Winter Products Swap-Part 2

Delivery of my Winter Products Swap box was delayed by the Great Blizzard of 2011. We ended up getting about 2 feet of snow, but that's another story that I'll save for later.Back to your regularly scheduled post...

My box arrived a couple of days later than everyone else's, but it sure was worth the wait. I'm posting the spoiler photos taken by the swap hostess. I received back 24 new items to try. Man were they awesome. Here are 2 photos of the loot:

Notice the lovely lot of lotions, balms, butters,soaps, body oils, and more? Awesome, huh?
This second photo shows the hand knitted neck warmer. Mine is actually a lovely blue. It comes in very handy with the sub zero weather in Chicagoland! See my con"dish"ioner and poo? They;re in good company.


The hard part now it trying it all out. I chose a different lotion/butter for each leg and arm. Then the cuticle jellies and footie stuff. I smell wonderful and am soft as buttah! I used another swapper's Intensive Hair Conditioner and my hair looks fab. It will take me until spring to work through all of this awesomeness.

Winter Products Swap

I've been busy signing up for, and making products for, swaps at the Dish Forum. The most recent swap is the Winter Products Swap. The premise of the swap is to make something that people need during the harsh and gray winter months. I chose to make a solid hair conditioner with a little travel shampoo.

The first hurdle was done: what to make. The0 next, more difficult challenge was to decide upon a fragrance. What would I like in February? Where would I like to be? Easy: Enjoying citrus in Florida. Beaches and fresh juice, preferably on South Beach with a beachy drink in hand while watching the waves.

With a goal in mind, I set sail for my Fragrance cabinet. Fresh Squeezed Oranges, Lime Cilantro, Ruby Red Grapefruit and Mojito fragrances found their way to me. I started at a ratio of 1:1:1:1 and worked in more of one or another until I smelled "The" scent. Citrus Mojito. Bliss.

I then gathered all of my solid conditioner ingredients and molds and made 25 of the little darlings. 24 2.5 oz Solid Conditioners colored with Tangerine Pop! mica.



... and don't forget the 25 1 oz solid shampoos with the same color and fragrance.

Next challenge: Packaging. I made cute round labels with the ingredients on the back and the major info on the front. They were shrink wrapped to the bottom of each conditioner.
Here's a close up of the label:


The little shampoos got a custom product information card and were stapled into a treat bag.


Got them all shipped off to the swap hostess and began waiting ever so (im)patiently for the return box. I love swaps! They're like Christmas all year long!

"Dish" Home Cleaning Swap 2011

As some of you already know, I am a member of "The Dish Forum", which is made up of a very talented and generous group of formulators and business owners. Each year I participate in several "Swaps", where different people make products to share with one another. The next swap that is due for my products is the Home Cleaning Swap.

The Home Cleaning Swap came about after a discussion about using natural ingredients to clean the home. Several people in the discussion make specialty products such as degreasers, dryer sachets and such. We each signed up for a cleaning item with the stipulation that only essential oils could be used for fragrance.

My choice was carpet freshener, or as I have labeled my items, "Carpet Re-Freshener". I don't have many carpets left since working for the past 3 years to remove the wall to wall in favor of hardwood with a few area rugs. Even so, those area rugs do get a little 'not-so-fresh' in the winter time, so I went about researching and testing until I cam up with something that worked very well in my house.

The ingredients are simple: Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda), Borax and non-Iodized Salt. For fragrance I chose Lavender, Lemon and Litsea Cubeba. For a little fun, I added dried lavender buds.

The next issue I had was to choose packaging. Glass Mason style Jars would have worked, but mailing them to the hostess of the swap, then mailing them again could prove disastrous. Instead, I broke out the trusty Singer and made shaker pouches. Basically I made drawstring bags out of muslin with a piece of nylon netting inside the opening to control the flow of powder out of the bag and provide a bit of 'sprinkling' action. It worked great, but took for EVER to make all 10 of them.

I added an iron on transfer to the front of the bag to identify the contents as mine and make the plain bag a little more dressy. When full to the maximum capacity these bags will probably hold 3-4 lbs of carpet refresher.

Here they all are waiting for wrapping:


I sealed them in shrink wrap for their journey, but decided not to shrink them because they looked better 'unshrunk'.


