About.com Candle & Soap Making

Adding Chunks or Shreds to Soap

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:37:40 +0000

Adding chunks or shredded bits of already finished soap to a fresh batch of soap is a really easy method to add some neat variety to your soap bars, give them a unique look, recycle a batch of soap - or all of the above. The concept is the same as with Chunk Candles, or my Morning Mint melt and pour soap recipe, but with a few changes and a little bit more math. But it's worth it. You can get colors, scent blends and designs that just aren't possible with a plain "one-batch" soap.

Adding Chunks or Shreds to Soap originally appeared on About.com Candle & Soap Making on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 21:37:40.

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Make It Merry

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:16:54 +0000

Welcome to another edition of Make it Merry, where talented crafters share their holiday how-to's.

Advent Candy Tree
Everyone loves counting down to the holidays...add candy to the mix and you've got a fun Advent calendar from Sherri Osborn for the whole family to enjoy.

Pumpkin Cross Stitch Pattern
Use a variegated floss to make a swirling pumpkin that would look great near the Thanksgiving table. Connie G. Barwick has the free pattern.

Knit Wreath Ornament
Scrap knitting makes for fun quick projects that are perfect for any skill level. Sarah E. White has the instructions for this cute wreath.

Miniature Glitter Houses
Snowy villages look great upon every mantle and tabletop. Lesley Shepherd has a free printable so you can make your own tiny houses.

Paper Bead Star Ornament
If you're looking for something a little different to do with your paper beads then take a look at this paper bead star. This project is simple to adapt in a wide variety of ways.

Rustic Pillar Candles
'Tis the season for running out to buy candles. David Fisher will show you how to make these festive pillar candles with the perfect finish.

Pear Diamonds Painted Card
This card has an intricate finish, but it is so easy to make. Tina Jones shows us how to create this colorful card from start to finish.

Christmas Apron Pattern
Just because you've got to bake cookies for the whole family doesn't mean you can't look fabulous! Phyllis Dobbs has created this adorable holiday apron, and she's got the free pattern just for you.

Flower Petal Ornament Cover
Sometimes those plain ornaments just need a little dressing up. Tammy Powley will show you how to use seed beads to create this unique ornament drapery.

Paint a Christmas Tree
Instead of paying a premium for a colored tree, Barbara Crews will show us how to paint your tree red to match the latest holiday trends.

Want to Join Make it Merry to show off your holiday crafts? We will showcase your crafts and recipes of all holiday traditions. Learn more.

Make It Merry originally appeared on About.com Candle & Soap Making on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 21:16:54.

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Rebatching Soap - On Purpose - Made Easier

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:58:49 +0000

Usually I only rebatch soap when I've made a mistake on a batch, or need to incorporate some persnickity ingredient. But there are suppliers that sell a product which is made with the intention of rebatching:

SoapCrafters sells a product called Soap Noodles
BrambleBerry sells grated rebatch base

They're real cold process soap, finely shredded, that is intended to be used to make rebatched soap. You just add your own fragrance and color. SoapCrafters has a great oven-process tutorial on using their Soap Noodles, and Bramble Berry has got a step by step tutorial on rebatching soap that uses the "plastic bag" technique on her Soap Queen blog too. Check them out!

Rebatching Soap - On Purpose - Made Easier originally appeared on About.com Candle & Soap Making on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 17:58:49.

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Harry Slatkin - "My Nose Never Sleeps!"

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:00:16 +0000

I got an email recently from Slatkin & Co. with some holiday candle burning tips. I didn't agree with all of them (like never trim your wicks,) but it had a link to Harry Slatkin's blog, which had a link to this video clip of Slatkin appearing on Fox news. In the interview, Slatkin, one of the most prominent fragrance/candle makers in the country, tells the story of how he got into the "home fragrance" industry and tells some of his core business principles like "If I won't use it, I won't put it on the marketplace." Those are wise words for a home candle maker making candles for friends as well as a multi-million-dollar company. If you don't have the passion and delight and fancy and confidence in the product you're making, then you won't convey that to your customers...and you won't make the sale. Slatkin's passion for his products comes through clearly. He says, "...everything inspires me...my nose never sleeps..." and says he finds inspiration for fragrances wherever he goes. Here's to finding the same passion and inspiration in your own candle making and fragrance creations.

Harry Slatkin - "My Nose Never Sleeps!" originally appeared on About.com Candle & Soap Making on Saturday, November 14th, 2009 at 12:00:16.

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Make It Merry!

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:53:33 +0000

Welcome to another edition of Make it Merry, where talented crafters share their holiday how-to's. This week we've got some friendly characters and festive Thanksgiving crafts to create. Create a Pumpkin Candle What better to put in the middle of the feast. David Fisher will show you how to make this easy and impressive pumpkin tealight holder.

Make a Sesame Street Wreath For 40 years, Sesame Street has been part of our lives and has encouraged us to accept all holiday traditions. Barbara Crews will show you how to create this wreath dedicated to some of our favorite Muppets.

Draw a Penguin Pilgrim For Thanksgiving crafts like place mats and name cards, you'll need some festive art. How about a lesson from Helen South on drawing this cutie penguin.

Embroider a Gift Bag Save cash for presents when you reuse gift bags or buy those inexpensive plain bags. Phyllis Dobbs will show you how to dress them up for the re-gifting process with a touch of delightful embroidery.

Stitch a Swedish Ornament If you've got an ornament exchange to attend this year, a traditional Swedish ornament will really stand out in the crowd. Cheryl Fall will show you how to hand stitch this original piece.

