Soap Making

Several years ago I loved making soap for gifts. This last holiday season, I decided to share my secret with my group of friends and teach them how to make soap for loved ones. All supplies can be found at Michaels or another craft store. The main things you will need are:

• glycerin soap brick
• soap molds
• soap scent
• soap dye (or watercolors)
• a microwave
• a stirring utinsel (I like using a wooden skewer I can just throw away)
• Microwave safe bowl
• sharp knife and cutting board
• plastic wrap

First slice the soap into cubes cutting along score lines. It depends on how many soaps you want to make with the same scent and color. If you are making a lot, use lots of soap, if you are just making one only use about three depending on the size of the mold. It's all about experimenting.

 Place the cubes in your microwave safe container and stick in the microwave according to the directions on the package. I believe it is generally 30 second interval, stirring occasionally.

Once completely melted carefully remove from microwave. You will then mix in your color using the desired amount. There are specific soap colorants at the craft store but I have also found that using watercolors creates beautiful colors as well.

Next add several drops of soap fragrance (depending on how big your batch is).

Make sure you have completely mixed in your scent and colorant using the skewer or knife, whatever works! Slowly pour mixture into mold filling to the top. If you decide to only fill it halfway it will be very difficult to get it out. I learned this the hard way.

Allow the soap to cool completely for easy removal. If you get to anxious, you may be able to get some of the soaps out, you also may crack your mold. I learned this the hard way as well. Here is the finished product!

Now wrap the soaps up individually in plastic wrap to hold in their scent. They are ready to give as gifts!

There are many different things you can do in making the soap.

•  insert objects in soap such as a small toy or a ring
• create two toned soaps by layering the soap colors
• holiday soaps
• put in additives into soap-herbs, coffee beans, oatmeal

I hope you enjoyed reading the simplicity of making soap!

Apothecary Jars

I received a large clear apothecary jar for Christmas and recently purchased a smaller one. I can't seem to figure out what I want to put in them. Do you guys have any suggestions? I could do:

Fruit (fake of course)

Image from displayfakefoods.com

Seashells

Image from sallyleebythesea.com 


Soaps

Image from kikareichert.com.br

Candy

Image from housebeautiful.com

Seaglass

Image from slightlyoff-center.com 

I do like these ideas, but don't feel they are very original. I want something unique for my home. Any suggestions of other things you guys have seen?

Love this look

Little Green Notebook led me to to this fine blog where Tina shows a stunning $2300 cabinet recreated for $125 + a few supplies!

Original expensive cabinet

Ikea Besta Cabinet ($125) after upholstery nails were applied in desired pattern.

This is such a unique look, I just <3 it!

Skin Deep

I just found a very interesting website, completely unrelated to something I would generally post on. However, it had such an effect on me I figured everyone should know about this. The website is called Skin Deep which is a safety guide for cosmetics and personal products. It is ran by the Environmental Working Group to show you the toxity of the ingrediants in your products. They even have a section for baby products; I looked up Johnson's and Johnson's baby lotion and found it is a moderate hazard 6 out of 10!!! This is a product people are using on babies and the ingrediants have been known to lead to:

 They even said 90% of other baby lotions had a lower risk! Eeek! I will definitely be checking this database for products I currently use as well as before I go shopping. I don't quite understand how this isn't regulated better. I challenge you to buy products with a low hazard and get rid of any with a moderate or high hazard!

Spray Painting

I finally found the perfect lamp bases a few nights ago. I have been searching for two that match... impossible! I finally found two that were petite and very similar so I bought them for a few dollars at Goodwill. I also have accumulated a few candle stick holders I wanted to spray paint. I found the best selection and great prices on spray paint at Fred Meyers! Krylon was on sale for $2.99! I found two cool colors took my supplies out and began working. This is my first spray paint project and sure enough I ended up with drips. I just searched for how to fix spray paint drips and found that lightly sanding the area and then reapplying a light coat of spray paint will do the trick. Here your will find ten good tips for spray painting furniture. Stay tuned for the finished product!

