Candlemaking E-books by Joan Morais

If you are interested in making your own candles, Joan Morais sells her handouts for her classes.
The first book is on

beeswax candlemaking (http://joanmorais.com/joansbooks/beeswaxcandlemaking.html)

and the other is on aromatherapy soy candles (http://joanmorais.com/joansbooks/aromatherapysoycandles.html).

I have had the pleasure of taking two of Joan's classes at The Nova Studio (http://www.thenovastudio.com/) but I missed taking these two back in December 2008. She is a knowledgeable teacher and her books are great! I highly recommend them. You will not be disappointed.

While I am mentioning candles and The Nova Studio has an ECO Friendly Candlemaking class scheduled for Saturday, February 28th from 10 am to 2 pm. And Lori has just added a second session on Saturday, Marchy 14th from 1 pm to 5 pm. If you are interested in taking this class or would like more information, go to http://thenovastudio.com/description_lori_candles.htm.

If you are interested in learning more about Joan's upcoming classes, visit her website at http://www.joanmorais.com/.

Making Your Own Vegetable Glycerine Mix

If you were interested in making your own vegetable glyercine mixture, I found this two part clip on You Tube. If anyone is daring enough to try making glycerin on their own, let us know how it turned out. I would like to hear all the trials and tribulations of this process.

Part One: http://youtube.com/watch?v=rnFKzVweH0U&feature=related

Part Two: http://youtube.com/watch?v=grnVDVipMWI&feature=related

How to Make Cupid's Heart Soap - Valentine Day's

If racking your brain on what to give your Valentine , here is cute idea to give to your sweetie on Valentine's Day! You still have time to create this project and it is definately not that difficult to accomplish.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bF6ORBrphI&feature=related

Rosemary Mint Shampoo Rebatch Soap

Ingredients:

2 lbs Plain soap shreds (because they melt quicker)

6 tbs of distilled water

30 ml olive oil

2 tbs castor oil

1 tsp crushed peppermint leaves

6 drops rosemary eo

8 drops peppermint eo

2 ml vitamin e

pre-lined wood mold or desired mold.

Directions: 

If using plastic molds make sure to pretreat with light coating of plain cooking spray.

I have two methods my fav is oven and the second is the microwave.

Oven Method

I preheat my oven @200 degrees because it doesn't go any lower. When I have time I add the water to shreds and allow to soak for one day. No time for soaking no problem just add right before the cook. I use a pyrex dish and cover with aluminum foil. Every half an hour I check the soap and stir gently. Over stirring after you add water will create bubbles. I usually allow this to cook for one hour sometimes hour and half because in the oven method, it becomes very mushy like when you add too much liquid to mash pot. Fifteen minutes before its ready to come out, I heat up my olive oil slightly on super low. Take off the heat and add in the other ingredients. Stir thoroughly to incorporate everything. Preheating your oils allows you to further stir the soap without it becoming hard too quick and therefore allowing you to add color is desired. But no color in this recipe. Now, add everything to your soap mush and mix well. Pour into your mold, I use a wood mold with a pre-prepared lining of freezer paper. Gently bang the sides of your mold to make sure to get rid of air pockets cause you don't want holes in your soap LOL. I have a top so I put a sheet of wax paper for cooking on top then I place the wood piece on top and press down hard. Wait 24 hours for your soap to harden and dry enough to be removed from your mold and place on your baking rack to dry for three weeks. If you don't want to wait put your soap into the freezer and leave there for a few hours and it will harden up.

Microwave Method

I microwave for 1min at a time on high and I measure out everything before I start cause once the soap is ready it won't wait no matter how much hot oil you add in my own experience of course. Also this recipe is for soap no more than month old. Older soap I add 1/4 cup of distilled water.

Source: http://www.soapmakingforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2468

How to Make a Citrus Salt Scrub

Looking for a invigorating salt scrub that will exfoliate your skin, leaving it smooth and glowing. This cheery, citrus, salt scrub by Rose McDougle, eHow Member will invigorate you and  will work as a natural mood elevator. Now that is something I could really use right now.  But if you make this recipe, you should use caution when using a citrus essential oil. Citrus essential oils can be photosensitive which means it could cause damage to the skin if it is exposed to sunlight.  So if you use this in the morning make sure you cover self well with long sleeves, etc.  And make sure you do not use not to use it on your face.  Another alternative would be to use this at night prior to you going to bed.