tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78578899952428387792023-11-15T23:54:51.298-08:00Honeydew Soap ShopKimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10552175758875062291noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857889995242838779.post-16552311104541530952013-05-04T13:51:00.003-07:002013-05-04T13:56:13.391-07:00Great Cakes Soapworks Last Soap Challenge - Leopard Spots<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Well here it is. I have been super busy at my day job and haven't had a chance to post my last entry into Amy's Soap Challenge from <a href="http://www.greatcakessoapworks.com/handmade-soap-blog/">Great Cakes Soapworks</a>.</div>
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This didn't go as I thought it would and I don't think I will try this again. Too messy!!! lol</div>
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I had a couple of issues and one of the issues I didn't know I had until I cut into the soap. First problem was how thick I let the batter get. It wasn't as thick as I would let it go if I were making cupcakes or something that needed to be stiff but it didn't quite do what I wanted it to do. As you can see my leopard spots look more like flowers. But it's still pretty.</div>
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After I finished putting it all together I let it sit for 3 days before I cut it because I was just too busy to get to it. It unmolded just fine so I made my first cut. To my surprise the leopard spots were very soft and squishy but the rest of the soap was normal. It almost just flowed out like it was melted. Very very strange. So I didn't continue cutting and let it sit for another couple of days. During this time I went over my notes and decided that the premixed black oxide I used from Natures Garden was the culprit. It is mixed with an oil and because I only colored about a cup of batter it was enough to superfat the black too much. I am hoping the oils will absorb or cure out. It cut much better today but the spots are still really soft. </div>
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Now I know that I am supposed to account for the extra oil in my calculations. But since I only used a tiny amount and it was impossible to have just the black a bit more lye heavy than the other parts without actually making the soap separate I didn't think it would cause such a fuss. Another lesson learned. I used water with my TD and put the blue mica in the soap batter dry. I will not use these premixed colorants on tiny portions again. I'm glad I found out now before I used the premixed colorants I have for my 4th of July soap. </div>
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Anywho... this is the last challenge and I have learned some good lessons again. I look forward to the next round.</div>
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Thank you so much Amy for making us step out of our comfort zones and to learn something new. Hugs to you my friend :)</div>
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Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10552175758875062291noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857889995242838779.post-72316786283192760082013-04-22T13:49:00.000-07:002013-05-05T15:32:56.490-07:00Happy Birthday to Me!! :)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yes... it is my birthday today!! Yay!!</div>
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How old am I? </div>
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Well if you know your cars then you will know I am the same age as this beautiful, in my dreams if I win the lottery, Ford Mustang Shelby G.T. 350</div>
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If you're not such a car buff you can find a clue on the car ;)</div>
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So, did I make birthday soap? Yes I did, thank you for asking... lol<br />
I will post pictures this weekend, if I figure out how to use the new camera my husband bought me. If not, you will see pictures made from my phone :p<br />
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Update: I did get the camera but haven't quite figured out how to use it properly so here are my phone photo shots of Birthday Soap!!<br />
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Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10552175758875062291noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857889995242838779.post-18903353809041247142013-04-14T10:32:00.001-07:002013-04-14T10:32:23.766-07:00Wedding Favor Soaps... Almost done!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is what I have so far for the wedding. I hope it isn't tacky that I am making different soap styles but in the same colors. I originally wanted to make them all the same but how boring .. right? </div>
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Better check in with the bride before it's too late.. lol</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3iFOGfhmIePXhGu1XMhhNk4X9wuCpDLdobVna8XY5mSShz6LJ1WUo8kO9HmFR7-E52oSYU13Q-LD6VPDuFmengcPt3wumgnX_SPGw6ExOOPHvJbmeOIR-hVUsPAN1cGoY3_DmYxOLTQs/s1600/IMG_2244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3iFOGfhmIePXhGu1XMhhNk4X9wuCpDLdobVna8XY5mSShz6LJ1WUo8kO9HmFR7-E52oSYU13Q-LD6VPDuFmengcPt3wumgnX_SPGw6ExOOPHvJbmeOIR-hVUsPAN1cGoY3_DmYxOLTQs/s320/IMG_2244.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Want a peek at part of my soap area? I have more in boxes!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMvSWc3Q_3y3DcAfZ5-eqxH_pmBsP5w7ssrZZIJsH0vlH-y4rr22DQTo_ZzJyiGaq1w2lHeFq2RjerPDEZORcWTxjDXAJHllFut5Zyr8f82kfPY_3DduR-lLii1_JlbR5jBFLinw1vRk/s1600/IMG_2246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMvSWc3Q_3y3DcAfZ5-eqxH_pmBsP5w7ssrZZIJsH0vlH-y4rr22DQTo_ZzJyiGaq1w2lHeFq2RjerPDEZORcWTxjDXAJHllFut5Zyr8f82kfPY_3DduR-lLii1_JlbR5jBFLinw1vRk/s320/IMG_2246.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10552175758875062291noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857889995242838779.post-73028281854369670662013-04-13T23:22:00.000-07:002013-04-14T21:48:41.221-07:00Great Cakes Soapworks Challenge #3.. Mica OilsHello folks... This is Challenge #3 at Amy's Great Cakes Soapworks... Mica Oils. If you have missed out on the challenge you can check it out <a href="http://www.greatcakessoapworks.com/handmade-soap-blog/">here.</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUShIBNp1OYvyaLoDLxqtqZaB_UvI40q1czcEq-SATS2Be6c4N9VpOcUQZZ3SVpWOWHfuEtYcvqHrzrH2kgXfhlGBeeTCjlldcetTvBBPc2EonBiCxMtzepTOmstEjpv0yRAOq2uhEbw/s1600/IMG_2227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUShIBNp1OYvyaLoDLxqtqZaB_UvI40q1czcEq-SATS2Be6c4N9VpOcUQZZ3SVpWOWHfuEtYcvqHrzrH2kgXfhlGBeeTCjlldcetTvBBPc2EonBiCxMtzepTOmstEjpv0yRAOq2uhEbw/s320/IMG_2227.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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My son and his fiance are getting married next month and I took the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. I am making soap for wedding favors and since I have to make a batch for the challenge I might as well use the colors for the wedding.<br />
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I have made several batches of soap already and decided early on that I didn't want all the soaps to be the same style but definitely the same colors. So I am working with purple, green and white. </div>
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I have made layers, and faux funnel, and a plop kind of technique so this time I thought I would make an in the pot swirl. I wish I had the foresight to have my camera near while I am soaping to give you all better pictures but I am always afraid I will drop it in my soap batter or get raw soap on my camera. So, the only pictures I have for you are in the mold foe now and cut later.</div>
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I had no issues to report on this batch, yet. Everything went as planned. I used the same Bastille recipe (olive oil, coconut oil and castor oil) that I have been using for most of my challenges. I really like the simpleness of it and I truly like the soap afterwards too. I used sodium lactate in my last 2 batches and so far so good. </div>
