Friday, November 28, 2014

Oatmeal and Honey Bath Fizzies

Now that you have finished your Thanksgiving meal.  It is crunch time for holiday shopping. After you have hit all of the malls to look for those perfect presents at great prices, you need to take time out for yourself and take a hot soak with the added benefit of Oatmeal and Honey Bath Fizzes.  The decadent aroma of Oatmeal and Honey will leave your skin rejuvenated and replenished after your luxurious soak.    This is an moderate level project that should take one hour. When you are done you will get (24) one ounce bath fizzies.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Sculpting Mustache Wax

Rarely do I find a project for the guys. If your guy has a stash, then you just might want to make him this Sculpting Mustache Wax.  This intermediate project was posted on The Soap Queen's site.  It takes about an hour to complete this recipe and you should get about three 5 oz containers of this product. If you have someone who is growing a mustache for Prostate Awareness Month, this would be great for them too!

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Peppermint Salt Glow Recipe

There are some great scents for the holidays:  orange and clove, orange and cinnamon, gingerbread, and  guess the one of top is peppermint.  Here is a great holiday recipe from the site of From Nature With Love called Peppermint Salt Glow.  This simple scrub recipe was submitted by Pamela and would you believe it would be great for pedicures.  What a great idea to make for those who have a lot of girlfriends to give gifts too.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Peppermint Cocoa and Marshmallow Cupcakes

I know this will be the third melt and pour soap project that I have posted,but I could not share this Peppermint Cocoa and Marshmallow Cupcake soap project from Wholesale Supplies Plus because they look so delicious. Are you like me to eat these when you smell the delicious peppermint cocoa aroma of these soaps?  I could not and I would give these out as gifts or party favors for the upcoming holiday season.  This is a moderate level project that should take you two hours to make 12 soap cupcakes.

Monday, November 24, 2014

12 Days of Christmas: Chocolate Mint Melt and Pour Squares

I love Andes candies/mints.  It has been a long time since I had some.  But when I saw this Chocolate Mint Melt and Pour Squares Soaps project from The Soap Queen's 12 Days of Christmas series, I just wanted to run to the store and get some. These would be adorable guest soap for any powder room in the home.

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Lotion Melt and Pour Cubes

The Soap Queen has been posting a lot of great ideas in her 12 Days of Christmas series.  This recent posting for Lotion Melt and Pour Cubes is a really interesting one.  The project takes melt and pour soap and incorporates a Aloe Lotion base.  But as The Soap Queen says that adding oils and butters to melt and pour bases can be tricky.  Extra oils can cause the base not to set up correctly or inhibit lather.  But guess what?  She has found a way to add Aloe Lotion Base to the Shea Melt and Pour bases to create a creamy, firm bar,  There is an very important step in the process, that I am not going to reveal. You will just have to find out by reading the instructions.  You cannot forget the step or the lotion and the base may just separate.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

12 Days of Christmas: Winter Gardenia Ombre Candle

What's up? Need to bring some light into your Christmas Holidays? For those who are into candle making, here is a project that would be great for the holidays.  This Winter Gardenia Ombre Candle appears in The Soap Queen's 12 Days of Christmas series. Any level of candle maker can do this project even though it is ranked for the beginner.  It takes about 5-6 hours to make one (8) ounce candle but it would be a great gift to give.  So if you want to make a lot of these for the holidays, I would suggest you get started soon than later.

Friday, November 21, 2014

Peppermint Pucker Lip Scrub

The countdown in the Soap Queen's 12 Days of Christmas continues with this recipe for Peppermint Pucker Lip Scrub.  This easy recipe lightly exfoliates, allowing the lip balm that you apply soak in better.  So you will have more hydrated and happy lips.  It takes only 30 minutes to make this recipe and you will have enough to give out for holidays!

Thursday, November 20, 2014

12 Days of Christmas: Minty Layered Bath Salts

It has been awhile since I have made bath salts since I rarely use myself or know to many people who have time to soak in the tub. But if you know people who do like to soak in the tub, you may want to check out this recipe for Minty Layered Bath Salts from The Soap Queen.  This recipe is from her 12 Days of Christmas.  If you missed any of the recipes, I have been posting them religiously or go to The Soap Queen's website.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

12 Days of Christmas: Whipped Champagne Shea Butter

The Soap Queen has a really great series going on called the 12 Days of Christmas.  I have posted most of them already but I wanted to share each and every project that is posted. The next project posted was a Whipped Shea Butter recipe.  According to the posting this recipe is rich and creamy that helps protects the skin from the harsh elements and restores moisture.  Shea butter is a medium hard butter that begins to melt upon contact with your skin.  When it is whipped, it becomes light and fluffy in texture which makes it easy to apply.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

12 Days of Christmas: Green & Red Wax Melts

For those who are candle crafters, The Soap Queen recently posted Green and Red Wax Melts in her 12 Days of Christmas Series.  She has not forgotten about you in this posting because these wax tarts are great alternative to candles.  They are flame free and easy to make.  These wax melts will fill your home with scents in minutes. All you need to do is simply place the cube on a warmer tray to melt the cube to release the wonderful fragrance.  These wax melts would be great holiday gifts.

