that can be difficult to mask with floral scents, for example. My advice? Just go with it! Use a sweet smelling fragrance that complements the cocoa. I decided to use Hot Cocoa fragrance :) If you really dislike the natural cocoa smell, you can always use a deodorized cocoa butter.

Finally, it is time to pour into molds. You can use an ice cube tray, small soap or candy molds, or even mini muffin cups. Allow the bath melts to cool - you can pop them in the fridge to speed up the process. The first time I made bath melts, the cocoa butter took HOURS to solidify and I was left wondering what I did wrong. That is totally normal - cocoa butter can take a long time to solidify at room temperature.

Once they have cooled for a while, pop them out of the molds and store them in a container or zip bag. They should last about 6 months, but I'm sure you'll go through them much faster once you give them a try :) Just add one or two (depending on size) to a hot bath and enjoy! PLEASE be careful standing up and getting out of the bath, as they can make the tub slippery.

This is a very simple bath melt recipe - you can get creative and make it your own by experimenting with different butters like shea, mango, and kokum; different oils; and even embellishments like dried lavender buds, rose petals, or sea salt. 

I've had so much fun making these and sharing my recipe with you! I hope you have fun as well, and most importantly - have a relaxing day :)