Tutorial: How to make your own Lip Balm

Aside from paper, my other obsession is lip balm. I have one in every room, in each purse and in my car.

About 6 months ago, I ordered some organic beeswax lipbalm from an Etsy store. It soon became my favourite lipbalm and I carried that little pot where ever I went. A few weeks ago, I realized I would soon run out, and contacted the Etsy seller. Her storefront was empty and as I clicked the "send" button on my convo, I remembered she was doing her PhD and was probably not selling on Etsy anymore.

I waited for a reply, but came up with a Plan B just in case.

When a few weeks had passed, I decided Plan B needed to go into action. I became obsessed determined to make my own lipbalm. I had the list of ingredients, it was just a matter of putting them all together.

So to save you from your own "I'm running out of lip balm" emergency, here is how you make beeswax lip balm.

This recipe is from the Methods of Healing website for organic lip balm. I was surprised how easy it was to find all the materials in town.

Ingredients:

Organic Beeswax

Organic Honey

Organic Scented oil (I used peppermint because it's my favourite)

Castor Oil (you could use organic, but I could only find it in a 3 Litre bottle, which was too big, so I used the castor oil from the pharmacy).

Equipment:

medicine droppers (if you're putting the lip balm into tubes),

glass mason jar or glass measuring cup (a makeshift double boiler),

whisk and

your lip balm containers.

I found these containers at an Apothocary in town; you can find them online if you can't find them where you are. I also had 3 empty tubes from lip balm that I had finished. Wash them in hot soapy water, rinse and dry thoroughly.

Recipe:

1 tbsp beeswax

2 tbsp castor oil

1 tsp honey

few drops scented oil (do not use extracts, those are made for cooking)

Step 1:

Prep the beeswax. I could only find organic beeswax in a block, so I grated mine with a cheese grater that will now only be used for beeswax. You can also find beeswax in pellet form, which will eliminate this step.

be careful! we were having spaghetti that night for dinner, and shredded beeswax looks hilariously similar to shredded cheese ;)

Step 2:

Set up your double boiler system. Fill a small saucepan or pot with water and heat. Place your mason jar or glass measuring cup in the water. Add 1 tbsp shredded beeswax and melt.

Step 3:

Add the Castor oil and honey to the melted beeswax. There's a temperature difference so I found some of the beeswax came back to solid form. Keep whisking and heat until melted again and smooth.

Step 4:

When all ingredients are smooth, remove the jar from the heat. Let cool 30 seconds and add your scented oil. Whisk again to ensure the oil is mixed in.

Step 5:

Working quickly, fill your containers. Use the medicine dropper to fill lip balm tubes; I was able to pour the liquid right into the pots with the mason jar.

Step 6:

Cool in the fridge for about 10 minutes or less; you can leave this at room temperature to set, but it might take a little bit longer.

Step 7:

Enjoy your new lip balm!

There are many variations of this recipe, and you can add other scented oils and Vitamin E. The Castor oil provides shine, which is why I chose this recipe. I have purchased other homemade lip balms with other oils and found the balm to be really gritty. This balm is very smooth and keeps your lips soft. It will not protect from sun damage, although I have read online that you can obtain SPF factor and add it.

I found this recipe to be nice and soft, perfect for the lip tubes. I might add a pinch more beeswax when I make it again for the pots to make it a little bit thicker. You can alter the amount of oil and solid (beeswax) until you find a consistency you like.

I now have a hunk of beeswax, so you might find some more tutorials until I use it up ;) Either way...I now have a lifetime supply of lip balm materials.

Ciao for now,

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Care to do a little shopping?

Hello folks!

I hope you had a great Christmas and are gearing up for New Years Eve!

I'm busy working on the new website, hanging out with family and friends and I haven't stopped eating since Dec 24th....but calories don't count between Dec 24th and Jan 2nd, right? ;)

I'll be back tomorrow with a tutorial, but I wanted to let you all know Tonya at Stamp Happens is having a great 'year end' sale from now until Dec.31st, so go stock up on all your crafty goodies!!

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An Early Twilight Christmas

This will be my last post before the holidays, I’ve got a meeting tomorrow in Northern Ontario and then I’m heading home to my parents’ house.  That means a solid 8 hours of driving, but the weather forecast is looking good.

I just had to share this early Christmas gift with all my Twilight-y friends; my friend Darda and I went out last night and she presented me with some homemade gingerbread cookies and a mysterious package wrapped in tissue paper.

