A Little Bar of Soap

TUESDAY TIP DAY - How to....

2010-05-11T06:52:00.002-04:00

Retain Fragrance in Your Bath Salts & Bath Bombs

One of the challenges we all have is how to retain the scent of our fragrances and essential oils in our bath products over time. Dendritic salt is a key secret ingredient in this battle. Dendritic salt is a very fine grain salt that has been designed to provide greater surface area. This increased surface area helps lock in and hold fragrance, reduces clumping and requires less pigment if you color your products.

Incorporating dendritic salt into your products is very easy. Slowly mix your fragrance or essential oil in with the dendritic salt in a separate bowl. The recommended usage for dendritic salt is 5% to 10% of your dry ingredients. Once your fragrance or essential oil is fully mixed with the dendritic salt, mix your dendritic salt in with the rest of your ingredients.

The great news about this secret ingredient is that dendritic salt is very inexpensive. We sell dendritic salt over at our shop at Artfire for $2.00 a pound or $8.00 for 5 pounds. Stop on by our shop and check it out.

We're Back In The Saddle Again!

2010-04-25T21:23:00.003-04:00

Do you ever feel like your "to do" list is so long you can't keep up and something has to give? The past couple of weeks soap making has had to take a back seat to personal responsibilities. You know, things like husbands, houses, kids, pets, and full time jobs. Well, I'm glad to say that the break is over and we are getting our grove back.

I made a big batch of body butter and sugar scrub today. Have you ever made body butter or lotion? If not, you should try it. You will be amazed at how easy it is. Very soon I will put a little tutorial up.

I love Sugar Scrub! I wish I could climb into a bath tub full of it! Did you see the last several posts and the Sugar Scrub survey we did with some of our friends? We posted several recipes for you to try.

For soap making, body butter or sugar scrub supplies you can visit us at www.etsy.com/shop/alittlebarofsoap or www.artfire.com/users/alittlebarofsoap

To give you a sneak peak of some upcoming posts, here are a couple that we will be focusing on.

French Milled or Hand Milled Soap or Rebatching Soap

Creative Ways to Wrap Your Soap

How to Swirl

Body Butter Tutorial

Until next time.....Soap On!

Scrub E Results

2010-04-11T05:50:00.003-04:00

This scrub makes a solid scrub bar! You can pour these scrubs into shaped molds for a different look (silicone baking molds work very well).

Ingredients

15 ounces of Cocoa Butter

7.5 ounces of Shea Butter

.8 ounces of Stearic Acid

1.3 ounces of Polawax

.7 ounces of Beeswax

2.4 ounces of Avocado Oil

2.5 ounces of Sweet Almond Oil

.6 ounces of Cyclomethicone

.6 ounces of Dimethicone

.3 ounces of Fragrance Oil, if desired

32 ounces of sugar

Directions

Phase 1: Melt the butters, stearic acid, polawax, beeswax and oils in a double boiler until all the ingedients are melted.

Phase 2: Remove from heat and add the cyclomethicone, dimethicone and fragrance oil.

Phase 3: Add the sugar and mix well. Allow the mixture to cool until it becomes thick and almost solid.

Phase 4: Pour the mixture into a mold and put in the fridge or freezer until set. Let sit for 24 hours before using.

Here is what are raters said....

The scrubs were rated on Appearance, Texture, Feel of Skin After Use and Overall Rating. The rating scale was A-F. A - being Extremely and F - being Not At All. (we had 5 participants in the study)

Appearance    A - 3, B - 1, C - 1, D - 0, E - 0, F - 0

Texture     A - 0, B - 0, C - 2, D - 2, E - 0, F - 1

Feel of the Skin After Use    A - 1, B - 1, C - 2, D - 1, E - 0, F - 0

Overall Rating    A - 0, B - 1, C - 3, D - 1, E - 0, F - 0

Comments:
"I loved the idea of a scrub soap but this was too crumbly. It fell apart while using it, into chunks, VERY greasy too."

"Kind of rough on skin, but loved it afterward! Love it for my feet."

"I felt it was way too rough. I like the idea of having a scrub in bar form, though.
Scrubs C,D and E left my bathtub VERY slippery."

"He was gone before I was done!"

Scrub D Results

2010-04-10T05:50:00.004-04:00

This sugar scrub uses brown sugar for a different look and feel!

Ingredients

28 ounces of Brown Sugar

1.4 ounces of Ground Oatmeal

.3 ounces of Liquid Glycerin

3 ounces of Sweet Almond Oil

4.2 ounces of Liquid Soap Base

Fragrance Oil, if desired

Directions

Phase 1: Use a food processor to grind the oats to “oat flour”

Phase 2: Weigh the brown sugar and ground oats and combine into a mixing bowl. Set aside.

Phase 3: Weigh all the liquid ingredients into another bowl.

Phase 4: Slowly add the dry ingredients to the liquid ingredients and stir until completely blended.

Phase 5: Fill your containers with the scrub.

Here is what are raters said....

The scrubs were rated on Appearance, Texture, Feel of Skin After Use and Overall Rating. The rating scale was A-F. A - being Extremely and F - being Not At All. (we had 4 participants in the study)

Appearance    A - 0, B - 0, C - 0, D - 4, E - 0, F - 0

Texture     A - 1, B - 0, C - 0, D - 2, E - 0, F - 1

Feel of the Skin After Use    A - 1, B - 0, C - 2, D - 1, E - 0, F - 0

Overall Rating    A - 0, B - 1, C - 2, D - 1, E - 0, F - 0

Comments:
"The only dislike was color - otherwise LOVED IT!"

"The appearance of the scrub did not appeal to me. It looked "dirty." As I placed it on my skin, a lot of it fell off. It also was greasy to the tub and did not rinse off the tub easily. My skin felt nice at the end but the experience wasn't "spa like" at all."

"Didn't care for this one at all. Left my skin too oily and didn't glide on well."

