Free Beginner’s Guide To Soapmaking: Cold Process

If you are just getting into making your own soap, the Soap Queen's has gone back to basics and created this article on cold process soap making for beginners. And she has graciously created a free download for anyone who wants one.  This is very informative and easy to understand, so  I would highly recommend it.

Running a Retail Business

Are you running a retail business?  It is difficult to run one even if times are good.  So, if you are feeling that you need some inspiration then read this blog article from Wholesale Supplies Plus on Running a Retail Business.  This article is not about starting a business.  The information in the article assumes your business is already up and running and your are looking for tips on how to keep your business running smoothly.  This article is oriented towards a small business, the same principles apply to most businesses regardless of size.

How To Photograph Products

Anne-Marie (aka The Soap Queen) has reposted an article about photographing products.  The article on How to Photography Products shares a few tips on how you should approach this subject.  She mentions that she is not a photographer by any means but she wants you take this information with a grain a salt.  I would read the article anyway and take any information you can. You might be able to improve the pictures on your website or etsy site.  Good Luck!

Calculating your water amount for soapmaking

Whether you are a beginning or advanced cold process soap maker you may have a difficult time calculating your water.  If you are having trouble with this particular issue, you may want to read the article from Lovin' Soap called Calculating Your Water Amount For Soapmaking.  This is an informative article that help you along if you are having trouble calculating your water if you are making your own  recipe or if you are changing a particular oil in a recipe.  If you have any other suggestions on this subject, please share them.

Licorice Candy Soap (Melt and Pour)

When I saw the picture of this soap it reminded me of the Brach candy. I believe it was a Neopolitan. I tried it but  I did not like it because it had coconut.  But since this soap was called Licorice Candy Soap, the pink version reminded me of a boxed candy called Good and Plenty.  Now I was not a big licorice lover, but every once in awhile, I would get a box.  IF you love licorice, then I would recommend you try making this soap.  It is a very easy soap to make  because it only takes under two hours to make 9 soaps.

Peppermint Ice Melt and Pour Soap

Here is 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 from About Candle and Soap called Peppermint Ice Melt and Pour Soap  that uses clear soap base with blue and pearlescent colorants to make a nifty icy bar of soap.

For this project you'll need:

(1) Clear melt and pour soap base - For this project I used 48 oz. of soap base total

(2) A blue soap colorant, preferably clear, ideally with a mica undertone - I used Sapphire Gel Tone Colorant from SunFeather Soap Company

(3) A white pearlescent mica colorant - I used "Polar Ice" mica from Keller Naturals

(4) Peppermint essential oil or another "cool" or "icy" fragrance oil

(5) A basic soap mold - my mold here makes 12 4 oz. bars

(6)  Basic melt and pour soap making equipment (measuring cup, scale, knives, whisk)

To get started making the Peppermint Ice Soap follow the instructions for each of these link:

Make the Blue Ice
Make the White Ice
Make the Ice Slivers
Arrange the Slivers in the Mold
Melt and Pour the Rest of the Soap Base
Unmold Your Icy Soap Creations

Very Merry Cranberry Tree Melt and Pour Soap Loaf

Want to make your Christmas special? Why not create this Very Merry Cranberry Tree Melt and Pour Soap Loaf  from Wholesale Supplies Plus.  It is an advanced level soap project that should take an hour to make.  And the results are (8) 1" slices of soap.

Rose and Oat Facial Scrub

I have always used an almond scrub from the drugstore on my face.  I have never made one from scratch even though I took a facial products class from Lori Nova may years ago.  In a recent newsletters from Mountain Rose Herb they included a rceipe for a Rose and Oat Facial Scrub.  Their recipe looks simple enough to make but I will have to be on the look out for organic rose petals.  So give it a try and see what you think. Now I am on the look out for a mud mask since Walmart and CVS no longer carry my favorite mud mask.

For this recipe, you will need:

1 TBSP organic old-fashioned rolled Oats
1 TBSP organic raw Almonds
2 tsp dried organic Rose petals
1 tsp Rhassoul clay

Grind oats, almonds, and Rose petals in a clean coffee grinder until finely powdered. Sift through a mesh screen to remove larger pieces; larger pieces may be too abrasive for the delicate facial skin. Add Rhassoul clay, mix thoroughly, and store in a glass jar. To use, mix 2-3 tsp with water, milk, cream, flower water, or tea until a smooth paste forms. Massage the scrub onto your face with fingertips, then rinse with cool water.

Back to basics: Solid scrub bars

Have you ever made a lotion bar or a bath melt before?  How would you like to try and make a solid scrub bar?  Point of Interest has this very easy recipe for Solid Scrub Bars which would be great to make if you need an exfoliateror to use in the shower.