I unwrapped the tissue paper, and had I not been buckled into my car seat, would’ve fallen out laughing.

New Moon Chocolates!  This is a big deal, since we Canucks don’t have the novelty items that seem to be really big in the U.S.  We have the t-shirts and the gift packs, but we don’t get the movie-themed food that my neighbors to the South do.  Darda was in the States last weekend for a basketball tournament and saw these and brought them north of the border for me.

Here’s what’s even funnier, and what she doesn’t know yet, since I only opened the package now. 

Darda is die hard Team Jacob; and I, as you all know, Team Edward.

Darda felt that Team Jacob is winning since there are two Jacob chocolates and only one Edward chocolate in the window.

When I opened the bag, I found:

One Bella chocolate…

 

 

 

 

 

 

two Jacob chocolates…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

three Edward chocolates! Team Edward wins again!!

Now pardon me for thinking this is hysterical, but I’m running on about 2 hrs sleep and I had popcorn for dinner because there’s nothing left in my fridge and I’m going out of town tomorrow.

I hope you all have a wonderful and safe Christmas with your friends and family and I’ll be popping in every now and then (I’ve got a holiday project to share that me and my sister will be completing…lets hope we don’t mess up Mom and Dad’s new kitchen).

Merry Christmas!

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: Twilight,New Moon,Edward,Bella,Jacob,Chocolate,A Paper Buffet

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You are not getting a Christmas card this year.

 

Not because you were bad.

Not because I don’t like you.

Not because I ran out of stamps.

Not because I don’t wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Just because I ran out of time.

So here’s a video instead.

Ciao for now,

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http://www.apaperbuffet.com goes live January 4th, 2010!

That’s right! January 4th, 2010 marks the launch of A Paper Buffet’s independent website!

 

 

I’m very thankful for the success of A Paper Buffet on Etsy over the past year, and will continue to keep a store there.  However, I’ve longed for the opportunity to design a site in my own style.

What will be different about apaperbuffet.com?

• More inventory
• Easy to find categories
• Custom order Gallery
• New projects
• Coupon codes for instant discounts and special offers

and my favourite, shopping in Canadian AND American dollars!

I’m very excited to offer customers more choice on how they shop and the currency they use to pay for their orders.  User accounts will be available, but not mandatory to make a purchase. 

apaperbuffet.com will continue to accept PayPal as it is the most secure payment method available at this time.  Future plans to support Google Checkout when it is available to Canadian sellers are in the works.

You can visit apaperbuffet.com and sign up now for the newsletter.

The newsletter will likely be monthly or quarterly, include tips, tutorials, specials and updates for members, and of course, opportunity for feedback and new products you’d like to see at apaperbuffet.com

Thank you again to all of those who have supported A Paper Buffet over the past year and I look forward to your support as A Paper Buffet grows.

Happy Wednesday!

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: A Paper Buffet,apaperbuffet.com,handmade cards,Etsy,greeting cards

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January 4th, 2010

 

Mark it.

More tomorrow.

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: A Paper Buffet

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“Why do you buy handmade?”

Jewels of Saraswati  (who has some incredible pieces, btw) posted this question in the Etsy forums a few days ago, and to my surprise, my response was quoted along with a handful of others on her blog!

You can check out my, and other’s responses by clicking HERE , but now I’d like to ask the same question of you…why do you buy handmade?

Happy Monday,

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: Etsy,handmade items,Jewels of Saraswati,A Paper Buffet,handmade

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“Life is like a box of chocolates…”

A little box of Special Edition Ghirardelli Peppermint chocolates to be exact.

 

 

 

These are for the ladies at The Chop Shoppe and they were super easy to make, I have tons of ideas for these little guys now.

 

Each box can hold up to four little chocolates.  I picked red and white to go with the peppermint chocolate. 

I used SU RR cardstock and ribbon and the DP is American Craft Christmas paper from last year.

You can find the tutorial HERE on SCS, give it a try and come back and show me some pictures!

Got a very busy weekend ahead with 2 Christmas parties, finishing Ethan’s birthday invites, working on some more BIG stuff to share with you soon and maybe, maybe work on my own Christmas cards ;)

Happy Friday!

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: A Paper Buffet,mini chocolate boxes,Ghirardelli chocolates,Splitcoaststampers,tutorials,Christmas,snowflakes,peppermint chocolate,stampin'up,handmade cards

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Birthday Changito for Ethan

A welcomed break from Christmas cards, I set out to make the invitations for my Godson Ethan’s first birthday party in January.