Scrub C Results

2010-04-09T07:42:00.005-04:00

Ingredients
4.2 ounces of Shea Butter
2.9 ounces of Stearic Acid
6.4 ounces of Coconut Oil (76 degree melting point)
1.9 ounces of Avocado Oil
.5 ounces of Polysorbate 20
16 ounces of granulated sugar
.2 ounces of Fragrance Oil

Directions

Phase 1: Combine shea butter, stearic acid oils and melt in a double broiler.
Phase 2: Once melted, add sugar. Allow to cool.
Phase 3: Once cool, add fragrance and polysorbate 20.

Here is what are raters said....

The scrubs were rated on Appearance, Texture, Feel of Skin After Use and Overall Rating. The rating scale was A-F. A - being Extremely and F - being Not At All. (we had 5 participants in the study)

Appearance    A - 5, B - 0, C - 0, D - 0, E - 0, F - 0

Texture     A - 1, B - 2, C - 2, D - 0, E - 0, F - 0

Feel of the Skin After Use    A - 1, B - 2, C - 2, D - 0, E - 0, F - 0

Overall Rating    A - 1, B - 3, C - 1, D - 0, E - 0, F - 0

Comments:
"Appearance was fine but I felt a little too "greasy" after this one and my tub did too."

"Didn't glide over skin like A and B. Left my skin too oily."

Scrub B Results

2010-04-08T07:11:00.003-04:00

Scrub B is an example of an “emulsified” scrub. I chose to use dendritic salt for this scrub but you can use sugar if you prefer.

Ingredients

1.55 ounces Stearic Acid

1.97 ounces Emulisfying Wax

2.96 ounces Apricot Kernel Oil

2.11 ounces Avocado Oil

1.27 ounces Cocoa Butter

1 cup of dendritic salt

Fragrance Oil

Directions

Phase 1: Combine oils, stearic acid and emulsifying wax and melt in a double broiler.

Phase 2: Once melted, add sugar. Allow to cool.

Phase 3: Once cool, add fragrance if desired.

Here is what are raters said....

The scrubs were rated on Appearance, Texture, Feel of Skin After Use and Overall Rating. The rating scale was A-F. A - being Extremely and F - being Not At All. (we had 5 participants in the study)

Appearance    A - 4, B - 1, C - 0, D - 0, E - 0, F - 0

Texture     A - 4, B - 0, C - 1, D - 0, E - 0, F - 0

Feel of the Skin After Use    A - 2, B - 3, C - 0, D - 0, E - 0, F - 0

Overall Rating    A - 3, B - 2, C - 0, D - 0, E - 0, F - 0

Comments:
"I loved scrub A for it's carressness but I love Scrub B for it's creamy, buttery feeling. Loved the mild smell and my skin felt great! Each A & B offer a unique scrub depending on what you want for that bath exeperience!"

"Didn't have as much "grittiness" as I would've liked, but was a good texture to glide over the skin when putting it on. It left my skin a little oily, I probably would like to use in the summer when I've been in the sun or the pool alot and need the extra moisture."

Scrub A Results

2010-04-06T22:59:00.005-04:00

We chose to use a large sugar known as “Turbinado Sugar” for this scrub. You can find turbinado sugar in your local grocery store and it looks like this:

Here is the recipe for Scrub A (makes 32 ounces of product)

Phase A:
Shea Butter 1.5 ounces
Avocado Oil 2.45 ounces
Sweet Almond Oil 2.25 ounces
Rice Bran Oil 1.5 ounces
Emulisfying Wax 1.5 ounces
Polysorbate 80 .04 ounces
Optiphen .10 ounces

Combine all of Phase A and heat to 170 degrees. Remove from heat.

Phase B:
23 ounces of Turbinado Sugar

Add the turbinado sugar to your melted oils from Phase A. Allow the mixture to oll to 80 degrees.

Phase C:
.30 ounce of Fragrance Oil or Essential Oil

Add your fragrance and mix well.

Scoop into jars.

So, how did our raters like Scrub A? Here are the results!

The scrubs were rated on Appearance, Texture, Feel of Skin After Use and Overall Rating. The rating scale was A-F. A - being Extremely and F - being Not At All. (we had 5 participants in the study)

Appearance    A - 3, B - 0, C - 1, D - 1, E - 0, F - 0

Texture     A - 4, B - 1, C - 0, D - 0, E - 0, F - 0

Feel of the Skin After Use    A - 3, B - 2, C - 0, D - 0, E - 0, F - 0

Overall Rating    A - 3, B - 1, C - 1, D - 0, E - 0, F - 0

Comments:
"I loved the feel of my skin after this scrub! It felt like pearls gliding over silk! My skin was so smooth and smelled wonderful!"

"Love for Feet"

"My skin feels really silky after using this scrub. Even though it is a little coarser than other scrubs, it doesn't feel rough at all."

Sugar Scrubs Revealed!

2010-04-05T21:16:00.002-04:00

If you have ever wondered what is the difference between a sugar scrub, a salt scrub and an emulsified scrub, you’ll want to stay tuned over the next week as we examine a variety of scrub recipes and techniques.

Here’s a little preview of the 5 scrubs to peek your curiosity…

We made each of these five scrubs pictured above using a variety of techniques and ingredients. We gave samples to all some of our dear friends and family and asked them to rate the scrub based on a variety of factors – appearance, texture, etc. We are looking forward to sharing the results with you during the next week. Here is what you have to look forward to each day - we will post a scrub recipe, a picture of the scrub and the feedback/”grade” the scrub received by our friends and family.

We hope you will enjoy this feature as much as we have so stay tuned and...

Soap On….

