Do you feel a bit flat and bored and need something to occupy your interests? Tired of playing online games for hours and not interested in anything on TV? Hobbies may be the answer to your dilemma, it certainly was the answer for me. My main problem is that I want to do everything, I want to try all the crafts and hobbies I can find!
There are hobbies that can serve a dual purpose by providing you with real income from your hobby. Making soaps and bath salts is a hobby that can be safe, inexpensive, and fun…not to mention actually pay for itself if you sell your finished products.
In this article, I’ll provide you with step-by-step instructions along with recipes for items you can make and use to decorate your home, give as gifts, or even sell for a profit.
To get an idea of what soap making goes into simply start with an easy recipe, chocolate soap is a good start and here is what you need:
12 oz grated soap
5 ounces of water
1/4 cup instant cocoa powder
1/8 oz chocolate fragrance oil
Combine your grated soap and water in a saucepan and place over medium heat; When the soap has melted combine cocoa powder and chocolate fragrance; Stir well then pack into molds and let sit until fully hardened.
When you’re ready, step ahead, we’ll get started with glycerin soap making… here’s what you’ll need to make Apple Tart Soap:
4 oz. Clear, fragrance-free glycerin soap
1 Tablespoon of Liquid Soap
1 teaspoon liquid glycerin
1/2 teaspoon apple fragrance oil
2 drops of red food coloring
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
First melt the soap in a small saucepan over low heat or in a glass beaker in the microwave; Add Liquid Soap and glycerin and stir gently but well; Add fragrance and/or color; Add the cinnamon and stir; Let sit for a couple of minutes, long enough for it to start to thicken, so that when you stir again, the cinnamon is distributed more evenly; For in molds. Let it settle completely (in or out of the freezer). When fully set you can wrap your soap in plastic wrap, cellophane candy bags work great too.
Another type of glycerin soap that is interesting to make is Apricot Freesia and this is what you will need:
1 pound white glycerin soap base
12 Cosmic Drops Canary Yellow Color
11 drops of cosmic red
1 t. FO Apricot Freesia
Ingredients for the “whipped cream” coating:
4 oz White Glycerin Soap Base
¼ t. FO Apricot Freesia
First, the soap base for the cake is melted in a bain-marie; After it’s completely melted, add color and fragrance; Pour the mixture into a muffin tin and allow to harden; Remove from can; Melt soap base to coat and add a shake of Sparkle Dust; Using an electric mixer, mix until thick and bubbly; Spray with isopropyl alcohol and spoon the topping over the pies, letting some of the topping run down the sides; Top with a sprinkle of Sparkle Dust (optional)
Being someone who entertains a lot and spends time with children, the Cookie Cutter Soap was a must! Making this soap requires creative freedom and is a good craft for children, with adult supervision of course.
Melt and Pour Soap Base (Opaque)
scent (optional)
Color (must be liquid, like gels)
cookie sheet (must have at least a 1/2-inch rim)
knife (to swirl your colors!)
cookie cutter
You’ll want to melt the soap base and scents first; You can give the main base a color if you wish or leave it white; For the base on the cookie sheet and add colors and swirl them all over – this is where you can get creative! When dry, remove the soap block from the cookie sheet. Use cookie cutters to cut out the soap.
There are many different things you can do with this, for example, you can do…
Christmas Soap: Red and green swirl on white and use cookie cutters;
Candy Cane Soap: Red Swirl on White with Mint Scent and Candy Cane Cutters;
Easter/Spring: Shake up various cakes and find some fun cookie cutters;
July 4th: Patriotic white soap with a beautiful red and blue swirl (find a good star cutter!)
Then you’ll see that your options are limitless as to what you can create and sell if you want!