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I had somebody ask me when and how I add my additives and what temp do I soap, etc. Well, I measure and weigh everything in separate containers. I mix up my lye and water first so that can be cooling off while I get everything else ready. I poured a small amount of water out into a small cup before I added the lye so I can use the water to disperse my titanium dioxide. Next, if I am using my wooden mold I line it and put it aside so it is ready too. Then I melt the coconut oil and add that and my castor oil to the olive oil and give it a quick buzz with my stick blender. Then I pour off a small amount of my oil to mix my colors in and put that aside. </div>
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While my oils and lye are dropping to room temp I prepare the colors. I mixed about 1 heaping tsp of the purple cosmo mica in the reserved oil in a small cup. If I were using a dry colorant for the green I would do the same for that one. But I have a premixed green oxide that I used this time. I then added 2 heaping tsp of TD to the water in the cup that I reserved. I also mixed a tsp each of purple cosmo and super pearly white in a bit of sweet almond oil to drizzle on top. </div>
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Once my lye mixture and oils are room temp (77 F today) I then add my FO to the oils in the big pot and give it a quick blend with my stick blender so everything is incorporated. I add the sodium lactate to the lye mixture and give it a stir and then add the lye mix to my oils. I alternate stick blending and stirring with a spoon until I know it is all incorporated. It took several minutes to get it to a very light trace. I then poured off some batter into 2 measuring/mixing cups for my colors. Then I added the water/TD mixture to the large portion still in the bucket. Once I know that is well mixed with my stick blender I mix up the other colors the same way. </div>
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Now that all my soap batter is colored the way I want it to I pour back the green and purple into the white to do an in the pot swirl. I save a bit of the colored soap to add to the top. The trick to this technique is to not have your soap too thin that it makes mud but not too thick that it doesn't pour or mix easily. </div>
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So then I I just pour it into my mold and let it do it's own swirling. I drizzle the remainder of the purple and green and make a bit of texture on top so the mica oil has some peaks and valleys to ooze around on. Once I have dripped the mica oils the way I want I do a little swirly with a skewer and that's it. </div>
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Put it to bed until tomorrow :)</div>
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The FO I used in this batch is called <a href="http://www.naturesgardencandles.com/candlemaking-soap-supplies/item/df-44337/-Mardi-Gras-Fragrance-Oil--.html" target="_blank">Mardi Gras from Natures Garden</a>. It's very nice and it soaps like a dream. Natures Garden is one of my favorite places to buy FO. They test all of them before they sell them to us and they post the findings on their website. If it changes colors, rices, accelerates, or seizes they will tell you. If the scent morphs or fades, they will also tell you.</div>
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Ok... so on to some pictures :)</div>
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My choice of mica colors were <a href="http://theconservatorie.com/cosmo-martini-mica-p-2303.html" target="_blank">Cosmo Martini Mica from The Conservatorie</a> and <a href="http://www.brambleberry.com/Super-Pearly-White-Mica-P3463.aspx" target="_blank">Super Pearly White from Brambleberry.</a> I also used cosmo martini in the soap as well as a premixed <a href="http://www.naturesgardencandles.com/candlemaking-soap-supplies/item/kellygr/-FUN-Soap-Colorant--Kelly-Green-1-oz..html" target="_blank">green oxide that I got from Natures Garden</a> and TD from Brambleberry.</div>
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To be continued....<br />
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Next day... ready to cut :)<br />
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Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10552175758875062291noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857889995242838779.post-76295136883001746252013-04-07T20:28:00.002-07:002013-04-07T20:28:29.456-07:00Not so "failed" soap.. hmmmIn my last post I mentioned my test batch that cracked all over the top when I used a red oxide. I took it out of the mold and left it on my soap rack and didn't cut it. I assumed that it would crack and fall apart like the top seemed to be doing so I was going to save it to rebatch later.<br />
Well I got curious and cut the end off. To my wonder and surprise the inside was very pretty. For what ever reason the top was the only thing that was crumbly and cracked. The inside was normal. I test the ph and it was normal too. So I cut the tops off and here is what I got...<br />
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So, it seems that my "fail" wasn't such a waste after all :)<br />
<br />Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10552175758875062291noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857889995242838779.post-30831488478078104162013-04-03T18:14:00.002-07:002013-04-06T14:37:28.599-07:00Amy's Soap Challenge Week #2 - ElementalOk folks.. this is week 2 of Amy's Soap Challenge. If you are just now hearing about it you can check it out at Amy's Great Cakes Soapworks blog<a href="http://www.greatcakessoapworks.com/handmade-soap-blog/" target="_blank"> here</a>.<br />
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This challenge was really a challenge for me. I wasn't feeling particularly creative this week and nothing was coming to mind for me to do. I went on Pinterest and looked at color combos and swatches. I stared at the color wheel at least a dozen times and nothing was jumping out at me. Oh, don't get me wrong, I found lots of beautiful pictures and I could imagine them in soap, just not soap made by my hand. I am limited on my expertise on mixing colors. And, I've either had bad luck (oxides) or haven't experimented enough to be confident in the end result of my recreations of said beautiful photos (note to self, experiment more with my colorants and take better notes). I am much more confident in using micas but my inventory at the moment is mostly pop type micas. Very bright! I love bright colors so that is probably why I have more experience coloring with these micas. A couple of bad experiences with oxides and I have been avoiding them ever since.<br />
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Once I finally decided on the theme and colors I dug into my colorants. I knew I had more than a couple dozen to choose from. I laid it all out and decided I was gong to have to try the oxides again if I wanted to have warmer colors. So I mixed up a small batch and colored it with some brick red oxide and some dark yellow oxide. Everything seemed like it was going well. I used a basic bastille recipe and a FO that I knew wouldn't act up. Mixed it all up and put it in the mold and put it to bed. The next day it was all cracked on top and still very soft. The softness wasn't a surprise since I was using a high amount of soft oils. But the cracking was a mystery. I soaped at room temperature. I checked the temp several times during soaping and while it was in the mold. It never went above 100 F. So I squished down the cracks and all it did was crack some more. I let it sit for another day and it was still very soft. I put it in the freezer for a bit so I could get it out of the mold to see what was going on. It's very very odd. The oxide parts of the soap seem to not want to stick together and the uncolored parts were fine. Again the oxides are causing me issue. Back to the drawing board...<br />
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The next couple of days were rough because I ended up going back to every reference or tutorial on how to use oxides and I did everything the right way. I premixed the oxides in a bit of a light carrier oil (sweet almond) and added it a little at a time till I got the color I wanted. I used a soap recipe that I am familiar with and a FO that doesn't cause issue. Next I think, "omgosh! maybe my scale is off!". I get out a handful of coins and check and recheck. The scale is fine. My lye and oils are neither new or old. For the life of me I can not figure out what went wrong except oxides hate me! lol<br />
