*Sandie*

Ok I am the one that Crashed and burned. I didn't use the lye calculator correctly and was way off my calc. The soap didn't turn out so I took the advice remelted. Added more lye. Now its the ugliest soap in the world. But it is hard. I got the zap test. But boy oh boy. Is it UGGLLYYY. I will try to take a pic and post. Maybe its time for the ugly soap contest. That might be fun. Also will make someone like me feel better. Also going to name my soap. Crash and Burn. It turned from Green and yellow to burnt brown. So name fits.

I saw those done on one of my favorite decorating shows. Designer Guys. Stephen made them. He is a cutie. I have wanted to make them ever since.

That is so strange. I used the lye calculator I must have used it wrong. I always weigh everything. But its still mush so I will now remelt. Im sooo sooo sooo sooo glad your all here for dunces like me. I love watching it roll over on itself too. So Now I get to do it again. Ok who wants to come and help me with the next batch. I'll let you float and tan while we wait. I'll even throw in a margarita.

16 0z olive oil 8 oz coconut oil 8 oz lard* 3.04 oz water 1.05 lye

I went to a party the other night. This lady had this wonderful scented candle. It was soy but softer then I have seen. The use for this candle was to melt it and drip it on your partner. It didn't get that hot. The scent was cinnabon. It was so nice on my skin. So I came home and melted some shea butter with soy wax and used my cinnabon. It was sooo great. I tried it on my DH. He loved it. It washed right off. I know use it on my hands before I work out in the yard. My hands have never felt so good. This company charges 25.00 for a 8 oz candle in a tin.

thats what about my did. 5 hours. I did the zap test and it was ok. So how long will take to set up

I did my first HP soap using the easiest beginner soap 50% olive oil (no need to get extra virgin; light olive oil is great!) 25% coconut oil (Lou Ana brand at Super Wal-Mart is perfect) 25% lard* I use the lye calc and did everything exact. It took so much longer then the instructions said. Finally I got there. I put it in my mold. This morning it was still gooey. I'll give it a few days. Its not humid here infact the opposite. Hot Hot Hot. But I have it in my craft room. Maybe this recipe was not suppose to be used in HP. If this is what I have to do...Forget it....lol but I will try again.

Its friggin hot here 115 and hummid today. So I decided to call every hardware store in town. I FOUND MY LYE. A small Ace Hardware store right around the corner from me had it. She laughted when I told her I was looking for lye and hurrily (is that a word?) spit out. IM not making Meth. She laughed. Said the first thing she thinks when someone wants lye is canning Olives...YUCK. I love olives but not sure now....Anyway I told her I was a soap maker and she said she wants some and will carry it in her store if she likes it. Im going to take one of everything just for her carring Lye for us crafters.

Not sure if all of California is having this but my area is not selling lye. I finally asked one store. They said because CRACK is made from it and didn't want to sell it because of future problems. Who thought to put lye in your mouth...LOL I guess they want to destroy something when they take crack cocaine. Now I know what the smell is they keep talking about coming out of homes that are crack houses. So now all you soapers are going to have DEA breaking down your doors...LOL So if any knows a chain that sells Lye I would love to know. Even Walmart isn't carring it.

I would recomment going as small as a baby food jar. I make them for all our cars. We learned this by accident. My grandson took a votive out of my bag. W put it in his drink cup, which fell under the seat. The car smelled like blackberry. My favorite candle. When I found where the smell was coming from. I started telling customers to take votives and do the same. I then made wickless ones in 4 oz containers. I used jelly jars and punched holes in them. Just make sure they don't tip over. During the summer it does get very hot in the car and will melt the wax. so I put the jar in a small plastic container under the car seat. tape up the holes if its too strong

Im playing with MP soap but want the swirls. How do you do this. I know how to do it with candy and frosting. Those are thin so when its thick I really want to know. A friend is going to help me do the CP soap next. I love these looks but don't want to waste time. LOL I have never been known to be patient.

I see all your edges on your soap are so nice. Can you let me how you do that. Im waiting for my mp soap and can't wait to make some soap for hubby and grandsons. But I like my things to look pretty. So please share.

I am on our local Chamber board. I am an Ambassador. My best recommendation is to get involved. Go to what we call is Greeters. Its a once a week get together at one of the businesses. Every week we showcase a new business. You can join forces with a business that you showcase in and is also a chamber member. You can have 200 or more people. Also the more they see you the more they remember you. You can get in with the Hospital fundraisers. Non Profits. It is endless. I get so much info from them also. They are always giving me ideas. I started with just making candles and soap as gifts for friends and family. I handed some out as raffel gifts. More and More people were asking. Now I am up to 25 to 50 jars a week. Not bad for not even trying. Also Think Pink that is our Breast Cancer Awareness Week in Oct. Wants me to make a Pink Candle for each person that comes to the Lunchen. That is 750. All this from the Chamber cause they know me. But you have to get involved. There is lots of others and I had to make myself remembered.

Almost all airlines limit to 40 lbs per bag even carry on. I have seen some try it. I would break my back. But it cost me $25 for every lb. I went to the trash. We went and bought another bag and put the extra in that. But the bag cost me but it was still less then the over weight. We flew right after they changed that rule and would not budge.

I like # 2. But I love the boldness easy to see and read from farther away. My flower shop customers would also say things about the print being to small on some of my items.

I was looking at all the lids I had from canning jars. I was going to give them to my mom cause she cans everything. But I thought why not drill a hole in it. It will be exactly centered every time. It doesn't slide. It has a lip to keep it in place. I found out they also work on several different kinds of jars. Just thought I would share.

I friend of mine from Germany was telling me about curd soap or hard soap. It is suppose to be good for arthritist. Does anyone know about this. Also looking for recipe. I love the group.

We are hunters....well hubbie is mostly. I just go to get out of the house. We always use unsented soaps and shampoos. But I had a thought. What about Mary Jane...not only will he be happy he will have a bad case of the munchies...LOL

I was in the health food store and wondered if any one had a good laundry soap recipe. I have 4 kids. 3 Girls and they change cloths 3 times a day and swear they are dirty. We are trying to be more ecco friendly. So please let me know if anyone has a recipe. Also fabric softner would be great to. I love to make my own scent.

Tea Tree oil is a natural lice killer. You can add it to your already using shampoo. Or mix it with your cream rinse. Its also a great acne med. Worked in the school system for 10 yrs. Saw lice all through the years. My daughter got it in 8th grade. The older the girls get the more they comb their hair. AND they share. My house was never more clean. But my hot water bill was out of this world.

This is the big thing know. Does anyone have a recipe for the micro brassion that you use on your face as a scrub. The granuals are very small. I bought some from the department store. Love it but not the price. $50.for 2 oz. But boy oh boy does my face feel good and look better. Face peal in the shower

Im looking for a supplier in or near Calif for containers. Shipping is sometimes more then the jars. I found one in Las Vegas but looking for others.

Thanks again. I guess I need to proof read before I post. What do stupid head with my spelling. LOL

Merideth. I just had to say I love your pic. looks like my little dogs face. Also I love your quote. If everyone would live by that we would all be happier. I told my husband that after we went to Target to buy last minute things for the grandkids for easter. He was getting a little road rage with the shopping cart. Came home turned on the comp. Read your quote. We both laughed. He finally realized what I have been telling him for years.

Being new to this I would love this help. I owned a flower shop for years and there is so much more to it then you think. YOu have to remember labor.