Does color effect the burn time of candles?

Sometime ago, I was watching an episode of the Martha Show where she was discussing beeswax candles. She said that color and fragrance does effect the burn time of candles. I was in doubt and so I went to search to find out the answer to this burning question - no pun intended. I found out reading the article, Why Some Candles Burn Fast on the website Happy News that color does not factor in to your candle burning any faster than a plain candle. What really does make the candle burn faster? Well, the first thing is that the wick size is the primary factor determining candle-burning rate. If you use a large wick it will speed up the burn time of the candle. Also what it is important to know is that Wax is the most important ingredient that makes a candle burn faster. Soft wax has a higher oil content and lower melt temperature; therefore, it burns faster. Typically, candles in jars have soft wax, and pillar candles have hard wax. The longest burning candles are pillar candles made of a blend of beeswax and paraffin.

Now the National Candle Association may differ on this question. If you would like to find out, the National Candle Association has information on how to conduct your own science project to find out. If any experienced candlemakers out there would like to chime in on this subject, please let us know your thoughts on this matter whether from your own experience or articles that your have read.

Burgandy Lip Stick

Love to add a little color to your lips? Would you like to create your own natural lip color? Then I would highly recommend making this Burgandy Lip Stick recipe from DIY Skincare. I love the burgandy color but I am not sure if it would go well with my skintone, so I may consider using another color.

How to Label Cold Process Soap

Are a beginning soapmaker and do not have the foggiest idea on how to label your cold process soap? In this second series article, How to Label Cold Process Soap by Anne Marie (aka The Soap Queen) gives you want you need to know what you need to know how to label your soap in addition she gives you suggestions on where to look for additional information. In her first article, How to Label Lip Balm she explains including how to list your ingredients using the proper terms in the correct order. In addition she gives you a recipe for Funnel Soap that you should try.

Winter Lip Butter

Winter is now upon us and what do we do about our chapped lips? Well, I found this Winter Lip Butter recipe by Alison Kontur of Bath Body Supply. This appears on Alison's blog "Design It Yourself" Skincare.

What is really interesting are the ingredients for this recipe. The ingredients that you will need for this recipe are Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil - Clear/Organic, Macadamia Nut Oil, Jojoba Wax Pastilles, Menthol Flavor Fragrance Oil, Sweetener Powder (optional)and Radiant Gold Mica (optional). I guess the most interesting ingredient for me is the jojoba wax pastilles. The reason why is that I have never heard or used this ingredient before. If I made a lip balm in a pot before I have used beeswax pastilles. But if you were creating it for a vegan one would use carnuba wax. I guess jojoba wax pastilles would be a subsitute for beeswax. Now that I have seen this ingredient, I am interested in looking for more information about it. Has anyone out there used it before?

Staying Organized While Blogging – Seven Simple Tips

If you are someone who has been blogging for years or just started, you may want to read this article titled, Staying Organized While Blogging – Seven Simple Tips from the site
Handmade Marketing...You Can Sell Handmade, Here's How is the perfect article for you whether you are blogging for the fun if it to selling handmade crafts. The author for this article is from New Zealand and has had a variety of jobs in her lifetime. Since 2009, the author has created a blog and has been learning how to balance a blog and other areas of her life ever since.

How to Tint Beeswax

Beeswax is a popular material for candle making because it is a natural, unrefined product. Beeswax candles burn cleanly and do not drip, making them an attractive choice. Many home crafters dabble in candle making and often choose the work with beeswax. Whether making dipped or molded candles from beeswax, melt it carefully and slowly. Once the beeswax melts, at just over 140 degrees, you can tint the beeswax, if desired, before dipping or molding the candles. If you would like to learn how to color your beeswax candles, I would recommend reading the article, How to Tint Beeswax by ehow contributor, Kathryn Hatter.

Soy Fun Facts

Recently I have been making candles with soy wax and I was wondering more information about this particular eco-friendly wax. According to Crazy Pineapple:

•Soy wax cleans up easily with soap and water.

•Trim the wick down to 1/4" before lighting a soy wax candle to ensure a longer and cleaner burn.

•Do not allow wick trimmings to fall into your wax melt pool.

•Burn soy candles in areas free from drafts. All Soy Candles are Not Created the Same.

•A candle only needs to have 25% soy to be called a soy candle!

•Beware of imitators. Unless a candle says 100% Soy, you may be getting 25% Soy blended with 75% paraffin (petroleum).

•If soy wax candles are sold in a stand-alone form, that is not in any type of container, they may contain paraffin. 100% pure soy wax candles melt like oil, so they must be in a container.

Hope you find this information helpful. If anyone out there is an expert candlemaker, who would like to add to this list, please let us know and I will add it to the list.

Menthe Botanical Bath Salt Recipe

Love peppermint and spearmint? In this bath salt recipe combines both.
This Menthe Botanical Bath Salt Recipe from DIY Skincare would make the perfect gift who loves taking a long soak in the bath tub. This recipe is easy to make for any occassion.

Simple Soy Candles

Candles make a fantastic addition to any gift basket that you are putting together for a holiday present. This Simple Soy Candle project from The Soap King would be the ideal addition to your bath and body gift basket to make a complete spa treatment. If you did not know that soy wax burns cleaner than most other wax products. Plus, they are easy enough for absolute beginners to make.

