Tell Me A Story: HOMEMADE SOAP

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

Recipe:

Homemade Soap

I used flower petals and leaves from my home garden, and miniature toys to put inside my homemade soap.

Click on each photograph to enlarge.

"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.

It's so easy.

My daughters and granddaughter like to help.

Did I mention that it's easy?!

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

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

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 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 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

Wrap/package your soap in creative ways.

Add your own personal label.

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.