Friday Favorite Soap Pick

2010-03-26T19:27:00.011-04:00

Today's Soap Pick is....
s

A Little Bar of Soap
s

What? Today is about us? Oh gosh! I'm shocked! ;-) Well, on the more serious side, I thought I would take a moment to share a little bit about us. Who are we, you ask? We are two girls who love to craft! Including but not limited to scrapbooking, painting, knitting, crochet, stained glass, jewelry making, and did I say SOAPMAKING? Yeah, we do some of that too ;-)

About three years ago Girl 1 said to Girl 2 she was going to try to make homemade soap and after about 2 bars she was hooked. 400 soap bars later - Girl 1 started looking around her and found her house full. Over here was soap, over there was soap, everywhere was soap, soap!!!

Family members wanted soap, friends wanted soap, friends of friends wanted soap and so it was born....A Little Bar of Soap.
s

For the last couple of years we have made soap, body butter, sugar scrub, body splash, massage candles, soy candles, and whatever else soapy we could. But, one thing was troubling....we couldn't find one place to buy all of our soap supplies and with the rising cost of shipping we thought, ..."wish there was somewhere to buy everything we need for soap making." (at least the basics - oils, butters, lye) and then we thought...if we wished that, what if others were out there living with unfulfilled wishes! So, this year we decided to a division to our company called Soap and Lotion Supplies. A few of the items we sell are various oils, butters and lye. We also carry stearic acid, citric acid, emulsifying wax, and much, much more!

You can visit and shops at
s

www.etsy.com/shop/alittlebarofsoap

and

www.artfire.com/users/alittlebarofsoap

And you can come visit us each week here....oh, yeah here are some pictures of swirled soap we made last week!

Soap On!

Terrific Tip Tuesday

2010-03-24T07:27:00.005-04:00

...On Wednesday!!!

Things have been a bit busy here at A Little Bar of Soap. We've been busy filling orders for all you soapmakers! Can't wait to see what you are making!!

We wanted to get a tip out to you even if it is a day late. So, today's tip.....

Inexpensive Soap Molds

Below are some inexpensive soap mold ideas that you can use. Some you might even have around your kitchen right now. Or, you might have available for use after breakfast this morning depending on how fast your family can drink orange juice....

So soapmakers....take a look around your kitchen and get creative! It will be fun to see what you might be able to use and all the fun new shapes you can make.

~Measuring Cup~

~Orange Juice Carton~

~Jello or Pudding Cup~

SOAP ON!!!....I'm hungry now :-)

A Little Bar of Soap is now on Artfire!

2010-03-22T20:43:00.000-04:00

Looking for soap and lotion supplies? You can find us on.....

www.artfire.com/users/alittlebarofsoap

Friday Favorite Soap Pick

2010-03-19T08:29:00.004-04:00

....LJCtree....

C is for Carrot!!!

Today Meet LJCtree! Don't you just love these soaps? Her playful use of the Alphabet, fabric and graphics are so much fun.

I could ramble on about her use of amazing products (but that would be a bit boastful since she orders several of them from A Little Bar of Soap ;-) So I won't go on and on and on about the amazing, wonderful and great quality of the ingredients, but besides the quality of her products - she is a wonderful lady and a new Soap friend to A Little Bar of Soap! We love her!

Her Etsy shop is filled with soaps from "L is for Lettuce" to "S is for Shy Monkey"

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ljctree

In her shop you will also find a few things besides soap! She has some wonderful handmade necklaces, earrings and totes made from scraps of fabric and found objects.

Once you meet this lovely artist and estian, you won't want to miss what's going on in her world so you can follow her musings at http://www.ljctree.blogspot.com/

"S is for Soap On" LJCtree!!!!!

Facebook

2010-03-18T01:24:00.002-04:00

A Little Bar of Soap is now on FACEBOOK! We "heart" fans!!

Terrific Tip Tuesday

2010-03-16T14:06:00.003-04:00

...it is still Tuesday isn't it?
Where does the time go? Okay, so on with the Tip....

FELTING

Have you ever felted soap? If you are looking for something fun and new to try? Why not try to felt one of your bars of soap? The outside layer of the wool felt makes for a wonderful way to exfoliate.

You can find a nice and clear set of instructions here: http://www.mielkesfarm.com/felt_soap.htm

Here are some great instructions on layering colors of roving for felting
http://www.wikihow.com/Felt-Soap

It's an Animal's World After All.....

2010-03-13T07:41:00.000-05:00

We have some very strange pets between our two homes! The sweet kitty in this pic is one of Tara’s cats, Eli. As you can see, he LOVES the bathroom sink for nap time!

Shanda’s dog, Cooper, also has some strange likes and dislikes including an extreme fondness for unrefined cocoa butter. He loves the smell of chocolate and loves when mom is packaging unrefined cocoa butter for sale! And....he likes the refrigerator!

Friday Favorite Soap Pick

2010-03-12T08:16:00.009-05:00

brought to you all the way from Wasilla, Alaska

Swan Mountain Soaps

Taking inspiration from the wild beauty of the Alaskan wilderness Swan Mountain Soaps specialize in handmade soaps and bath products using many ingredients they get from their own fields. Using natural ingredients like birch sap and rose petals will ensure you are getting the best of what nature has to offer.

Not only concerned for women and their beauty and skin care needs, they offer some "Manly" products as well. Got a man in your life that has grease and grime embedded in those hands and fingernails? Yuck! Take a look at Swan Mountain Soap's "Mechanic Scrub" or what about some "Elbow Grease" for those dry, cracked elbows?

Look at the artful swirls and dazzling rich colors!

and the most important soap of all.......Banana Cream Pie!!!

To view their complete product line visit

http://www.etsy.com/shop/swanmountainsoaps

We tip our Stick Blenders to you Swan Mountain Soaps!

Soap On!!!!!

Terrific Tip Tuesday - Shavings

2010-03-09T07:02:00.001-05:00

What do you do with all those pieces of soap you shave off your good bars of soap? Do you throw them away? Below are a few ideas of how I use my soap shavings...

1. Take your soap shavings and place them in a sisal soap bag like the one below! Each time the bag gets a little low, just drop in a few more shavings. I love these bags! A great way to get clean and exfoliate!