Mango Cocoa Lip Balm

Are you having problems finding lip balm recipe that does not contain beeswax? Here is a lip balm recipe that uses candelillia wax instead. This Mango Cocoa Lip Balm recipe from DIY Skincare is perfect for someone who is a vegan.

Holiday Ribbon Candy Soap: Melt and Pour

I always remembered my grandmother having these ribbon candies in a candy dish at the holidays. Sometime ago I was at Opalz Zoaps in Palo Alto and they had a fragrance called candy ribbon from Brambleberry that brought back fond memories of my grandmother. If you would like to bring back memories of Christmas past like I would highly recommend making these Melt and Pour Holiday Ribbon Candy Soaps which appears on The Soap Queen's site Soap and the Finer Things in Life.

Looking at these soaps make my mouth water, how about you? If you package these soaps, I would recommend putting a warning label because they look good enough to eat.

How to make Body Lotion Bars with Coconut Oil

Lotion bars are a great alternative to regular liquid lotions. Lotion bars are also easy to make. When you make them yourself at home, you have the opportunity to scent your lotion however you see fit and to make as much or as little as you like. Make just one bar for personal use, or make a whole bunch to give as gifts. You can make delicious-smelling lotion bars in no time at all. Want to learn how? Then check out the article How to make Body Lotion Bars with Coconut Oil byIrena Eaves, eHow Contributor. These would make great gifts to make or for your own use.

Gingerbread Bath Cookies

One of the aroma of the Christmas holidays that puts me in the mood is gingerbread baking in the oven. If you love this aroma as much as I do and want to enjoy it in your bath during the Christmas holidays and all year round, then I may the suggestion of making this Gingerbread Bath Cookies recipe by Alison Kontur of Bath Body Supply. Alison graciously shares this recipe on her blog DIY Skincare. If you like this recipe, you should check out her blog for more lucious recipes.

Gift Wrap: Using Dictionary Pages for Soap & Small Gift Items

Are you looking for ways to recycle your dictionary pages? Denise from Go Planet Earth made a great suggestion on her blog Denise's Yadda Yadda that you can use pages from your dictionary to wrap your soap and small gift items for the holidays. What I thought was a great idea is that you can purchase books from the Goodwill store and use them for this purpose but she recommends wrapping your soap with brown paper before putting wrapping your soap with the pages from your book. If you would like to read the full article it is called, Using Dictionary Pages for Soap & Small Gift Items.

Christmas Jelly Roll Soap

Want to learn how to create this really cool Christmas Jelly Roll soap from The Soap King? All you have to do is follow The Soap Queen's video on The Soap King's blog and change the color and scent. For the red color, The Soap King blended red labcolor, merlot mica and red glitter, used liquid white for the white, and green chrome oxide for the background, all with our bulk clear base. The fragrance blend he used is Christmas Tree Cybilla and Peppermint 2nd Distillation. He says to make sure to add liquid glycerin to the roll so it bends and spray rubbing alcohol so everything sticks together. What a fantastic idea for gifts to make for the holiday season!

Beyond Soap: Packaging to Sell

Are you looking for something different to package your soaps for this holiday season? Denise from Go Planet Earth posted this clever idea on her blog Denise's Yadda Yadda about going beyond on packaging your soap to sell. Even if you do not sell your soap and giving out them out for gifts her idea of wrapping your soap with craft paper and then with a cigar wrap special holiday message. This idea can work for any work for any special occassion, not only Christmas.

Super Easy Christmas Swirl Soap

When I saw picture for this Christmas Swirl Soap on The Soap King Blog I thought it might be a cold process recipe but it is not! Boy was I fooled. Actually melt and pour bar of soap. Want to learn how to make it, then check out the simple instructions (Chrismas Swirl Soap). This project takes about ten minutes to make ten bars of soap. Talk about quick and easy Christmas gifts! Of course, there is a little wait time for the loaf to harden in the freezer (45 minutes to an hour).

Artistic First Snow M&P Soap

Here is a new recipe from Wholesale Supplies Plus. This Artistic First Snow Melt and Pour Soap Bar is a perfect project for the beginner. It takes approximately six hours to complete the project and this recipe makes approximately 12 5.5-6 oz bars. All supplies you need to make this beautiful bar of soap can be purchased through Wholesale Supplies Plus.

Winter Wonder Lotion Bars

Lotion bars feel great on dry winter skin. How would you like to make your own? From Wholesale Supplies Plus is a recipe called Winter Wonder Lotion Bars which you may want to create to use for yourself or give out as gifts during this holiday season. These are much larger than most lotion bars so that you have plenty to use on typically winter dry areas such as elbows, knees and arms and shins.

Very Vanilla Lip Scrub Recipe

Winter is just around the corner and our poor lips will get chapped due to the cool weather. So it will be time to exfoliate prior to using your favorite lip balm. Here is a perfect recipe to make your own. This Very Vanilla Lip Scrub recipe from DIY Skincare uses only 5 ingredients which includes organic sugar, refined shea butter, meadowfoam seed oil, organic vanilla bean specks and vanilla swirl flavoring. Once you finish the recipe it should look like the photo which is from Smell No Evil. Even though this is a very simple recipe, I thought it was interesting that the author used meadowfoam oil. I may have heard of it, but have never used it in any of my body products before so I may have to give it a try to see what it is like.