Monday, November 17, 2014

12 Days of Christmas: Glamorous Gold Eye Shadow Quad

Do you like to make your own make your own mineral make-up?  Or you never have and would like to start with a simple project?  Well, in her 12 Days of Christmas, The Soap Queen has posted a project for Glamorous Gold Eye Shadow Quad.  Gold and Cooper eye shadow is perfect for special occasions and is also great for everyday wear.  What is great is that the gold tones are extremely flattering for a wide variety of skin tones. This is a simple project for the beginner and it takes only 30 minutes to make two eye shadow quads.

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Melt and Pour Soap: Skeleton Cupcake

I know that Halloween was two weeks ago, but I just saw this posting from Go Planet Earth for this Skeleton Cupcake Melt and Pour project.  When I saw the picture of the project, it reminded me of Tim Burton's movie The Nightmare Before Christmas.  This would be a great project for next year's Halloween party that you will be having.



Saturday, November 15, 2014

12 Days of Christmas: Snowy Stencil Melt and Pour

Good news for those who are melt and pour soap makers....The Soap Queen has posted her third installed of her 12 Days of Christmas,  It is a Snowy Stencil Melt and Pour Soap project. It is a very easy project that takes two hours to get (12) 4 oz bars of soap. Which means you can knock off several gifts or favors to get out at the holiday.  Bet started soon before you get too busy to make these.

Friday, November 14, 2014

Peppermint Bubble Cakes

It has been a couple of weeks since Halloween has happened and now it is on to Thanksgiving.  The race will be on until the end of year.  Take a break with a soak in the tub with this recipe from Wholesale Supplies Plus called Peppermint Bubble Cakes.  This is a moderately difficult recipe to make.  It takes about 2 hours to make twenty (1 oz) cakes.  These would make great stock stuffer gifts for your friends.



Thursday, November 13, 2014

Chickpea Almond Sugar Scrub Recipe

I like chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans).  But I did not know that it comes in a flour form and it can be used in a body scrub!!! Yes! I learned something new today from The Natural Body Workshop in a post called Chickpea Almond Sugar Scrub.  It has been a traditional ingredient in Indian beauty and skin care for generations.  It has a soft, gentle texture that lends itself perfectly to body scrubs.  When it is paired with sugar, Chickpea flower can polish your arms, legs, back and torso to a silky, soft finish.  Sweet Almond Oil helps keep your freshly buffed skin happy and well conditioned.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

12 Days of Christmas: Spicy Holiday Potpourri

I love the scent of potpourri. It is really easy to make.  The Soap Queen has just started a series on the 12 Days of Christmas.  Here is the second in the series called Spicy Holiday Potpourri.  Like I said making potpourri is really easy and this recipe is just right for someone who is a beginner.  It takes only about 10 minutes to make 2 bags. Of course, you may get addicted and make more to give out at the holidays.

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

12 Days of Christmas: Scented Beeswax Ornaments

You probably noticed that I post a lot of the Soap Queen's tutorials. I must admit that I follow her on blog and I really like her ideas that I have to share them.   She has a lot of great bath and body products all year around.  But this year for the holiday she is posting a series on the 12 Days of Christmas.  For the first posting she has a great one.....Scented Beeswax Ornaments.  This is an easy project for the beginner that takes 1-2 hours to get approximately 20 ornaments. Since they are easy to make, they are just as easy to give as gifts.

Sunday, November 9, 2014

How to Throw a DIY Sugar Scrub Party and Winter Gardenia Sugar Scrub Re

Do you have the love of crafting? As you probably can tell mine is making bath and body products but I am game for learning a new craft.  Anne Marie Faiola (The Soap Queen) recently posted about having a crafting party with some girlfriends and told her readers all about it in a post called How to Throw a DIY Sugar Scrub Party plus she included a recipe for a Winter Gardenia Sugar Scrub.  I think having a get together with your friends and doing a craft is a great idea of doing something different.  Anne-Marie makes some really great suggestions to get you started.  So put on your thinking caps and set a date!