Clove and Orange Lip Balm Recipe

I would have to admit that I love the Orange/Clove or Orange/Cinnamon in cold process soap.  But in a recent Mountain Rose Herb Newsletter they had a recipe for Clove and Orange Lip Balm recipe. It is sweet, citrusy, and warming lip balm has just a hint of spice and a delightful scent reminiscent of Orange and Clove studded Pomander Balls. For those who do not know that citrus essential oils such as Sweet Orange are photosensitive which means that it can cause a rash or sunburn when worn when it is daylight.  So use it with caution

1 Tablespoon organic Shea Butter
3 Tablespoons organic Sunflower Oil
1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon Beeswax
15 drops organic Sweet Orange essential oil
5 drops organic Clove essential oil

Lip balm preparation: Coarsely chop the beeswax or use beeswax pastilles. Place beeswax, butter, and oils in a small pot or glass Pyrex measuring cup and gently heat in the top of a double boiler until the beeswax and butters have melted. Once melted, remove from the stovetop and add essential oils and Vitamin E Oil. Immediately pour the mixture into lip balm containers. You can purchase lip balm tubes and jars, or you can reuse glass or plastic containers. Allow to cool completely before placing caps onto the lip balm containers. Your lip balm is finished! You can now add labels, ribbons, twine, or any other decorative elements. Makes approximately 1.5 oz of lip balm, enough to fill 10 lip balm tubes, 6 of our 1/4 oz plastic jars, or 3 1/2 oz tins or plastic jars.

GINGER ORANGE BATH COOKIES

Here is a clever and unique gifft to make for someone on your list that loves to take baths.  This easy Ginger Orange Bath Cookies recipe from Wholesale Supplies Plus that should take you one hour to make 20-24 bath cookies. If you are giving these as a gift make sure to attach a note saying these are not edible. As easy as these are to make, they are very easy to use.  All you need to do is crumble a few bath cookies under running water to experience the soothing affects of the oatmeal, mango butter and grapeseed oil.  .

Body Scrubs Class in Sunnyvale, CA

Body scrubs are a great way to exfoliate the skin while you shower. They are also a simple & easy gift to make for any occasion. In this hands on demonstration class, students will learn how to make 3 different body scrubs (salt, whipped sugar & sugar cube), plus an added bonus of a lip scrub. At the end of the class, students will take home an 8 oz. jar of salt scrub, a 10 oz. jar of single use sugar cube scrub, 8 oz. jar of whipped sugar scrub, .25 oz. lip scrub. In addition students will receive an extensive handout with recipes, resources of suppliers, packaging and more. Important: Students must bring to class: a 2 cup measuring cup, mixing bowl (metal), mixing spoon, and a large bowl for measuring. A materials fee of $20 (cash) will be collected on the day of class.

Saturday, February 16, 2013
10 am to 1 pm

Cost: $35 plus $20 materials fee

Sunnyvale Cupertino Adult Education
591 W. Fremont Avenue
Room: Cafeteria
Sunnyvale, CA 94087

(408) 522-2700
web: https://ace.fuhsd.org/

Class could be cancelled due to low enrollment. Sign up early and tell your friends!

Fuzzy Felted Soap Balls

Have you ever heard of felted soap?  I have heard of it and saw demonstrated on a craft show awhile back but I have never tried it before.   If you are interested in trying making this type of soap, you should check out Amanda's  (of Lovin' Soap) Fuzzy Felted Soap Balls tutorial on The Soap Queen's site.  After seeing this tutorial I would definately would like to give it a try.

Customer Question: How Do I Prevent Product Tampering?

Are you currently in business that creates soaps or other cosmetic products? So you are wondering how to protect your product against tampering.  According to Alison Kontur of Bath Body Supply Company, it is a common problem  in the cosmetic industry that occurs when you stock your products at a boutique or have them displayed at a craft show and a customer removs the lid to smell or sample the product.  In her blog article Customer Question: How Do I Prevent Product Tampering?, Alison gives you 5 different solutions to this problem.  But I am wondering if putting out one jar or bottle of a product as a sample would work.  Or would this create a problem of contamination, what are your thoughts?

 

Wildcraft Face Cream Recipe

This luxuriously rich and silky face cream recipe is a favorite of the Mountain Rose staff. It is an adaptation of Rosemary Gladstar’s much beloved Perfect Cream recipe absorbs quickly without leaving a filmy or greasy residue. The best part is that it has an unbelievably velvet texture and a smooth consistency which leaves your skin feeling fresh and supple. Totally customizable, you can experiment freely with your favorite essential oils, infused oils, and hydrosols using this recipe as a base for your own face cream creations. A wonderful gift idea for friends and family – or for yourself!

Hot Process Series: CPOP Swirls

Ever wondered what the difference is between CPOP, HPOP, and CPHP? Anne-Marie (aka Soap Queen)  hopes to set the record straight when it comes to various methods of using heat to aid in the soapmaking process in an blog entry called Hot Process Series: CPOP Swirls . She will selt out to tell you of my own accounts of what happens when I attempt these different methods. She also provides a recipe for you to try.  It is an advanced project that should take you 1.5 hours to make 8 bars of soap. Give it a try!

