Teach Soap

I made my first batch and it turned out ok!!!! I think. I mixed the oils and lye together at 110 and hand mixed for about 10 minutes off and on and I saw what you guys were describing when a trail was behind the wisk. I feel so empowered now!!! Tomorrow I am going to order all of my fragrances and maybe brave enought to try some colors. Can someone tell me what the easist colors to use are? I want to take peepee steps and not get ahead of myself. My first batch is starting to harden already and is sitting on the mantle in a tuperware container. Yay!!!! I made soap by myself!!!! With everybodys help of course!!!!

Congrats on your first batch! Now get yourself some micas or LabColors! http://www.brambleberry.com/Colorants-C181.aspx

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

We knew you could do it. Contgratulations! It's an awesome feeling to do this by yourself. I'm doing a craft show on March 19th which is the 3rd Saturday in March.....in Burlington. It will be the last show I do there because from now on you will do them. (This town aint big enough for the 2 of us kid). This may be premature but, it would probably be good for you to see what this is about if you plan on turning this into a business like you indicated in your PMs. Why don't you come and hang out with my wife and me and try it out to see if you want to take over this show? We've always made money at this event and the setup fee is nominal. I'm not trying to get free labor out of you, I just want you to see what this is like. If you don't want to pursue this then I'll keep doing them in your town. I gave you my email. Hit me back if you want details.

Again, proud of you.

so awesome, congrats!

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ASH

congrats!

I've only used micas for CP so far and they have been easy to use...didn't have any problems.

wow congratz! did you find anything to be challenging? havent made my first batch yet.

We all knew you could do it!

Congrates and you did well only hand mixing for 10 minutes to trace! I use mica's but the run when soaps are used, maybe I use too much?

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Four Seasons Fine Handcrafted Soaps
& Specialties, Inc.
Laugh, Love, Live!

WooHoo! Good for you! You can use paprika, turmeric, coffee grounds, cocoa powder, sage powder - stuff like that if you want to experiment with color before your other colors come in. Turmeric makes a pretty yellow-gold color and paprika is a reddish orange.

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

I am so happy for you. Another thought: why not use vanilla select FO and it will color the bar a nice brown for you? Plus you will have scented the soap. Actually one of my favorite and got super reviews back was a black cherry and vanilla select combo. The FO behaved wonderfully.

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!

That is very generous of you Supersoaper. What event is it and where? I plan to sell my soap eventually but not until I am sure it is good enough quality and I have my soapmaking habits in order. I figured on giving away my first 10 batches just for feedback. Thanks to everyone for your support.

And Ashlee the hardest part is getting your lye water and oils to the exact same temperature. I did not realize how long it would take my lye water to cool down. I did not want to put in into my fridge so setting in the sink it took almost 30 minutes to cool down to 110 degrees. From now on I am going to put a couple ice cubes in the water before adding my lye. Colder water should mean the temp should not go so high right? Bubbles I like the idea about the vanilla. That might be my first scented batch!

sometimes i put my lye water in the sink filled with cold water, to help it cool down.

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ASH

Both are good to do. Cold water in the sink is the safest. Ice cubes can explode. Never had it happen to me but I know that the physical properties make it possible.

I'll PM you with the location, time and the event in Burlington. Even if you don't want to do it, meeting another soaper from here would be fun.

Congratulations, AmourSoap! So glad your first batch was a success. I'm planning to try my first batch soon and I hope it will be a success, too.

The discussion about the lye water taking a long time to cool got me wondering: Could you store your distilled water in the fridge and use the chilled water to make your lye solution so it doesn't get so hot, or is that a terrible idea?

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- Jenny -
My soapy blog:
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Mine stays in the fridge. I also keep an icetray full of distilled water ice cubes. When I make a 3 pound batch or lower, I use half ice and half water. The temp after the lye is mixed is usually around 125 F. So yes, keeping it in the fridge is a good idea. Putting it in the sink is a good idea. Ice is a little more dangerous for reasons I already stated above.

Jrose729 what are you waiting for? Make some soap tonight. My grandfather always had a saying and was always looking for a better way to do something. His saying was, "Dive in over your head and swim to the surface." For a man who didn't know how to swim, was never in a swimming pool or at the ocean, I don't know where he drew his inspiration. But it's words I try to live by. Get out there and try something you've never done before. Going skydiving this weekend. Staples come out tomorrow and the back would is almost healed.