Chai Latte CP Soap Tutorial

Are you a big fan of Starbucks? Well, Anne-Marie (aka The Soap Queen) so happened to post on her blog Soap and the Finer Things in Life this post written by Amanda Griffin of Lovin' Soap for Chai Latte Soap.

Now I am not a coffee drinker and I rarely go into Starbucks but I think this really unique soap. But really makes this more adorable is the packaging and labelling. Wouldn't it be cute to make this bar of soap and attach a Starbuck's card and give it to someone who frequents Starbucks? Just a thought!

Lump Of Coal Soap

Has someone been naughty and you want to give them lump of coal in their stocking? Then how about creating this melt and pour Lump of Coal Soap project from The Soap Queen. This project appears on her blog Soap and the Finer Things in Life and it perfect to make for the upcoming Christmas holiday. It takes only 20 minutes to make 4 soaps. So get your list together to see you should receive coal in their stocking this year!

How to Make Body Butter Bars

Everyday of the year is a great time to pamper your skin. But there are probably times of the year that one may need to pamper their skin. Winter maybe one of them. So why not create your own body butter bars? In the step by step instructions by eHow Fashion, Style & Personal Care Editor, How to Make Body Butter Bars makes it really easy to create your own so you cannot go wrong nourishing your skin. These bars are simple to make that you can easily alter the recipe to change the scent to your liking. These would make a great gift for your friends for the upcoming holiday season.

Hot Process Soap Making - Old Fashioned?

Is hot process soapmaking old fashion or not? Would you like to find out? In this article, Hot Process Soap Making - Old Fashioned? by Gary Everson which appears on E-zine Articles. The author describes his journey as someone who makes soap for a hobby the flustrations that a cold process soap making can encounter and finds that hot process soap making side steps some of this issues.

Gary Everson is the Soap Business Guru, he has a free ten part email course called All About Soap Making, which provides a great introduction to soap making and a free monthly newsletter called Soapy Business, which is packed with advice, tips and tricks for making home made soap, you can sign up to receive both at http://soapybusiness.com/.

Cup of Joe Melt and Pour Soap

Love that cup of Joe to wake you up in the morning? Would you like to have an additional jolt with your morning shower by using this Cup of Joe Soap? Learn to create this melt and pour soap in this video called Cup of Joe Soap Slices Video from Go Planet Earth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4NA-6kMxbE&feature=youtu.be

Peppermint Stick Candle Project

Peppermint stick candies are a familiar to the Christmas holiday season. If you want to incorporate peppermint sticks into your holiday decor, you may want to try making your own candle sticks with this easy tutorial from One Stop Candle called Peppermint Stick Candle Project. This candle project is primarily a surface technique meaning that you do not need to make the core candle yourself if you prefer to buy candles already made. If you would like to create your own core candles but do not know how, then you would want to read the free tutorial that the author recommends reading.
PLEASE NOTE!! - This technique requires dipping in hot wax so all normal candle making safety rules apply

Goat Milk & Honey Lotion

Here is a simple lotion recipe for beginners or for crafters who need a quick and easy addition to their product line. This Goat Milk and Honey Lotion Recipe from Wholesale Supplies Plus
will take you about a half hour and will make (10) 8 oz jars, (5) 4oz, (5)2 oz.

Naturally Trimming The Christmas Tree

Here is something different to decorate your tree with. How about creating minature beeswax ornaments? This natural trimmings idea is from Anne-Marie (aka The Soap Queen) who posted the instructions on her blog Soap and the Finer Things in Life. When I saw this idea, I thought how cute these were and would be perfect for someone who decorates with a tabletop tree.

What is really great about this project is that if you have alot of those silicone ice cube trays like I do then you can make alot of different ornaments. Now I have another use for my silicone ice trays besides making soap embeds.

Cool Yule Peppermint Loaf

Bramble Berry was recently mentioned in the 2011 Martha Stewart Holiday Handbook. Martha did a wonderful red and white striped soap project using melt and pour soap. Even though Bramble Berry was just noted as a supplier (and not the author of the recipe), Bramble Berry received a ton of calls in customer service asking how to make the “Martha Soap” which they were so happy to help with (and they are so proud to be associated with! Thanks Martha and team!). The calls inspired Anne Marie to create her own “Martha Inspired” peppermint layer loaf. This project is for the intermediate melt and pour soapmaker and should take 2 hours to complete. And this recipe makes 60 oz of soap which makes alot of gifts for the holiday season. I really like the look of this soap loaf recipe I am going to have to try it myself!

Holiday Soap with Papier Mache Decoupage Box

From "Crafters Coast to Coast"episode HCC2C-165F Jill McDowell from Liberty, Kan. shares her passion for cleanliness when she makes her "Velvet Spice" holiday scented soap. But she doesn't stop when the soap is cured--she continues on, making a festive papier-mache decoupage gift box to complete the project.

The materials she used for this project: 2 stainless steel pans, wooden spoons,mixer, fragrance, oils scale, measuring cup, thermometer, spring water, soap molds, plastic wrap and microwave.