Peppermint Salt Scrub Cubes Recipes

If you have ever made sugar scrub cubes before, here is a recipe from Wholesale Supplies Plus on how to make Peppermint Salt Scrub Cubes.  It is very similiar to making sugar scrub cubes but you are using a medium grain salt instead of granulated sugar.  Even though the author says this would be great for summer, I thought the peppermint scent reminded me more of Christmas. Wow! What a great gift to give to your friends during the holiday season.  If you change the fragrance, you can give it out anytime of the year!

Tree with Falling Snow M&P Soap

Winter is just around the corner. If winter is your favorite time of the year, then you may want to create this adorable melt and pour bar of soap called Tree with Falling Snow . This free recipe appears on the Wholesale Supplies Plus website and they conveniently added a print recipe button to store easily in your files. This advanced melt and pour soap project should take you about 2 hours to complete and when the soap is completely cured you should get (8) 1" bars of soap to enjoy.

Fresh Snow Gradient Layer Soap

I really like the layered look in cold process soap.  If you like the look as much as I do, then check out this tutorial Fresh Snow Gradient Layer Soap  from I'd Lathering Be Soaping.  Somehow, purple does not seem like a color that I would associate with fresh snow.  I may use blue instead.  What do you think?

Making an eye cream (part 3)

Did you love the recipes from part one and two from Point of Interenets?  IF you have not and want to try to make your own eye cream. here is part three of the series Making an eye cream (part 3)  where Point of Interest discusses what a comeceutical and gives and other great recipe.

Peppermint Cocoa Lip balm Recipe

Do you love using lip balm?  Here is a Peppermint Cocoa Lip Balm recipe from Mountain Rose Herb that is refreshing, cooling, and nourishing lip balm with Cocoa Butter and Peppermint for that quintessential fusion of chocolate and mint. It is perfect some someone who loves that combination.

1 Tablespoon Cocoa Butter
2 Tablespoons Sweet Almond Oil
1 Tablespoon Avocado Oil
1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon Beeswax
12-15 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
A few drops of Vitamin E Oil (optional, but recommended)

Lip balm preparation: Coarsely chop the beeswax or use beeswax pastilles. Place beeswax, butter, and oils in a small pot or glass Pyrex measuring cup and gently heat in the top of a double boiler until the beeswax and butters have melted. Once melted, remove from the stovetop and add essential oils and Vitamin E Oil. Immediately pour the mixture into lip balm containers. You can purchase lip balm tubes and jars, or you can reuse glass or plastic containers. Allow to cool completely before placing caps onto the lip balm containers. Your lip balm is finished! You can now add labels, ribbons, twine, or any other decorative elements. Makes approximately 1.5 oz of lip balm, enough to fill 10 lip balm tubes, 6 of our 1/4 oz plastic jars, or 3 1/2 oz tins or plastic jars.

Gnome Soaps

When I see Gnomes I think of the commercial for that online travel site. Was it Expedia?  Anyway, I saw this project by Amanda of Lovin' Soap who did a guest melt and pour tutorial on how to make Gnome Soaps for The Soap Queen last year that you might have missed.  If you want to create this as a Santa Gnome and give them as gifts then check out the tutorial.  But make sure to download the free gnome embed from Amanda's site.

Snow Globes Melt and Pour Soaps

As an adult, I still love snow globes.  I have seen simple projects to make your own which I have not tried yet, but I recently found this Gingerbread Man Snow Globe (Melt and Pour) project from Wholesale Supplies Plus which is too cute not to share.  I really want to try making this project sometime.  They would be cute to give as gives but they may be too cute to use.  This is an intermediate project which should take two hours to make 10 soaps.

Mr. Grinch Sleigh Soap

Did you watch The Grinch Stole Christmas as a child?  I watched every year when it came on.  I do remember that Boris Karloff having a voice over reading the store.  If you are a big fan of this classic, you  may want to create this melt and pour Mr. Grinch Sleigh Soap from Denise of Go Planet Earth.

Faux Fir Refresher Room Spray

For Christmas do you put a fauz tree up every year?  Do you miss the aroma of a fresh tree?  Then you should consider making this Faux Fir Refresher Spray from DIY Skincare.  It is very simple to make since it only takes two ingredients plus a spray bottle to make it. So bring back abit of the holidays to your home.

Super Bouncy Ball Soaps

As a child were you always begging your mom/dad for change to put into the gumball machine to get a bouncy ball?  Here is a soap project from The Soap Queen called the Super Bouncy Ball Soaps that look the like the balls you would get from the gumball machine. It is an advanced project that should take you two hours to make eight spheres.  What a great party favor to make for your child's next birthday party.

WHIPPED PUMPKIN BUTTER

Are you a fan of body butters and use them on a regular basis?  What about pumpkin?  Why not combine the two and create this Whipped Pumpkin Butter from Wholesale Supplies Plus?  This is an easy level project that you can do in a half hour.  Once you complete the recipe you will have made (12) three ounce jars which means you can have enough to give out as holiday gifts. 

