Oooh fun - Soap - one girl's enthusiastic trials in the world of soap making. I love it.
I've got a batch of vanilla soap in the oven right now (hopefully gelling). I'm dying to take a peek, but will refrain.
My house smells like yummy 'nilla. I'm going to cut it tomorrow.
Here's my first attempt at Hot Processed soaping. I used Spearming EO, a swirl of green, and veggie oils:
(Closer view)
They were a lot of fun (and mess - don't ask) to make. I hope to whip up another batch today.
I've been having a little bit of fun with the soap-making. Last night I made up a few bars, some for orders, but mostly for fun. I'm going to add that googlie-eyed one to the store.
My son was watching me make some soaps for an order, and he wanted some for himself. We decided to use an army guy.
Today I made, for the first time, chunk soap. I've wanted to make it for a while, but got the inspiration from an AOL tin that came in the mail. I was trying to think of something to do with the darn thing, and "soap mold" came to mind.
I poured the soap in the tin, then let it get hard. After it was hard (I put it in the fridge), I un-molded it (which wasn't as easy as I thought it would be), and cut it into chunks.
I put the chunks in the freezer, while preparing the pour-over soap. When it was ready, I poured a thin layer of the pour-over, let it set, then added some chunks, poured-over and voila.
I made a few of them, actually. It started out being a Father's Day gift for my dad. I made it kind of a spicy "manly" scent. But, I'm thinking I might offer some at my store as well, as OOAK. (One Of A Kinds)
Here's 2 soaps that I'm making to fill a couple different orders. It's the first time I used the turtle mold. I love it. I innitially bought it to make a turtle soap for my mom (who adores turtles), but still never have. Both soaps above are layered. I love the look of layered soaps.
This Christmas (I think it was then), I made some bath bubbles for my mom. I used an old olive oil bottle ('cause it was purdy) and an altered recipe from this book. She liked it, and actually used it.
Well, the other day I was over there and saw the empty bottle, so I snagged it to bring home so I could mix her up another batch. I got out the book, and kind of messed with the formula a bit (again) and added a little color to the bubblies.
I was trying to take a picture, but you see from the shadow that Gino decided he was more important than some silly old bottle of purple shit.
He harassed me so much that I decided to just take a picture with him in it. But, since I was a big meanie and took my hand off him for one second, he got right up to leave.
Anyway, here's the sweet bath bubbles recipe:
You'll need a jar with a 2-cup capacity, and some of those little glass beads. The beads aren't necessary, but they help mix up the stuff, as well as add a pretty little touch.
Recipe:
1/4 cup glycerin
1 cup shampoo base (or mild, unscented shampoo)
scented oil (about 15 drops, or so - depends on your shnozer)
3/4 cups water
1tsp. sugar
Directions:
Mix the glycerin, shampoo base and sugar in a glass bowl, or measuring cup. (Don't be violent, be gentle - or bubbles will overtake the bowl.) Warm the mixture in microwave for about 15 seconds. Warming it helps the scent mingle with the mixture. Add oil, mix again. Be gentle, ya ogre!! Then add water, slowly.
Pour in your bottle and you're done. Use about 1/4 cup per bath, or more if needed.
**You can add a drop of two of color, if you'd like. Nobody ever recommends food coloring, because it can stain your tub, but I used it since my mom has a dark pink tub, and it shouldn't matter.
Pig Soap!!
I made this today. It's the same soap, just under different lighting. It smells like grapes and has glitter in it. Can't wait to use it.
The Original Toiletries Library. Gads of recipes for homemade body indulgences. Just what I need. More recipes, and not enough time to pamper myself with them!!
Ah well. I can give as gifties.
And, then another link: thegreenguide.org. DIY goodies that aren't bad for you, or the enviroment. Weeeee.
Here's to making soap the old-fashioned way. With, ahem, fat drippings (from cooking, I'm assuming). Damn. Now that's some hardcore soap.
Ahhh. Bath Goo. Feeling a strong need to use up some of my crafty energy (and some fragrance oils), I whipped out one of my craft books to find a slimy bath goo recipe that I knew was in it. And, tada!!
Yes. That is an old catsup bottle. In fact, it was after I used up the last drops of catsup that I rinsed it out and thought "I don't want to just throw this nice bottle away..." Hence, the bath gel. I was under the impression that it was going to be gooey and slimy, but it's just looking green to me. Ah well. The kids will like it. One of them (at least) will be forced to take a bath tonight and test-drive my concoction.
Anyway, it was just a mixture of 2c. distilled water, 2 tbs. liquid soap base, 20 drops of fragrance, 1 tsp almond oil and 1 tsp table salt. The actual recipe from the book called for a few different things, which I didn't have, so I improvised. Maybe that's why it's not gooey. Donno.
Book: Home Made: 200 Creative Concoctions and Practical Potions for Crafts, Beauty AIDS, Household Products, and Gifts from Your Kitchen (long title, eh?)
I made (for the 3rd time) some wonderful bath salt stuff. I have a friend with a birthday coming up and thought I'd throw some in with the other goodies I'm sending her. I also tried my hand at Decoupage, using stuff I have around the house. I decoupage(d) an old Biolage conditioner tub that I had so I could put the salts in there.