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Ok, to make my long story a bit shorter, I decide to use the micas and venture off in uncharted territory. MIXING COLORS!! I needed to tone down the bright colors. I added some brown to the yellow. I added some black to the blue. Some ruby to the orange (that didn't work out so well... lol). But you get the picture.<br />
I then set out to make my soap. I got a new blender while I was doing all this fiddling around. It has 2 speeds and I am really really loving it!! But I digress. I pulled out my big 4 lb mold for this challenge. I was gonna go big or go home!<br />
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Everything went as planned with no issues. Now I'm just sitting like a kid on Christmas Eve waiting to open my present. I'm probably going to leave it in there for a couple days so I will probably cut it on Friday or Saturday.<br />
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Here are a couple of teaser pics until then ;)<br />
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Here it is.... tada!! Not to shabby. The colors are a lot lighter than I wanted but I can live with it. I meant to put some texture in the soap before I added the mica line but I remembered after I added the mica and didn't want to mess it up. This was my inspiration picture and my cut soap!</div>
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<br />Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10552175758875062291noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857889995242838779.post-80034560356964135842013-03-27T14:23:00.001-07:002013-04-03T18:15:27.726-07:00Week one of Amy's Soap Challenge 2013 - Tiger StripeThis is the first week of this years soap challenge being hosted by Amy at<a href="http://www.greatcakessoapworks.com/handmade-soap-blog/index.php/soap-challenge-2013-week-one/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+greatcakessoapworks+%28Great+Cakes+Soapworks%29" target="_blank"> Great Cakes Soapworks</a>. The challenge is to do a tiger swirl or method. It didn't look too complicated. Just had to figure out what colors to use and make time to try it out.<br />
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First I chose a Bastille recipe to soap with. I figured the high olive oil content would give me lots of time to play. I then chose a fragrance that, in the past, behaved well. I picked Coconut Lime Verbena. Then I chose the colors. I decided on yellow and black. I have never soaped with black and didn't get much feedback on how much to use in order to get a nice black soap without having too much black bubbles. I decided to just wing it and hope for the best. I had black mica and activated charcoal to choose from in my supplies. I chose mica.<br />
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I measured all my ingredients and melted my oils. I measured 1 tsp of yellow oxide into one container and 1 tsp of black mica into another. I added a bit of my melted oils to each and used my frother to mix them really good. I then added my FO to my oils. When my lye was about 108 F and my oils were 105 F, I poured my lye mixture into the oils and gave it a quick stick blend. I stirred it for a bit and gave it a couple more bursts. When I was sure it was just emulsified I split the batter into each of the containers with the colors. I noticed that my soap batter was accelerating!! OH NO!! I grabbed my wisk and mixed the colors and soap batter and it was getting thicker and thicker. I started pouring. I had to stir before each pour because it was pretty thick. So I just kept on going. Stirring, pouring and slamming my mold on the counter until the mold was full. I added gold mica oil to the top and added a bit of texture and put it to bed. Not sure how it's going to look but I am hoping for the best. I think the black is going bleed and give black bubbles :(<br />
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Here is a picture of it in the mold...<br />
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I think I played with the top too much and made a little bit of a muddy mess but it still looks pretty. I am a little disappointed in the FO. It was a new bottle but it was from the same supplier that I had used before without issue. It's the only thing I can think of that would of caused it to thicken up so fast. My recipe was almost 75% olive oil. I used 33% water instead of 38% but it's more than my usual 29%. I didn't get soap on a stick but it was thicker than I had planned on. Maybe it will be ok.<br />
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Ta da!! Here it is. I think it came out pretty good.. what do you think?<br />
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Oh.. and regarding the black and colored bubbles. Yup it makes colored bubbles. Kind of a greenish light gray color. Not too bad. Maybe it will lessen when it cures more. Or maybe it will get worse... not sure... hmmm.<br />
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Thank you Amy for putting on this challenge again. I'm so excited for the next one :)</div>
Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10552175758875062291noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857889995242838779.post-32503448322709933222013-03-20T17:02:00.001-07:002013-03-27T17:48:36.165-07:00Palm Free Soap Recipe #2<b>Onward we go with my obsession with the "perfect" palm free soap recipe. My poor printer is worn out and my notebook is getting fat with all my research. After a while all the numbers start looking the same... lol</b><br />
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<b>While I was going through my soap files I found a soap recipe I used last year, during Amy's Soap Challenge, for a faux funnel design. It turns out that I was delving into the palm free realm a lot longer than I realized. </b><br />
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<b>I remember this batch of soap. It was one of my favorite bars of soap and it didn't even dawn on me that it was palm free. I went to my soap room and found one bar of that wonderful soap. It's nice and hard and still smells great. I then went to my blog and located that bar of soap. If you want to check it out, <a href="http://honeydewsoapshop.blogspot.com/2012/04/amys-soap-challenge-and-special-treat.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. It's been almost a year since I made that soap so I decided to revisit this recipe today and it behaved just as well as I remember. </b><br />
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<b>So, my friends, I am going to share this recipe with you. I wish I had written, in my notes, where it came from. I honestly can't say if I conjured it up myself or if I found it on another site. I would definitely give credit to anyone who shared it with me. If I had to guess I would say it probably started as a recipe from our very own Soap Queen, Ann Marie, at Brambleberry. She uses rice bran oil more than anyone I know. So with that said, here are the ingredients...</b><br />
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<b>Distilled Water - 5.28 ounces</b><br />
<b>Lye (NaOH) - 2.2 ounces</b><br />
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<b>Coconut Oil - 4 ounces - 25 %</b><br />
<b>Cocoa Butter - 2 ounces - 12.5%</b><br />
<b>Olive Oil - 6 ounces - 37.5%</b><br />
<b>Rice Bran Oil - 3 ounces - 18.75%</b><br />
<b>Castor Oil - 1 ounce - 6.25%</b><br />
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<b>Please remember to observe all rules of safety when soap making. Do not attempt to make soap with lye until you have learned the basics. </b><br />
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<b>I will post pictures after I unmold this in a couple days. I just put it to bed :)</b><br />
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<b>Enjoy!!</b><br />
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<b>Oh.. I almost forgot... If you want to participate in Amy's Soap Challenge this year, it is starting this weekend. Check it out<a href="http://www.greatcakessoapworks.com/handmade-soap-blog/" target="_blank"> here.</a></b><br />
