Welcome to Expressive Candles Newsletter Issue 3

Hello everyone. How is everybody today? I can't wait, the Holidays are coming up quick. And Halloween is just around the corner! Even as an adult, I like to dress up, just for all the people that come door to door. Well, it's been a busy month with craft fairs and such. But I was able to get a few new products out.

In this weeks issue:

What's New
For the rest of the month of October, we are offering 20% off on all Votives. Votives are great for decorating your home. They can add elegance in any room, provide a warm glow for any mood and provide your room with a soothing scent.

More Tarts! Yes we added some new tarts, specifically, Halloween Tarts. We now have Pumpkins, Ghosts, Leaves and Roses. These little gems look so good, you would want to eat them. (But please don't try) My husband almost had it in his mouth before I told him what they were.

Accessories! We now carry a wide selection of candle and votive holders and candle stands. With such a wide selection you'll find something that will suit your tastes and fit your home.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Every October the American Cancer Society holds events and fundraisers to gain money to support the treatment and cure of breast cancer. Expressive Candles would like to help as well. We are giving proceeds of our sales on a particular product. This money will be given to the American Cancer Society. The product that we have chosen is a Pink Ribbon Shaped Tart.

If you would like to make your own Pink Ribbon Lapel Pin, Please click Here. They give instructions on how to make one.

Upcoming News
Currently we are working on some new candles for the upcoming holidays. We will also be having a lot of sales in the upcoming months for Christmas. So I'll keep you all informed. As a special treat to our newsletter subscribers, Expressive Candles will be sending out coupons to newsletter subscribers for the holidays.

We will be adding more candle holders and stands for next month. As well as adding a Tart Warmer section to our accessories.

Our article page will also be updated in the following months, as I find time to write some original articles on candle scaping and decorating.

Candle Scaping
This months article shows how to make a butterfly candle holder. The article was written by Rachel Paxton. If you have any ideas that you would like to submit, please email me at feedback@expressivecandles.com

Butterfly Candle Holders
by Rachel Paxton - rachel@creativehomemaking.com


Butterfly candle holders are easy to make and a great gift idea. The materials are very inexpensive, and you can use your imagination for a variety of designs.

To get started, you will need:

Materials:
Small glass candle holders
Butterfly wrapping paper
Yellow tissue paper
Decoupage
Cuticle scissors
Small paintbrush
Damp paper towel

You can buy whatever glass candle holders you like (or use some you already have laying around). I bought mine at Walmart for about $0.59. You could also find them at thrift stores or yard sales just make sure they have smooth sides.

I chose butterflies for my design, but you could choose whatever design you'd like--maybe keeping in mind the tastes of the person you're making them for. You can cut out pictures from anywhere, including calendars, greeting cards, magazines. Thin paper decoupages best.

After you have some pictures in mind, use cuticle scissors (the kind you cut your fingernails with) to cut out the pictures. These scissors work best on small pictures and cut rounder corners than regular scissors. If you're not going to use the pictures right away, store them in ziploc bags.

You can buy decoupage at any craft store. It is normally found with the glue. It allows you to permanently affix a picture to another object, giving the object an overall glossy effect. Make sure the glass you're working with is clean. Tear a piece of tissue paper into small (approx. 1 inch) pieces. Using the paint brush, brush some decoupage on to the back of one of the pieces of tissue paper. Position the tissue paper on the glass and then brush some more decoupage on top of it. Continue gluing on pieces of tissue paper, overlapping at the edges, until the entire candle holder is covered (including the bottom--set the candle holder on its top, upside down, to dry). Brush one last coat of decoupage over the entire candle holder. Use damp paper towel to wipe off any excess decoupage.

After the decoupage has dried for about an hour (or more), position the butterflies (or other pictures) on top of the tissue paper. First brush some decoupage on the backs of the pictures and place them on the glass. Brush another coat of decoupage over the entire glass and set the candle holder on its top to dry again. After the decoupage has dried, add 2 or 3 more coats of decoupage after each coat has dried.

That's it! These candle holders are only limited by your imagination. Use different colors of tissue paper and a variety of pictures for different themes. You could make these with holiday themes, like for Christmas or Easter. They also make great birthday presents, hostess gifts, or party favors. They are very easy to make and you can make several of them at one time.

Copyright 2001. Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer, mom, and owner of four home and family web sites. For scrapbooking, card making, gift-giving ideas, and more family memory-making activities, visit http://www.crafty-moms.com

For More info about Candle Scaping, please check out the book below.

Creative Candlescaping : 70 Bright Ideas...

Every month we will include an article from Expressive Candles, as well as ideas and articles submitted to us.

We Want to Hear from You
We are looking for people interested in writing any articles or ideas about candles and decorating candles. Expressive Candles hopes to build a large selection of articles and ideas submitted by the user. This will benefit everyone, the more ideas, the more people will enjoy their candles. It could be something as simple as a two sentence idea. Please send ideas and articles to feedback@expressivecandles.com

Contest Winners
Congratulations to Susan Fisher of Rhode Island. She won a free Candle Club membership for referring 24 friends to our website. Thank you so much Susan.

Congratulations to Krystal Miller of Louisiana. She won a free candle in our monthly drawing of Newsletter members. We also Thank you Krystal.

Testimonials
Hello,
I HAD to write to praise you on your teddy bear tarts. I have never had a tart keep it's scent through the whole burning process like these do. My sister was just commenting on how she loves to burn tarts but the ones she buys from Hallmark loose their scent after the second burning and she has to throw the wax away. When I received these tarts...I put three in the tart burner, they have gone through 3 tea lights and they still smell wonderful. I will surely recommend your tarts to whom ever asks about the ones I have. I just wanted you to know how pleased I am with my e-bay purchase from you. Thank you so much. I WILL be buying again. Have a Great Labor Day Weekend.
Carole

Thank you again for visiting Expressive Candles and signing up for our free Newsletter. See you again soon. Remember to tell your Friends about Expressive Candles. Have a nice day.

Michelle Gauthier
President