Amazing

[Vec]

I was amazed at the ammount of ingredients I could get at the grocery store! The only things they didn't have was butters and certain oils. I managed to get olive oil rather cheap (68 oz. for $12), sunflower oil ($7), safflower oil ($4) and coconut oil (32.5 oz $9) and of course lard (25 lbs $18...parade brand).

That's gonna save me a dollar or few on online purchases...may even be able to splurge on an extravagant ingredient or three...tee hee hee.

[Michi]

Right on!! You got some good oils for a good price that's for sure.

So, when are you going to make some soap?

I'm still trying to get up the nerve to do it myself, and I have all the ingredients (and then some ) to do it, but I'm a big chicken. LOL

Have fun!!

Oh did you find some lye??

[Vec]

HA HA HA!!! I'm having the same delima right now...I want to just jump up and do it...but I'm also still kinda chicken. Also, I want to make sure I have everything i need before I get into it. I'm wondering how long I need to leave my soap in the 3" pvc mold before i need to take it out, cut it and cure it. And, do I have to use distilled water or can I just use well water?

Yes, I got two 18 oz containers of red devil lye for $4 each.

Here's the recipe I'm gonna try out:

18.24 oz. water to 18.24g. lye

14.4 oz. lard

14.4 oz. olive oil

4.8 oz. coconut oil

4.8 oz. canola oil

4.8 oz. safflower oil

4.8 oz. sunflower oil

I'm also going to add some oatmeal and almond

Do you think this will be simple enough for a first batch?

I'm not going to add any dye or fragrance...or should I?

[TerriWV]

I'm by no means an expert on soaping, but the lye amount you have posted is way too high. I ran it through the soapcalc, and you should only be using 6.46oz lye for that recipe. Also maybe someone else will jump in here, but I think that recipe will make a soft bar.

[Grumpy Girl]

I think the lye is listed as grams instead of ounces. I had to look twice myself.

[TerriWV]

I think the lye is listed as grams instead of ounces. I had to look twice myself.

lol oops..sorry I see that now. :embarasse

[Vec]

Yeah, I heard Robin say once that it was better to measure the lye in grams so I figured it would be best. You don't think my soap is going to be too soft do you? What could I add to it to make it more of a cleansing soap? Also, I have been looking through the archives for information on using pvc molds but have had no luck so far. I would much appreciate it if anyone could give me a link or something.

See, my boyfriend, Jake (Vec), makes candles and he lets me use his account to talk here in the soap discussion board. I have my bachelor's degree in graphics communications...so I do have experience in art related crafts. I just want to do it right and learn from the more experienced (or best...however you want to look at it). I have some really good ideas for packaging and such...now all I need is a product....and soap is something I've always wanted to give a try at. So please be patient with me. I'll try my best not to ask too many stupid questions. heheheh

ROCK ON

[Vec]

Well...just poured my first batch of soap into it's mold....everyone cross thier fingers for me....I'll need all the luck I can get. (since it's hard to get things to go right lately) I'm worried it's not going to turn into soap...but I guess everyone worries about that the first time ey?

I did manage to have a minor disaster though! While pouring my soap into one of the pvc molds I had lined the bottom popped off and soap went everywhere. I managed to save half or more of what came out (thank goodness) by scooping it with my hand into a plastic container I had handy (YAY!). Still yet, a good ammount of it landed on the floor before I could act (BOO!). i guess I'll let it sit there overnight and see if I can pop it off of the floor tomorrow.

At least I had the sense to tape the bottom of the other mold tightly before proceeding again (YAY!) And so, my first batch sits safely in a closet till tomorrow. What am I going to do if it doesn't turn out?

[prairieannie]

What am I going to do if it doesn't turn out?

Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and make more soap!! I've made PLENTY of batches that didn't turn out~ UGH..gawd awful ugly crap!

[Soyoholic]

I just poured my first batch of CP soap yesterday also!. I can so relate to the fears. I have had all my oils and everything else for months. For some reason I was just so scared to jump into actually doing it. Well I will know about 3PM Eastern as that is when I uncover it. But, I know one problem already. I did line the wooden mold with freezer paper, but when I placed the wooden lid on the soap, I never thought to cover it with the freezer paper first! Darn, Darn, Darn!

[Vec]

YAY I MADE SOAP! everything came out great...so far. *crosses fingers* It looks wonderful! I'm so proud of me! when i first started i said i wasn't going to put any color or fragrance in it....but i changed my mind. I put a little bit of dandilion yellow to give it a golden tint and added honey fragrance to it. now it looks and smells like a piece of 'bit o honey' candy. yum yum.

As soon as I get a picture of it I'll post it. But now, I'm trying to decide what flavor to make next....

[Vec]

WHEEEEEE!!!! JUST POURED A SECOND BATCH OF WILD CHERRY!!!!

here's my recipie for my second batch:

Water 18.24 oz

Lye 192.3 g

Canola 7.2oz

Coconut 12oz

Lard 14.4oz

Olive 14.4oz

1/2 oz Wild Cherry FO from Peak

(I'm thinking maybe this will be a harder more lathery bar? yes/no?)

Now I need to make a run to Wal Mart to get more drying racks. Our friend found our digital camera so all I have to do now is go and fetch it to make pics of my first batch of soap.

What's the best type of dye/pigment to use in soaps...so far I've been using crayons but they don't melt good enough or get dark enough for me. Any suggestions?

[Gypsyjen]

In my all-natural soaps with EO's, I use herb colorants (kelp powder, paprika, turmeric, parsley powder, etc.). In my other soaps I use skin-safe ultramarines & oxide powders. I get mine at www.from-nature-with-love.com.

Good luck!

[Vec]

I'm still trying to get a hold of a digital camera to take pics of my first two batches of soap. In the meantime I've made another batch of soap. I doubled my recipe for the wild cherry batch and tried a swirl. I took out a large portion of the uncolored soap and colored the rest with cocoa powder then poured the two back together and gave it a couple of gentle stirs before scooping it into my pvc molds. I do hope it comes out nice. And now it has a nice light cocoa scent....yummy! I'm going to try and sell some of my first batch on the third of December (we have a booth at a local craft fair). What would be a fair price for 4oz bars? And yes...I've tested it...it's nice and creamy and leaves the skin feeling soft and moisturized.