Category: Simply.Savvy.Crafts

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Soy Wax Candles

Candles were the first creative idea that was brewed up in the kitchen one late evening in the middle of winter. The smells of your home should compliment you personality and style. I researched some of the bigger fragrance/home companies and found that a lot of their home smelling goods are created with chemicals that aren’t so good for your sniffer! So, I started enjoying making my own! A friend of mine suggested I join her in attending craft shows. This started the snowball effect promoting my blog to create this community to share a few of my favorites.

Candles are a blend of fragrance and essential oils (one day, I hope to make it completely essential oil). 100% soy wax. Instead of color, I wanted to keep it simple. I collect flowers, herbs–you name it–to add a dash of color or texture to the candles. Next to minimalism, living simple creates more memories and less materials. My goal? To have my own greenhouse full of beauty to dry and place in my products along with my own little farm of bees that can happily dance around from plant to plant in the greenhouse and summer gardens. Their wax helps continue building the savvy sustaining lifestyle. #simplysavvy

I love the simplicity of the tins. Using tins gives us a chance to reduce our waste in the world. And don’t be fooled by the simple and petite design! These mighty candles burn for hours thanks to the slow release of soy wax!

Candles come in four sizes: 4 oz, 6 oz, 8 oz. and 12 oz. They come with organic hemp or wooden wicks. If the crackling wick, or any of the wicks, aren’t staying lit there are a few things to troubleshoot. Trim them to about 1/8 inch from the wax. Use the melted wax to coat the wicks. Or, simply remove the burned portion (black and charred) of the wick. For the crackling wicks, the flames are minimum and the crackling can be heard when close to the candle.

If you don’t feel comfortable burning a candle in your house, these tins can also be utilized as melts and put them in the wax melter container as conductive heat will eventually melt the wax and release aromas. Close the lid to trap and prolong the aroma for many weeks to come! If you do decide to use the wax melter, I have a few suggested wax melters at the bottom of this page you can refer to.

Exit 408 offers a 10% discount for enjoyed, emptied (a quick wipe please) tins sent back to me. I will send you the same size and scent of the candle returned with a gift of gratitude to celebrate our small win in saving Mother Earth.

Stay tuned as I build upon my savvy skills! 2024 is my year to build! I am looking forward to offering lotions, lotion bars, lotion melts, shampoo and conditioner bars, laundry soaps, diffusers, and more! In the future when I get my she shed built, I will begin to build and create home decor as well. Exciting things await!

Please be careful as exit 408, or it’s creator, will not take responsibility for the less responsible. Burning or melting a candle comes with risks. Please make sure to burn the candle where it is safe from anything or anyone that it can easily burn or catch fire. The tin can be hot to touch and do check the tin’s integrity prior to each use. The candle is decorated with dried plant material–which may also pose a fire threat. Please make sure it is away from the wick using a toothpick when the wax is warm and melted. Please be cautious of open flame or hot wax as they can cause burns. Do not leave unattended and ensure the wick is out and cold before leaving the room. Read the directions and warnings of wax melters carefully before using.

Season Scents

Living simply savvy means keeping things…simple. This holiday season, I am offering additional three fragrances to fill your joy.

Changing Seasons fragrance brings us from the outside into the coziness of our homes. Sweet, light scents such as vanilla and cardamom paired with sandalwood to make it a soothing candle. Grab some hot tea, snuggle up on the couch with your favorite blanket and enjoy this pleasant scent.

If you’re looking for a piney, festive smell to compliment your Christmas tree, look no further than the exit 408’s Santa’s Kisses. Pine and peppermint creates a bold smell that is sure to win the compliments of guests.

Pumpkins and Hayrides fragrance is nostalgia packed into the punch of scent in this candle. Earthy tones of clove and cinnamon compliment the light airy citrus scent of orange to give you a walk down memory lane with every inhale.

If you’re looking for sweet and spicy, look no further than Merry Berries. This has been such a popular request, I will soon make it available year-round! Mixed with the strong tart of berries and the spice of cinnamon–the layers of aroma are sure to please your sniffer!

Year Round Favorites

Sage & Sea has been my best seller. Light. Crisp. Salt of the ocean breeze combined with the subtle hints of sage and citrus. This scent was inspired by the PNW coast and my brother’s first time seeing the ocean–it was such an amazing memory! Nostalgia at best and I find this scent brings an airy vibe to any bathroom or bedroom!

If you love the smell of coffee, then you’ll need to try Mornings! A blend of coffee and vanilla to reflect those mornings waking up to the smell and sounds of coffee brewing. Light this candle next to your morning comfy place and enjoy the extra coffee aroma with your cup of jo.

Mountain bloom is a floral scent created with the imagination of hiking through the wild and finding that special meadow that colors of wildflowers dance with the wind. Although all mountains harbor the gorgeous personalities of its floral and fauna–there’s just nothing like the wildflowers and meadows in the Rocky Mountains!

For those who enjoy the musky smells of cedar, patchouli and sandalwood, look no further (errrhhh, smell no further) than Earth & Moss. This candle combines the pervasive juniper with earthy patchouli and soothing sandalwood to bring to life the very earth we find joy in.

Hey! Are you interested in making candles??

Leave a YES in the comments below and subscribe to Exit 408. Nope, your email won’t fill up with useless advertisements and nonsense. Once a month or so, I’ll remind you to take a deep breath, fill your nostrils with the aroma of the home you find joy in and be grateful. If there’s enough interest in making candles, I would absolutely love to set up private parties and virtual gatherings to share savvy moments with all of you! Until then, if you’re just interested in dabbling yourself, the [affiliate] links below provides the set up and a few brands of scents and materials I use. I use Wholesale Supply Plus and Bramble Berry websites to mix my own scents (available for sale soon). Read “Disclosure” for further information and enjoy creating simply savvy in your home!