Steps:

1. Line soap molds with plastic wrap.

2. Mix oils together in large stainless steel pan. Mix sodium hydroxide (lye) separately in other pan with measured amount of water. Allow sodium hydroxide mixture to cool. You can place it in a cool bath in the sink to speed up the process.

3. After lye mixture has cooled to about 76 degrees, check temperature of oils. They should also be about 76 degrees. Once this has occurred, pour lye mixture slowly and carefully into oil mixture.

4. With mixer on low setting, mix for about 5 minutes and then add fragrance, mixing as you stir in fragrance to almost a pea soup consistency.

5. Carefully pour soap into prepared molds, making sure you get an even amount in each mold. Cover each mold with blankets, making sure they are free from any drafts. Allow to set (don't peek!) in molds for 24 hours.

6. Either with a knife or soap cutter, cut each into desired size bars. Allow to cure for up to 6 weeks (on a closet shelf would be perfect!).

7. To wrap: After you have allowed your soap to cure for about 6 weeks, you are now ready to package it. We use glossy white wrapping paper to wrap it just lie you would a package. We then add hemlock pinecones along with dried flowers attached with a hot glue gun. Tie with a pretty ribbon. You now have a wonderful bar of soap!

8. To make boxes: Gather desired number of papier-mache boxes you wish to make. Find copyright-free computer graphics you wish to use on the box. After you have chosen a graphic, print graphic on regular white paper using your printer. If you use the postcard format, you'll be able to get two on one piece of paper.

9. Cut graphic from postcard format. Place graphic on top of box lid to center design and cut off excess edges so that it fits perfectly on lid of box. Glue to box lid with white glue.

10. Paint bottom of box with a coordinating color of craft paint, making sure to paint around sides of lid. Allow box to dry about 20 minutes. After box is dry, apply varnish over entire box and allow to dry about 20 minutes more.

11. Place wrapped bar of soap into box. You may put a little potpourri in bottom of box before placing soap in box.

If you would like to view the segment where Jill demonstrates this project before you try making her soaps, then I suggest viewing the following clip:

Melt & Pour Soap Making: Candy Cane Curl Loaf

One of my favorite candies during the holiday season is the candy candy (of course). If you also like this candy or know some one who does then why not create soap that mimics their favorite candy.

I found this video tutorial from Go Planet Earth for a Candy Cane Curl Loaf Soap that can help you make these soaps for holiday gifts.

Cinnamon Sugar Bath Fizzies

These sugar bath fizzies really scream the Christmas holiday season. If you are looking for something to give as gifts but are low on cash, why create these Cinnamon Sugar Bath Fizzies.

Anne-Marie (aka The Soap Queen) kindly posted the recipe on her blog Soap and the Finer Things in Life. If you need something to package these bath fizzy bombs, you can get some festive holiday cellophane bags which you can purchase at Michaels. If you want to take it a step further you can purchase some colorful take out food containers which can also purchase at Michaels.

Happy Holidays!

How to Make Decorative Christmas Soaps

How to Make Decorative Christmas Soaps by Dale Devries, eHow Contributor is an unique way of making your own holiday soaps to give to your friends and family. You can make these soaps and decorate the tree. When the day arrives you can get them out to your guests. These soaps are so beautiful that they can be used for decorating the guest bathroom and kitchens. They are so unique that your guests will not realize that they are soaps that can be used. But they just might not use them and put them out each Christmas holiday season.

Peppermint Ice Melt and Pour Soap

A wintery wake up for your shower that's cool to look at and cool to wash with, this melt and pour soap making project uses clear soap base with blue and pearlescent colorants to make a nifty icy bar of soap. David Fisher's (of About.com) Peppermint Ice Melt and Pour Soap recipe fills my head with imagines of a winterland. Hope it does for you when you create this melt and pour soap projects for your friends and family.

Holiday Woodlands Soap

If you are a cold process soap maker and are looking for a different soap recipe to make this holiday season, check out ths Holiday Woodlands Soap recipe is from Skincare Naturals . The reason why the scenting is called Angel Wings is because the author describes the scent as delicate, light and pretty scent, just right for Christmas. She says that the batch comes out more beige than white. She suggested trying using some vegetable lard but I think that using titanium dioxide or zinc oxide may be a better suggestion. Does anyone out there have any other suggestions?

BreakAway Soy Tarts Recipe

I have heard of Wax Melts or Tarts, but I have learned a new term for these particular candle items and that is "wickless candles". The great thing about Wax Melts/Tarts/Wickless Candles according to Alison Kontur of BathbodySupply.com that can be safer than traditional candles that require lighting a wick to melt the wax and they release the scent. Wax tarts are placed into a special wax tart burner which relies on electricity to melt and disperse fragrance throughout the room without a flame.

It is easy and inexpensive to make your own soy wax tarts to scent your home or to give as gifts to friends and family. If you would like to learn how to make this delightful item, you can check out the recipe/instructions on how to make Breakway Soy Tarts which appears on Alison's blog DIY Skincare. Now remember, Alison has mentioned a particular color and scent in this recipe. Just remember you can subsitute the actual fragrance and color to match your liking, but

you may have to make adjustments on how much you use. There are some fragrance oils or essentials oils that are stronger or weaker than others so keep notes so that you will know the next time what you need to do.