2. Do you knit or do any type of yarn craft? Put your soap shavings in a muslin bag and toss it in the bag with your latest yarn project. It will make your yarn smell really good!

3. Rebatch, Handmill or French Mill your soap shavings - this is a great way to save your soap shavings! Recently I decided to tackle rebatching my soap shavings and some older bars of soap and it was really simple! Look for a post on rebatching soon.

4. Create sachets with scented soap bits and shavings to scent drawers, closets and anywhere else (including the car) that might need a fresh pick up.

Soooo......what do you do with your soap shavings?

What's Your Color?

2010-03-07T23:47:00.003-05:00

Are you as tired of winter as we are? Are you ready for Old Man Winter to go away for a few months? We sure are!

Today was a beautiful day here in Virginia - A reminder that spring is on its way! A reminder that flowers will be soon be blooming and the birds will be singing!! In honor of the Spring days that are head we thought we would share a bit of color with you! ENJOY!!

Friday Favorite Soap Pick

2010-03-04T22:11:00.013-05:00

Mom and Sonicka Design

We know, we know....we are suppose to be featuring a soap today, but we just couldn't help ourselves! These purses are just adorable and they make us smile!!!

So, for our very first Friday Favorite Soap Pick that's not soap - we are featuring Mom and Sonicka Designs!!!!

We actually met this crafter at the Craft and Hobby Association (CHA) Trade Show last year. She was walking around with a frog purse on and we just couldn't help it, we had to have one. So, we have purchased several of her patterns and they are on our "to do" list....

You will want to check out her shop at www.etsy.com/shop/sonicka

From pigs, to cows, to chickens, puppy dogs and much more....you are sure to want to get one for yourself!!!

Soap On Mom and Sonicka Designs!!!

And The Award Goes To......

2010-03-03T20:58:00.000-05:00

I am just getting around to reading my old editions of Saponifier Magazine. Each year the magazine polls subscribers on “The Best Of.” I always find the answers to be enlightening. So, in honor of award season, here you go…

“What are your top ten best-selling or requested scents this year?

2008
Lavender
Oatmeal, Milk & Honey
Patchouli
Mint
Vanilla
Lemongrass & Rose (tie)
Lilac
Black Raspberry & Vanilla (tie)
Sandalwood
Lovespell

2009
Lavender
Vanilla
Lemon/Lemongrass
Patchouli
Oatmeal, Milk & Honey
Mint
Sandalwood
Coconut
Rose
Orange

A note on the polling from the magazine editors:

“It is worth considering the countless nuances and blends in fragrances that make counting each one exactly as next to impossible; therefore, we grouped them into the dominant broad scent category or type that they belonged in. For instance, Vanilla Bean, Tahitian Vanilla, and other forms of vanilla scents were counted together under the category of vanilla. All mints and mint blends were placed in the mint category, and so on. The citruses presented a bit of a quandary, as each one might be listed separately at times (Orange, tangerine, lime. . .) and other times non-specifically, IE: Citrus Medley. So, where a particular citrus was noted, it was placed in that category, and where simply citrus was noted, it was placed in its own category. Indeed, if all citruses had been placed under the simple citrus category, it would have placed near the top! Another important item to note is that no distinction is made between fragrance oils and essential oils.”

Terrific Tip Tuesday

2010-03-02T05:00:00.002-05:00

A Little Bit of Oatmeal Goes a Long Way

Oatmeal is a common ingredient a lot of soapmakers like to put in their soaps. Unfortunately, a lot of recipes don’t tell you how MUCH oatmeal to put in so, if you are like us, you think…MORE IS BETTER! Well, this is not so much the case when your soap turns out like this…

OUCH! Trust me, those soft oats HURT once they look like this in a bar of soap. So, a few tips….

We recommend grinding your oats to oat powder in a food processor before you put them in your soap. This really helps your achieve the benefits of having oatmeal in your soap while avoiding the rough edges whole oats sometimes create. We find that 1 to 3 teaspoons of oatmeal powder per pound of fat in your soap recipe is perfect. The more oatmeal you add, the roughter your soap will feel.

Where Are You Angelskies???

2010-02-27T13:34:00.003-05:00

We are looking for the winner of our "Name That Spice" contest. Angelskies where are you? We want to send you your 8 oz. of free shea butter!!!! You can contact us through our blog!!!

Friday Favorite Soap Pick

2010-02-26T07:02:00.006-05:00

Skin.

bath and body - Taking great care to produce bath products that are healthy for your body, Skin. uses only the finest organic oils and natural ingredients. The simple, yet calming packaging prepares you for what is to come. From Cedarwood to Chamomile, these soaps are sure to nourish your skin and calm your soul, a true spa experience. Additionally, Skin. offers herbal body lotion, body scrubs, bath salts and bath teas. So, head on over to Skin. and start your spa experience now!

You can purchase their soaps and bath products at www.etsy.com/shop/SkinBathanBody

Soap On Skin.!!!

Corrugated Cardboard

2010-02-25T10:53:00.003-05:00

Our bubblewrap madness got us thinking, what else can we use to create fun designs on our soap? We had some corrugated cardboard around the house so we followed the same procedure as our bubblewrap project (link) and lined our drawer organizer with corrugated cardboard. Below are the results!

NOTE: It was more difficult to peel away the cardboard than it was to peel away the bubble wrap. In a few places we had to wash away little bits of cardboard that got stuck in the soap but, all in all, it worked and creates a fun look.