I included the 'recipe' and directions in the shrink packaging so the swappers would be able to make it again if they chose to. If you would like the recipe, or would like to know how I made the shaker pouches just drop a comment below.

DIY Reusable Liner Soap Molds

A good friend of mine used this phrase "DIY til we DIE" in a recent email to me. I had to laugh because that totally describes us. Why pay huge $ for something made by someone else that I can make myself for next to nothing and performs every bit as good as the pricey purchased one (often better).

As a member of TheDishForum, I like to participate in several research swaps each year. Fragrance swaps are one of my favorites because we get to sample 50+ scents in one go. Making small test batches for these swaps requires small-ish molds. I generally like to make 16 oz batches so that a 1 oz bottle is used up in. a single batch. Here are the steps I used to make a triple log mold made totally to my bar specs for about $5.00. these little molds are absolute workhorses and paid for themselves after the first use.

Custom Triple Log Soap Mold for $5.00:
Materials:
- 6mm (1/4 inch) Craft foam (found at craft supply houses like Hobby Lobby)
- 1 sheet of Foam Board (the kind used for presentations that stands up on its own)
- Duct Tape (I personally use Nashua Brand)

Tools:

- Exacto Knife or razor knife or box cutter
- Ruler
- Self Healing mat (Didn't want to cut the table!)

Steps:



I wanted 6.25 x 3.25 x 2.5 inch logs for this swap, so I started cutting the foam into:

- one bottom piece (6.25 long x 3.25 wide)
- two long sides (3 tall x 6.25 long)
- two end pieces (3 tall x 3.5 long)


NOTE: MAKE SURE YOU USE THE 6mm craft foam. The 3mm and 2mm will not work for this application. They are simply too thin and tear very easily. I found bigger sheets of the 6mm on Ebay to make larger block molds.

Note2: Don't use the cheapo Dollar Store craft foam. The sheets are too thin and the color may leach onto your soap. these things will last you a very long time. Invest in the $1 sheets for the better closed cell foam.


I duct taped one side at a time to the bottom piece and then ran extra duct tape all around the outside to ensure it would all hold together. The little mold/liner ended up being waterproof and only bowed slightly when filled to the top with soap without any other support. I made 3 of these and they all worked out the same. They're not going to win any beauty prizes, but I like the colored duct tape .



Wanting a little more support on the sides I made a frame for all 3 liners out of ½ inch rigid foam board (used for presentations). $5.99 for a poster board on sale 50% off for $2.98). I used half of the sheet for this project. I cut out a base, 2 long sides, 2 short sides and 2 internal spacers and duct taped it all together. Sweet success.The liners fit snugly and pop out easily to unmold the soap.



The photos of the whole setup were taken after the maiden batches. I didn't clean them so you could see how cleanly the soap unmolds. The soap unmolded perfectly after 12 hrs. It literally popped right out of the liners. The formula I used was high in castor (10%) and usually sticks a bit even to the mylar liners I have made before. (I did let it fully gel) Photo below is of log on its side to show bottom corner. Check out the sharp corners and smooth sides. (No wasted end cuts!)



Costs for this triple log set up:
- 3 pieces of 6 mm craft foam (.99 each x 3 = $3)
- ½ sheet of foam core board ($1.50)
- Duct Tape (2.99 for the whole roll" let’s be generous and call it $.50 for this project)
- Total: $5.00 for 3 custom molds.
- Time: 10 minutes per liner. 10 minutes for the holder: 40 minutes including interruptions.



Note: The 6.25 inch logs I chose to make can be cut into 6 one inch bars (4.5+ oz) or 5 1.25 (5.5+ oz) inch thick bars with no wasted ends. I plan to reuse these for many, many, many small test batches. I would not go much larger with this foam-only system simply because the foam board and craft foam are not nearly as strong as wood.

I have also made large block molds and log molds using this foam liner method. They work brilliantly and last for countless batches. Occasionally a batch gets very hot in the mold and makes little moon craters on the outermost sides of the log/block. These scrape off effortlessly with a plastic scraper. In all honesty, once cut and packaged nobody ever notices the edges so I don't worry about it at all.

Fragrance does not stick in the foam since it's a closed cell material. If I get really messy and the liners seem dingy, I can just scrape them with a wooden spatula. They can be washed, just be aware that duct tape isn't friendly with water and your seams may begin to leak. Slap on a new piece of duct tape and you'll be back in business.