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Tis the Season for Creativity!

#simpysavvycrafts

#exit408blog

Hi friends! It’s been a few months. Wildfire season was a slow one, but my life closed the chapter on direct operations in wild land fire as a Captain as I was promoted into the prevention and mitigation side of wild land fire. It’s a much needed program to bring together communities as we create a fire-adaptive culture moving forward into the many variables that are bringing wild land fire to the wild landscapes (and around the nation/world)!

I’m learning about the whole “work-life balance” theme that’s being talked about a lot these days. I’m navigating through the ups and downs of trading in the everyday adventures, with a fire crew out in the field, to a more standard cubicle land with an 8-5 schedule. I’m also learning how to not live life so urgently anymore! I’m creating habits and routines…redefining my priorities. As I grow more familiar with this new way of working, I will be blessed with more time at home doing the things I love with the people I love. My closest friends are helping me be patient as I slowly familiarize myself with the roles of the new positions as well as the networking. Patience is a virtue–and it takes a village!

However, I DO have more time to do all things….including Crafts! Creating with my hands brings me so much joy. And I want to share that joy with the world! Tis the season going into Fall through the New Year. It’s a great season to shop locally, support those small businesses that work hard at provide authentic and genuine products and to share those gifts of love with our families and friends.

I’m also adding and fine tuning my savvy products. Candles to boot with new holiday scents and variety of sizes. Diffusers for those who don’t want open flames in the house. Lotion bars to soothe dry skin this winter. Finally, shower steamers to help start or end the day with aromatic bliss. As always I am fine tuning my business to love all people and Mother Nature. The previous page had a link to the calendar of events and I will be sure to update it as more events are scheduled. I am also working on making product available for online purchasing and shipping. In the mean time, if you’re interested in the product, hit up my facebook page and shoot me an IM 🙂

Keep living simply savvy friends!

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Let’s talk Crafts and Craft Shows

Lotion Melts at the Craft Show.

Switching the subjects here for this post. I have a friend, she sells soap at craft shows. I’ve watched her prep, decorate and create some magic–I’ve even used them for gifts. It was inspiring and I wanted to start small with all of this. So, I bought materials to make candles. Why candles? I love walking into a house that smells so amazing. Not just any smell, but the smell that matches the personality of the home and family. It’s been a slow masterpiece in the works, but I’ve thus far created five amazing scents (I keep calling them flavors–but they are NOT edible haha!). My friend joined me in my first craft show at the TZ Bucking Bulls event at Castle Rock, CO on February 14th. Also, a side note, super fun event if you like watching the upcoming as well as the accomplished bull riders take the challenge on bulls named “Satin” or “Threshold.” It’s impressive–and the clowns are entertaining. There’s this terrible idea that the belt around the bulls are attached or squeezing their flanks (and other parts) to make them buck. Not true. It’s a belt, like what you and I wear. Unlike us, the bull doesn’t like wearing belts and the only way he can get something off of him is by moving his body–in this case with some pretty powerful kicking and thrusting. I grew up going to these events with my paternal grandparents and didn’t really appreciate them (other than the petting zoos and such). Now I crave that nostalgia experience and I commend the talent of these cowboys and cowgirls!

Okay, back from the squirrel chase. My friend and I set up our booth and enjoyed each other’s company. Many of our customers came over to check out the “best smelling corner in the arena.” As you can imagine the smell otherwise with all that bull….s. 😀 It was fun. I have stickers, and candles, and tea lights as well as these fun lotion candles and wax melts. Yep that’s right! You enjoy the aromas of the lotion melts, then when it’s cool enough to touch, ya rub it in your skin (Exit 408 is not responsible if you can’t be–don’t burn yourself)! The ingredients are organic waxes, fragrance oil, coconut oil, vitamin e, cocoa butter, shea butter, jojoba oil….to name a few cocktails of goodness! I’m trying to stay with essential oils, however the “throw,” or smell is hard to notice. The fragrances I use are pure compared to some of the big company candles you buy at many big box stores. I wanted to keep the candles as clean as possible, and as simple as possible (taking on the more minimalist style). I’m still working on perfecting the products–as well as creating new blends of delicious smells for the sniffer. I jokingly tell my support group I need a white coat–I’m a chemist in the kitchen with all the eye droppers! Also, piece of advice? When you’re attempting to try out new smells and your nose gets over whelmed, grab some good ol’ coffee and viola! A clean palette to start fresh!

My temporary lab until I get my office set up 🙂

Okay….back to the craft show. We met some great crafters and shared some tips and tricks–mostly I absorbed some of the master’s inspiration. I won’t be doing any craft shows in the next few months because wildfire season is kicking into gear (it’s not just the fires themselves it’s the prescribed burning, public outreach, trainings, physical trainings and meetings)! It’s already super busy! I will post my upcoming craft shows as well as when the products are available online. I have a Facebook page and an instagram for a quick follow as well 🙂 That way you can easily follow this adventure and I advertise opportunities to become a tester!! Stay tuned!

If you are interested in starting your own candle making crafts, I’ve linked some [affiliate] links at the bottom of this page to get you started! I will caution wooden wicks. I’ve gone through a few brands and I can’t seem to keep them lit! They say the key is to keep them trimmed close to the wax (oxygen movement and flammability). I tried with the brands I’ve used. I also tried soaking them in oil and in the melted wax–nothing seemed to work. I’ll keep testing it out. I really enjoy the organic hemp wicks as well as the wax that is promoted below. As far as scents, you’ll have to do your research. Amazon has a few essential oils that are…ok. Not my favorite. I would look into specialized stores such as Bramble Berry or Wholesale Market. Happy creating!