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Soap Making

Nine Steps to Soap Making Success

Some Tips on Making Your Own Decorative Soaps

Melt and pour soap is glycerin soap which is made from vegetable oils and is safer for your skin than most commercial brands found in your drug store or supermarket.

You can obtain melt and pour soap over the Internet. It comes as a liquid, which can be ordered or as a solid block, which can be ordered You'll pay around $4 - $6 per pound for the solid.

Translucent glycerin and opaque are the most common types sold. Opaque glycerin is white as it is colored with the mineral titanium dioxide.

Also, you will be able to buy soap making kits that contain all the needed ingredients.

Once you've made your first batch, you can get more creative when choosing colors, scents, and additives such as dried flowers, herbs or soothing oils.

You'll discover the ideal way to make useful gifts for family, friends and co-workers.

Your newfound hobby may even turn into a new work-at-home business!

Soap Making Supplies

• Liquid glycerin soap or
• Solid glycerin blocks -- 2 pounds [32 ounces]
• Coloring
  cosmetic grade color nuggets
• Fragrances
  cosmetic grade only
• Soap Making Molds
  These will come in various sizes and shapes but plastic is recommended. You can order soap molds online or find them at a crafts shop or candle supply store. You can also use microwavable containers, food containers, candle molds or even drawer organizers. At many discount stores you can find the perfect mold, and for less than $2 in many cases. Using plastic means that you can reuse it and that it will make getting the soap out so much easier than a glass mold.

Warning
Don't use aluminum or metal.

Soap Making Instructions

If not using liquid melt and pour soaps, following these steps:

Step 1: On the cutting board you'll slice up the solid soap into cubes, approximately one to two inches. You'll then put these into a plastic container, first weighing the container and noting the weight, and putting the filled container onto the scale.

Step 2: Using your double boiler, fill the bottom part with water a few inches deep.

For microwave users only, when you melt the soap, don't use the highest heat, watch the soap carefully and don't melt it all the way: allow a few chunks to remain. They'll melt quickly.

Step 3: For the double boiler method, put the soap in the top level and melt, stirring occasionally. Add a piece of color if using color nuggets, from prepackaged colors you've bought.

Powdered colors aren't highly recommended for glycerin soap, as they're more difficult to mix.

Cosmetic grade liquid colors can be used.

Step 4: Once the color is melted it's time to add the fragrance.

Use 1 teaspoon and let your nose be your guide.

Under scenting will cause your soap to be less aromatic after a few months. Adding a little more scent is okay.

Step 5: Pour your soap into the mold. For this recipe you need a 4.5-cup capacity mold. A rectangular shape is preferred.

Step 6: You can let your soap harden at room temperature, or you can put it into the freezer for about 30-60 minutes. Freezing the soap speeds up the process and allows the soap to pop out of the mold easier.

Step 7: It's time to see your first successful chunk of handmade melt and pour glycerin soap.

You can tell it's ready when: the mold is cool and it easily pulls away from the soap. Release it onto a wax paper-covered surface. Cover it with more wax paper and a paper towel. You should allow it to return to room temperature before using it.

It’s advised to let it sit for 24 hours for the fragrance oil to settle.

Step 8: Cutting the soap can be done with a large knife. This recipe yields approximately 6 bars, depending on the thickness.

Plane the rough edges and traces of white filmy popped bubbles with a paring knife. These will be more noticeable on darker colored soap.

Step 9: Wrap the pieces with a cling wrap. The generic cling wrap is better. Pricier cling wraps don't allow the aroma to be smelled, as they're too thick.

Here are some craft ideas for making your project special: make a label for your soap if you'll be giving it to someone for a special occasion like Christmas, birthdays, a wedding or anniversary, a promotion, etc.

You should list the ingredients on the label.

By: Lisa Maliga.

Read and learn at Lisa's Library of Writing. Discover the diverse writings ranging from soap and bath & body recipes to fiction, figure skating, aromatherapy, herbal hints, and helpful publishing advice. Boost your own site's rankings by reading of web design and promotion. This is the literary home of Lisa Maliga, owner of EverythingShea.com

For more tips and craft ideas on soap making, visit Anybody Can Do This Soap Stuff and Lotion Bar Recipe

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Soap Making Made Simple - The Complete Guide To Making Fragrant And Elegant Soap!
This book starts with soap making basics, and then adds tips and expert techniques that experts use to make advanced hand-crafted soaps.

You will also learn about the best molds and ingredients to use.

Gift soaps, attractively packaged in a nice basket, make excellent hostess gifts and sell well at craft shows.

If you are interested in making decorative soaps for gifts or to sell, this is a great book to have. Click here for more information or to order this e-book for immediate download.

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