Pine Meadows Blog

Solid Sugar Scrub Cubes

2011-03-01T12:52:00.005-07:00

Supplies you will need:

1 - 2lb block of melt & pour soap base (pinemeadows.net/bases.php)

4 fl oz golden jojoba oil (pinemeadows.net/soap.php)

2 1/2 cups - 3 cups of sugar

1/4 fl oz favorite fragrance or essential oil (pinemeadows.net/oils.php)

2 lb rectangle tray item #2525 (pinemeadows.net/misc.php)

soap cutter item #2006 (pinemeadows.net/soap.php)

*optional: FD&C color (pinemeadows.net/soap.php)

Directions:

Melt your soap base using a double boiling method (place a container into a water bath) , you want to melt it slowly and avoid overheating the soap base. When your base has melted, stir in your golden jojoba oil and then add your sugar. Next you will remove from heat source and add your fragrance or essential oil. If you chose to color your cubes then add your colorant also. Pour the mix into the mold and allow it to set up. When your sugar cube scrub has set up (approx. 1 hour) you can remove it from the tray (if it will not pop out easily place the mold into your freezer for a minute, this will contract the soap and make it pop right out). Use your soap cutter to cut your finished cubes out into the shape of sugar cubes or larger if you prefer. Place into a cute display jar and put them in your bathroom to use.

To use:

Take a sugar cube and scrub anywhere that you have rough, dry patches of skin. It will remove dried skin and reveal a softer skin.

Cocoa Butter bath fizzies/ part 4

2010-05-25T10:32:00.002-06:00

To Use:

Drop a half round bath fizzie into a warm tub and enjoy the tingling sensation of peppermint and eucalyptus. The cocoa butter will moisturize your skin along with the water softening qualities of the sea salt and citric acid. Enjoy!

Cocoa Butter bath fizzies/ part 3

2010-05-25T10:17:00.007-06:00

Recipe:

1 tbsp fine sea salt

1/2 cup baking soda

1/4 cup corn starch

1/2 cup citric acid

3 tablespoons of cocoa butter

7 drops of essential oil (4 drops of peppermint, 3 drops of eucalyptus)

mix all of your dry ingredients together, melt your cocoa butter and pour into the dry ingredients and stir until you have what appears to be a consistent blend. Add your essential oils in and stir again. You can add your sea clay if you would like a green half ball or omit if you would like it a natural cocoa butter color. Begin packing your mix into your molds using your spatula. Make sure you push hard so they are nice and firm. Allow to set in mold for approximately 1 hour. Remove from mold carefully and set on a paper plate or wax paper and allow to sit and harden over night prior to packaging.

Cocoa Butter Bath Fizzies part 2

2010-05-25T10:12:00.004-06:00

You will need a half round bath fizzie mold

Cocoa Butter Bath Fizzies/ part 1

2010-05-25T09:00:00.000-06:00

You will need the following items:

mixing bowl

mixing spatula

half round ball mold

glass pyrex or glass beaker

Ingredients:

baking soda

corn starch

cocoa butter

citric acid

fine sea salt

peppermint & eucalyptus essential oils

optional:

sea clay

Lotion Making Class

2010-04-06T13:06:00.005-06:00

Lotion making class on Saturday April 3, 2010

Pat & Rita, thanks for signing up and taking the Lotion Making class!
I always enjoy teaching the art of lotion making to new people! We had a blast and
I am so excited because I remembered to take a picture this time.
OOps! Updated, picture was for lotion class.

Sign up now for our small hands on classes by clicking the link :
www.pinemeadows.net/classes.php

2009-09-10T09:50:00.004-06:00

Muslin Bag Sachets:

Fill a muslin bag with Pine needles, lavender buds,
rose petals or any other fragrant flower petals from your garden.

If you choose to fill with a non fragrant fill you can scent it with a fragrance oil or essential oil. To do this you will want to mix it in a bowl and put a few drops of fragrance into the dried fill, mix it up good and then add to your muslin bags.

Try stamping the bag prior to filling (cute stamps that come in just about anything you can imagine....from a pine needle, lavender sprig, florals...... well you get the picture. All these at my local scrapbooking store.

You will need to insert a piece of cardboard into the bag , stamp and then remove the cardboard. Fill with your favorite scented herb and add a little tag with a catchy little note. This makes an inexpensive cute gift for any occasion.

We sell muslin bags in 2 sizes 3x5 or 5x7, click the link below
http://www.pinemeadows.net/misc.php

BATH FIZZIE CUPCAKES

2009-06-09T09:51:00.021-06:00

8 oz wt. citric acid

16 oz wt. baking soda

1 oz powder milk

spritzer bottle filled with distilled water

vanilla cream / or chocolate fragrance oil (fragrance oil of choice)

cupcake mold

cupcake liners

* optional -cocoa powder

(works great for making chocolate cupcakes, it will color the tub water brown)

mix all of your dry ingredients together and add in your fragrance oil, approximately 4 ml. Add in your color if you are coloring your cupcakes and incorporate into your mix so that you have an even color throughout the mix. Using your water, spritz your mixture lightly( avoid adding too much water at one time, this will cause your fizzers to fizz). Continue to mist and stir. When you are able to grab a handful and mold it together the mixture is at the right consistency.