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Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10552175758875062291noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857889995242838779.post-45876406091158622682013-03-13T15:00:00.000-07:002013-03-16T14:50:02.370-07:00Palm Free Soap Recipe and Ramblings.. I'm Back :)<b>Ok...</b><br />
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<b>So I know I have been MIA for a bit. I have graduated from school and have since been working a full time job. Unfortunately life has gotten in the way of my soaping. It really sucks when that happens but it is what it is. In a dream world I wouldn't have to go to work and I would soap everyday. </b><br />
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<b>I know, I know... now you are saying, "Why don't you just sell your soap so you CAN make soap everyday?"</b><br />
<b>Well.. here is the thing.. I make soap to relax and have fun. If I screw up a batch of soap it's not that big of a deal because it's just for fun and I am learning what works and what doesn't. </b><br />
<b>If I decide to sell my soap it will no longer be something to relax with. It will become a JOB. Because I know me, I know it will lose it's appeal when I make soap because I HAVE to instead of because I WANT to. </b><br />
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<b>Don't get me wrong. Many people make soap for a living and have a blast at it. They love making tons of soap and going to the farmers markets to sell their wares. They love to do YouTube videos to get fans and to get people to go to their website to buy their soap. I am in awe of all of those who can make a business of it. I can only speak for myself because I know myself. I will be all crazy trying to make the "perfect" soap (as if I'm not already). There is a ton of competition. It seems like everyone is making soap now. I will lose tons of sleep wondering if my soap will sell.</b><br />
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<b>So. That my friends is the reason I do not sell soap... today :)</b><br />
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<b>On to the Palm Free Soap Recipe I promised...</b><br />
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<b>This batch is for one pound of soap. I have these really cute little silicone molds that make 5 perfect size bars. I will give percentages for those who need a bigger batch. Hope you enjoy. Oh, always remember to run your recipe through a lye calculator if you change any of the ingredients. </b><br />
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<b>Coconut Oil, 76 degree - 4 ounces - 25%</b><br />
<b>Cocoa Butter - 2 ounces - 12.5%</b><br />
<b>Olive Oil - 8 ounces - 50%</b><br />
<b>Castor Oil - 1 ounce - 6.25 %</b><br />
<b>Shea Butter - 1 ounce - 6.25%</b><br />
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<b>Distilled Water - 6 ounces</b><br />
<b>Lye - 2.2 ounces</b><br />
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<b>This is calculated at 5% superfat.</b><br />
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<b>1 ounce FO - I used Rainbow Sherbet from <a href="http://www.naturesgardencandles.com/candlemaking-soap-supplies/item/rain/-Rainbow-Sherbet-Fragrance-Oil--NEW-.html" target="_blank">Natures Garden</a> (love it!!)</b><br />
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<b>I used full water on this recipe because I wanted to split my batch up into 3 colors and do a pretty swirl. This recipe was slow to trace so it worked great for what I wanted to do. You can discount the water if you want it to thicken up faster.</b><br />
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<b>I covered my soap with plastic wrap and put it in my preheated oven at 170 F and then turned the oven off and left it to sit (no peeking). I like to force gel. Just my own preference. I have found when I use silicone it is better to not keep the oven on because it starts to bubble around the edges because it gets too hot and it leaves ugly air bubble marks all around the soap.</b><br />
<b>After 24 hours it was still pretty soft so I gave it another day. It was still lye reactive to my tongue test. Like I said, very slow moving recipe. After 48 hours it was ready to come out of the mold and cut.</b><br />
<b>It has been sitting on the drying rack for a few days and it looks great. </b><br />
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<b>A note about the FO. It did not rice, excel, or discolor my soap and it smells wonderful!</b><br />
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<b>I will put up some pictures as soon as the battery charges on my camera. So, the camera didn't want to cooperate. I guess it's time for a new one. So I took this pic with my camera phone. Notice I don't clean up my soaps much because they are for personal use. I don't bevel the edges or cut off anything. I use it all.. lol</b><br />
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<b>I have another palm free recipe I am going to try. I will let you all know how it goes :)</b><br />
<br />Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10552175758875062291noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857889995242838779.post-81450691141132708102012-07-08T14:17:00.003-07:002012-07-12T22:07:50.774-07:00Soap Challenge Soap SwapToday is the day we share the soap we received for the Soap Challenge Soap Swap that Amy at <a href="http://www.greatcakessoapworks.com/" target="_blank">Great Cakes Soapworks</a> set up. All the participants were paired up towards the end of the challenge and we were instructed to send a bar of soap that we made during the challenge. If you haven't been following the soap challenge click <a href="http://www.greatcakessoapworks.com/handmade-soap-blog/" target="_blank">here</a> to Amy's blog.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Before the swap, we filled out a questionnaire to find out what scents we liked or didn't like, what ingredients we liked or didnt like... etc. I remember stating that I love milk soaps and anything citrus. Then we were told who our swap partner would be.</span><br />
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My partner was Amy of Tenth Avenue Soapworks (check out her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tenthavenuesoapworks" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or her <a href="http://tenthavenuesoapworks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blog</a>) Amy's questionnaire simply said, "Surprise me". I was so excited, and a bit nervous, to share my soap with her since nobody but my family and friends have ever tried my soap. I wanted to send her one of everything but the rule was "one bar.. but no more than two". I finally decided on two and sent her my Lemon Sugar "faux funnel pour" soap, and my China Rain "gradient color" soap. I sure hope she liked them.<br />
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So, on to what I received from Amy at Tenth Avenue Soapworks...<br />
When I received my package I was so excited!! I ripped open the envelope and inside I found a wonderful bar of Amys Dandelion Wine Soap and really nice thank you card. The card was a really nice touch. I was secretly hoping she would send me that bar because I was super intrigued by her story of how she makes the dandelion wine herself.<br />
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I have no words to describe how wonderful this bar smells. I'm not sure what essential oils she used but I definitely smell lemon or lemongrass and maybe rosemary. But I am NOT good at identifying or mixing EO's and I envy those that can.<br />
The bar was wrapped in shrink wrap and had a very tasteful simple cigar band label with the name of the soap, her company name, logo, address, and website, as well as the ingredients. This bar was made with tallow and I have never used soap with that ingredient so I am looking forward to testing it out.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">I honestly didn't want to use the soap because I wanted to horde it and just keep sniffing it... lol. So I waited till I was forced to write my review to take it out of it's protective seal and introduce it to water.</span><br />
Out of the package the scent was much stronger and lovely. I love this blend!! Maybe Amy will share the mixture with me (I can dream can't I?). The bar is smooth and has a very nice simple swirl texture on top.<br />