Tree-Shaped Candles from Martha Stewart

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, it is time to bring out the Christmas decorations. Now that you have them out, you are thinking that I would like to add something different? Why, not try this Tree-Shaped Candles project from Martha Stewart? This winter wonderland candle project would be the perfect candlescape to add to your Christmas festivities. What is really great about this it can be left out all winter long. To me it does not look too Christmasy that someone who does not celebrate the holiday can decorate their buffet table with this beautiful landscape.

Soothing Salve Recipe

What is a salve? According to Alison Kontur of Bath Body Supply says s salve is an oily, adhesive substance for application as a skin barrier. Salves are her preferred topical treatment when the weather gets cold and skin has a tendency to be drier and more receptive to oil-based products. Now I wonder what the difference between a salve and a body balm is? Does anyone out there know? At any rate if you would like to make Alison's Soothing Salve recipe check out her blog DIY Skincare.

Soapy Candy Canes

Candy Canes are one symbol of the Christmas season. How would you like to create these in a soap version? Anne-Marie (aka The Soap Queen) has posted instructions on her blog Soap and the Finer Things on how to create these Soapy Candy Canes.

Do you know what I am thinking? These would make adorable addition to your gift wrap as toppers for those presents under the tree. Or how about putting these in the minature stockings and give them out at the holidays. The ideas are limitless. Have I sparked your creativity? You better get started because the holidays are just around the corner.

Sole Scrub Recipe

Winter will be here sooner than you think! Your feet will be wearing boots or something elso to protect them. So when spring arrives you will want your feet to look fantastic, so you need to exfoliate them until sandle weather arrives. The best thing to exfoliate your feet is with this Sole Scrub Recipe from
Do It Yourself Skincare.

This recipe contains the following great ingredients Refined Shea Butter, Fractionated Coconut Oil, and Pumice Powder, Deindritic Salt to make your feet feel great. Alison recommends as an option to add a preservative if you wish. Adding the preservative is up to you.

Cold Process Soap Article

I just got back from a visit to Barnes and Noble. I had an interesting visit. During this visit I happened to browse the magazine aisles to find a magazine called Handmade Living. It is from the same publisher as Making Sense (which is no longer being published).

In the November 2011 issue of Handmade Living had an article on making cold process soap by Emma Heathcoat James. I have taken cold process soap making class previously but have not made my own batches as of yet, I was interested in reading the article. What I found interesting and want to through out there to the experienced cold process soapmaker two points maybe you can clear up for me. The first one is adding the essential oils last and stirring in only enough to disperse into the recipe because if you stir too long can result into a discolored bar of soap or an uneven texture in the finished bar of soap. And the second is covering the mold and insulating it with a towel or blanket for 18 to 24 hours. The author says that this is a myth. That if you have the correct ratios you should not have to cover your soap batches. The soap will continue to saponify and generate heat whether you insulate or not. The author says that she does not cover hers.

So I am going to through these two issues out there for all of those experienced cold process soapmakers out there to shed some light on this. IF you can clear this up for me that would be great.

Candy Cane Sugar Scrub Recipe

This recipe for Candy Cane Sugar Scrub is the most popular Natural Beauty Workshop recipe ever! And it would be perfect for the holiday season. This scrub yields about 4 ounces of scrub. So make as many presents you severalgifts.

For this recipe you will need to purchase the following ingredients Shealoe Butter, Red Jojoba Wax Beads and White or Pale Yellow Beeswax (which can be purchased through From Nature with Love ), Peppermint Essential Oil** or Fragrance Oil and grainulated white sugar.

If you find it difficult to make this as a dual colored project, you can keep it simple and make it in one color. Instead of mixing two separate bowls, you would simply mix all of your ingredients in one bowl and spoon into a clear jar. Since this makes 4 ounces you can make a single color or you can strip it just like the instructions states.

If you would like to add a preservative it added to this recipe at your own discretion. For information on preservatives. If you want to add a preservativem make sure to check out their informational library. Without a preservative, this product should be used up as soon as possible, ideally within 3 weeks. If it not preserved, or if it is preserved with a natural agent, please handle this product with care. Keep the jar closed and in a cool, dry area. Do not bring the jar into the shower or bath. The author suggests using a clean spoon or popsicle stick to scoop single portions into a paper or plastic cup.

Soap Queen TV Holiday Special Edition: Gingerbread Man Soap

Do you love the smell of gingerbread cookies baking? This is the time of the year when this lovely smell is rampant throughout the house. How would you like to duplicate your favorite scent into a soap? Here is a special holiday edition from Soap Queen TV. Learn how to make your very own Gingerbread Man Soap. Mmm! It is really making me hungry! I love the aroma of gingerbread man cookies baking in the oven at this time of the year!

In order to make these adorable soap, you will need to purchase supplies. Brambleberry sells kits with all of the supplies you need or you can purchase the supplies individually. The supplies you need are: Gingerbread Man Soap Mold, Clear Melt & Pour soap base, White Melt & Pour soap base, Merlot Mica, Cappuccino Mica and Gingersnap fragrance.

To see how to make these adorable soaps, check out this video clip on how to do it. Making these soaps are fun and would make fantastic gifts!




