Easter Gift Basket Giveaway

Well, Easter is just around the corner and it's time for my Easter Giveaway. With every purchase you will be entered in the giveaway for this fabulous Easter treat! You can keep it for yourself or give it away to somebunny special.

Included in your basket will be one of my handstitched Gilbert bunnies (pictured above), one of my adorable bunny basket candles, 5oz bar of Fresh Strawberry soap, 8oz Sweet Cream Milk Bath, 4oz French Vanilla Whipped Body Lotion, 8 oz Mason Jar candle scented in Chocolate Covered Strawberry, and 6 sugered strawberry tarts.

With a retail value of $45.00 how could you refuse? Stop by my Etsy shop or website and place an order today to be entered in the drawing. Deadline is March 28th and the winner will be drawn on March 29th. The winner will have their basket shipped to them priority mail just in time for Easter.

Fresh Fruit Smoothie Facial

With the return of Spring in our corner of the world comes the return of fresh produce. Hot house fruits are OK, but nothing compares to spring and summer fruit for flavor and texture. While you are slicing up fruit salads and drinking smoothies, take some time to treat your skin as well. The following recipe can be used with almost any fresh fruit, mashed or pureed. This basic mixture of Honey, Oatmeal, Kaolin, and Almond Flour creates a cleansing, skin soothing base, perfect for a facial.

Facial Smoothie Base
1/8 cup Honey Powder
1/8 cup White Kaolin Clay
1/8 cup Almond Flour
1/4 Cup Coarse Oatmeal

Mix the dry ingredients together and store them in an airtight container. When you are ready to make a facial, puree about 1 tablespoon of fresh fruit and mix it with 2 tablespoons of the Facial Smoothie Base, and 1 tablespoon of Plain Yogurt. You may need to add a little more or less of each ingredient to achieve a nice texture, depending on the fruit you choose. To enhance your Facial, try adding a few drops of a corresponding Fruit or Berry Seed Oil. You can use the facial as a mask or a fresh scrub. Choose the fruit for your facial based on your skin type and the desired benefit. Here is a quick overview of some of my favorite fresh fruits to use in facials.

Banana
Banana is packed with skin loving nutrients including Potassium, Magnesium, Iron, and Vitamins A, B, E, and F. They can have a nourishing, and revitalizing effect on the skin, and are suitable for most skin types.

Mango
This tropical fruit contains a bounty of goodies for the skin, including a hefty dose of retinol. Retinol can help to increase skin's elasticity,making it great for anti-aging treatments. Retinol has a tendency to degrade when added to finished skin care products, making the use of a fresh ingredient, such as mango, a rare opportunity to enjoy the benefit of Retinol. Mango also includes plenty of Vitamin A, B, and C. Vitamin C is another nutrient that is great for the skin, and best used when fresh.

Strawberry
The potent alpha hydroxy acid contained in Strawberries make them an excellent cleanser. These acids help to remove dead skin cells gently, without intense scrubbing or scouring. Strawberry Facials can leave skin fresh and bright. They may even help to reduce puffiness and acne.

Peach
Peaches also contain alpha hydroxy acids, as well as a nice portion of Vitamins A and C. The juice and flesh from these fuzzy gems are great for toning and balancing the skin. Like Strawberries, they can help with acne, puffiness, and clogged pores.

Guava
An effective astringent, Guava can help to cleanse skin, dissolve sebum, and unclog pores. Guava contains Vitamins A, B, and C, as well as a good amount of potassium. This helps guava to tone, brighten, and enhance the look of the skin, making it a great facial ingredient.

Avocado
Deeply moisturizing and soothing, Avocados are perfect for dry, sensitive skin. Avocados contain healthy fats that are great for your body as well as your skin.

Apple Granola Face Mask

Ingredients
One half of a fresh apple (chopped)
2 tablespoons Colloidal Oatmeal, Coarse
1 tablespoon Honey Powder
1 tablespoon Buttermilk Powder
1 tablespoon Oat Starch

Directions
Puree the apple in a blender or food processor. Add other ingredients and puree once more. The consistency should be that of a thick liquid.

Packaging & Usage
Apply one to two tablespoons of mixture to your face, avoiding eyes. Leave mask on for ten to fifteen minutes then rinse away. The extra mask can be stored and in an air tight container in the refrigerator for three to five days. As with all fresh recipes, keep an eye on your mask. If it changes color, odor, or texture, or if you simply suspect is has gone bad, please discard it immediately.

NEW and Exciting..........

Hi Everyone, as I mentioned previously I have been working very hard at adding new and exciting items to my handmade bath and body/ soap line. I hope you will take the time to check them out, and many more items are soon to be added. Also in the works are some NEW candles in which a few have been posted.

You may visit us on the web at www.countrycraftsncandies.com and please do not forget that we have over 2000 scents available and the majority of our items may be custom scented to your liking. As always, my candles are hand sculptured so please feel free to custom request as we are more than happy to create that special candle just for you!

May everyone have a blessed week!
Wendy


NEW Hand sculptured round cakes (Pictured is the 3" Raspberry cream single height cake. Also available is the 5" and 9", and all available in single or double height.)

Thank You.........

First I want to apologize in posting a late Thank you. I have been extremely busy with floods of orders and updating the website with NEW and exciting items!

I want to Thank everyone for making last month and this month an exceptional one. You all have emailed with such wonderful comments, which always makes me feel like I'm continuing to provide a quality product!

For everyone who posted on the blog or emailed me directly for the giveaways! Your comments were all wonderful! It's great to hear what others think in order to continue to provide top quality products. Congradulations to both the winners and hope that everyone will participate in the next giveaway to come!!

Shop with me on Etsy....

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade countrycraftsncandie.etsy.com

Old Candles?

Have you ever bought candles from somewhere that do not burn all the way down, or have candle wax melted in the bottom of a candle plate or bowl from a pillar or votive? A simple idea with that wax is making cookie cutter floater candles.

Supplies:
`metal cookie cutters
`play dough or any inexpensive clay
`wick
`wax (you could recycle old candles for this project)
`tin can
`popsicle sticks or pencils


Cookie Cutter Floating CandlesInstructions:
1. Start by taking a tin can and squeezing the can in a little so you will form a spout to pour out the wax. Place in some chunks of wax, or some wax from a collection of used candles. Take a pot of water (just a little bit of water is needed), and then place the can in the pot of water and start melting until all the chunks are melted.

2. While you're waiting for the wax to melt, take the clay and roll it out flat, about a 1/2 inch thick and wide enough that you can place your cookie cutter in the middle.

3. Place a cookie cutter in the center of the clay. Press it in, so that indents the clay but doesn't go all the way throught it. Take a piece of wick and stick it in the middle of the cookie cutter so that the wick sticks in the clay a little. Now place the popsicle over the cookie cutter near the wick, so it will prop the wick up straight.

4. Pour the wax in the cookie cutter on top of the clay, almost to the top.

5. The hardest part now is to wait for the wax to set, which takes about 45 minutes. When set, remove the cookie cutter from the clay - the cool thing is it doesn't stick to the clay. Now get your glass bowl, fill with water, and enjoy your floating candles!

Caution: Wax is a flammable substance and, as such, should be handled with care. Do NOT reheat or melt wax if doing so poses a fire hazard for you. Never leave a child alone with a lit candle or hot melted wax. A lit candle is potentially very dangerous; never leave a lit candle unattended. We are not responsible for any accidents or mishaps that occur if you choose to do this craft. Please be alert, use common sense, and keep yourself and others safe from harm!