Wax Resist Holiday Cards Add a contemporary look to your holiday while saving some cash on Christmas Cards. This wax resist technique from Marion Boddy-Evans is just what you need.

Pumpkin Foam Sticker Earrings For a quick Fall look in a pinch, try these pumpkin sticker earrings from Tammy Powley. She'll show you how to make them in five easy steps.

Paper Globe Ornament This dimensional ornament has an intricate look, but is actually simple in design. Kate Pullen will show you how to cut and stamp this delightful addition to your decor.

Knit a Stocking Ornament A mini stocking is a creative way to give a gift card, or hide a little treat on the tree. Sarah E. White shows us how to knit this cute little sock.

Christmas Tree Bunting Decking the Halls has never been so fun, and this one is perfect for helpful kids to take part in. Use up those scraps of fabric with this decorative craft from the Sadie and Lance blog.

Make a Mini Hippo Stuffed animals add a bit of fun and tenderness to any slew of presents. Stuff a stocking with a smile when you sew this little hippo from Lesley Shepherd.

Snowman Candy Jar Top off your candy jar with a snowman face as sweet as the treats inside. Sherri Osborn will show you how to paint and assemble this wintry decoration that is appropriate to show off all season long.

Joy Ornament Crosstitch Stitch a little bit of joy for someone this Christmas. Connie G. Barwick has the free pattern for this jolly cross stitch project.

Want to Join Make it Merry to show off your holiday crafts? We will showcase your crafts and recipes of all holiday traditions. Learn more.

Make It Merry! originally appeared on About.com Candle & Soap Making on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 00:53:33.

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What's That White Stuff on My Soap?

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:01:33 +0000

Susan Miller Cavitch, in The Soapmaker's Companion, calls it the "million dollar question." Most soapmakers, at one time or another, will find that a white, powdery film has covered their bars of soap. It's most usually on the tops or sides - those sides exposed to the air. In the soap making world, it's called "ash." Some people believe it's sodium carbonate formed by the free sodium from the sodium hydroxide (lye) and carbon dioxide in the air. Cavitch once had a chemist test some ash on her soaps...and theorizes that it's actually microcystalline powdered soap. It generally forms during the first 12-24 hours after you pour the soap, and different people have different solutions for it. I knew a soap maker that added 1-2% soy or beeswax to her soap batches and greatly reduced her ash. Cocoa butter seems to have a similar preventative effect. Covering the soap with plastic wrap after you pour it, so that no air gets to it seems to minimize it as well. The good news is...that whatever "ash" really is...is that it's harmless and washes right off of the soap.

What's That White Stuff on My Soap? originally appeared on About.com Candle & Soap Making on Sunday, November 8th, 2009 at 23:01:33.

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The Story of Dr. Bronner's

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:05:36 +0000

When I first started making soap some years ago, I had a couple of friends in Austin, TX who asked, "Is your soap like Dr. Bronner's?" Well...while I did like putting text and stories on my soap labels...and while I did make peppermint soap...and liquid soap...I never made liquid peppermint soap like Dr. Bronner. He's been making interesting natural soaps for 60 years...and they are good. His story is a delightful read. Perhaps one of you readers will be as iconic a soap maker as Dr. Bronner.

The Story of Dr. Bronner's originally appeared on About.com Candle & Soap Making on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 00:05:36.

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Basic Homemade Soap Log Mold

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:27:55 +0000

I recently moved - and all of my usual molds and such are packed in various boxes. I wanted to make a small test batch of soap, and luckily I was able to find my home-made mitre-box log mold. It was a great low-cost soap mold solution from a fellow soap maker friend, Pat Tyson of Pitterpat Skin Care. She designed a really wonderful, easy-to-make, small log mold that's made with strips of wood and a mitre box - and passed on the design to us. All of the materials are available at any local hardware store for just a few dollars.

Photo: Pat Tyson

Basic Homemade Soap Log Mold originally appeared on About.com Candle & Soap Making on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 22:27:55.

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Plain Old Natural Soap is Best - (But We Knew That)

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:46:02 +0000

Through all the years, all the commercials and advertisements, all the scents, colors and styles - it still comes down to this: washing your hands with plain old natural soap is best. This article from the Environmental Working Group elaborates, stating that washing your hands with soap is excellent for helping to minimize the spread of infection. But it adds that hand washing is also good for reducing our (and our children's) exposure to toxic chemicals. The article also tells us to:

Skip the anti-bacterial soap - it offers no benefits
Choose safer soaps - they recommend regular, natural soap with no added ingredients (not even fragrance)

So go make yourself some soap (we'll debate the use of fragrance oils later) and get your hands nice and clean.

Photo: Steven Puetzer / Getty Images

Plain Old Natural Soap is Best - (But We Knew That) originally appeared on About.com Candle & Soap Making on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 13:46:02.

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It's Pumpkin Soap Time

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:54:40 +0000

Halloween is in just a week...which means there are pumpkins in all of the stores - including some really interesting white pumpkins. (Orange is evidently very "yesterday.") Which means Jack O'Lanterns and hanging pumpking lanterns. But what about the day after Halloween? One of my favorite post-Halloween projects is to make a batch of pumpkin soap - with real pumpkin puree. Pumpkin is high in vitamins A and C and zinc...which makes it good for your skin too! (But we know that all of our natural homemade soaps are good for our skin, even without the pumpkin!)

It's Pumpkin Soap Time originally appeared on About.com Candle & Soap Making on Saturday, October 24th, 2009 at 11:54:40.

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