Source: http://www.youtube.com/user/soapqueentv#p/u/1/KLr_3CLqir8

Shea Shine Lip Butter Recipe

Looking for an unique way to soften your lips from the harsh winter season? Why not try making this Shea Shine Lip Butter recipe from The Bare Budget Beauty. This simple recipe combines beeswax, extra virgin olive oil, castor oil and shea butter that takes hardly anytime at all to make - 15 mins. I think anyone can spare 15 to make this recipe. Once completed, recipe makes 1 1/4 ounces of lip butter which is enought to fill about 5 1/4 ounce lip balm tubes or jars and has a shelf life of 6 months.

Baby Soap: Buttermilk Bastille Baby Bar

What is bastille? According to Amanda of Lovin' Soap says that Bastille is a term affectionately coined by soapers for soap that is made with a high percentage of olive oil. Castille is 100% olive oil soap and bastille is soap made with 70% (or more) olive oil but contains other oils or butters.

Amanda also says that Castille on its own is not very bubbly but if you add a bit of coconut oil and buttermilk you can boost the bubbles a bit but keep the mildness of the high olive oil content. Buttermilk contains sugar which helps boost the bubbles as well.

If you would like to learning how to make Buttermilk Bastille Baby Bar, check out her guest blog post on Soap and the Finer Things in Life.

How to Make Beeswax Votives

How to Make Beeswax Votives by Cathy Herold, eHow Contributor instructions you how to make votive candles from Beeswax sheets. According to Cathy Beeswax votives made from 100 percent pure beeswax produce negative ions that clean the air of toxins, such as bacteria, dust, mold and other pollutants. Burning beeswax votives not only cleans the air, but also gives off a soft glow and a sweet honey smell. Besides being an attractive and calming addition to any home or office, handmade beeswax votives also make nice personal gifts. Making beeswax votives is fairly easy and quick.

Butter Blend Ingredients

I was surfing the Wholesale Supplies Plus website for some info on a particular ingredient. And I came across some interesting butter blends that I wanted to share. I am really interested in the blueberry and cranberry and was thinking of getting some to try in Erin's lip scrub recipe from her class. Maybe I was subsitute the mango butter for one of these. The cranberry would be interesting because I am thinking that it is already has red tint to it that one would not have to add any additional coloring. So if you were thinking of changing out a particular butter for another, you may want to check out one of these:

Crafters Choice™ Acai Butter Blend
Proprietary blend of Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil and Acai Fruit which has 20 times the amount of anti-oxidants found in red wine. This product allows you to add nutrient and anti-oxidant rich attributes to your formulations! Popular Products That Use This Ingredient:Cold & Hot Process Soap. Lotions. Lip Products.

Crafters Choice™ Pomegranate Butter Blend
Proprietary blend of Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil and Pomegranate Fruit which consumers recognize as a "super fruit". Super fruits are thought to combine exceptional nutrient richness and antioxidant qualities. Common Uses: Cold & Hot Process Soap. Lotions. Lip Products.

Crafters Choice™ Blueberry Butter Blend
Proprietray blend of Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil and Blueberry Fruit which is rich in anthocyanins, thought to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Popular Products That Use This Ingredient: Cold & Hot Process Soap. Lotions. Lip Products

Crafters Choice™ Cranberry Butter Blend
Contains a proprietary blend of Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil and Cranberry Fruit which has one of the highest ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity)...this means it is VERY high in anti-oxidant properties!! Popular Products That Use This Ingredient: Cold & Hot Process Soap. Lotions. Lip Products.

Crafters Choice™ Hemp Seed Butter Blend
Contains Hemp Seed Oil, thought to have the highest amount of polyunsaturated fatty acid contents of all natural oils. Considered a one of the "driest" natural oils as it absorbs quickly into the skin. Provides excellent lubricity without being greasy. Popular Products That Use This Ingredient: Cold & Hot Process Soap. Lotions. Lip Products.

Homemade Pumpkin Pie Body Scrub

Heidi, the author of the site, Adventures of a Gluten Free Mom posted this recipe for Homemade Pumpkin Pie Body Scrub. She originally found the recipe on the Bath and Body Recipes website but included her own notes on what she did. Her personal notes may make it easier to create this recipe on your own. If you or know someone who is sensitive to gluten and suffer from celiac disease, you may want to check out the rest of Heidi's site because you may find some recipes, menu plans and other information to help you with this.

Holiday Soap Cubes

Do you know that Brambleberry has a new cube mold for sale? Well, Anne Marie has been using this new mold to make cold process soap for the holiday season and has posted a recipe for Hoiday Soap Cubes on her blog Soap and The Finer Things in Life.

This recipe is for the intermediate soap maker and should take 45 minutes plus curing time to create this project. This recipe allows you to make 36 cubes. If you want to make this recipe for gifts, you will need to start now in order to allow curing time.

Marble Painting on Candles

The final marble technique Erica from Bath Alchemy discusses on her blog is painting. She says it is the easiest of all the methods and great for those who do not have blow torches lying around the house and prefer not to hammer their candles. In this final method, a different marbling effect is achieved using glass paints, which can be found at a craft store. If you would like to learn more about Marble Painting on Candles, I would suggest reading Erica's tutorial. This candle craft would be an unique accent to any decor, so get the materials and get started maaking these. Would make great gifts for any holiday.