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Here is a picture of the lather. It has light and fluffy bubbles and feels really nice on my skin. In the shower my skin was left clean but not dry and I did not feel any film or residue. I rinsed off feeling wonderfully clean :)<br />
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Lucky for me, my husband doesn't find citrus scents to be his favorite and he won't use this bar. I am going to enjoy it to the very last sliver!!<br />
Thanks Amy!!<br />
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Post note: Thursday July 12th. I am still loving this wonderful soap. My bathroom smells so yummy and clean :)<br />
<br />Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10552175758875062291noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857889995242838779.post-8083677731155303952012-07-04T19:22:00.001-07:002012-07-04T19:22:17.065-07:00Happy 4th of July!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10552175758875062291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857889995242838779.post-44341994400340552492012-06-30T23:45:00.002-07:002012-07-04T19:19:49.519-07:00Shampoo Bar.....Yesterday I made my first shampoo bar. I formulated the recipe and got to soaping. Then somewhere midstream I decided to add egg yolk, and then I decided I wanted a bit more peppermint EO so I put a few extra drops mid mix. Good thing I keep good notes or I would of never known what I put in it.. ha ha<br />
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I only made a small batch to test it out. I put lanolin in it and I have never soaped with it before so we will see how it goes. A fellow soaper shared a shampoo bar recipe and she used lanolin so I said, "What the heck? Why not?". I had 3 jars of lanolin that I intended to make some lotion or body butter but hadn't gotten a chance to get to it so I already had it and needed to use it. I've been wanting to soap with it and here was my chance.<br />
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It's still sitting in my Pringle's can mold. I made a little soap ball to watch the progress and it's still slightly soft so I will wait to unmold and cut it till tomorrow.<br />
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Stay tuned..Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10552175758875062291noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857889995242838779.post-5096526253518533362012-06-10T13:51:00.000-07:002012-06-10T13:57:21.624-07:0080's Birthday Party for my Granddaughter.. Fun times!!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdB4bKEbI0GkcyCCBkhvwaGUU0UQ8Qtyp69fCgQA0tc56DA-0v4CsuKLd5MNSN7T9dmDB3yHxs7mYluMKIl7oHToSGR5RDuoMWgOFX7K9xJoB3dq1WanaLeMHr1AsIYk14Q-EHuMfj34/s1600/MeWillKrisKaysBD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdB4bKEbI0GkcyCCBkhvwaGUU0UQ8Qtyp69fCgQA0tc56DA-0v4CsuKLd5MNSN7T9dmDB3yHxs7mYluMKIl7oHToSGR5RDuoMWgOFX7K9xJoB3dq1WanaLeMHr1AsIYk14Q-EHuMfj34/s320/MeWillKrisKaysBD.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, my brother and my daughter :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaylani in the middle, Brianna on the right, Lu Lu in front<br /> and Kay's friend Isabelle on the left.</td></tr>
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Yesterday we had an 80's themed birthday party for my granddaughter. It was such good fun. My daughter planned bingo and twister for the kids. I provided food, cupcakes and a giant cupcake for the birthday girl. She loved that I filled it with cheesecake :)<br />
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I will put more pictures up as soon as I can.<br />
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See you all soon.Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10552175758875062291noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857889995242838779.post-88097964874603916312012-06-10T13:45:00.001-07:002012-06-10T13:45:06.841-07:00Graduating soon and I miss soap!!!Just wanted to check in and let you all know I am still alive.. lol<br />
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Finals are this week and I graduate on Friday. I'm so excited and nervous at the same time. I still have to sit for my certification exam and do my externship but the hardest part is done. Now I just have to take my education and go forward and figure out what area of medicine I want to work in.<br />
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On the soap front, I am totally having withdrawals!! I have had several ideas for soap running in my head for weeks and haven't had time to make any. I swear I am going to take a whole week to just make soap when I can. Ha!<br />
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Keep an eye open for some yummy soapies. I have a shampoo bar recipe waiting to be made and a Milk, Oat and Honey bar that I want to make again. I decided I really like the recipe but the oats are too scrubby even though I ground them up really fine. So I decided to try to grind them up even more to get oat flour.<br />
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Now if I can just get the hang of essential oil blending. Hmmm :o/Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10552175758875062291noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857889995242838779.post-60379111929646652412012-05-26T11:59:00.002-07:002012-05-26T12:10:43.057-07:00Amy's Soap Challenge Week #10.. Landscape<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>This week Amy, at <a href="http://www.greatcakessoapworks.com/handmade-soap-blog/" target="_blank">Great Cakes Soapworks</a>, challenged us to create a landscape in soap. Believe me, this is not an easy challenge for a new soap maker but I gave it a go. </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>Check out my "Breezy Day".</b></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breezy Day with low clouds :)</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>Looks like my breezy day had some low clouds... lol. Not sure what I was thinking when I put the white in there for the clouds without putting the blue for sky between the green. I was so worried that the soap was going to get too thick that I didn't even realized what I did until I cut it. Oh well!</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>I used some cut up soap for my flowers. I wish I would of had some brighter pieces but I honestly didn't have the desire to make soap just for the embeds. I am super busy with finals coming.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>Anyway, I hope you like it .. I think it's pretty cute :) I have an idea for a sail boat now.. Ha Ha!!</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10552175758875062291noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857889995242838779.post-8072700616079374372012-05-23T18:08:00.002-07:002012-05-26T11:47:57.789-07:00Amy's Soap Challenge Week #9 - Soap Peaks<span style="color: #4c1130;">I have been super super busy with school and other life events. Barely squeezing in on this weeks challenge.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">So here is my soap for Amy's Soap Challenge. Check it out <a href="http://www.greatcakessoapworks.com/handmade-soap-blog/index.php/soap-challenge-week-9-link-up/" target="_blank">here</a> if you haven't already. There are so many talented soap makers :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">I made a Cafe Mocha soap. The pictures are a VERY fresh cut and they are just starting to turn dark brown. I used dark brewed coffee for my liquid and added a touch of cocoa powder to my espresso FO. Yumm! I hope they get really dark. I put a ton of white pearl mica in the tops so hope they stay lighter.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10552175758875062291noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857889995242838779.post-51437639571269468412012-05-12T12:35:00.000-07:002012-05-26T11:48:21.189-07:00Amy's Soap Challenge Week #8 - Salt Bars<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>So it is week 8 of Amy's Soap Challenge. It's been so fun participating. If you haven't checked out the Soap Challenge you can click, <a href="http://www.greatcakessoapworks.com/handmade-soap-blog/index.php/soap-challenge-week-8-link-up/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+greatcakessoapworks+%28Great+Cakes+Soapworks%29" target="_blank">here</a>, to see all the info. Also check out Amy's website, she has so many nice goodies at <a href="http://www.greatcakessoapworks.com/" target="_blank">Great Cakes Soapworks</a>.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>I decided to sit out this weeks challenge because I created a couple of salt bars during the challenge already. Since I don't sell my soaps I honestly didn't feel like having a half dozen more salt bars to add to the 20 or so I already have.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>So, I will reintroduce my salt bar that I made.... Here is a picture and here is a link to my <a href="http://honeydewsoapshop.blogspot.com/2012/04/amys-soap-challenge-5-mixing-fragrance.html" target="_blank">post AND the recipe</a>. Enjoy!! :)</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqxR_2BYu13_O_SD701eHd1LwomoM0Agr6Rdkty2mAWwaLMamrInfx5QZFgWXh_irAQ7fCq8VomQjuz6Sl8CjjojmjcO8IkmEKsPKsY4l5gvTSKTxxUmd_OeZr7kHZoiomQzLbhX3KGww/s1600/IMG_2057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqxR_2BYu13_O_SD701eHd1LwomoM0Agr6Rdkty2mAWwaLMamrInfx5QZFgWXh_irAQ7fCq8VomQjuz6Sl8CjjojmjcO8IkmEKsPKsY4l5gvTSKTxxUmd_OeZr7kHZoiomQzLbhX3KGww/s320/IMG_2057.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">80% Coconut Oil, 10% Shea, 10% Castor and 20% SuperFat<br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>Since coconut can be very drying I went with the 80/20 rule
