Other Crafting Creations
Handmade Lye Soap
Creating your own soap is a fun project that is incredibly rewarding, as it is a practical necessity that you can give as a gift or keep for yourself! To get started, just gather up the required ingredients and follow the steps below.
Ingredients:
- 1 can lye crystals
- 2 1/2 pints cold water
- 5 1/2 lbs. cooking fat or lard
- Scented essential oil
- Food coloring or pigment
- Glass bowls
- Wooden spoons
- Glass pans or soap molds
- Wax paper
- Towels
- Glass cooking thermometers
Step One
Place cold water into your glass bowl, and SLOWLY add the lye. Because lye is extremely caustic, be sure to wear protective gloves and glasses. Using a wooden spoon thoroughly stir the lye until all of the crystals have dissolved. The lye will cause the water temperature to rise as it dissolves; simply set the bowl aside to cool.
Step Two
Place your fat or lard into a heavy duty sauce pan and place it over medium heat until it has completely melted. Once the fat has melted and both it and the lye have cooled to approximately 90 degrees, mix the two ingredients together. Wearing protective gear pour the liquid fat into another glass bowl, then slowly add the lye water mixture. Mix these ingredients carefully and in a well-ventilated area using a wooden spoon. You will know the mixture is ready when you move the spoon through the liquids and you can see the path of the spoon for a few seconds.
Step Three
Once your mixture has been thoroughly combined it is time to add your scents and colors. Add just a few drops of fragrance oil, as you do not want to overpower the user. Similarly, you should only use a few drops of the coloring agent, as you do not want to stain the skin of the person using it.
Step Four
When you are happy with the fragrance and color of the mixture you can begin molding your soap. Simply grease your glass pans or molds or line them with wax paper and pour your mixture in. Place an additional sheet of wax paper over the top and wrap the molds in towels, letting them cool overnight. After the soap has reached the correct consistency, remove the hardened product from molds or pans and cut as desired. Place the soap on a baking rack in a cool, dry pace so the bars can harden for two to three weeks. Once the bars have hardened fully you can use yourself or give away to your friends and family!
Homemade Ice Cream
Making ice cream from home is a fun, easy summertime treat for you and your children. Just follow the easy steps listed below to customize your own chilly indulgence.
Ingredients:
Step One
Break cookies or candies into small, bite size pieces. Place them into a bowl or measuring cup and set them aside until needed.
Step Two
Pour milk into a heavy saucepan and heat over medium flame, bringing the milk to a gentle simmer. Remove from heat.
Step Three
After removing the milk from the heat, add the sugar and salt to the mixture. Stir the milk until the sugar and salt are thoroughly dissolved.
Step Four
Pour your mixture into a bowl and allow to cool at room temperature. You can speed up the cooling process by placing the bowl in a bath of ice water. Add your candies, cookies, or other treats at this time.
Step Five
Once the mixture has cooled, cover it with plastic wrap and allow the mixture to cure in the refrigerator for at least four hours, preferably overnight. This process will give the mixture a smooth, creamier texture.
Massage Oils
Everyone loves a good massage, and if you are one of those people who enjoy giving them as well, making your own massage oil is a great treat for yourself and others. Far less expensive than purchasing these oils, making them yourself allows you to be more creative with your preferences. Massage oil is prepared by adding a base, or carrier oil, to essential oils. While essential oils provide the scent and texture you want in an oil, they are far too potent to use alone. Adding a base oil will dilute the mixture enough for a relaxing massage. The base oil is a vegetable oil that is scentless and non-reactive. The most common of these are the seed oils- apricot kernel, grape seed, etc. These bases are far less expensive than essential oils, so they will make up the bulk of your oil, with the essentials added in. The process is simple; for a single use simply pour two tablespoons of carrier oil into a shallow bowl, adding a few drops of your preferred essential oils. Swirl the bowl to blend. If you have made more than you need simply pour the remainder in a bottle with a lid, as essential oils are volatile and will evaporate if left uncovered. If you want to make enough for sharing or for future use, simply use as much base oil as you like, adding a half a teaspoon of essential oil for every cup of base or carrier oil, and store in an air-tight container.
For relaxation try using lavender, chamomile, jasmine, rosewood, and sandalwood
For energy try balsa fir, pine needle, any citrus scents (lemon, lime, orange) or any mints (peppermint, wintergreen)
For romance try patchouli, jasmine, rose, geranium, and ylang ylang