I can’t believe he’s turning one already! “yeah, that’s right, I’m gonna be one!”

This is a picture of him from this summer when he came to my house to have his first time in a pool.

He’s quite the little aqua man now, he loves his swimming lessons.

Ethan’s room is blue and brown, with monkeys, so we kept that theme for his invites.  I knew exactly where to go for the perfect stamp, to the Stampendous Changito line.

I gave Ethan’s mom and dad a few ideas and they picked the Birthday cake stamp, which I think is just perfect!

I wanted a soft vintage feel, because the image itself reminds me of the older cartoons with simple drawings.

I used Bazzil cardstock in Dark Chocolate, Yellow and Salt with some SU Old Olive and I used Very Vanilla instead of a bright white. May Arts celery ribbon was used for the sides.  The DP is…Bo Bunny! you guessed it!! ;)

The layout was loosely CASED from THIS card over at Christine’s Creations…thank you!

I used the nesties to cut out the image, and printed the sentiment on the computer and cut out again with the smaller nestibilities label. 

I watercoloured the image because I really liked the look of it, and used SU Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue and Old Olive. I used a Martha Stewart Brick marker for the berry and baby monkey’s tongue.

I distressed all the edges with Chocolate chip ink and I’m very pleased with how it turned out!

Now to finish the rest of them, and maybe start my Christmas cards…I know! Pathetic isn’t it?  A card maker who’s been so busy with other people’s orders that I haven’t even made my own Christmas cards yet!

I have another project to finish tonight for the girls at the salon that sells my cards.  I’ve never made it before, but I promise to post it, good or bad! lol

Happy Thursday!

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: A Paper Buffet,birthday invitations,Stampendous,Changito,Monkey,boy's birthday,handmade cards,stamped,Stampin Up,Bazzil,Bo Bunny

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“Everybody loves Mango!” err…I mean Morgan!

 

 

Remember Chris Kattan’s character Mango from SNL? he just cracked me up!

 

Ok, so onto the real topic of the day; everyone seems to heart Morgan from Stamp Insanity stamps as much as I do.  I’ve had two custom orders from friends who want a set of Morgan cards.

The first set I used the Basic Grey Challenge sketch with BG Eskimo kiss paper.

Here’s a look at all three; you still can’t see the back card, but trust me, it’s cute!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next set only needed 2 cards, since my friend wanted the red “Dear Santa” card from a few weeks ago.

 

 

 

 

I used the Mojo Monday layout for the next two cards of the set; the green and blue card uses some more Basic Grey Eskimo Kiss paper, and the blue and red card is made with  Imaginisence paper, I love those snowflakes!

The BG holly print paper was really white, and since I had stamped Morgan out on SU Very Vanilla, it really clashed.   So I used some TH Vintage Tea Dye ink and a kleenex and it added the perfect tint to soften the white and it almost matches Very Vanilla now.

You can see the tint on the left side (or top of the paper) and how the bottom right corner is the original white.

Happy Tuesday!

Ciao for now,

 

Technorati Tags: Basic Grey,Mojo Monday,Stamp Insanity,Morgan,SNL,Mango,Chris Kattan,Stampin Up,A Paper Buffet,Christmas Cards

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Gaga for Gift Card Holders

I love gift cards, but hate the paper envelope they give you at the store.  I always feel like I still need to give a gift with the gift card because the envelope is always so blah!

Last year I used a different template and made my sister a bunch of gift card holders for her then-employees for the holidays. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forgive the terrible picture, this was about a year ago when I was still fumbling through picture-taking.

I really like the template, (it’s from the Wild Stamping Sprinkles blog) but they’re somewhat time consuming with the measuring of the band and I was looking to make a whack of them to sell at A Paper Buffet, the hair salon and at the Craft sale.

So I looked around and found THIS template, from Stamping with Roxy which seemed to be very easy to mass produce, and with the help of my beloved Score-Pal (I really don’t know why it took me so long to get one, it’s a lifesaver) I was in the gift card holder makin’ mood!

This is my FAVOURITE BO Bunny paper EVAR! so I distressed it with chocolate chip in and created a Real Red mat.

 

 

I really just can’t get enough of this paper, but I did make some other designs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are some of the ones that went to the hair salon The Chop Shoppe to be sold.