Pumpkin Spice Aroma

Even though Thanksgiving has passed, it does not mean that you cannot celebrate all year with the aroma of  baking goodies, enjoying beloved company, and filling the air with warm spicy aromas! Diffusing essential oils is a simple and effective way to fill a room with your favorite seasonal scent, especially if you don’t have time to bake a pie. A classic blend for this time of year is pumpkin spice, which brings back warm feelings and memories of fresh baked pumpkin pie and family gatherings. This blend will not only fill your room with spicy goodness, it will also help disinfect the air while bringing a smile to your face. So, skip those expensive synthetically perfumed candles and make this delicious smelling treat! This recipe from a newsletter I receive from The Mountain Rose blog is one way to  bring in those fabulous baking aromas anytime you want.

Pumpkin Spice Essential Oil Blend

20 drops organic Cinnamon essential oil
20 drops organic Ginger essential oil
20 drops organic Nutmeg essential oil
15 drops organic Clove Bud essential oil
5 drops organic Cardamom essential oil

Blending Directions: Add all essential oils to a glass bottle. One 1/4oz bottle will hold this blend perfectly. Screw cap on tightly and invert the bottle to blend the oils. Do not shake!

Diffusing Directions: Fill your essential oil diffuser reservoir with water. Add 5-6 drops of the Pumpkin Spice Essential Oil Blend. Light a tea candle in base of your diffuser and enjoy as your space fills with this spicy aroma! (The diffuser pictured is our new Ceramic Diffuser, which is made in the USA).

Making an eye cream: Tweaking the oils

If you loved the articles posted on Point of Interest's site about making your own eye cream, but know you want to tweak the oils in the recipes.  Now you do not have to worry because Point of Interest has recently posted an article on Making an eye cream: Tweaking the oils which should answer all of your questions.

Orange Spice Colongne

If you are looking for something for the man in your life, you might want to consider making this Orange Spice Cologne recipe that I recently saw in a newsletter from Mountain Rose. This  warming, spicy, and exotic blend that will lift spirits, invigorate senses, alleviate stress, mental fatigue, and tension. The aroma is delightfully reminiscent of Chai tea.

You will need the following ingredients:

1 organic Cinnamon Stick
25 organic whole Cardamom Pods
15 organic Cloves
1 organic Vanilla Bean – cut into small pieces
1 fresh organic Orange peel – zest only
8 oz Vodka

Directions

Crush spices in a mortar and pestle. Combine with Vanilla Bean pieces, Orange peel zest, and vodka in a glass mason jar. Cap tightly and shake once or more per day. After 2-6 weeks, strain the spices and pour the infused liquid into a glass bottle with a mister top. Simply add more spices if you desire a stronger cologne.

Learn how to make bath and body treats

How would you like to learn how to make some of your favorite products in a solid form? In this demonstration class you will learn how to make a solid version of a lotion stick/massage bar, body scrub and bath oil.The class will cover packaging and other topics. Students will take home an extensive handout with recipes, resources and more, a lotion stick, massage bar, body scrub and bath melts. Lab Fee: $20 (cash) payable to the instructor. NO REFUNDS 7 DAYS PRIOR TO CLASS START DATE.

Saturday, March 9, 2013
11 am to 2 pm
Cost: $33 for Residents/$39 Non Resident plus $20 materials fee

Redwood City Parks and Recreation
Red Morton Community Center
1120 Roosevelt Ave
Room 4
Redwood City, CA 94061
(650) 780-7311

To register online: https://www.redwoodcity.org/parks. This class could be cancelled due to low enrollment. Sign up early and tell your friends!

This class is sponsored by Redwood City Parks and Rec.

Ombre Rebatch Layers Tutorial

In the past, I have found and posted tutorials on how to make ombre layered candles. To my surprise, I found this Ombre Rebatch Layered Soap tutorial from The Soap Queen that really takes rebatching and layering soap to a whole new level.  In this receipe you can simply purchase the cold process soap noodles from Brambleberry which is really conveinent if you do not have the space or time to do so. This is an intermediate level project that should take 30-45 mins to get about 6 bars of soap.  Have fun!

 

Star Loaf with Curls M&P

Want to make soaps for the holidays but you do not know where to start?  Well, here is an advanced level project from Wholesale Supplies Plus called Star Loaf with Curls.  From the picture it does not look particularly geared towards anyone religion, but you can incorporate holiday colors if you wish.  This project takes a 1/2 hour to make and yields eight bars of soap.

3 Palm Free Soap Recipes

If are concerned about the palm oil situation and you would like to not make your cold process soap without palm oil, The Nova Studio posted in a recent blog post three recipes that you can try.  In the article, 3 Palm Free Soap Recipes, these three palm oil free cold process soap recipes can be used in either by the cold process or hot process method.