Bee Happy Soap Recipe

2010-02-24T00:34:00.008-05:00

Coconut Oilxxxxxi 25.8%xxxxxxii12.4oz

Castor Oilxxxxixxx16.1%xxxxxxnw7.7oz

Grapeseed Oilxxixx12.9%xxxxxmiq6.2oz

Hemp Oilxxxxxxxxx8.1%xxxxxxxw3.9oz

Beeswaxxxxxxixxxx4.8%xxxxxxmx2.3oz

Waterxxxxxxxiixxxxxxxxxxiiiixxix18.2oz

NaOH (Lye)xxxxxxxxxxxxxiiixxxxi6.7oz

Make your soap following the instructions for Cold Process Soap (Tutorial)

At light trace add:

1.5oz of Oatmeal, Milk and Honey Fragrance Oil
1.5oz of Honey

Makes approximately 3lbs of soap.

Terrific Tip Tuesday

2010-02-23T06:47:00.014-05:00

Bubblicious Soap Mold!

I really love cool soap molds and the other day when I was surfing the net I saw the cutest idea I knew I had to try. Thanks goes to Cathy Winsby over at www.soap-making-essentials.com for inspiring me with her Sweet Citrus Honey soap and her very creative use of bubble wrap!

Step 1: Cut two pieces of bubble wrap – one to fit the bottom of your soap mold and one to fit over the top of your soap once it is poured into the mold. Both pieces should be roughly the same size.

Step 2: Line your soap mold as usual. In this case, I used a Martha Stewart drawer organizer I purchased at Kmart as my mold and lined it with freezer paper.

Step 3: Place one of your pieces of bubble wrap in the bottom of your lined mold with the bubbles facing up.

Step 4: Make your soap and pour the soap into the mold.

Step 5: Place the second piece of bubble wrap over the soap once it is poured. Make sure you place it with the bubbles facing down. Carefully press the bubble wrap down so that the soap fills in the holes of the bubble wrap. Make sure you use caution as your soap will be very hot.

Step 6: Unmold your soap after 24 hours.

NOTE: It does appear you can use the bubble wrap over and over as mine came out clean and intact when I unmolded.

Buzz on over tomorrow for

our "Bee Happy" Soap Recipe!!!!

And The Winner is.........

2010-02-21T18:47:00.002-05:00

"Angelskies"

Congratulations....Your 8 oz. of Shea Butter is on it's way....

well...will be on it's way when we can get in touch with you! ;-)

Soap On!

Friday Favorite Soap Pick

2010-02-19T10:13:00.011-05:00

Virginia is for Lovers and Soap makers!

This week we are introducing...

Capricorn Soap Company

Nestled in the heart of Southwest Virginia this soap company produces soaps and bath products that are simply gorgeous! If you are looking for luxury and quality, this company uses the finest butters and oils ensuring you can buy with confidence. Featuring soaps, shave creams, butters and candles you will find products for both men and women and an item or two for the home. Capricorn Soap Company tips the scales with their packaging, wrapping their soaps and creams with sophistication and elegance. If you are looking for some wedding favors with a touch of class, you will want to consider Capricorn Soap Company.

Take a look at true southern charm and hop on over to www.etsy.com/shop/capricornsoapco and get a taste of Virginia's finest in handmade goods.

Soap On Capricorn Soap Company!!!

Terrific Tip Tuesday

2010-02-16T06:44:00.005-05:00

Want to save some money? In this economy every little bit helps!

Starting out in the soap making world, I thought you had to use stainless steel pots to make your soap in because of the lye. Those pots would then be dedicated for soap making use only. That can get pricey! So make double use of your cooking pots!

Melt your oils and butters in any pot you have hanging around the kitchen, then transfer the oils into a heavy tall plastic bucket. You can then add your lye and soap away! Your pot is able to be used for everyday cooking and soap making.

You can purchase buckets at your local hardware store, but you can also get them from your local grocery store....just look in the freezer section for the largest container of ice cream, enjoy the ice cream and then Soap On!

Name That Spice!

2010-02-14T13:34:00.005-05:00

It has been a little lonely blogging without getting much feedback so we thought we would have a little fun this week!

If you have been following our blog, you know that we recently posted about natural colorants you can use to color your soaps. We thought we would put this information to the test and experiment a bit this week. Below are four soaps we made using natural colorants fresh off our spice rack. Yep..each of the soaps in the picture below are colored with spices you can find in your spice cabinet.

Here is the fun part. We would love to hear your best guesses for what we used to color each of the four soaps below. Leave a comment with your best guess by 9pm EST on Saturday, Feb. 20^th. The person who gets them all right (or the most right) will win 8 ounces of refined shea butter FREE (including shipping) from us! In the event that multiple people get all four correct, we’ll randomly select the winner.

Let the guessing begin! Soap On!

Friday Favorite Soap Pick

2010-02-12T04:00:00.009-05:00

Every Friday we will be posting our favorite soap pick of the week. There are so many beautiful soap makers out there and we want you to see their work.

Our first pick goes to....Ten Digit Creations!

Creme Brulee - YUMMY

Her soaps are GORGEOUS!!!! Eye Candy for the Cold Process Soap Maker.....

Look at her Woodstock soap! It is so beautiful you will want to get out your tie dye shirts and wear them in celebration! Her soaps are Vegan Friendly and are made with the finest oils and butters. Ten Digit Creations also sells candles, lip balm, lotions and much, much more.....

You can visit her Etsy shop at www.etsy.com/shop/tendigitcreations

Soap On!

Lotion Bar

2010-02-10T20:36:00.012-05:00

This lotion bar is made with mango butter and other moisturizing oils. Lotion bars are typically made in molds or in twist up/push up containers (like a deodorant container). When you rub the lotion bar on your hands, elbows, knees, heels, etc.. you body temperature will melt a small amount of the lotion.

This recipe makes 6 lotion bars if you use the 2.25 oz Lotion Bar Tubes we sell in our Etsy Store!

3.2 oz of Mango Butter

3.1 oz of Beeswax

2.8 oz of Sunflower Oil

1.1. oz of Coconut Oil

.3 oz of Rice Bran Oil

.2 oz of Isopropyl Myristate (IPM)

.2 oz of Cyclomethicone

.1 oz of Fragrance Oil

Melt the first six ingredients (everything but the Cyclomethicone and Fragrance Oil) in a double boiler or in the microwave. When all the ingredients have melted, add the cyclomethicone and fragrance oil, then pour into a mold or twist up deodorant container.

