GrandmaArial

Vanilla, black tea, and orange for the base... large pinch each, (about 3/4 tsp total) and a tiny pinch each black pepper. cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and star anise. barely 1/4 tsp total. Not quite the same, not as spicy as the tea, but I figured that's better than it irritating someones skin. Maybe it will bloom with time, but if not I still like it. The infused oils are because the FOs scare me! LOL. After my first experence and after reading the horor stories... but now I've developed a likeing for the look and feel of them. The next batch won't be until the grand daughters leave... we have 3 here right now for 10 days... and if im lucky we will have 3 more for another week... and the only soap makeing that will be happening is MP til they leave. We are going to make nesting birds and roses this week. They are sleeping right now... and I need to be getting there too. Snuck in here for a little "me" time... but time is up. Maybe I will have a few minutes to sneak back while they are here... other wise see ya all in a coule weeks!

Scented with my own version of vanilla chai, again, infused oil to scent and added grounds to swirl. Also swirled a bit with ultramarine green. Used a basic crisco recipe again, with some extra staric acid and castor oil. So far it looks good. I expect it to brown up a bit from the vanilla, but shouldn't be to much as ony used a tiny bit of vanilla.

I don't make a lot of lotion, just for myself and friends, but I use my kitchenaid, and use it all the time for food. Havn't poisoned anyone yet. But I don't put anything in lotions that I wouldn't eat.

Good advice but too late. I already said the “F” word. His eyes opened WIDE! And cutting him off doesn’t work… he kisses my neck… and I fold… you know how it is, LOL. He will buy me some oil… I just made a batch of extra sudsy, extra hard soap… used Biggalow’s vanilla chai tea as my inspiration, I just love the smell, so earthy. Swirled it with green and the spices… looks kinda fancy. My plan is to get him addicted to it (the man LOVES a good hard, sudsy bar of soap) and then blackmail him. I will have 3 of our grand daughters here tomorrow for 10 days, so won’t be able to make CP anyway (we will be making MP), and then if I’m lucky we will have 3 others here for another week. By the time they are all gone the soap will have cured enough to give him a small slice… then if he wants a real bar he has to bring me oil! LOTS OF OIL! I’ll convince him soap is like cheese, takes 8 oz of oil to make 1 oz of soap.

Ok… if you squint your eyes they sorta look like roses. Paint some green on for leaves and everyone will think it was planned that way Really... not that bad, and it feels good and that's what counts the most. Wait a few days... I've noticed my soaps look better after a few days in the closet.then polish them up abit with a damp cloth... and you will be in love with it.

Ok… I was almost ready to try FOs again… and you have to tell a horror story like that! Could you chunk it up and do an over pour with a fresh batch of soap?

Really nice layers. Very pretty.

Oh good, cuz I have decided I have to sell this stuff if I’m going to be able to afford to buy more supplies. LOL I am glad you like it, I have been trying to make my soaps more like others here, and nice soft looking, polished… but it’s not working. I can’t get the beveled edges, and when I try to smooth them, well… it’s just not working. They look like chunks of (really good smelling) stone. Maybe “soapstoned” would be an appropriate name after all! I think I’m beginning to understand how a junky feels… figuring out how to scrap up enough cash to go score another jug of olive oil…. And maybe a bottle of grapeseed oil, and a few jars of coconut oil… coco butter… I WANT IT ALL! Hubby wouldn’t let e go shopping today… said he’s putting me on an oil allowance.

I do the same, except I put about 2 inches of cold water in the bottom of the sink so if I do spill any lye it will be instantly diluted and heps to cool the lye water. If you do this make sure the water in the sink is no more than half way up to the level of the water in the pitcher so it won't become boyant. Also when I take it out of the sink I put it in an old roasting pan that i have a layer of wet newspapers linning... just in case... As for fumes.. wear your mask and take Nan's advice... Now DO IT DO IT DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So.. it's pink tea! Looks yummy to me. Very nice colors and swirls.

Congrats! Can't wait to see pictures.

Congrats! Can't wait to see the pictures.

