xsami3000x

I also use an embossing/craft gun. I already had it, I imagine it takes just a bit longer than a heat gun but faster that a blow dryer. I use the preformed 4/6 bags then a heat sealer to make them fit the soap better. Sealing the edges of the bag first and constant movement of the gun and flipping of the soap seem to be the key. Sami

I use the kitchen/food microwave for mine. They chemicals that are in there are in quite a few other things about the house as well. I'd be more worried about the microwave cleaner that didn't get rinsed off good than fumes from the soap. Sami

Last I looked wisteria lane's base is SFIC base. How are the bars being kept? If they sit somewhere that they can't dry after use, poof and they're gone, could that be it? I have noticed some difference between the longevity of the white oatmeal and clear versus the goat milk and shea, which seem to be softer and dissappear faster. Sami

Before my baby started school this year I would pour at night, but now she's in pm kindergarten so I've got a solid 4 hours to do everything in. Candles, bnb, read, watch movies that aren't made by disney, shower without company (that's become my favorite), go shopping alone (one months groceries in 2 hours and 3 stores yeah baby). I seem to get it done but I'm also just testing so pouring 8 candles or so at a time isn't really much. Sami

He is so cute! That big cheesy grin just does it for him. I suck at anything that isn't canes! Sami

I use a pyrex cup too but I also found that for the oatmeal to suspend you really have to do smaller batches, the larger ones just take to long to cool down enough and the bigger surface area exposed creates a thicker harder to melt back in skin. I think the most I could get done at once was a pound. If your set on a 2 lb batch I'd try melting in 2 smaller cups and just pouring them in at the same time. Sami PS I so dig the oatmeal for my son who has excema and cannot keep his legs clean, washes great and doesn't dry out the rashy spots.

I normally add about 2 tbsp of "other stuff" to a pound of base. Too much oil added into the base and it just wont combine, just like too much oatmeal and it wont hold it's shape. Sami

I only do the 4 oz tins so far but one tip I have is don't fill to the top of the tin. In the hot weather the fo seeps a little and the wax gets warm so then the lid gets all slimy and you can't get it off. I fill to the crease where the lid rests and it gives me 2.75 oz per tin. Sami

Hi everyone, we have just moved and found an odd problem we didn't notice while house hunting. We are surrounded by dairys, which we knew but we never noticed the cow smell coming so close to home. The weather is nice but opening the windows causes a gag reflex. What are the pros and cons of the smelly jellies, aroma crystals and corn cob? I've never used any of them, and during the day candles (anything hot) isn't usable because of the little fingers running around. I know that with the aroma beads and smelly jellies heat improves them, so will sticking them in front of a window help? We're in Cali, lots of sun. I'm not really worried about cost effectiveness right now as these are just for home, but if one really sticks out as more expensive that info will be appreciated. Thanks so much, Sami

You could always send it to me! They don't sell it here in Cali and it's one of my favorite drinks (koolaid packet and a cup of sugar and call it a homemade winecooler). It can be used in any bnb recipe calling for vodka. Sami

After just having done the sfic co-op I am sticking with the flatrates. I think my heaviest box was 35lbs. I even got the gallons of liquids into the flatrates because we used milk jug shaped jugs. The post office now hates to see me coming, one trip alone was I think 35 boxes all at least 15 lbs. Sami

I would ask for the candle to be sent back to you at your cost and please to include any pictures of the damage so you can get an accurate idea of what "spat all over the furniture and walls" means to them. Then if they really aren't pulling for a freebie you can offer them a replacement (in another scent) and go back and try to figure out what happened, it may have just been they had the candle near a strong draft or door that caused the spattering of wax. Sami

I don't know what the jack frost thing is so I can't tell if it's right or wrong. But the alcohol you can pick up at any pharmacy, grocery store, walmart, it's usually with the first aid stuff on the bottle shelf. To make it easier I went over near the travel size section and found an empty mini sprayer to squirt with. Sami

I've never had one not solidify but I have had a couple that were just way too soft. I usually stick with about 1 tbsp of oil per pound of m&p. Don't know what you really get out of it but it doesn't adversly effect the end bar. Sami

I saw a few minutes of a show about LUSH one time, from the little I saw all their soaps are melt and pour. They are in the same way homemade/crafted as any of us who do m&p just on a much bigger scale. It showed a couple of guys and this huge pot of soap (it was an orange color don't know which soap) they had one of those very cool pot holder/pouring contraptions and they just poured it onto a huge tray of molds probably close to 100 rectangle bar individual molds, scraped the excess across and then stacked another mold tray on top to repeat the process. I really wish I could catch it again but I don't even know what show or channel it was on. Sami

I like sugar even though I scrub before I shave. Also they tend to put the plain white sugar on sale more often than salt, and I know sugar won't stick around too long unused like a 5 lb bag of salt would if other things get too busy. Sami

I'm in northcal and have found it in one of my local lowe's. Sami

I made a loofah in a pringles can using pepperming and tea tree, really nice on the footsies. If you haven't tried the loofah yet here's how I did it, Wet the loofah and reshape it into a round, some of them don't really need this but some are flat as pancakes. Squeeze out most of the water then push it down into a rinsed out pringles can, then I turned the can over on some paper towels and let it sit overnight to dry out more, I can get all this done while the kids are bugging me. Next day melt soap I used a clear base, add coloring, I use a reddish color, add eo's and pour into pringles can, mine could probably have held 1.5 lbs but the loofah didn't come to the top so it was probably closer to a pound you need to bang the can on the counter to make sure you fill all the nooks and crannies and get the air bubbles up. I left it to sit over night again then tore the pringles can off and sliced them with a serrated kitchen knife, be very careful here and use a towel or something to hold the soap while slicing. Sami edited because I can't spell today

That is just so pretty! Very cool effect. Sami

Well I think it is darn pretty even if it was a PITA. I really like the color combos, my head just didn't want to picture them pretty. Sami

Very cool! I love the LLC! How do those pumps work? The ones I've used always had a flip top and you'd get not enough or way too much on the puffy. I'm no where near confident enough to make those but I'm cheating and ordering the base. Sami

I bet that is nice and scrubby! Looks lovely! Sami

I used the red soap dye from michaels (hey it was clearanced for $1) and I ended up with horribly ugly pinkish color. So definately don't go that route. Sami

I usually tap the mold just a bit and then spray the top with some rubbing alcohol, this pops all the little bubbles. Sami

I saw a tutorial with pictures on about.com's soapmaking section. Don't know how good of a tutorial it is but it was pretty. Sami