I hope someone finds this useful!

WREX-TV Crafts! Luxury Bubble Bath and GLOP!

WREX Crafts

Here are the recipes for the Bubble Bath and Glop made on the WREX Channel 13 morning show July 23rd.

Custom Bubble Bath
Soak your cares away using three simple ingredients: A bar of your favorite soap, Water and the secret ingredient: Glycerine.
Here's how to make a big quart bottle:
1 4 oz bar of real soap, like gentle Castille, shredded or grated into little bits
1 quart HOT water
2 oz liquid Glycerine (found in the pharmacy aisle near the witch hazel and isopropyl alcohols) Optional: Extra Scent.

Dissolve the soap bits in the hot water.

*Tip: put water and soap in a microwave safe bowl, microwave in 30 second increments just until the soap begins to melt. Stir to melt completely.

Add the glycerine and mix well.

Package in recycled bottles or new malibu tubes.

To use, squirt or pour a tablespoon or so under rapidly running water. Relax and enjoy!


Fragrance Ideas:
Sleepy Time:
6 drops Lavender
3 drops Chamomile


Winter Headcold:
6 drops Eucalyptus
3 drops peppermint
3 drops spearmint

Other ideas: visit www.RainbowMeadow.com

IDEAS: Pantry Bath Additives:
Skin Soother: Make your own colloidal oatmeal by running rolled or quick oats through your coffee grinder, blender or food processor. OR use baby oatmeal.

Milk Bath: Add up to a cup of powdered milk to the bath water.

Silky Smooth: up to 1/4 cup honey

Milk and Honey: powdered milk and honey! for real.


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-
GLOP!
What kid doesn't like gross stuff? Glop appeals to the kid in all of us.

Ingredients:
1 teaspoon Borax (like 20 mule team brand in the laundry aisle)
1 1/4 cup water - Divided
1 cup White Glue

In a medium size bowl:
Mix 1/2 cup very warm water with the 1 teaspoon of Borax. Make sure it dissolves completely.

In a separate bowl or cup mix the remaining water and all of the glue. Mix well. If you want colored glop, add a couple drops of food coloring to this mix.

Slowly pour the glue mixture into the bowl with the Borax and water. Stir rapidly and constantly to make the glop. It will come together rapidly, so be prepared!

Allow to sit for a few minutes then enjoy! Store in a sealed container or baggie in the fridge to prolong the life of the Glop.

Survey Says!

We recently participated as a vendor at the Klehm Arboretum Garden Fair. Hardy gardening friends braved the heat, humidity and stormy weather to find garden treasures and must-have new plants. We made a lot of new friends and reunited with old friends.

Sunday's foot traffic was a little slower than prior days, so I took the opportunity to put my customers to work. The last soap scent swap I participated in for the Soap Dish Forum introduced three new scents to me from a supplier I had not yet purchased from. The three fragrances that made the top of the list are: Bamboo Sugarcane, Madagascar Spice and Very Sexy For Him.

I offered each person walking into the Sweet Teagan's space a chance to vote on their favorites and give a general thumbs up/down. Wouldn't you know it everyone had very different opinions on every scent. Those loving Bamboo Sugarcane hated Spice and vice versa. The majority liked Very Sexy. Even though it is "for him" women liked it just as much. The field of potential fragrances didn't narrow by much, so I'm going to add them ALL to the August Lineup!

Thanks to all who took time to vote for your favorites. Hope to see you next year!!

Another WREX Segment!! Clean and Green

I was' 'green' long before it was trendy and cool. Call it Yankee Ingenuity or general frugality - doesn't matter which. The producer of the WREX morning show asked me to stop in for a quick segment about green cleaning today. Of course I was thrilled to talk about something I am so passionate about.

Here's a summary of what Laura Gibbs-Green and I spoke about:

Clean and Green

As seen on WREX TV
Keep your home "Fresh as a Daisy" with some inexpensive and simple tips.
Fact: The average home has at least 60 synthetic chemical cleansing products. That’s roughly 10 gallons of the stuff.