Debbie's "Best Ever" Peppermint Scrub

Debbie's "Best Ever" Peppermint scrub recipe has been used by Debbie May from Wholesale Supplies Plus for over 3 years. It has been a proven best seller for private label customers and now she has made it available to YOU! Feel free to change the fragrance and color to your liking if you wish. For those that cater to the ice cream novelty industry, it makes the perfect scoop-able "ice cream style" scrub! FYI the base is premade, so if you are looking for all natural recipe you will have to look elsewhere. If you have not made a foaming bath whip before, then I would recommend purchasing the premade base.

Raspberry Lemonade with Wood Wick

Recently my local Michaels store started to sell the wood wicks in the candle making section of the store. I have heard of wood wicks but never tried them. I am really interested in trying them in this container candle project from Wholesale Supplies Plus. This Raspberry Lemonade with Wood Wick Project is perfect for the beginning candlemaker. The estimated time to make this project is under 6 hours and if you follow the directions, you should get 10 tins of candles.

MP Soap Project: Pumpkin Pie Squares

Do not leave these out or they will get gobbled up. They do look good enough to eat, don't they? The fragrance of these soaps are supposed to be irresistable. Since Thanksgiving is just around the corner, you can give thanks to your family by making these Pumpkin Pie Squares M&P Soaps. This project will not take you very long - only about an hour and should produce 6 to 6.5 bars.

Sugar Scrub Cubes Recipes

In September 2010, I took the brand new sugar scrubs class at The Nova Studio in Point Richmond, CA. I really liked Erin's recipe but I was just wondering if there was any other recipes availble. Naomi Heck of Susquehanna Soaps has generously donated this single use sugar scrub cube recipe to the Wholesale Supplies Plus Library.

I really like her packaging, but I found some ingredients that were different from Erin's. I thought it was interesting that she had clay, e-wax, and phenonip (preservative). I am not sure why e-wax would be added to this recipe because I do not see anything in this recipe that needs emulisifying like you would in a lotion or cream recipe. But I did look over Erin's recipes and I found that e-wax and preservative was used in her whipped sugar scrub recipe. Not sure what the clay is for but if it was a colored clay, which the recipe does not indicate, to add color to the product but maybe. But in Naomi's recipe she is using a yellow liquid lake colorant. So I am wondering what the benefit of the clay is. But it seems to be an interesting ingredient I must say. Also I am not really sure why the preservative is added but just for the mirror fact to have the product last longer on the shelf.

Even though this is different from Erin's recipe, it is an interesting recipe that I may have to try. I think I will try cutting the recipe in half since it makes so much easier.

Bath Tub Fairy Dust

Love bath salts in your bath? Why not try this receipe for Bath Tub Fairy Dust from The Natural Beauty Workshop? Now I am not sure what makes this bath salt receipe into fairy dust, but there are 4 different recipes including White, Green, Blue and Pink. So you can create whatever fits your mood. But what is really great is that The Natural Beauty Workshop conveniently has a special button to printo out the recipes. So go ahead and get started on making batches because this would be a great gift for the holidays or any special occassion.

How to Make a Homemade Milk Bath

The first time I heard of a milk bath is when I took a class from Lori Nova from The Nova Studio in 2003. Her recipe is wonderful, but I was wondering how milk bath recipes would vary from creator to creator. There are many different milk bath recipes on the internet and they all have the same basic ingredient of powdered milk. In the tutorial, How to Make a Homemade Milk Bath by eHow Contributor, Fahlen Brown, uses alot of natural ingredrients like atmeal, dried orris root, cornstarch and almond meal.

If you are new to a milk bath, according to Fahlen, a milk bath is a relaxing way to unwind and pamper your skin at the same time. While there are products you can use to create a milk bath, some prefer a milk bath with natural ingredients that can be made at home. This way, you can avoid any artificial ingredients and synthetic perfumes. Making your own milk bath is also less expensive than buying store-bought products.

If you have made milk baths in the past, I would like to have your input on whether or not to add a fragrance or essential oil. What is your preference fragrance or no fragrance? I often wondered would a fragrance oil make the powered milk go bad? I never tried it before so I was just wondering what the opinion was out there.

Burn Time of Candle Wax

There have been questions on how long particular candles burn once you make them. In my search I found some information that may help you with that question.

According to Cape Candle, Beeswax Honeycomb Candles are hand rolled and are the tightest rolled, longest burning in the industry. For pillars candles burn approximately 3 hours per inch.; tapers burn approximately burn 40 minutes per inch; beeswax solid tapers burn approximately 1 hour per inch.

As for soy candles, Joy Candles says that soy candle burn times by group. As a general rule soy candles burn about 8 -9 hours per ounce of wax. All burn times are approximate, they are affected by several factors, including drafts improper wick height, etc. For example, a 2 ounce votive candle will burn approximately 16-18 hours. I would say your times may vary. Soy will burn up to 30% to 50% of compariable paraffin wax candles.

If you would like more information on the burn rate of candles, here are some links that contain information that may help you:

Soya - Burn time of Soy Wax
Aloha Bay - Soy and Beeswax FAQ's

If you would like to learn how to figure out what the burn time of your candle then I recommend reading the following article, Calculate The Estimated Burn Time for a Candle
on Candle Tech's website.

If anyone out there has another site with good information, please let me know so that I can add it to the list.