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Snowman Bath Fizzies

Gosh!  Thanksgiving is in less than three weeks.  It will be coming up really soon. And then the holiday madness will begin.  If you want make the perfect stocking stuffer, a great teacher or hostess gift, why not make these adorable Snowman Bath Fizzies.  This is a moderately difficult recipe from Wholesale Supplies Plus that takes one hour to make a total of six snowmen.  What a fun wintery gift to make and give to those who love to take baths!

Friday, November 7, 2014

Raspberry Love Sugar Scrub Recipe

Love using sugar scrubs?   Do you love raspberries?  Would you believe there is a recipe combining the two?   I found this recipe on the website From Nature with Love called Raspberry Love Sugar Scrub when I was looking for products to buy with the certificate I won through The Nova Studio's 11th anniversary celebration raffle.  I have always made my sugar scrubs with regular granulated sugar and this one uses turbinado sugar.  So I am not sure how it feels on the skin or not so I cannot give you my honest opinion about using that type of sugar in a scrub recipe. Give it a try and see how you like it.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Vibrant Mehndi Cold Process

Have you ever heard of mendi?  It is a henna body art that is a very popular tradition in India.  Henna, or mendhi, is a paste of crushed leaves and twigs from the henna plant.  When the paste is applied to the skin, it leaves a beautiful stain behind.  The tradition is often used to celebrate a happy occasion or special day.  Would you believe that you can recreate mendhi's intricate details and gorgeous designs on cold process soap?  Yes, you can!  The Soap Queen recently posted a tutorial called Vibrant Mehndi Cold Process on her site.   Now, this is project is for the more advanced soap maker and it takes 2-3 hours to complete but remember allow time for curing.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Dealing with Dreaded Orange Spots

As a cold process soap maker, you may have experienced dreaded orange spots.  Would you believe that many cold process soap makers unfortunately experience this phenomenon?  You are probably wondering how to deal with the dreaded orange spots?  Well, good news!  The Soap Queen recently posted an entry called Dealing with Dreaded Orange Spots. Dreaded Orange Spots (DOS) are exactly what they sound like....orange spots on your soap.  According to The Soap Queen is that the most common cause of DOS is rancid oils, but there are several other factors that can contribute to dreaded orange spots.  And this blog entry goes further into this subject.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

FREE Oil Saponification Values (SAP), Properties, and Availability Table

If you make a lot of cold process soap, you know that the oils that you use have different saponification values.  But if you are changing the recipe and want to use a different oil, you may not know its value.  If you would love to have a chart to consult, you may want to check out this blog entry called Free Oil Saponification Values (SAP), Properties and Availability Table from the Soap Blog.  While Erica Pence was writing her eBook called Formulating Your Own Soap Recipes, she complied a lot of information regarding many oils from a variety of sources,  This allowed her to create a saponification table that lists SAP values for far more oils than any source she found. Additionally, most of the oils have a very basic listing of oils.  Finally, she has listed whether the oil comes in organic, sustainable, fairly traded or wild craft varieties.  This information can be difficult to find.

Monday, November 3, 2014

Shower & Tub Tabs - Sinus Blend

Do you suffer from a sinus problem? Here is a recipe for a Sinus Blend Shower & Tub Tabs from Wholesale Supplies Plus.  This product is perfect for the shower or the bath tub. These tabs are simple to use.  All you have to do is allow the tabs to have contact with the water and they will start to fizz which will release a wonderful aromatic aroma.  This is a moderate level product that takes only one hour to complete.


Sunday, November 2, 2014

Argan & Sandalwood Vanilla Lotion Bar

Now that we are back to standard time, the morning seemed to be a little more nippy.  So for some of you, your skin will experience more dryness. Well, here is a recipe from the Soap Queen called Argan & Sandalwood Vanilla Lotion Bar that will help with moisturizing your skin while doing our winter skincare routines.  What is great about lotion bars is that they are made from luxurious oils that make a fantastic option when your skin becomes dry and needs extra TLC.  In this recipe, the lotion bars are created with argan oil and mango butter will help your skin from the elements.

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Classic CP Swirl Soap on Soap Queen TV

Are you comfortable making cold process soap?  Never done the swirl technique? Want to learn how to do the classic cold process soap technique? The Soap Queen recently shared her technique in a recent post called Classic CP Swirl Soap on Soap Queen TV.  This posting includes the video showing you how to do the technique plus the recipe she will be demonstrating.