Go To Ingredients:
1. FREE: SUNLIGHT!
2. Good Old Soap and Water
3. Baking Soda ($.79)
4. Vinegar ($.66)
5. Lemons ($.33)

Optional:
6. Borax ($2.69)
7. Washing Soda ($2.69)

Tools:
1. Sponge ($.50)
2. Clean Spray Bottle ($.99)
3. Newspaper (free if you subscribe)

Room by Room:

Living Room & Bedrooms:
Air out pillows, heavy winter blankets, area rugs in bright, hot sunlight. A day or two will leave them smelling really fresh! This gives me time to clear clutter. My motto is still 2 things a day! My four options are: Donate, Recycle, Sell or Trash. Old magazines and accumulation of ‘stuff’ over the winter makes this 2 a day goal a cinch.

Wall to Wall carpet: Since it's not practical to put your carpet outside, the next best thing is to sprinkle baking soda on carpets. Let sit for 15 minutes or so, then Vacuum clean.

Still Need an air freshener? 10-20 drops of Essential Oils like mint, citrus or lavender in a quart of water - spray around. I have found that 1/4 cup of Vodka in 1 quart of water helps to spread the fragrance around more fully. Use the bottom shelf, cheap vodka.

Need a quick scent? Try clear Vanilla with spray bottle top. The scent is inexpensive and delicious, though people may look for the fresh baked cookies! If you don't have clear vanilla, then try pouring a few drops of the regular kind onto a square of aluminum foil and heat in the oven at 170 degrees F for a minute or two.

Windows & Mirrors: (house and car)
¼ teaspoon grated soap or dish detergent
2 cups hot water
3-4 tablespoons vinegar
Mix well in spray bottle. Spray on wipe off with newspaper. Newspaper goes right in the compost heap.

KITCHEN:
General Cleaning-Solid Surfaces
Old fashioned Soap and Water applied with a sponge. Dish detergent in a pinch.
Scum/greasy deposits/burnt on crud: baking soda paste on sponge. Wipe around to remove.
Vinegar and water rinse to shine it all up.
(Don’t want your house to smell like a salad? 1/4 c VODKA in a quart of water (I use distilled). Add a few drops of Spearmint and Orange essential oils for added freshness!)

Microwave: Heat a mug of water with lemon wedge for 2 minutes. Steam works on cooked on stuff. Wipe clean with sponge. OR - just microwave your damp sponge for 1 minute. Wipe steamed walls clean. This also kills bacteria on your sponge allowing you many, many days of cleaning.

Garbage Disposal Freshener:
Use that microwaved lemon wedge to freshen it up. Oranges and limes work just as well. Once a week is usually enough to keep odors at bay. Baking soda and vinegar are powerful deodorizers that clean the source of the bad odor.

Slow Drains: Pour 1 cup baking soda chased by 3 cups hot water (boiling if your sink can withstand it). Is the drain still slow? This is more fun – 1 cup baking soda followed by 1 cup vinegar, then once the bubbles stop, pour hot (if possible boiling) water.

Rust Stains? Try vinegar. Spray on. Let sit. Rinse off. - OR - Borax on cut lemon half. Rub around a bit and rinse. I was AMAZED how well this worked on my tub and shower when the softener went on the fritz.

Mildew? Straight up vinegar. Spray on. Let sit a while. Rinse off. Not strong enough – Tea Tree Oil. Can't stand the smell of Tea Tree oil? Spritz on some peroxide. Use a toothbrush to finish the job.

Dishwasher: Many Ordinary dish detergents contain phosphates which end up in waterways causing algae blooms – suffocating fish. Use ordinary baking soda or washing soda with borax instead.
Recipes:
A)mix one part borax, one part baking soda and 1/4 part salt. Add white vinegar to the rinse cycle to get them squeaky clean!
B) I use a teaspoon each of liquid soap and baking soda in the cup of my dishwasher.”
C) Mix equal parts of borax and washing soda, but increase the washing soda if your water is hard.

Does your Dishwasher have unsightly stains or odor? Dump a package of unsweetened lemonade mix into the powder dispenser. Run a short wash cycle. The citric acid in the mix helps wash away stains and odors.

Furniture Polish
1/2 tsp olive Oil
1/4 cup vinegar or fresh lemon juice
Apply with soft cloth. Buff lightly to a shine that smells divine.

Stay tuned for more suggestions...

Make your day wonderful!
Shannon