Making Eye Cream Part Deux

If you liked Point of Interest's part one on Making Eye Cream and have been waiting for the follow-up, your wait is finally over.  In Making Eye Cream Part 2, Point of Interest goes more into depth on what water soliuable ingredients you can use and gives you another recipe you can try.  This was worth waiting for!

How to Make Body Butter (HerbMentor)

In a recent HerbMentor News blast I received contained a body butter recipe by Rosalee de la Forêt.  To be honest, I have always been told that a body butter recipe should not contain water and this one does, so it really would be more of a cream recipe.  Since she uses a hydrosol, she does not uses a preservative. She states that she leaves her recipe at room temperature nnd she has not had a problem.  She said that you if you plan to keep your body butter for more than 6 months, then you would want to store it in the fridge.  On the safe side, I would rather add a paraben free preservative rather than not having one.  What is your take on it?  If you want to know what the recipe is, here are the ingredients and let us know what you think.

Ingredients

( Note: Solid ingredients are measured by weight using a scale. Liquid ingredients are measured by volume using a measuring cup)

The butters, oil and wax

3 oz of shea butter, 2 ounces of mango butter , 1 ounce of coconut oil , 5 ounce beeswax , 3 ounces of infused oil

The water portion
2 ounces of hydrosol , 1 ounce of aloe vera , essential oils of your choice (optional) , 1/4 teaspoon borax

Directions

Begin by slowly melting the butters and wax in a double boiler or in a pan on very low heat.

Once it has all melted, turn off the heat and slowly add the oil. When you add the oil you might notice parts of the liquid become solid again. Sometimes you can just give it a little stir and everything will melt again. If not, it may need a tiny bit more heat to be sure that it all melts together.

Once the butters, wax and oil are combined you’ll need to pour it into the container you are going to mix it in. If you are using a blender pour the mixture in the blender and set it aside until it is at room temperature. If you are using a cake mixer or immersion blender place it in the bowl you will use to whip it up.

While waiting for the butter mixture to cool, mix together the hydrosol, aloe vera, essential oils and the borax.

Once the butter mixture has cooled use a blender or handheld mixer to begin to mix it. Slowly add the hydrosol, aloe vera, essential oils and borax mixture.

Bath Tea Recipe

Do you love to take a bath?  How would you like to make your bathing experience more enjoyable? Debbie Chialtas (aka SoapyLove) has created a recipe and video on Kin Community that shows you how easy to make her  wonderful bath tea recipe plus package it into a cute tea bag.  Since the holidays are coming up really soon, this would be an easy and inexpensive gift to make for friends and family.  It would also be great favor to make for guests at a baby or bridal shower.

Another Peppermint Bark Soap Recipe

Awhile back The Soap Queen had a posting on her site, Soap and the Finer Things in Life on making a melt and pour soap project on how to make your own Peppermint Bark Soap for the holidays. Now Debbie from Wholesale Supplies Plus has added her own verision of this holiday treat. This recipe for peppermint bark soap is a great last minute gift to make because it will only take you an hour to complete the project and you will wind up with 24 bars of soap. It that simple! Even better yet, Wholesale Supplies Plus conveniently has a print button in the recipe so you can add it to your files. Happy holidays~

Gift Series: Bath Fizzy Bombs

Cinnamon Sugar Bath Fizzies from The Soap Queen are fun, easy, and very affordable! They added up the cost of the ingredients, divided it out and found these little bath treats are just 60¢ each! Totally afforable to make plenty of gifts for the holiday season. This is the final project in Christmas Gift Idea series Day 1 and Day 2. Now know how to make these simple projects, you will have all of the knowledge you need to create delightful gift ensembles that are the perfect gift for holiday party gift exchanges, office co-workers, as well as family and friends. We think making holiday gifts with your children or friends is the perfect way to spend quality time with the ones you love.As an added treat we have created label designs for 4 of our favorite Holiday fragrances. You can put a professional packaging touch to your gifts with these labels. Click here to get the Cinnamon Sugar, Christmas Forest, Fresh Snow, and Cranberry Fig.

Ingredients: 1 pound Citric Acid, 2 pounds Baking Soda, ¼ ounce fragrance Cappucino Mica, Shredded Glitter, Witch Hazel (in a spray bottle), Mold.

This recipe makes about 18 bath fizzies in a 2.5 ounce size. If you want want to make more (or less) just remember that it is always 1 part Citric Acid to 2 parts Baking Soda. Add as much fragrance as you like (our recipe produces a highly fragrant fizzy) and use LESS color than you think you need. The color will always look faded until they are used in the bath when they bloom and sparkle!

Cranberry Lip Balm Recipe

Cranberries always makes me think of Thanksgiving. Here is a homemade spa recipe for a cranberry lip balm made with fresh cranberries that will leave your lips soft and gives them a hint of color.  But what is interesting that it does not contain any wax which makes me think that it is more of a lip gloss than a lip balm.  What is your input?