I like it. The colors are very subtle, maybe next time a bit more contrast if that’s what you want, but the swirls themselves look as good if not better than mine and everyone said my first tries were good, so yours must be great!

OK... my coffee wore off... you weren't talking about CP but butter... of course, you have the fragrence down in yu CP... I'm the one who hasn't figured that out yet!Hmmm... is it to late to drink a pot of coffee?

Thank you paul. I thought it was something like that... but turned into my 13 yr old granddaughter and went bank on percentages there fora moment. I won't be discounting water for quite awhile... its just tempting... but i know I need more practice before I try that. I did want to understand the theory behind it, bt I'm always curious...like a kid ... always with the "whys"... I thank you too for the sugestions and explinations. Thank you much for your time and effort.

MONDAY??????????????????????????? NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will have grand daughers here! They are selfish with grandma's attention, won't let me near the computer (unless I'm playing a game with them)... I won't know til after they leave!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok, ok, be that way... I'll have to sneak in here in the middle of te night when they're alseep...

Thank you very much! The time I want to save is between the time I start makeing soap and when I tuck the soap into bed for the night. After that I dont worry about it, even if the cat decides to mess with it, it will be irritating but won't kill him. He's not stupid... he will leave once he figures out it's not nice. I have done 2 batches useing euginias room temp directions, and yes, I see it still gets very warm. I won't be discounting for quite awhile, it's just tempting. Thank you again for your help.

I wouldn't add this to the water before adding the lye, but to your oils. I think it's probabaly safer to always add the diluted lye to oil. It is derived from oil... woundn't want you to get a volcano or anything. I agree with CareBear, If it were me I would treat it as an oil. Now hurry up and report back.

All of the FOs I've looked at say 3% to 5% for CP, but for my first batch I only used 2% (Crafter's Choice "Clean Laundry") and I can't stand it it's so strong. That'swhy I started useing infused oils. I have since read some reviews on the FO i used and seems it's particulary strong.

DO IT! I made the stinky butter soap, you try this one. What's the worse that can happen except you have to toss it out. And it might be wonderful! And if it is YOU are the one who gets bragging rights!

Well, I could be wrong, been a LONG time since chem class. But even 10% I'll take if it helps keep even a little extra of my precious shea at the surface!

Well... DUH! Thank you, I should have known the pecentages. Mr. Anderson (Chem 101) must be rolling over in his grave. If the water is more I can just add it to the solution. Now I know! And thank you for the advice ont he pitcher. It's large enough that the small amount of lye water I make at a time shouldn't splash. I looked at one like that when I started but wasn't sure the gasket would hold up to lye. If you're useing one it must be ok. I will look for it again next shopping trip... won't have time for more than 1 more batch before the grand daughters get here on friday, so I'm not going to worry about it to much today (no, we won't be makeing soap while children are in the house... no way, we will be sticking to M&P for their visit). euginia, I agree, I'm not ready to be makeing large batches of lye water. My questions about calculating were no more than curiosity. Yes, I know... curiosity killed the cat... but satisfaction brought him back. Though I admit the idea of being able to go in and make a batch of soap with out the 3 hour wait for it to cool would be nice... My "me" time tends to be stolen... an hour here, and hour there if I'm lucky. Seems every time I want to make soap the phone rings... someone needing something RIGHT NOW! Maybe sometime in the future...

Well... DUH! Thank you, I should have known the pecentages. Mr. Anderson (Chem 101) must be rolling over in his grave. If the water is more i can just add it to the solution. Now I know! Don't know how this got here... the full post is below. All i can think is the cat was playing on the keyboard (again) while I had the dogs out. How do you delete a post here?

I still look like that! It's important to never forget that lye can be very dangerious... but with that awareness we can take steps to lessen the risk to a reasonable level. Ginger, I've been reading your posts for awhile now, you are a very conscientious person, when you are ready you will do it, and do it well.

So do I... but I'm new to this and just learning the propertes of different fats. It's one thing to read about it, another to experence it. The Crisco will help me cut costs as I play with scents and colors and other additives... And Carrie... yes, this one keeps calling me! So i have them shoved in a cabinet in the basement where thier little crys are muffled.