and superfatted big on my first batch. They are very firm and the individual
molds made things a bit easier. The recipe is in the link above.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>The loaf recipe was 77% Coconut Oil, 10% Castor, 10% Olive
and 3% Shea and 20% SF. I also used half and half of fine and course sea salt
at 80% ppo. They are pretty nice too. I split the soap up and colored it before
I added the salt. Then I split the salt up and mixed it in and layered the
colors. I liked making the colors in the loaf but using the individual molds
are easier if you don't want the hassle of cutting them while they are warm</b>.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJExA9MEKzDQLaiPsIexv-pn68jlE5u-V8RLjoobp2Usxw6csj9H5_Q3r1Du5zZmHVoDu8TvIph3OQUVCDDSTvrEgjhAq_kA1gt7_4LpSmEhhf58bm-jrSmLhZdQVWNCXQ_yOCD4KqqZ4/s1600/IMG_2062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJExA9MEKzDQLaiPsIexv-pn68jlE5u-V8RLjoobp2Usxw6csj9H5_Q3r1Du5zZmHVoDu8TvIph3OQUVCDDSTvrEgjhAq_kA1gt7_4LpSmEhhf58bm-jrSmLhZdQVWNCXQ_yOCD4KqqZ4/s320/IMG_2062.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>This is what happens when you make soap when you are in a hurry. I put the cardboard on top without putting plastic between it and it during the oven process it puffed up and touched the cardboard and then it stuck to it. Then, in my hurry to cut it I cut such big pieces that you need a crane to pick one up. AND... They do not cut well (at all) after they cool down. They smell really nice... lol</b></span></div>
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b><br /></b></span>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10552175758875062291noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857889995242838779.post-71246946828872551332012-05-07T22:09:00.001-07:002012-05-27T22:20:31.231-07:00Sweet Lemon Green Tea Homemade Soap<a href="http://ourlifesimplified.com/house/hp-soap/sweet-lemon-green-tea/#comment-21199"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Sweet Lemon Green Tea Homemade Soap | Our Life Simplified</span></b></a><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;">I found this wonderful recipe at the link above and decided this was the one.... </span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>So, this was my project today. It was my first try at hot process soap. We will see how it turns out tomorrow.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>Stay tuned .. pictures to come :)</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>Next day:</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>This is the beginning of the cook. No it's not burning. My liquid is brewed tea so it was almost black. (I don't know what is up with this picture. It's not sideways in my file and I didn't take it sideways but it wants to be that way in my blog.. sigh)</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNDOzicHFPtI2X-9KdqgymYdEsUR_OQQoCpUgtYvr8apYlpseMB5InnxrMQQ_HpLjWJmAAK06Sh0X48L9w0LDV8fiEqlUFSWKok3TJi8qUJIhiLcEoHe741cO_07vdF_l5kukHz2fSuQ/s1600/IMG_2078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNDOzicHFPtI2X-9KdqgymYdEsUR_OQQoCpUgtYvr8apYlpseMB5InnxrMQQ_HpLjWJmAAK06Sh0X48L9w0LDV8fiEqlUFSWKok3TJi8qUJIhiLcEoHe741cO_07vdF_l5kukHz2fSuQ/s320/IMG_2078.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beginning of the cook. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2UJboy1I8LkVKB1FiwFiUmQU4tDvA_oEw4PdictX0qhU8mGd_YhsOcHs2AK_ibaJcAQn9GwL4G6z2M-pTna4YXBt4GkDWpdtUVuP9B8_Sce3YwmWsD1obyyX66fuWlWQsOo8gQwUj-Y/s1600/IMG_2083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2UJboy1I8LkVKB1FiwFiUmQU4tDvA_oEw4PdictX0qhU8mGd_YhsOcHs2AK_ibaJcAQn9GwL4G6z2M-pTna4YXBt4GkDWpdtUVuP9B8_Sce3YwmWsD1obyyX66fuWlWQsOo8gQwUj-Y/s320/IMG_2083.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First cutting. Not too bad :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4UUlVveO6t_CI8AdN4T0bPclgH3WsrIQY2uoPFPDm7rkn7pkvXnZ4wNbS4etX6or7mteKJCn5RVyHtmET2H6upRtxLkwlT1TH089TD7UTfWAh-q_eta-5rhyphenhyphenCFfMLTPdDmcpEBj1UZk/s1600/IMG_2081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4UUlVveO6t_CI8AdN4T0bPclgH3WsrIQY2uoPFPDm7rkn7pkvXnZ4wNbS4etX6or7mteKJCn5RVyHtmET2H6upRtxLkwlT1TH089TD7UTfWAh-q_eta-5rhyphenhyphenCFfMLTPdDmcpEBj1UZk/s320/IMG_2081.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Up close and personal</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13Rb6UCaVCgO9mkeDH7ggd1IN1rvmBwEnNGdw3zQnVnMVIQZROeTDCwt04V7nkudQaX6pSprEn-kZHHDr_-ZZtdM9sno-UHSqoXB2rWbJJueB30geAkRfJvn8WXzy4q0zkDFm3eWM6PM/s1600/IMG_2090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13Rb6UCaVCgO9mkeDH7ggd1IN1rvmBwEnNGdw3zQnVnMVIQZROeTDCwt04V7nkudQaX6pSprEn-kZHHDr_-ZZtdM9sno-UHSqoXB2rWbJJueB30geAkRfJvn8WXzy4q0zkDFm3eWM6PM/s320/IMG_2090.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moved to soap curing room</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAcR1XG_stplQcSkEVRiDwKx0sO6_Wxtx56J6VVoUVBZ1lY77VUKBRJc6Ojq9As15iDiirX5XJtRjnbzDerm0Lgm8hKJCPtNbIH3BzDYPMeVjxybK1_yurixjo6Z291KX2txHjeM2jI8/s1600/IMG_2087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAcR1XG_stplQcSkEVRiDwKx0sO6_Wxtx56J6VVoUVBZ1lY77VUKBRJc6Ojq9As15iDiirX5XJtRjnbzDerm0Lgm8hKJCPtNbIH3BzDYPMeVjxybK1_yurixjo6Z291KX2txHjeM2jI8/s320/IMG_2087.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finding a resting place next to last weeks soapie</td></tr>
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<br />Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10552175758875062291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857889995242838779.post-44918249772280205122012-05-07T15:47:00.004-07:002012-05-07T15:47:52.005-07:00Week 7 Soap Challenge... Gradient Color<span style="color: #4c1130;">So here it is.... ta da!! It's not what I had planed originally but it worked out ok.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">China Rain</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">This is week #7 of Amy's Soap Challenge, if you haven't been following along or if you want to check it out click </span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://www.greatcakessoapworks.com/handmade-soap-blog/" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><span style="color: #4c1130;"> If you want to check out some of Amy's wonderful creations at </span><span style="color: #38761d;">Great Cakes Soapworks</span><span style="color: #4c1130;"> you can click </span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://www.greatcakessoapworks.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;">When I started this project I chose a recipe that I knew, or thought I knew, would give me some time to mix and pour it all. My lye temp was about 100 degrees and my oils were about 96 degrees. I added my FO to my oils, as I have been doing for a while now. I set my water percent at 38 and 6% super fat and off I went...</span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;">As an afterthought I decided to add sodium lactate to my batch. I chose the low amount recommended and added it to my lye water. Then I added my lye solution to my oils and proceeded to stir. I gave the stick blender a couple of shots to mix and bam!! My soap started to get thick in a hurry!! OMG!! Throw some color in it and get it in the mold!!!