How to Make Beeswax Votive Candles

According to Karen Curinga, eHow Contributor, thorough out history beeswax has been used as an ingredient in just about everything, from broth to skin softener, according to Pioneer Thinking. Today, beeswax is used in furniture polish and some automobile polishes, but one of the most beautiful and enjoyable ways to use beeswax is in candles. Beeswax candles are an all natural source of energy thanks to our bee friends. Candles add a touch of romance, elegance and warmth to any gathering. They also make a fantastic gift idea.

If you want to make a votive candle with beeswax instead of soy, then you should try Karen's tutorial on How to Make Beesewax Votive Candles on Ehow.com.

Beeswax Lanterns Project

Do you have leftover beeswax pastilles and looking for something unique to make with it? Why, not create these beautiful beeswax lanterns? These lanterns can make a unique flameless tealight candle or indoor/outdoor decoration. You can decorate the exterior with leaves, herbs like star anise or they can be painted with mica or other pigments to create holiday-specific designs.

Interested in learning how? Check out this Beeswax Lanterns Project from Allison B. Kontur of BathbodySupply and kindly shares her project on her blog - DIY Skincare. If you did not know that there are two kinds of beeswax pastilles - Natural and White/Unrefined. You will need the white/unrefined verision to make this project. The difference between the two is that the Natural will have the golden yellow hue to it while the white will have it taken out.

This project looks really easy and fun to make. I will have to go to the party store to get some balloons so I can get started.

What should I know about candle safety?

Did you receive a candle as a gift lately and do not know the safety guidelines you should follow? Or are you a seasoned candle burner and would like a review of practicing safety when burning candles? Safety is an important issue when burning candles. A little ounce of prevention as they say. So if you would like to learn or review candle safety I would recommend reading the article titled What should I know about candle safety? by Alison Kontur of BathBodySupply.com. Alison has kindly posted this article on her blog called DIY Skincare which she continually posts informative articles on bath and body products.

SoapyLove Sweet Soap Class

When I took my first melt and pour soapmaking class in 2002, I did not know the potential of how far I could take this soapmaking process in creating soaps. I found a variety of books on the subject and then I heard of Debbie Chialtas of Soapy Love fame who is best known for her glycerin soap pops. When her book "Soapylove: Squeaky-Clean Projects Using Melt-and-Pour Soap" came out in September 2009, I knew I had to have it. By this time, she started teaching classes at The Nova Studio I knew I wanted to take a class, but something seemed to happen that I was unable to take the class. But in August 2011, I was luckily enough and excited to take Debbie's Sweet Saturday Soap class. What prompted me to take this class was the different projects such as S'mores, Marshmallow, Sprinkles and Cupcake soaps which were not included in her book.

What was really great about this class was the fact that we learned to make all of the soap projects from clear glycerin soap base. This was a surprise to me that not one ounce of white opaque soap was used. Debbie showed us how to use the appropriate type of colorant to turn clear glycerin soap base into opaque soap. It is so amazing on how we created soap that looks like delicious desserts. Even when I showed friends and family the S'mores soap they could not believe how cute they were.

In 3 of the projects (Cupcake, S'mores and Marshmallows) we learned how to take clear glycerin soap and make it to three different consistencies to make frosting, melted marshmallows and regular marshmallows. The concept for this is very simple, but it can get tricky. You think that the consistency is not quite there, and then you find yourself going just alittle to far. But no fear! The beauty of this is that you can pop it back into the microwave and start over again. The fourth project, is learning how to make sprinkles. These are perfect to put atop of your cupcake soap or even on a muffin bath bomb. If one finds these to be too difficult to make, you can purchase jojoba beads in a variety of color and put them on your cupcake soap instead. I saw this option being done by my partner.

In this class brand new class, there were only 8 students in the class which made the seating arrangements really comfortable. Luckily there was an even number in the class because we worked in pairs on each project, which means that we got hands on practice but also had the added comfort with working with someone.

I would highly recommend this class. It was fun and educational. I was sorry to miss the Spooky Halloween Sunday Class. But I was luckily enough to purchase the e-class handout directly from The Nova Studio website. It was well worth it and I am looking forward to creating the exploding soap project. Always check The Nova Studio website for new class offerings from Debbie and other teachers.

Cranberry Lip Scrub and Body Butter

Love lip scrubs? Want to an easy way to create your own? This Cranberry Lip Scrub and Body Butter recipe from Wholesale Supplies Plus is a really easy one since you will be purchasing a pre-made base directly from WSP. If you are concerned with the ingredients in the pre-made base and have your own recipe because you may want to consider adapting it to this one.

If you decide to follow WSP's recipe, it will take about a 1/2 hour to complete the project and you should be able to make 10 lip tubes and 5 jars of butter.

Note: This recipe is made with a pre-made base. If you have a recipe for a lip scrub, you may want to adjust it to accomodate some of the ingredients.

Recipe: Christmas Ale Botanical Salt

If you want to give a special holiday give this Christmas holiday season you may want to make this Christmas Ale Botanical Salt recipe from DIY Skincare.  You ca really get creative packaging this bath salt.  The author suggests packing the salt in a cello bag and tie off with a holiday themed ribbon.  Then you can place the cello bag inside an empty beer mug or stein and label it with a holiday tag.