Let your lotion bar harden and enjoy!

Soap On!

**If you would like to buy a lotion bar kit, head on over to our etsy shop where you can purchase your premeasured kit for $19.99**

Terrific Tip Tuesday

2010-02-09T04:00:00.002-05:00

Every Tuesday we will be posting a tip. It could be a soap tip, lotion tip, soapmaking tip or general life tips that we find helpful to our lives. Check with us everything Tuesday to see the tip of the day!!

Today's Tip......If you haven't worn it in over a year - get rid of it. Quit cluttering your closet with things that you probably won't wear again!

Adding Color to Your Soap - Naturally

2010-02-08T08:00:00.009-05:00

If you do not add colorant to your soaps, your soap will naturally be anywhere from a pale white to a cream color depending on the oils you have used. There are two exceptions to this rule. If you use a fragrance oil that contains vanilla, your soap will be tan in color. Your soap will also be tan in color if you use a high perentage of milk (instead of water) in your recipe.

If you are interested in adding color to your soap, there are herbs and flowers you can use to achieve color. There are two methods commonly used to add natural color to your soap. You may add herbs or other colorants directly to your soap mixture at trace OR you can infuse the colorant directly into your liquid oils prior to mixing the oils with the lye/water. To infuse color into your oils, once you have melted your oils, add the herb or other ingredient of your choice to the oil and heat over low steady heat. Once the oils have taken on the color of the herb or flower, strain out the herb or other ingredient out (cheese cloth works well).

Your colors will appear darker and warmer when you first pour your soap into the mold than when the soap cures. Until you know whether you like something and how it feels on your skin, it is best to only add ½ to 1 tablespoon per pound of oil.

Suggested Ingredients and the Colors they Produce

Alfalfa – medium green
Alkanet – steep in oil first - deep purple to muted blue
Annatto Seed – steep in oil first - yellow orange
Bentonite (clay) – beige to green to grey
Calendula Petals - yellow
Carrots, shredded or ground - yellow to orange
Cayenne Pepper – salmon color
Ground Chamomile – yellow-beige
Cloves, ground – brown
Cocoa powder– brown
Coffee/coffee grounds - brown to black
Comfrey Root – light milky brown
Curry powder - yellow
Jojoba beads - come in many colors
Kaolin Clay - white
Kelp/seaweed - green
Paprika – light peach to salmon - can be an irritant
Poppy Seeds - Blue-grey to light black specks
Ground Pumice - grey
Sage – olive green
Spirulina/Blue-Green Algae – blue-green
Titanium Dioxide- bright white
Tumeric – gold to amber *start with ¼ teaspoon per pound of oil

We've Got That Loving Feeling.....

2010-02-07T13:39:00.008-05:00

1 lb of Shea Butter with FREE SHIPPING for $12.99

while supplies last.....

What is Shea Butter?

African healers have used Shea Butter for thousands of years as the ideal treatment for dry or aging skin. Our Shea Butter is extracted from the shea nut and refined without the use of harsh chemicals. It is deodorized and discolored but is not bleached. Shea butter is extracted from the Shea nut and is a creamy white butter.

Why Use Shea Butter?

Shea butter is used in a variety of bath and body products including soaps, massage butters, lotions, lip balms, creams and body butters. High in Vitamin A and E, shea butter is believed to help repair skin damage and soften and heal creacked and aged skin. Its high content of non-saponifiables and unique fatty acid profile gives Shea Butter the ability to moisturize and retain the elasticity of the skin. Shea Butter also helps to protect the skin against the damaging effects of the sun while repairing cellular degeneration.

Recommended Usage:  

Soapmaking: 5 to 20%

Lotions and Creams: 2 to 20%

Lip Balms: 5 to 100%

Hair Conditioner: 1 to 10%

Shelf Life: 1 to 2 years

NOTE: Your Shea Butter will be shipped to you in a gallon freezer bag.

If you are interested in purchasing from us, please e-mail us and we will send you a paypal invoice.

We also have the following items available for sale in February while supplies last…

1 lb of Mango Butter with FREE SHIPPING FOR $13.99

1 lb of Refined Cocoa Butter with FREE SHIPPING for $13.99

Coconut Oil (76 degree Melting Point) = $4.00/lb (no free shipping)

Palm Oil = $4.00/lb (no free shipping)

If you would like to combine items, please e-mail us with your zip code and we will provide a shipping estimate.

And the winner goes to........

2010-02-05T17:53:00.003-05:00

2010 press releases

Pantone Unveils Color of the Year for 2010:
PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise

Turquoise Transports Us to an Exciting, Tropical Paradise While Offering a Sense of Protection and Healing in Stressful Times

CARLSTADT, N.J., Dec. 8, 2009 –Pantone LLC, an X-Rite company (NASDAQ: XRIT), and the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries, today announced PANTONE® 15-5519 Turquoise, an inviting, luminous hue, as the color of the year for 2010. Combining the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green, Turquoise evokes thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a languorous, effective escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of wellbeing.

“In many cultures, Turquoise occupies a very special position in the world of color,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “It is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky. Through years of color word-association studies, we also find that Turquoise represents an escape to many – taking them to a tropical paradise that is pleasant and inviting, even if only a fantasy.”

Whether envisioned as a tranquil ocean surrounding a tropical island or a protective stone warding off evil spirits, Turquoise is a color that most people respond to positively. It is universally flattering, has appeal for men and women, and translates easily to fashion and interiors. With both warm and cool undertones, Turquoise pairs nicely with any other color in the spectrum. Turquoise adds a splash of excitement to neutrals and browns, complements reds and pinks, creates a classic maritime look with deep blues, livens up all other greens, and is especially trend-setting with yellow-greens.