</span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;">So I've got my mold half way full of the soap mix and it suddenly thins up to a nice workable pudding state. Hmmm.. now what? I already colored all of the soap. I still have the titanium dioxide ready to use. I guess we are gonna do it a bit differently. I split some of the batter off kept adding a little more titanium dioxide to each layer until I got to the top then poured the rest of the lightest into the rest of the darkest and did an in the pot swirl and piled it on top.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #4c1130;">I scented it with <a href="http://www.naturesgardencandles.com/candlemaking-soap-supplies/item/rf-9000/-China-Rain-Fragrance-Oil-.html">China Rain from Natures Garden</a>. They describe the fragrance as "refreshing, clean aroma with top notes of fresh rose petals, middle notes of wisteria and cyclamen, bottom notes of sandlewood and vanilla". Kim said it was a great scent and it behaved and did not discolor so I'm checking it out. It's been a few days and it still looks the same and smells strong. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">My husband chose the fragrance and the color. Good job honey!! :)</span></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10552175758875062291noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857889995242838779.post-75074866692668463992012-05-06T16:00:00.001-07:002012-05-06T21:31:21.721-07:00Cream of Tomato Basil Homemade Soap | Our Life Simplified<a href="http://ourlifesimplified.com/house/hp-soap/cream-of-tomato-basil-homemade-soap/#axzz1u8J33VyN">Cream of Tomato Basil Homemade Soap | Our Life Simplified</a><br />
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<br />
This looks very interesting... I want to learn to HP so much!! I need to just jump and and be done with it!! lol<br />
This blog is fantastic!Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10552175758875062291noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857889995242838779.post-72917514763429770852012-05-06T01:13:00.000-07:002012-05-06T01:13:06.502-07:00Busy Busy... and a rant for the day!<span style="color: #4c1130;">So it's been a while since I blogged. I have been so busy with school that I haven't had time to soap. I barely got my soap done for last weeks soap challenge. I will put pics up as soon as I unmold it. It sure was a bugger! I thought it was gonna seize on me so tossed the colorant in it and then I started to rush and get it in the mold and then it thinned out again. So, the first layer of my gradient soap is half of my soap. Oh well, stuff happens, right? lol</span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;">I've also been spending a LOT of time researching how to hot process soap in a crock pot. I can't find anyone that will answer my questions straight out. Again with the people not wanting to share because they think I should suffer because they didn't have anyone to help them when they started. What is wrong with people???</span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;">So that is my gripe for today. lol</span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;">I have mid terms at school this week so hopefully I will be able to get a few soaping sessions in when I'm not cramming :)</span>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10552175758875062291noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857889995242838779.post-45967472214493103512012-04-24T16:19:00.000-07:002012-04-29T16:43:38.020-07:00Amy's Soap Challenge #6 and Special Treat!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>Challenge #6 - Faux Funnel Pour</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>I had to do this twice and got 2 great soaps and a wonderful Birthday treat :)</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mcprdmL03ptHzUuRCkMBIv91F61bLcAwHvssy-oLwuSVTPQPso6VwhvPmZYNp1TiBXeQmsXNHUpOjGe3EGkmHOfL0cfMBp_v-sjcC6kSXfn_OmZkBJkyUeIkD8aJ2TiB0UfQwSwcKME/s1600/IMG_2065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mcprdmL03ptHzUuRCkMBIv91F61bLcAwHvssy-oLwuSVTPQPso6VwhvPmZYNp1TiBXeQmsXNHUpOjGe3EGkmHOfL0cfMBp_v-sjcC6kSXfn_OmZkBJkyUeIkD8aJ2TiB0UfQwSwcKME/s320/IMG_2065.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lemon Sugar Faux Funnel Pour - 2nd batch</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;">Tonight is the last night of my husband's 4 day weekend that happened to fall on my birthday weekend. It is a special treat to have him home for a long weekend AND my birthday. Lucky me!! :)</span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;">I wanted to get my soap challenge done ahead of time so I could get back to the grind of school during the week. </span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;">This challenge was a lot easier than I thought it would be. I was really nervous that I would split my soap off into 4 portions and everything would get thick. But, I used a FO that I have soaped with in the past and I used a soap recipe that I knew would stay fluid and I kept the temp low.</span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;">I had a helper, hope it's not cheating. My wonderful husband joined in on the fun. He has never soaped with me and he was so cute trying to do it so perfectly. He was a little nervous but I think he had fun. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJJSVIg48_MeU_NGwfOuAVLA4q9UvRC1C2UN_dfcSKw0VslJ4NKkmjYCGKMcaEf5J5JeCksig0Vmcdp_S8c6KcZfDe4ceWZqcDk9_JbvvV9JTLdX94t419eXg2bhJ7zl4pI6iYHZAx1g/s1600/IMG_2070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJJSVIg48_MeU_NGwfOuAVLA4q9UvRC1C2UN_dfcSKw0VslJ4NKkmjYCGKMcaEf5J5JeCksig0Vmcdp_S8c6KcZfDe4ceWZqcDk9_JbvvV9JTLdX94t419eXg2bhJ7zl4pI6iYHZAx1g/s320/IMG_2070.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fruit Loops Faux Funnel Pour... 1st try... WOW! </td></tr>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">So here is how it went.. I mixed up my soap batch and split it off into 4 equal parts. Oh, I have to add that I have been adding my FO to my oils before I add the lye solution and have found that it helps me gauge how the rest of the soaping experience is going to be like. I don't know if or how the FO is affected by adding it before or after but it's working for me right now so that's what I will continue to do until somebody tells me otherwise. So, back to the soap table. After I split everything into 4 parts, I colored each one with the mica colors we chose. I had heard that oxides may thicken the batter so I opted out on using them this time. took 2 colors and hubby took the other.</span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;">I think we got a little carried away and forgot what we were doing. We started to pour too high and after a few times we just kept going with it. We got some air bubbles in there even though I smacked the snot out of it repeatedly. Oh well. What can ya do? Sometimes it happens.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">So here is our creation. When I was cutting it I was thinking how pretty it was. Then the last couple of cuts kind of freaked me out (in a good way). I took pictures and sent them to my husband at work. We had 2 faces in our soap!! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">Check it out...</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Birthday Soap - Kim's Gone Loopy</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFXT874qpJPAbXGawCkrtxw0710oXa8l4qIrrEsU7HuSevESlAsgEw0TCxFqa6YUA7HuZKr1bfO4pUX2awfJN64-oNM-Uwx6-OSIKS7rxJH362cTcN_4umzIZLnGWgXef5lOhDC5X9K4/s1600/IMG_2063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFXT874qpJPAbXGawCkrtxw0710oXa8l4qIrrEsU7HuSevESlAsgEw0TCxFqa6YUA7HuZKr1bfO4pUX2awfJN64-oNM-Uwx6-OSIKS7rxJH362cTcN_4umzIZLnGWgXef5lOhDC5X9K4/s320/IMG_2063.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><br /></span>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10552175758875062291noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857889995242838779.post-50687240080564315062012-04-22T15:11:00.001-07:002012-04-22T15:11:00.814-07:00Happy Birthday To Me :)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-Q1Av1mnS2bej2ZlqTIP8qO6gxdgXWtUQSN8q9uzzhm1QCUqDM9LTWjkbbA8mocMRLWTjFJOkcDul6HVwp8nRRT7pCcUMumOP_4eqadGIlRQ-Cy3xgRqwZm1J50PgMc51KiS5dzTTy4/s1600/80750359v6_400x400_Front_Color-LightPink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-Q1Av1mnS2bej2ZlqTIP8qO6gxdgXWtUQSN8q9uzzhm1QCUqDM9LTWjkbbA8mocMRLWTjFJOkcDul6HVwp8nRRT7pCcUMumOP_4eqadGIlRQ-Cy3xgRqwZm1J50PgMc51KiS5dzTTy4/s320/80750359v6_400x400_Front_Color-LightPink.