Posted by Pam on January 13th, 2008
Here’s a great recipe from one of our sponsors for Missouri Crafts Network - get ready for Valentine’s Day!!
Just in time for Valentines Day!
A scrumptious, yummy chocolate lovers delight! The following will make a 2# batch. Percentages are given to calculate different sizes.
11.2 ounces (35%) Coconut Oil
11.2 ounces (35%) Olive Oil
3.2 ounces (10%) Castor Oil
6.4 ounces (20%) Unrefined cocoa butter
12.2 ounces distilled water
4.6 ounces sodium hydroxide
2 TBSP unsweetened cocoa powder (1 TBSP PPO)
1 ounce Sweet Orange EO (0.5 ounces PPO)
Mix lye and water together until dissolved. Add cocoa powder to lye water and mix until blended. Allow lye mixture to cool to room temp stirring occasionally as needed to incorporate cocoa powder. Gently heat oils until just melted. Add room temp lye solution and stir with stick blender until well blended. Once soap reaches a mild trace, add in FO and continue to stick blend until thick trace is reached. Pour into lined wooden mold and place in preheated 200F oven. Cook for two hours. Turn off heat and leave soap in oven for another 24 hours. After 24 hours, unmold and cut.
This makes a very nice chocolate soap and the orange EO goes very well with it. ~ April of Sweet Lotus Creations
Blessings & Health
Pam
Missouri Crafts Network
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Posted by Pam on January 11th, 2008
Ok, I’m a week late…so shoot me 
… besides babysitten 6 grkids and taking care of a household, making soap, letting dogs in and out…you know..what they call life..I fell behind in getting out the January Newsletter for the Missouri Crafts Network - HOWEVER - it’s out now - and you can either subscribe to get it - and have it pop up automatically in your mailbox, or you can pop over and view it on line - just click on the MISSOURI CRAFTS NETWORK NEWSLETTER link right here and check it out.
~Pam~
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Posted by Pam on January 9th, 2008
This is a great recipe for making a nice shea butter facial/hand cream.
Ingredients:
1 oz beeswax
1 oz sweet almond oil (or oil of your choice)
0.75 oz shea butter
0.5 oz cocoa butter
add fragrance or EO if wanted
Melt your beeswax in a double boiler (or pan on top of pan will work). Once the beeswax is melted, just add your cocoa butter, then shea butter and after that is almost melted, add your sweet almond oil (or use jojoba or olive or almond). Once that is all melted, remove from heat, let cool a bit and then add your essential oil or fragrance oil.
Pour your mixture into a decorative jar or bottle and when cooled, it will make a nice semi-solid cream.
Shea butter is a wonderful anti-aging/anti-wrinkling agent and has some wonderful qualities!
Got a recipe you’d like to share? Please post it!
Pam
Missouri Crafts Network
TLC Naturally
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Posted by Pam on January 8th, 2008
Posted by Pam on January 4th, 2008
An easy to make all Veggie soap that is great on your skin!
Vegetable Soap
50 Ounces Olive Oil
17 Ounces Coconut Oil
18 Ounces Any All Vegetable Shortening
11.5 Ounces Lye
32 Ounces Soft Water
Temperature - Lye Water 95-98 degrees ats 95-98 degrees
Instructions:
This is the big TIP - The night before making your soap, measure the lye and water into a container, stir until dissolved and then…..put it in a SECURE place where no one will get to it!
NOW, Soap Making Day….heat up a pot of water to boiling and place your cooled lye water into it. Warm it up to 98 degrees. Place your fats/oils in a pan and heat them to the right temperature.
When are at the correct temperatures, pour fats into a bowl and pour lye water into fats, as yo stir constantly or grab your handy dandy stick blender and give it a whirl. Soap will trace fairly quickly when using the stick blender. After it comes to trace, it’s time for you to add dried flowers, herbs, essential oils or whatever you choose. Stir again to mix thoroughly.
Pour this glob into your greased mold. I usually cover the top of the mold with a blanket and let it sit for 12-24 hours. After this time you can unmold it and cut it as desired and then stack it so that the air can circulate between the layers. Leave soap in a room temperature area for about 3-4 weeks. Should be ready to use after that.
For more info - check out our recipes at Missouri Crafts Network Soap Category!
~Pam~
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Posted by Pam on January 4th, 2008
Nerve Remedy - Soothing Lavender Milk Bath
2 packages Powdered Milk
12 oz Powdered Goat or Any other Milk
16 oz Dead Sea Salt
9 ounces Epsom Salt
1/2 tsp. Lavender Essential Oil
Mix all ingredients together slowly, seal the container and let sit overnight. Next day, just repackage, or you can use a little bit immediately for your own bath if you choose! This is a wonderful blend of lavender and milk, a soothing bath mixture fit for a queen…I wouldn’t be surprised if Cleopatra didn’t use this mix!
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Posted by Pam on January 4th, 2008
Simple but Elegant Bath Salts
1/2 pound Epsom Salts
1/2 pound Baking Soda
1/2 pound Sea Salt
1/2 tablespoon Sweet Almond Oil or Jojoba Oil or Oil of your choice
1 - 2 teaspoons essential oil(s)
Mix all ingredients in large bowl and then knead with hands until well blended.
You only have to let this mix dry out a couple hours before pouring it into fancy jars, labeling it, and tieing it all up with a pretty bow to give away to a dear friend.
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Posted by Pam on January 4th, 2008
Awesome Moisturizing Bath Crystals
2 cups Sea salt
1 cup Kosher Salt
2 Tablespoons baking soda
1 Tablespoon Glycerin
1/2 Teaspoon vitamin E oil
Essential Oils or fragrance oil
Mix all ingredients together well, add your Essential Oils (say 10 drops or so). Let the mixture firm up for about 3 days - or at least 2 days at the least. Now, just draw a warm bath, pour about 1/2 cup of these AWESOME Moisturizing Crystals into the running water, and enjoy! Or, pour into a clear fancy bottle, tie a fancy ribbon on the neck, and give as a gift!
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Posted by Pam on January 4th, 2008
Ok, so this is the Missouri Crafts Network board…but hey - I’m the only one that seems to write on it - so guess I’ll give my 2cents on the New Year….. rang it in pretty nicely - even managed to stay up till after midnight….told my sons to mark it on the calendar - cause it would be another 30 years before I did this again! …
However….THIS YEAR …. will be the year for new beginnings - I’m going to make it happen….this blog is going to be the best Missouri Crafts Network - mark my word!! So go on over and check out the numerous articles and info on our mother site - Missouri Crafts Network
Have an article, info sheet, or project you’d like to showcase? Just drop us a line!
Pam
Missouri Crafts Network
E Web Express Website Design and Hosting
TLC Naturally
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