I started making soap about two years ago.
Normally I would feel the need to start from scratch but somehow it felt a bit daunting. It was suggested that I start with the
"melt and Pour" method. I have found it to be fairly simple, versatile and allows room for a great deal of creativity.
After trying several different soap bases I have settled on a goat's milk base as my favorite. I now buy it in 25 pound boxes. While experimenting to find your favorite you can buy it in one or two pound containers.
There are hundreds of scents to choose from.
I add to my collection each time I visit my soap supply store. I attach a dropper with an elastic band to the top of each jar to keep the right dropper with the right jar of scent. My favorite at the moment is "buttercream snickerdoodle"
The staff at OTION The Soapmaking Bar in Bellingham Washington are very helpful. I love visiting their store. http://www.otionsoap.com/
To buy your soap making supplies on line go to http://www.brambleberry.com/
I use a food grade color paste. Most of the colors last well with some of my soaps keeping their color after a year. Sadly I find a very pale pink will fade in just hours.
Soap molds come in an edless selection. I sometimes use decorative one dollar ice cube trays.
I most enjoy using "Kudos Design" molds shown
here in the foreground. They have lovely detail and are
food grade so you can make chocolates to match your soap.
A great gift idea.
Once you start making soap your imagination starts to see everything as a soap mold. I use small wooden boxes, plastic butter trays, shells, most any plastic packaging. I line the mold with a heavy plastic wrap in order to lift my soap out once it has hardened.
The grandkids love getting involed in creating their own soap.
Here my grandson is grating colored glycerin soap...
placing it in his mold and pouring melted clear glycerin soap base over his many colors of grated soap.
Once removed from the mold and cut it looks like candy.
I am making a layered, pink and white, goat's milk peppermint soap. I allow each layer to harden before pouring the next. The soap base is first melted in the microwave. Once it is liquid I add the scent and color.
Final Layer
Once it has hardened, usually with in an hour, I remove the block of soap from the mold.
I slice down the side to create soap curls.
Cookie cutters may be used for different shapes and themes.
Using a vegetable peeler will create more delicate curls.
Almond Scented Soap
Pearberry scent
Clear Glycerin Hearts
No comments:
Post a Comment