 

 

 

So cute and simple!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are the coffee themed ones; the stamp is from There She Goes. It was fate that I found them on Jen’s {i heart 2 stamp} blog weeks back, I was about to have to draw these coffee cups myself!

 

These are the gift cards I use in my Latte Love gift sets at A Paper Buffet.

(told you I love that Bo Bunny Paper!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ok, I’m sure you are gift-card holder-ed out, so that’s it for me!

 

Happy Monday!

 

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: gift card holder,Bo Bunny,There She Goes,Wild Stamping Sprinkles,I heart 2 stamp,A Paper Buffet,Latte Love,coffee cards,gift cards,Etsy

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We now return to our regularly scheduled program…with a new look.

There’s  method to my madness. I promise.

Things have been quite busy here at A Paper Buffet.  Lets have a little recap, shall we?

Last weekend I got to visit some bloggy friends, Kendra and Kelly, the creators behind The Character Cafe.  I’m sure, as with all of you when you get together with your crafty friends…it’s more gabbing than gluing!  We had a great time, lots of giggles and I’m looking forward to seeing them again.  I think we’re going to do a class at our LSS since we’ll likely get more done!

For the past few weeks I’d been gearing up for my first Craft Show; it was held at a local public school this past Saturday.  It was basically a bust.  However, I did  manage to make my table fee back, met some wonderful customers and made a few network connections, so overall, I’m happy.

Notice anything different around here?  The blog background is just a seasonal one and it’ll likely change in the future…but look up. Look wayyyy up.

A Paper Buffet has a new logo!

The new look is part of a bigger plan, and I’ll be making a few big announcements in the weeks to come, so please stay tuned.

I’ve been blessed with wonderful friends who help and encourage me, no matter now many times I pester them with questions, so I’d just like to say a big official THANK YOU!!

I’ve had quite a few Etsy sales in the past few days, so a big THANK YOU to my Etsy customers, I’m nearly at my business goal of 100 sales by year end.

Currently I’m working on filling some custom orders, and trying to figure out my new accounting software before year end!

I’ll be back this week with some projects to share; see you soon!

Happy Sunday!

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Latte Love

In September, a friend and I were out shopping.  In a major bookstore she spied a knitted coffee cozy for a travel mug and fell in love.  Until she looked at the price tag. 

“Put that down!” I told her, “I can make you one”.  Her eyes got wide and said “Really?!”,

“Sure, I can knit. How hard can it be?”

I’ve never knitted in the round on double pointed needles.

How hard can it be?

It’s not impossible, but it sure was a challenge!

After a few re-reads of my “I learned to knit” book; an in-depth conversation with my Nonna (Italian for grandmother) over Thanksgiving dinner (Canadian Thanksgiving is in October), a quick swing by her house the next morning before the 7 hour drive back to London to pick up some size 4 double pointed needles, and I was ready.

Ready to try a total of nine different patterns, 4 types of wool, and receive a good lecture from my massage therapist about my knitting posture.

I am stubborn.

I am a perfectionist.

I want my customers to be satisfied.

So I knitted on until I was happy and turned my vision into reality.

I combined my new love of knitting with my forever love of paper, and created Latte Love.  A hand knit coffee sleeve with a coffee-themed gift card holder, perfect for the holidays and every other reason to give a coffee lover a gift card.

 

The gift card holder just might be my favourite part, but I’m so proud of the knitting.

 

 

 

 

 

I designed my own packaging within the clear card box, to allow the coffee sleeve and gift card holder to be ready to wrap and put under the tree.

 

 

 

 

I was over the moon when the first Latte Love gift set sold in 10 hours on my Etsy store.

 

 

 

 

Latte Love is currently available in orange at A Paper Buffet and I am working on some more turquoise and will be adding a purple one as well. 

Custom orders are always welcome at A Paper Buffet or by email at

apaperbuffet@rogers.com

 

 

Share the Latte Love!

Happy Tuesday!

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: A Paper Buffet,Latte Love,knitted coffee sleeve,gift card holder,gift set,Etsy

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Wildflower Kids Rubber Stamp Release Day!

Wildflower Kids Rubber Stamp Company is releasing two great sets today available exclusively at Stamp Happens.

No Girls Allowed

 

 

 

 

 

 

and Pretty in Pink

 

 

 

 

 

Aren’t they great?!

I get to play with Pretty in Pink and I had so much fun colouring them up…until I spilled my water all over the table! 

Good news: I only ruined 1 out of 2 projects. 

