Crafty Satisfaction: DIY Tea Cup Candles
2009 was definitely "Year of the Homemade" in the Craft Calendar - money was tight, spending was down, and everyone was looking for ways to reuse, re-gift, and reinvent. Magazines, TV shows, blogs, and books advocated homemade meals, furnishings, decor, entertainment, and gifts.
It was wonderful... and overwhelming!
There were so many things to learn and so many ways to save - but not enough time in the day. Where to start! I can tell you where I started: sewing. Then it was soap. Then it was candles. I know, not really survival skills, but they were satisfying. And hey, in a year like last year I can live with just satisfying.
So here's where I started with candles: tea cups! I'd seen a photo in Country Living and thought that they fit the 2009 spirit - reuse/re-gift/reinvent - and matched my own sense of craft style. A quick internet search for "tea cup candles" will get you all the instructions you need. I'm including the basic basics here - and I got great results and gifts that I was proud to give.
http://piebirdblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/crafty-satisfaction-tea-cup-candles.html
- Category: Environment, Crafts, Home
- Planted: 28th Jan
- Buzzed: 5 times in 31 weeks 2 days
My 1st Buzz - A Fellow Crafter!
I was excited to write my first buzz about Piebird's tea cup candles. It's a perfect craft to try, especially with the holidays coming!
It was also a great opportunity to talk about SeededBuzz to my readers.
http://muralmaker1.blogspot.com/2010/08/new-way-to-get-traffic-promote-your.html
Cool Craft Idea!
I really wish I had time to do more handmade stuff. I am a secret crafter. I have loads of craft goods just sitting around in boxes. I seriously need my craft room back!
I found this really neat site with all kinds of home crafty things and information.
I especially love this post about making Tea Cup Candles
MissMalaprop has loads of crafty links on her site, and she likes the tea Cup Candles tutorial, too.
And to go with that, there is another site that has alternate uses for those mismatched or broken tea cups.
ElizabethMD states she isn't so crafty with candles, but she has a cool beaded necklace tutorial with fabulous photos! Her need for crafting has turned into her job!
Yeah, it is a dream to be able to create for a living, but that is not in the cards just now. So, I'll just keep plugging away with my scrapbook designs (besides I love my day job)!
http://rosemadedesigns.blogspot.com/2010/04/cool-craft-idea.html
Crafty Links
I just recently discovered a new site for bloggers called SeededBuzz. It’s sort of like a marketing cooperative for bloggers… you post “seeds” or summaries of your best blog posts with a link to the original post and then people can “buzz” your seeds by posting their own posts and linking back to yours. Basically it’s a great way to find interesting blog posts by blogs that you may or may not already be familiar with. I just discovered Pie Bird this way. Her blog is filled with recipes, tutorials, and project ideas, and she’s got a wonderful Etsy shop. I love her tutorial on how to make tea cup candles. This is such a cute and easy gift idea, and a great way to upcycle those lone thrift store teacups. You can see another post about someone was inspired to salvage their mismatched china as candle holders here.
http://www.missmalaprop.com/2010/02/crafty-links/
Salvaging Mismatched Or Damaged China Pieces
I suppose most people have discovered that the odd, mismatched china saucers, custard cups, and whatever all those little shallow bowls are, can readily be put back into use at the table simply by placing candles in them -- or by setting candles in clear glass and/or candles in clear tea lights upon the old china pieces.
But here's a way to recycle antique china cups with the handles broken off.
http://www.inherited-values.com/2010/02/salvaging-mismatched-or-damaged-china-pieces/
2009 -The Need For Crafting Takes Hold
I read through a post from Bird Pie on here, about how 2009 financially wasn't the best year and how she learned different crafting projects to help offset other normal activities. I related to this post as I was layed off at the beginning of the year and at that point decided to try and make a go at crafting for a business. I now have my own etsy shop and decided to give a tutorial on the first necklace I ever made. The African Net.
http://elizabethmdesigns.blogspot.com/
