TELL ME A STORY

TELL ME A STORY
"Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation." Joel 1:3

Monday, September 23, 2013

Gifts From The Garden

Marcia Norwood
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking


Today:  My Recipe for Homemade Soap!

Click on each photograph to see an enlargement.


Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood

 "The best thing 
that can come out of a garden
are gifts for other people."

Jamie Jobb,
Author



It's easy to make your own homemade soaps from "Melt & Pour" soap bases.  I taught myself how to make soap from instructions in books and online videos.  
    
I added COFFEE and OATMEAL to this homemade soap bar.

 
Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood

It's so easy.  

My daughters and granddaughter like to help.

Did I mention that it's easy?!

Megan Jewell, Sarah Zheng-Kang and Faith Fu Ju.  Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood

We press flowers from my garden to put inside homemade soaps.

Dogwood Blossoms pressed in a phone book:  Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood

 
Flower Petals and Ferns make great additions to homemade soaps.
Gather Supplies:

I shop for soap making supplies (molds, cutters, trays, Melt & Pour Bases, colors) at Hobby Lobby, and online at Bulk Apothecary

CLICK on this link or 
COPY and PASTE the link in your browser:
http://www.bulkapothecary.com/categories/soap-making-supplies.html

Hobby Lobby Glycerin Soap Base.  Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood
My favorite soap bases at Bulk Apothecary are:
  • Honey Crafters Choice Glycerin Melt and Pour Soap Base

  • Honey SFIC (all natural) Glycerin Melt and Pour Soap Base

  • Goat Milk SFIC (all natural) Glycerin Melt and Pour Soap Base

  • Olive Oil Crafters Choice Glycerin Melt and Pour Soap Base


Let's Begin!

1.  Cut the soap base into cubes, and place in a microwave safe container. 

2.  Use the container for soap making only. Do not use it for food. 

3.  Heat the soap base in the microwave for 30 seconds. 

4.  Stir the mixture. Continue heating the soap base in 30-second intervals and stirring until the soap is melted. Once it is melted, take it out of the microwave. If the soap gets too hot, it causes tiny bubbles in the finished bars of soap.  

(Spray with rubbing alcohol to reduce/remove bubbles.)

Rosemary from my herb garden simmered on the stove and then added to soap. 


5.  Stir in drops of special coloring made for soaps to soap base.  

6.  Add  drops of  essential oils for soap fragrance.   I also add Vitamin E Oil.


Potpourri from My Garden,  Soap Fragrance from Hobby Lobby


Store Handmade Soaps in Snack Baggies and then decorate.

Pour liquid soap into molds and then add herbs

7.  Pour the warm soap mixture into the soap mold. 

8.  Let the soap cool for at least one hour. 



9.  Turn the mold over, and, gently, push down on the back side of the mold until the soap releases from the mold.

 
Homemade Soaps














 













Add Miniature Plastic Toys & COINS to encourage children to wash their hands.  First add liquid soap 1/4 to 1/2 way in mold, and let it dry.  Then add toys or coins to the center, followed by more liquid soap to fill the mold.

Add Herbs and Flowers  from the GARDEN  & Foam LETTERS for NAMES.  Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood

Add Flowers, Herbs, Miniature Plastic Toys & COINS to encourage children to wash their hands.  First add liquid soap 1/4 to 1/2 way in mold, and let it dry.  Then add toys or coins to the center, followed by more liquid soap to fill the mold.

Add Flowers, Herbs, Miniature Plastic Toys & COINS  and even children's NAMES inside soap to encourage children to wash their hands.  First add liquid soap 1/4 to 1/2 way in mold, and let it dry.  Then add toys or coins to the center, followed by more liquid soap to fill the mold.


Add Flowers, Herbs, Miniature Plastic Toys & COINS  and even children's NAMES inside soap to encourage children to wash their hands.  First add liquid soap 1/4 to 1/2 way in mold, and let it dry.  Then add toys or coins to the center, followed by more liquid soap to fill the mold.


Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood

Store homemade soap in plastic bags so they don't dry out.  Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood



Add LEGOS, Miniature Plastic Toys & COINS  and even children's NAMES inside soap to encourage children to wash their hands.  First add liquid soap 1/4 to 1/2 way in mold, and let it dry.  Then add toys or coins to the center, followed by more liquid soap to fill the mold.

Add Flowers & Herbs from the Garden to Homemade Soaps

Homemade Coffee/Oatmeal Soap.  Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood
Wrap/package your soap in creative ways.

Add your own personal label.



 Creative Packaging:  Coffee Filter, Cut-Up Cardboard, Raffia & Handmade Tag with Paper Doily                                             Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood
Careful!  
Don't make the mistake that I did.
See how the letters for FAITH got messed up?

Foam letters floated everywhere.  

Be sure to add 1/4 liquid soap to mold FIRST -
then let that dry - and then add foam letters...
followed by filling the rest of the mold with liquid soap. 
Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood


Our Kitchen Table.  Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood


Here are some videos to help you get started making your own homemade soaps!!!

Have FUN!
CLICK on this link or 
COPY and PASTE the link in your browser
for videos on how to make "Melt & Pour Soap." 
http://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?p=how+to+make+homemade+soap+with+melt+and+pour

Candy Molds can be used for Soapmaking. 

Thank you for stopping by!

Come back often, and bring a friend!

Marcia Norwood
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking



Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood
Click on each photograph to see an enlargement.
 

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