In fashion, Turquoise makes a statement that can look elegant and dressy in fine silk and gemstones, or casual and fun in cotton and athletic apparel. Because of its versatility, Turquoise is a great accent color in jewelry, purses, shoes, hair accessories and even nail polish for women, and ties, shirts and sportswear for men.

For brides wanting a flattering choice for attendant apparel and accessories on their big day, Turquoise is now one of the nearly 200 PANTONE WEDDING Colors available from Dessy, a leading manufacturer of bridesmaid, social occasion and flower girl dresses, as well as destination wedding gowns under the labels Dessy Collection, After Six, Alfred Sung, Lela Rose Bridesmaid and Sandals Destination Wedding Dresses. PANTONE WEDDING exclusively from Dessy provides a collection of color tools to make it easy for brides to achieve perfectly color-coordinated weddings – from inspiration to “I do.”

Additionally, Turquoise is one of 3,000 colors available in Pantone’s line of superior-quality, eco-friendly paint. PANTONE Paints combine the accuracy of PANTONE Colors with the beauty of high-performance Dutch paints. Perfect for a powder room or bedroom, Turquoise is an evocative, spa-like hue that adds an undertone of warmth and excitement to any cool space. In the kitchen, Turquoise adds a unique flare to tabletop and appliances.

About Pantone
Pantone LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of X-Rite, Incorporated, has been the world’s color authority for 45 years, providing design professionals with products and services for the colorful exploration and expression of creativity. Always a source for color inspiration, Pantone also offers designer-inspired products and services for consumers. More information is available at www.pantone.com.

About X-Rite
X-Rite, Incorporated, is the global leader in color science and technology. The company, which now includes color industry leader Pantone, develops, manufactures, markets and supports innovative color solutions through measurement systems, software, color standards and services. X-Rite’s expertise in inspiring, selecting, measuring, formulating, communicating and matching color helps users get color right the first time and every time, which translates to better quality and reduced costs. X-Rite serves a range of industries, including printing, packaging, photography, graphic design, video, automotive, paints, plastics, textiles, dental and medical. For further information, please visit www.xrite.com.

Saving Lives

2010-02-04T00:25:00.007-05:00

....One Bar of Soap At A Time

Did you know that 9000 children will die today? And, did you know that those deaths could be reduced up to 60% by the simple hygene practice of washing one's hands? Yep - That's right!

So, how can we help? The Handmade Soap Guild and Clean The World, Inc. have partnered together and are asking anyone who has some "not so perfect" or "ugly" handmade soap they are not using, to donate it to Clean The World, Inc. In turn, Clean The World will rebatch and purify the soap and send it overseas. For full details and mailing information click here

Please note - If you decide to make a donation - Clean The World, Inc. has moved. Their new mailing address is:

Clean the World
8026 Sunport Dr. Suite 306
Orlando, FL 32809

A Soapster's Wish Comes True....

2010-02-01T20:17:00.001-05:00

LJCtree is one of our newest friends. Wandering around looking for soap making supplies she stumbled our way and decided to buy some of our oils and butters. You can read what she says about our products by clicking here

To see LJCtree's amazing Etsy Shop click here www.etsy.com/shop/ljctree

Happy Soaping LJCtree!!!!

Sugar Scrub!

2010-02-01T12:36:00.002-05:00

The Best Sugar Scrub Recipe EVER!

Almond Oil 5 oz.

Avocado Oil 5 oz.

Glycerin .3 oz.

Liquid Soap Base 3 oz.

Sugar 21.4 oz.

Fragrance Oil or Essential Oil .3 oz

Directions:
Just mix everything thing together! What is so wonderful about this scrub you ask? The oils don't separate.

Yield: approximately 32 oz. of scrub or four 8 oz. jars.

Package your sugar scrub in these jars for a perfect gift!

Sugar Scrub kits for the above recipe are also available. Your kit includes all of the above ingredients (premeasured) and jars for packaging. Check them out at our Artfire Shop!

Soaps On!

2010-01-31T21:56:00.002-05:00

A Little Bar of Soap is a small, female owned and operated business offering top quality soaps, lotions and scrubs as well as all of your top of the line butters and carrier oils so you can make your own specialty bath products. Our desire is that our butters and oils will provide you with a quality that will set your bath products above the rest. You can purchase our products at: www.etsy.com/shop/alittlebarofsoap.

Goat's Milk Soap

2009-12-01T23:51:00.001-05:00

So, you want to make Goat’s Milk Soap? Here are a few tips and tricks we have learned while working with Goat’s Milk. Hint: This also works with Coconut Milk!

First, read our post on making Cold Process Soap. The process is essentially the same with two exceptions:

In your recipe, you will be substituting the water in your recipe for Goat’s Milk. You will need to weigh out the Goat’s Milk on your scale and then freeze your Goat’s Milk. You can freeze the Goat’s Milk in an ice cube tray or freeze it in a freezer bag. Because you are adding the extra step of freezing the milk, it is best to start this process the day before you are ready to make soap.
Once you are ready to soap, pull the frozen milk out of the freezer and empty the frozen milk into your plastic pitcher. I like to let my milk thaw a bit at this point until it a chunky slush.
Slowly pour the premeasured lye into the frozen milk and STIR, STIR, STIR. Your iced milk will slowly start to melt. The key is to do this slowly and stir. Your milk may start to turn orange a bit. Continue to stir all the lye into the frozen milk. The lye/milk combination will slowly warm up.
Once you milk is thawed, go ahead and mix your milk/lye mixture into your oils and soap as usual (see the Cold Process Soapmaking instructions).
The other key to making Goat’s Milk soap is once you have poured your soap into the mold and covered the mold with plastic, place your mold into the freezer for the next 12 to 24 hours.

Cold Process Soapmaking

2009-12-01T22:10:00.003-05:00

The following are instructions for how we make soap. You will find variance in the procedures people use to make soap. We offer these instructions based on our experiences!