Winter Snow and Dippped Candles

Looking to make unique winter time candles? How about learning how to make Winter Snow and Dipped Candles (Making Whipped and Dipped Candles)? In this special winter tutorial on making whipped and dipped candles tutorial from Erica of The Bonnie Bath Company kindly posted a tutorial on how to make Pine Cone Fire Starters, Whipped Snow Candles, Snowballs, and Snow in Containers on her blog Bath Alchemy. These candles can be given as gifts for the holidays and can stay out all winter until it is time to change the candles for the spring season.

Apple Balsam Pine Tree Loaf Soaps

Now that Thanksgiving is over, it is now time to get into gear about gifts for Christmas. Instead of getting crazy at the malls, why not create your own gifts instead of buying them? Handcrafted gifts are so much more personal since they come from the heart. So what your are probably thinking what should I make? How about these adorable Apple Balsam Pine Tree Loafsoaps from Wholesale Supplies Plus ? This advanced melt and pour project should take an hour to complete and give you (8) 1" slices. If you like to add this recipe to your files, Wholesale Supplies Plus has conveniently added a print button for easy printing.

Elbow and Knee Lotion

Here is an Elbow and Knee lotion recipe  from Teach Soap.com that is  a cross between a crème and a lotion. It can be placed in a jar or in a squeezable bottle. It will leave hands oily for ten or fifteen minutes so it’s not recommended for hands if you’re actively working, reading or playing sports as it will leave oil marks. It is designed to be super moisturizing for your elbows and knees.

Sugar Leaf Lotion Bars

Have you ever tried lotion bars before?  Maybe you should try this Sugar Leaf Lotion Bars recipe from Wholesale Supplies Plus.  These lotions bars have an all natural base that includes shea butter, cocoa butter and grapeseed oil. Feels outsstanding on the skin!!  Plus it is easy to make. It will take you one  hour to make 30 lotion bars.  So this would be great to make to give out gifts for the winter.

Coffee Mocha Loaf Soap Recipe

Are you having a difficult time staying away from your local Starbucks?  Here is a melt and pour soap recipe from Wholesale Supplies Plus call Coffee Mocha Loaf Soap that could help you get thru until your next visit.  This advanced project should take you two  hours to make (8) 1 inch slices,

Fun Food Inspired Candles - Banana Cream Pudding

Do you love Banana Cream Pudding? Erica of The Bonnie Bath Company has recreated your favorite dessert into a candle and shared her instructions for Banana Cream Pudding on her blog Bath Alchemy.  If you have any friends who love banana cream pudding but not the calories, you can make this as a gift for the upcoming holiday season.

Experiments in the workshop: Making an eye cream (part 1)

Are you unhappy with your eye cream recipe and would like to create your own?  You may want to try this eye cream recipe from Point of Interest.
The author of this recipe wanted something that would moisturize their under eye area without feeling too greasy or heavy. I would like something that will reduce inflammation and reduce dark circles. So if you are looking for the same, then you should try making this recipe.

Warming Massage Bar

Love to use massage bars?  Well here is a perfect recipe to celebrate the fall season.  This Warming Massage Bar Recipe from The Natural Beauty Workshop is a warm colored massage bar is made with Angelica Root Essential Oil, which has a subtle, spicy aroma and provides a warming sensation while helping to increase circulation and stimulate the senses. The Warming Massage Bar is colored with Paprika to give it a warm orange tint on the top of the bar.

Creamy Berry Lip Balm Recipe

This yummy lip balm will help protect your lips from the wintery weather. The oils and butters will moisturize while the beeswax creates a protective coating. Does this scream for you to make it?  Well, this Creamy Berry Lip Balm recipe from Wholesale Supplies Plus is very easy to make.  It only takes a half hour to make 11.  If you do not like the strawberry flavoring that WSP is suggesting, maybe you can find another flavoring that would suit your taste.

Cuticle Salve Recipe

Since the cold weather is just around the corner, the Soap Queen had the opportunity to create an all natural Cuticle Salve Recipe.  This is an intermediate level recipe which should take 10 - 12 minutes to make and giving you 12 pots of a fantastic salve to use on your cuticles.  This would make great gifts to give out during the winter months.

Plum Kernel Oil Profile

Recently, I taught a lotions and creams class at the Palo Alto Adult School and I mentioned some carrier oils that could be used in making facial creams and lotions.  As I browsed the internet, I found this one that could be added to the list - Plum Kernal Oil.  According to Mountain Rose Herb, Plum Kernal Oil is also referred to as Prune kernel oil as it comes from dried Plum pits. When Plums are dried they become Prunes. Plum Kernel oil is fluid at ambient temperature and is golden in color. Plum Kernel Oil is useful for both cosmetic and culinary applications including. Pressed from pits inside kernels of plums, Plum Kernel Oil has a pleasant scent and flavor that closely resembles almonds. Plum Kernel Oil is most often used in desserts, salad dressings, sauces, on fish, and is drizzled as a finishing accent. It is also naturally rich in Vitamin A, E, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and anti-oxidants. For this reason, it is beneficial for dry and mature skin types and is often used in lip balms, moisturizing creams, anti-wrinkle agents, cleansing lotions and massage creams. Its emollient properties bring nourishment and hydration to damaged skin and renew the complexion and maintain healthy cells. The feeling on the skin is very soft and plum oil penetrates the skin easily with no greasy residue.