Via.

Easy Christmas Wreaths

My group of girlfriends decided to do a white elephant gift exchange but the catch was you had to make it. For some reason I could not figure out what to make. I stopped in at Michaels and found 60% off wreaths and many decorative items. I was able to purchase supplies for 2 wreaths for $13! I made one for myself and one for the gift exchange. I was very suprised to see how easy it was to create this.
First, gather supplies. I used  a basic green wreath, ribbon, mini ornaments, pine cones,  faux berries, and a good hot glue gun.

I then arranged where everything would be placed on the wreath. Once I figured the perfect Arrangement I began hot gluing everything done. Each wreath probably only took 20 minutes to complete! Super easy! Below is the finished product!

I encourage you all to give it a try for your home or to give away as a gift!

Leaves

Made this awhile ago in photoshop and wanted to share! Have a great night!

Customized Candles

Every year I love figuring out what to get my loved ones for Christmas. I like to find something I know they will love and not just a generic gift. My grandmothers are always tough. This year I decided to make them candles! I know they love handmade gifts; who doesn't? I stumbled upon a candle making set I was given a long time ago and had everything I needed to make these! It even came with instructions so it was pretty easy to do. My only complaint, its a bit time consuming having to pour then cool, pour, cool and pour again. Here is what I started with

-pot
-metal pouring pot (this creates a double boiler)
-candle wicks
-wax ( I hear soy is better as it is not carcinogenic nor does it give off black smoke which marks up your walls)
-candle thermometer
-glass containers (to hold your candle)
-candle scent
-candle colorant

All of these things can be found at Michaels, Joanns or any other craft store.

Each package of wax comes with instructions on the
back. Always follow these instructions as I have found they differ according to the type of wax it is.For the top layer and the smaller candles I used a crystallizing wax which created a really unique effect.

1- Melt wax in double boiler
2-Add colorant and scent, stir in
3-Place candle wick in jar or container
4-Slowly and carefully pour wax into container
5-Use something to keep the wick straight and centered as it cools. I found a fork works great for this purpose.
6-After designated cooling time, reheat and repour wax
7-Again you have to allow to cool and repour wax
8-When it is finally cooled you can add a personalized label if you wish and tie a ribbon around your gift!

DIY Wreath

How cute is this paper Poinsettia wreath from Paper Source? I want to run right down to 23rd to visit Paper Source and pick it up, then rush home to make it! Its too adorable! 

$19.95 and this baby is yours! With instructions and all the necessary pieces to assemble it.

Kristen's Hip Picks

 So most of you know I work at a great modern furniture store called hip. The other day I decided all the employees should pick their top three things and we would post it to our blog. Here is Lauren Taylors write up about my top three picks. Man of man was it hard to decide what three items I love the most out of the store.

Kristen’s Picks!

lauren

Nov 14, 2010

Furniture Talk

Meet Kristen: Operations Manager and one of our resident designers down here at HIP. Her interests include; peppermint mochas, cruise ships, blogging (http://kristenjpeterson.blogspot.com/), scrap booking, and hanging out with the cookie monster. We love her for keeping us organized and maintaining sanity in the shop.



The Savoy by Natuzzi is a piece that Kristen truly believes in. She recently ordered this sectional in 25 grade Status Brown leather. The comfort of this piece is something that all the employees here agree on. While we all vary in our preferences from soft to firm cushioning, we've concluded that the Savoy is something we could really put our feet up on and sink into. It also happens to be a piece that the owners, Dave and Susie, have in their home. (http://www.ubhip.com/products/sofas/savoy/)



The Zeta by Natuzzi is not only a modern beauty, but it happens to be the most comfortable item in the store. (http://www.ubhip.com/products/chairs/zeta/)



"I love all our new rugs! It's so hard to pick just one." said Kristen, "I chose this one [Vitalize 114.012.100 by Ligne Pure] because of the coloring and unique design." Not to mention that a wool rug like this can last up to 40 years! (http://www.ubhip.com/products/accents/vitalize_114012100/)