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10552175758875062291noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857889995242838779.post-40097508699187070332012-04-21T22:47:00.001-07:002012-05-06T23:03:47.969-07:00Slow down!!! Salt Bar Failure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>A lesson learned..... Slow down!!</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>Ok, so I was all jazzed that my salt bars came out that I thought, "Wow! I wanna make a loaf now". Great!! No problem!! Unless you are not watching the time and you are supposed to go to dinner with your family for your birthday. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>First mistake... thinking that a full loaf mold of salt bars is a good thing.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>Second mistake ... putting cardboard on top of said full mold without putting plastic or paper on it first (slow down!) I pulled a big chunk of soap off the top of the loaf.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>Third mistake ... cutting without measuring (slow down!)</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>Fourth mistake.. thinking nice big salt bars are a good thing (they weigh a ton)</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>Fifth mistake ... not cutting the tops off the messed up bars (cause I had to leave and now they can't be cut)</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>They are pretty and smell good... lol</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b><br /></b></span>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10552175758875062291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857889995242838779.post-55965599636174753572012-04-20T23:24:00.002-07:002012-05-06T23:03:19.172-07:00Amy's Soap Challenge #5 & Salt Bar Recipe<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lemon and Honey Salt Bars</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>Week 5 of Amy's Soap Challenge.. Mixing Fragrance</b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #4c1130;">If you haven't been following along you can check out all the happenings at </span><span style="color: #a64d79;">Great Cakes Soapworks</span><span style="color: #4c1130;"> by clicking </span><a href="http://www.greatcakessoapworks.com/handmade-soap-blog/"><span style="color: #cc0000;">here</span></a><span style="color: #4c1130;">.</span></b><br />
<b style="color: #4c1130;">Ok... so this challenge really was a challenge for me. I honestly do not have the nose for it. I bought several essential oils a couple months back because I wanted to try mixing up some yummy stuff but most of them gave me a headache. In fact, pretty much all of the fragrances give me a headache or nausea because they are so concentrated.</b><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>Anywho... I wasn't going to let this challenge go by without giving it a try. I pulled out all my EO's and FO's that I thought might mix well. I even pulled out the EO's that I didn't like very much to see if they could be better if something else was added.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>This is what happened....</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>The first challenge was the fact that I didn't have any pipettes to get the stuff out of the bottles without cross contaminating. After a couple of days of procrastinating, because I didn't have said pipettes, I remembered Amy mentioning something about using Q-tips and jars. By golly I had those!!</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>Mix #1- Patchouli + Raspberry = Not so much</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>Mix #2 - Ylang Ylang + Allspice = No!! (why does anyone like Ylang Ylang?)</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>Mix #3 - Jasmine + Lemon = Maybe</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>Mix #4 - Jasmine + Vanilla = Now your talking</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>Mix #5 - Sweet Meyer Lemon + Honey + Lemongrass = Winner!!</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>I have this really wonderful Honey FO that I am totally in love with. It soaps like a dream in CP. Very little acceleration, no ricing, and discolors to a light beige. My bathroom smells like Honey with the soap just sitting in the dish. My husband and my daughter think it is heavenly too. I will definitely be making some lotion and body butter with this one. The lemon fragrance is Sweet Meyer Lemon from Brambleberry. No acceleration, no ricing and discolors to a light tan. I only added a couple of drops of Lemongrass to kick up the lemon a bit. I used 3 parts Sweet Meyer Lemon, 1 part Honey (this FO is super strong) and a dash of lemongrass. I have no idea how many part of lemongrass I used because I weighed out an ounce of my 3:1 Lemon and Honey but decided it needed a bit more tartness so I dropped 3-4 drops of lemongrass in it. I was walking on the wild side.. ha ha ha</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>I have been researching shampoo bars and salt bars lately and since I have never used a shampoo bar I wasn't feeling brave enough to try that one yet. So the salt bars won out. I've never actually made salt bars either but how hard could it be? You just add salt to your soap. Right?</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>Since it looked like my soap would be doing a light tanish color, I chose lemonade yellow colorant. The weather has been warm lately so I think I was craving Lemonade... lol</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><b>Salt Bar / Spa Bar Recipe</b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;">80% Coconut Oil</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;">10% Castor Oil</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;">10% Shea Butter</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;">Run through</span><span style="color: #cc0000;"> <a href="http://www.soapcalc.net/calc/SoapCalcWP.asp">SoapCalc</a></span><span style="color: #38761d;"> at 20% superfat</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;">80% ppo of Fine Ground Sea Salt (you can use course if you want)</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;">FO or EO as directed by manufacturers use ppo</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;">Mix up your soap batch as usual adding colorants and fragrance before you add the salt. Your soap needs to be at a medium trace to suspend the soap throughout and it doesn't sink to the bottom of your mold.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #38761d;">I used individual molds for this project. I will try out a log mold tomorrow and let you know how it goes.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;">Note: It doesn't really matter what soap recipe you use as long as you have a high percent of coconut oil. I used 80% but I have heard of people using 100% as well. I use castor oil in all of my soaps. I like the extra conditioning it adds and the lathering as well. I also use shea in almost all of my soap recipes. It contains some unsonponifiable oil so that adds to the conditioning factor too. Also, I used 80% Sea Salt. I have heard of others using 50-100%. So experiment and see what you like. One more thing... Salts... do not use dead sea salt, or epson salt. Dead sea salt has something in it that messes with the chemical reaction of the soponification and renders your bar to mush. (This is what I have been told anyway) Epson salt is not actually really salt and can be very irritating if placed directly on your skin. Better to add it to your bath or foot soak.</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>Everything went well. I had heard that salt bars move quick once you put the salt in the mix. I think because I have survived a seized soap batch and lived to tell about it so these salt bars were a piece of cake. Not one issue. In fact, I am thinking I will try to make dual colored bars next time. IF they turn out ok. They are in bed and we will all see if Kim can mix fragrance and make salt bars tomorrow. I have my fingers crossed. Wish me luck :)</b></span></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10552175758875062291noreply@blogger.com8