So if you are interested in trying this type of carrier oil in your lotions, then try Mountain Rose Herb's Plum Kernal Oil. The Prune oil offered by Mountain Rose Herbs is manufactured for food and cosmetic use and it is a fairly stable oil with a nice, round, and sweet aroma.

Scented Nail Polish

To be honest with you I have not worn nail polish since I do not know when. If I remember right, the last time I had it is when I was a teenager and purchase a bottle that had gold glitter. I had not worn it since. And I especially do not wear it now because of the bad chemcials in it.  But The Soap Queen has recently posted instructions on how to make Scented Nail Polish.  I thought it was quite interesting and was wondering two things: (1) What are the ingredients in the polish base and (2) how long does the scent last.  The ingredients in the soap base did not include formalhyde, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), and Toluene.  You may be wondering what these ingredients are?  If you read 3 Scary Ingredients Hiding In Your Nail Polish, you will find out why they are so scary.  Anyway this looks like a fun project to make for a tween girls party or even a grown up girls party.  I just many want to try this recipe for the fun it it.

Cranberry Thumbprint Cookie Bath Tarts

Don't these thumbprint cookies look good enough to eat? Well, these particular cookies are meant to be used in the bath! You are probably wondering how to use them. After making these you will dissolve 1-2 bath cookies under running water and they will fill the water with skin softening and detoxigying properties. This recipe for Cranberry Thumbprint Cookies comes from Wholesale Supplies Plus.  This is an advanced recipe which should take you an hour to make 50 ccokies.  These would be a delightful gift make for multiple people.  Just make sure to label your creation with do not eat.  We would not want anyone to get sick!

 

Dipped Bath Bon Bons

If you love to take baths, I found this interesting recipe for Dipped Bath Bon Bons from The Country Bath. This recipe calls for scotish oats.  I have never heard of this type of oat before.  Does anyone know and can explain it?  Plus where would one get scothish oats?  If one cannot find this type of oats,  would regular oats work?

Bath Truffles

What’s a Bath Truffle? It’s like a Bath Fizzy with lots of moisturizing oils that you crumble into your bath for a home spa experience. In this Bath Truffle's episode, The Soap Queen uses Cocoa Butter and Shea Butter for that luxurious touch. Anne-Marie shares two recipes in this episode; an all natural mix using Kaolin Clay and Lavender Essential Oil and a Sweet Bubbly Bar using a blend of Chocolate and Vanilla fragrances.

Coffee Butter Foot Creme Recipe

After a long day after being on your feet, how would you like to treat your feet to a indulgent treat?  I would suggest making this Coffee Butter Foot Cream recipe from The Soap Queen. This cream is great for putting on your feet with socks before you go to bed and your feet will become soft and supple.  It is an intermediate recipe which takes 15-20 minutes to make ounces.

Question: How do I prevent my lotions from getting a bit of oil on the top?

Have you ever made a lotion and it seems to separate after you made it?  Well, it may be your emulision.  Point of Interest recently wrote a response to a similiar question about this problem in a blog post called Question: How do I prevent my lotions from getting a bit of oil on the top?   This post may answer your question help you resolve your problem and hopefully this problem will not happen again.

A Really Cool and Easy Techinque



Isn't this a cool looking design on top of this soap?  It reminds me of a henna tattoo.  Would you like to do the same to your cold process soaps to differentiate from all of the ordinary soaps out on the market?  To tell you the truth, it is easier than you may think.  Just read Ruth's post titled An easy technique for customizing your soap which appears on her blog Sirona Springs.

School Chalkboard Eraser

Here is another cute teacher's gift for anytime of the year.  This School Chalkboard Eraser from Wholesale Supplies Plus is really easy project that should take about a half hour to make 8 bars of soap that really look like the real thing.  Get your supplies ready and get your kids involved in make their teacher's gift.

Peppermint Funnel Swirl Soap

Does peppermint bring up memories of the Christmas holiday?  Want to learn how to make thie Peppermint Funnel Swirl Soap by Jenny I'd Lather be Soaping?  This blog post does not include the recipe but does include a video demostrating on how to make this different techinque for cold process soap.  

Rosemary Tree Beeswax Ornaments

Here is a really cute way to decorate a tabletop Christmas Tree that you purchase from your local store.  Make these Rosemary Tree Beeswax Ornaments from Candle Science to simple bring some festive decoration into your home. What is great about this project is that if your limited on space and what to decorate for the holidays, then this would be the best solution.