Safety Precautions

Soapmaking can be a safe and fun hobby, but it is important to take proper safety precautions to ensure that you or your loved ones are not injured while making soap and that you do not inhale potentially hazardous fumes. With that in mind, here are a few safety precautions:

1. Please ensure that your pets and children leave the kitchen (or other soapmaking area) while you are making soap. Soapmaking involves working with potentially hazardous chemicals.

2. When making soap, it is important that you wear socks, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, gloves and safety glasses (these can be purchased at your local hardware store).

3. Work in a well ventilated area. When you mix the lye and water, fumes will come from the mixture. Try to work with your windows open during this part of the process. Do not lean directly over your lye/water mixture as you stir.

4. Always pour the lye into water – not vice versa.

5. Keep vinegar nearby to neutralize the lye if it splashes on your skin.

6. Always run any recipe you plan to use through a soapmaking calculator to ensure that you are using a safe amount of lye and water in your recipe. A good calculator can be found at www.thesage.com.

Before You Begin

1. Please ensure that you have read all of the instructions before making your soap.

2. Before you begin, lay out newspaper on your counter tops. This makes clean-up a breeze and protects your counter tops in case of a spill.

3. Collect everything you need before you begin. You don!t want to have to leave your soapmaking area unattended to fetch something you forgot and risk an accident.

4. Run your recipe through a lye calculator and gather all your supplies.

So, what do you need to collect before you begin?

All of the oils and lye for your recipe of choice.
A plastic jug for mixing your lye and water. (a milk carton is NOT appropriate for this task)
Your soap mold.
A scale to measure your ingredients. (The ingredients for your recipe MUST be weighed)
A candy thermometer.
A stainless steel pot. (you can find these at a thrift store, Wal-mart, Target, etc.). You cannot use a copper pot or a pot coated in zinc or teflon.
Plastic wrap (saran wrap) to cover your soap.
Freezer paper to line your soap mold. (parchment paper works but I prefer freezer paper)
A large mixing spoon. (do not use a wooden spoon – you don!t want wood splinters in your soap)
A stick blender.
A measuring cup. (for your lye)
A roll of paper towels.
A trash can or paper bag. (for clean-up)
Gloves and protective eyewear.

Directions

Step 1: Start by measuring the oils and/or butters for your recipe and placing the oils/butters into your stainless steel pot.

Oils and Butters in Your Soapmaking Pot

Step 2: Place the pot on your stove top. Heat your oils and butters at medium heat until everything is melted. This will take 10-15 minutes. Once your oils and butters have melted, remove the pot from your stove top and allow the oils to cool to any temperature below 110 degrees farenheit (use the candy thermometer to measure the temperature).

Step 3: While your oils and butters are melting, it is time to weigh out your lye and water. Your lye should be measured out separate from water. Place your pitcher (with your premeasured water in it) into the sink prior to mixing in the lye. Pour the premeasured lye into the water and use your long handled spoon to mix the lye into the water. Ensure that you stir until all of the clumps have dissolved. Once the clumps have dissolved, leave your mixture in a safe place (I leave the pitcher in my sink) and allow the mixture to cool to 110 degrees or below on your candy thermometer.

NOTE: Do not stand directly over the pitcher once you pour the lye into the water. The fumes are potentially hazardous to breathe in directly. The mixture will heat up to a very high temperature (over 150 degrees farenheit).

Step 4: While you are waiting for your oils and water/lye mixture to cool, it is time to line your soap mold with freezer paper. You will need to fold the freezer paper to fit the dimensions of your soap mold. As you line your mold, ensure that the “shiny” side of the freezer paper is face up.

Lined Soap Mold

Step 5: Check the temperatures one last time to ensure both the lye/water and oils/butters are below 110 degrees. It is now time to mix everything together. With your gloves and protective eye glasses on, carefully pour the lye water into the melted oils. Gently stir the mixture together with a long handled spoon or use your stick blender (without blending) to stir.

Step 6: Measure out your fragrance oil or essential oil according to your recipe. Pour the fragrance oil (or essential oil) into the mixture and stir.

Step 7: It is now time to stick blend the entire mixture together until you reach “trace.” It is best to blend by “pulsing” the stick and stirring occasionally with the stick turned off versus constant blending. “Trace” looks like a thin gravy mixture. A way to test if the mixture has traced is to dip the stick blender into the mixture and pull the stick blender out. If the blender leaves a visible indention or a trail in the mixture, you are at trace.

Step 8: Immediately (but carefully) pour the soap mixture into your lined mold.

Step 9: Once all the soap is poured into the mold, place a layer of saran wrap directly onto the top of your soap mixture (please be careful as you do this – your soap will be VERY hot). This keeps ash from covering the top of your soap.

Step 10: Use paper towels to clean up any remaining soap in the pot. Unplug the stick blender and clean the blender with a paper towel before you wash up everything. Do not pour any leftover soap in the pot down your sink!

Step 11: Place your freshly poured soap in an out of the way location away from children or pets. Your soap will go through a gelling process that you may observe over the next few hours. During this process, your soap will turn translucent and continue to be very warm.

Step 12: After 12 to 24 hours, your soap will become firm enough to take out of the mold. You may cut your soap into bars at this point or wait several days. If you choose to cut your soap at this point, you may want to wear gloves as your soap will be quite harsh. You should also be very gentle when cutting your soap as your soap will still be relatively soft.

Step 13: Your soap will need to cure for 3 to 4 weeks before you use it. Until then, your soap will be very harsh. (While my soap cures, I like to leave it in the box in an out of the way place or on a baking rack).

Cut Soap During the Curing Process

Contact Us

2009-12-01T14:23:00.003-05:00

Thank You

2009-12-01T14:12:00.005-05:00

Thank you for your request. We will be getting back to you shortly.

Sincerely,
A Little Bar of Soap

Soap On!