Place your cupcake liners into your cupcake mold and begin to fill with the fizzer mix. You will need to compact the mix down into the cupcake papers/mold by using the bottom of a measuring cup or even a spoon. Fill the cupcakes to the top of the paper and allow to dry overnight.

**Recipe yeilds enough for 6 cupcakes

CUPCAKE FROSTING

I have seen a number of recipes for the frosting using merigue powder, powder sugar and water. However I personally do not want that floating around in my tub and opted for a cream soap frosting. You can find a number of recipe variations in our Making Cream Soap Bulletin by Catherine Failor or I found this page a how to on making cream soap. Click on the miscellaneous section of our online catalog and you will see it listed under the book section.

Here is the recipe for the Meringue frosting if you choose to go that route

1 1/2 tablespoons of Meringue powder

8 oz wt. of powder sugar

approximately 2 1/2 tablespoons of warm water, or until desired consistency is achieved.

Food coloring- you can use schilling food coloring to color your frosting.

Fragrance oil of your choice for scenting the frosting. You will only need 2-3 drops to scent.

Place into a ziplock baggie and snip off the end corner, squeeze into your bath fizzie cupcake.

You can use any number of fancy frosting tips if you choose to customize your frosting and make it cute. Also you can use melt and pour soap to make cute berry shapes or chocolate chips or perhaps a few small sprinkles for the top of your cupcake.

Package into a cute bag or box and these make the perfect no calorie bath treat!

Gem Magnets

2009-05-26T14:10:00.009-06:00

My daughters( age 5, and 8) made these for their Grandmothers.
I thought they were an easy (of course with mom's supervision) and cute project for children that are out of school and home for the summer.

Things you will need:

Scissors
A hole punch could be used, keep in mind that
you probably end up trimming edges of your
punched paper, as the magnet gems are not a
perfect circle shape. I used scissors and positioned
each gem onto the paper, traced the shape and
trimmed it slightly smaller than the traced image.

Hodge Podge glue
Dries clear and does not distort your paper image.
Make sure you have coated the entire
flat side of the gem, making sure the glue
adheres the sides of the paper. Any excess can be
wiped clean.

Small foam brush
Works great for application of the hodge podge glue.

Clear Glass Gems- these are round pieces of glass,
usually found in the floral display section of a craft store.
The ones you need are the ones that are flat on one side,
and rounded on the other side.

Scrapbook Paper
(preferably with a cute design that will show through
the front of your finished magnet. Avoid ones that are
not flat. I had a cute polka dot print that had a raised
felt-like dot, it did not work as well as the flat paper.)

1" circle magnets
(I chose the ones with the self-adhesive on one side)

Take your chosen gem/ gems and trace a circle onto
your desired paper. All gems are not the same shape.
Cut your shape out. Using your hodge podge glue and
sponge brush, attach the paper to the smooth side of
your gem. Allow the glue to dry completely prior to
sticking your magnet on. Once your paper has completely
dried, attach the magnet to the back of the paper.
Your magnet is ready to use or package for a cute
and inexpensive gift.

Beeswax Soap

2009-03-10T17:48:00.006-06:00

You will need a sheet of beeswax available from your local craft store.
Make your favorite cold process soap as you normally would. Color and scent it if you choose.

Prior to pouring your soap into your mold, line it with the beeswax sheet
( you may have to trim accordingly, to fit your mold).
Remember you cannot pour your soap into the mold and onto the beeswax sheet if it is
over 110 degrees F. or it will melt the beeswax sheet.

Wait approximately 24 hours prior to removing from your mold.
Take the soap out and cut it into bars.
The beeswax side will serve as a loofah and a soap saver all-in one.
You can set your soap beeswax side down and it won't leave a mess.

Bath Fizzies

2009-02-13T11:53:00.007-07:00

Tools and Materials you will need:

1/2 cup citric acid www.pinemeadows.net
1 cup baking soda
3/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup fine sea salt www.pinemeadows.net
6 drops of dye coloring www.pinemeadows.net
15 drops of fragrance or essential oil www.pinemeadows.net

glass measuring cup
mixing bowl
small 2 ounce spray bottle www.pinemeadows.net
plastic pipettes www.pinemeadows.net
ice cube tray www.target.com
clear PET container to display your finished bath fizzies. www.pinemeadows.net

Directions:
Stir together citric acid, baking soda, and your cornstarch in your mixing bowl.
Stir in your fine sea salt.
Fill your empty 2 ounce spray bottle with water and your food coloring. Spritz mixture lightly (it should become damp but not fizz) until you can pack mixture with your hands.
Using pipette, add your fragrance or essential oil. Use a spoon or your hands to incorporate the scent into your fizzie blend.
Last you will need to spoon mixture into your empty ice cube tray, pressing firmly to make sure that mixture is compacted into molds. Allow the fizzies to dry overnight.
Gently pop out of tray and then transfer the square fizzies to a jar of your choosing for storing and display.

Recipes

2008-08-05T15:04:00.001-06:00

Free recipes for making your own lotions, creams , soaps and lots more! www.pinemeadows.net