Rose Clay Sugar Scrub Recipe

Love using scrubs in the shower?  How would you like to try making this Rose Clay Sugar Scrub Recipe from the Soap Queen.  This particular recipe calls for purchasing a foaming bath whip from Brambleberry but if you have a favorite recipe of your own you may want to try and adapt it to this one.  Since gift giving season is just around the corner, this maybe the perfect gift to make.

Vanilla Latte Lip Balm Recipe

Here is an interesting recipe for a lip balm that has less ingredients:  one solid oil, one liquid oil and one butter.  I know where's the beeswax?  But this is called a luxe lip balm and it adds just the right amount of gloss while conditioning and soothing chapped lips.  Since this lip balm does not have beeswax, you can make it for your friends who are vegans. If you are interested in checking out to make this simple Vanilla Latte Lip Balm, then check out The Soap Queen's website.

Hoot Owl Soap

When I was younger there was a campaign slogan by Woodsy the Owl - Give a hoot, Do not Pollute! I know I am really dating myself but when I saw this melt and pour soap Hoot Owl project from Wholesale Supplies Plus I could not help remembering that campaign.   Did anyone collect owl items way back in the day?  Is this trend on the rebound? Anyway, these soaps are really adorable for anyone who likes owls.

Scents of Home - Winter Holidays

According to Wholesale Supplies Plus, this Winter Holiday/Scents of Home project has been a proven best seller at shows and home parties. These will also be perfect for holiday, hostess and caroling gifts. The little individual bottles are used to add scent to artificial 
Christmas trees, potpourri and holiday wreaths! It is not too early to start making these home fragrances because the holidays are just around the corner.  Make them now and have them ready to give out.

Fun Food Inspired Candles - Pecan Pie

Pumpkin pie usually comes to mind this time of the year because of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.But what about pecan pie?  To tell you the truth, I love the aroma of pumpkin but I really prefer eating pecan.  How would you like to create a holiday candle that looks good enough to eat?  Then try making this Pecan Pie Candle from Bath Alchemy.

Black cocoa butter emulsified sugar scrub

If you love using scrubs in the shower, you may want to try making this Black Cocoa Butter Emulsified Sugar Scrub Recipe  from Point of Interest's series of Experiments in the Workshop. Now I have never hear of black cocoa butter before so I am not sure if it is an easy ingredient to find but the author of this recipe says that you can use 10% shea, mango or any other soft butter and 10% cocoa butter in its place.

Making Your Own Laundry Detergent

I think it is a great idea to make your own laundry detergent, but I have never made my own and would like to learn how.  In a recent post Point of Interest wrote about making your own laundry detergents and recommended several blogs with recipes.  The author even mentions a warning that I never thought of.  And that washing machines can be very picky appliances.  Her friend made her own laundry detergent and used it in her front loading high energy machine.  Since this was a non-efficiency detergent it gunked up in the machine and she had to replace the barrel after two years.  So that is something to consider.

Natural Perfume Oil Recipe

In the September Newsletter from Joan Morais, she included a lovely Natural Perfume Oil recipe called Uplift Aromatherapy Perfume Oil.

The recipe calls for 

1/2 teaspoon jojoba, sunflower or safflower oil

6 drops pink grapefruit essential oil  

6 drops sweet orange essential oil

2 drops rose geranium essential oil

2 drops lavender essential oil

2 drops cardamom essential oil

3 drops frankincense essential oil 

Directions 

1. Combine all ingredients. A good practice is to smell after each addition of essential oil and note how it affects the scent. If you make any adjustments to the recipe, take good notes. 

2. Pour oil into a small glass perfume roll-on bottle
 (5 ml) or capped bottle. 

3. Allow all essential oils to blend together for a week. 

4. Apply to perfume oil to pulse points, wrist, neck and over heart area.

This is a very easy recipe to make. Joan says that a great place to purchase high quality and authentic essential oils is from Alchemology, Apothercary & Natural Perfumery in Capitola, CA. 831 337-5701.  So if you are luckily enough to live in California, it will be great to order from a local source.

Homemade Cleaning Recipes

Would you like to be more eco-friendly with your cleaning products?  Do you know that it is pretty easy to make your own?  According to  Soap-Making Essentials, as consumers we spend hundreds of dollars each year on trying to live cleanly, something our great grandparents did without spending much money at all.  As time as progressed our society has become used to buying what wee need and has forgotten how to be self sufficient. Their Homemade Cleaning recipes include liquid laundry soap, automatic dishwasher soap, powdered bathroom cleaner, countertop spray cleaner, drain cleaner and more.

How to Make Natural Cream Bath Soap

According to eHow Contributing Writer Kelly Sundstrom, aking your own homemade soaps can be a fun and natural way to keep clean. The type of soap you make will be different depending on what ingredients you add to the soap mixture. Many ingredients can be be moisturizing, which can create a rich, cream bath soap helpful for people with dry or chapped skin.

Her moderately easy recipe for Natural Cream Bath Soap requires only olive oil, shea butter, coconut oil, distilled water, lye and essential oils.  If you are looking for a palm free cold process soap recipe you may want to try this one.