Bad news: I ruined 1 out of 2 projects.

Guess that’s how the cookie crumbles!

So here’s the project that was not affected by the tsunami on the table,

I haven’t made a 4.25 x 4.25” note card in a while, and FINALLY got to try Jacquie’s smooshing technique with the ribbon.

I really like how light and girly this is, and I just love the wording “giggles and laugh” doesn’t that just scream girly slumber party to you?

 

Here’s a detail shot, these are the first pictures with my new camera; if you click the picture, you can see the texture of the paper.  It’s gorgeous in real life, thick and wonderful to hold, and these were actually scrap pieces left over from a custom order of bridal shower invites.  I loved the paper so much, I couldn’t throw out any of it.

Now head on over to the other Stampin Sistahs and see what they put together to show you,

Senior Sistahs

Tonya ~ Beth ~ Julie ~ Jen

Stampin Sistahs

Alyssa ~ Donna ~ Gayle ~ Leigh Ann~ Sarabeth

Then cruise on over to Stamp Happens and pick up your very own set from the Wildflower Kids collection- and there’s lots of Holiday digi items too! 

 

 

 

 

ps- thanks for all the lovely comments from the New Moon blog hop. I’m still making my way through, so I’ll continue to hop as I find time :)

Happy Monday!

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: wildflower Kids Rubber Stamps,stamp happens,A Paper Buffet,handmade cards

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Twilight Tuesday.com New Moon Blog Hop!

*You should have arrived here from April D’s blog. If you haven’t please go back to Twilight Tuesday’s home page to start the hop*

I was so excited and honoured when I was asked to be a Guest Designer for the New Moon hop. I knew I’d have to bring my A- game after a very long hiatus in the TTIC weekly challenges (after formerly participating in every one!). I love these ladies and what TTIC has become over the past year.

I pondered and pondered over what I would do. I wanted the project to represent New Moon well; and y’all know I’m Team Edward *swoon* but New Moon really is about Jacob and Bella.

Although Jacob drove me batty for most of the series, I can appreciate his love for Bella and their friendship.

My project may not be as eye-catching as some others, but it is deep with meaning.

I wanted lots of layers to represent the layers of love and friendship between Jacob and Bella.

I wanted straight edges; Jacob feels his love for Bella is simple and straightforward and without the complications of her love for Edward.

I wanted knots to symbolize the tie that Bella and Jacob will always have to each other.

I wanted a sentiment to express the commitment Jacob makes to Bella.

I didn’t want it to be fussy; neither Jacob nor Bella are.

Jacob literally follows Bella off a cliff- how perfect is this quote?? It’s from a book of Quotes for scrapbooking and I’ve used them before for friendship cards.

Card base is SU Very Vanilla with layers of SU Chocolate Chip and SU Kraft paper. Brown Satin ribbon is from Michaels.

Next stop on the hop is my fellow Stampin Sistah Leigh Ann who is guaranteed to have something awesome waiting for you.

I hope you all enjoy the movie; I was so busy with work, I totally dropped the ball on getting tickets for tonight, so I’ll have to wait a little bit to see it. Until then I’m living vicariously though all of you!

Happy New Moon Friday!!

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: New Moon,Twilight Tuesday,blog hop,Jacob,Bella

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4 Morgans; 2 sketches; and a whole lotta Sassy Christmas cards!

Dear Beth, creator and owner of Stamp Insanity Stamps. I heart you. I heart Morgan and I heart the Naughty and Nice set.

I took some non-traditional Christmas colours and went to town, using first the MojoMonday sketch and, this will qualify for the Basic Grey Challenge this week too.

I heart Morgan so much, I made another card, switching the Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses paper.

I heart her even more, I found Jen Del Muro’s SFYTT and made another, using more BG Eskimo Kisses, and the very last of my coveted SU Purely Pomegranate paper.

“who you callin’ a Ho Ho Ho”

Beth, you are a genius. Did I tell you I heart you?

I switched the papers and the location of the snowflake, but kept the sentiment, because, you know, I heart it.

Matching snowflakes on the inside.

I heart snowflakes too.

Do you heart Morgan as much as I do? Show Beth you love her, and visit Stamp Happens, the ONLY place to buy Stamp Insanity stamps.

Happy Tuesday,

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: Mojo Monday,SFYTT,Basic Grey,Eskimo Kisses,Stamp Insanity,Stamp Happens,snowflakes,Christmas cards,a Paper Buffet

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