Crafting for Christmas 2010, lets begin again......

MrsLove

Well I got back from my holidays late on Sunday and it has taken me till now to catch up with all the posts - Thanks to rosalie-lavender for posting the link to this thread on the 2009 one so I got here very easily.

I hope you all had a great Christmas (mine was ok but I'm never going away at Christmas again - I missed it too much) sounds as though your crafting gifts went down a storm as well they should concidering the thought and efforts that went into them.

Welcome to all those who have joined us - at this rate we could take over the UK!

nikki2804

craftdaft wrote: »

Thanks everyone for replies re soaps, etc.

Nikki, I would be interested in your body butter recipe if possible, the ingredients sound good!

I originally used this recipe from the homemade soap thread:

- 1 tablespoon cocoa butter
- 3 tablespoons shea butter
- 3 tablespoons jojoba oil

But adapted it a little bit.

Last one I made used:

-1 tablespoon cocoa butter
-3 tablespoons shea butter
-2 tablespoons jojoba oil
-1 tablespoon macademia nut oil

Was yummy (so to speak!)
Its just a case of adding in butters and oils that you love and getting the consistency right. I'm not to keen on olive oil as I don't like the smell and I find it very heavy.

For everyone interested in soap making here is the homemade soap thread. Some lovely ideas on it. I'm still a little 'eek' about using caustic soda (or even having it in the house - 7 month old is VERY curious!!)

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=355501

whoopidoo

I got the most amazing present from a bloggy friend in the post yesterday. I'm sure she wouldn't mind me posting it on here - I love it to bits. It's a bottled Mojo - how fantastic for the crafty friend in your life?


I blogged about it herewhich has links to her posts on how to make them but direct links to her blog are here and here.

princesspoppypop

Fab mojo gift!

Eeek just ordered a few treats from Amazon.... o well all in the name of crafting... ok apart from a few dvds (to watch while crafting).

Poppy x

jamtart6

qwiksave wrote: »

jamtart, it's not a card, its a large canvas!

I knew that I was just testing to see if you were reading properly :rotfl:

Oops sorry! "That is a lovely canvas!" then

mary-op

Gina - that looks brilliant :T

Not done much today except concoct a little wallet out of card to hold book of stamps to put with sons writing box, Mothers Day card and card for sons birthday...........had a little play with some leather tags that were on some candles............came out ok I thought.
Paper I ordered the other day arrived this morning and I'd got enough of one pattern to cover a box that'll do nicely for pressies.............so, thats tomorrows job.
Was wondering if I could make a bunny out of white felt for grandson for easter instead of a flannel ? Have to have a go and see...........:rolleyes:

artydoll

I would like to join in with crafting please,
I always seem to be doing something ,I love crochet ,knitting and have made lots of dollshouse miniatures ,
Just started a scarf to use up some red chunky wool i had around,finding it a little awkward as haven,t knitted for ages ,my fingers were aching after I put it dowm,lol, my age is showing,or my arthritis.
I shall make the scarf as a present for next Christmas,that will start me on my little stash of crafts. items

Scoobs

Hi there,
first time on this post- just managed to work my way to the end of this thread, not that it was a chore you understand! Made 6 sock monkeys which went down VERY well at Christmas and now looking for more ideas ( which I now have after reading to the end of the thread!). Going to try and be a bit more organised this year and get things done in advance. I love to craft, my main obsession is making soap, so in regards to that....

Please always check your soap recipe on a website called soap calc, you can put any oils you like and will give you your exact amount of oils and water. This following recipe states using coconut oil or veg oil, I wouldn't sub one oil for another without checking it out first on the lye calculator recommended above. Don't be scared of using lye, your first bar of soap is a wonderful thing and as you learn more, your soap only becomes better!:D

craftdaft wrote: »

Thanks everyone for replies re soaps, etc.


INGREDIENTS
900ml water
295g caustic soda (needs to be pure sodium hydroxide)
615g coconut oil (or vegetable fat)
800ml sunflower oil
800ml olive oil
Essential oils (for fragrance)
Other additives might include dried herbs, petals and fruit
For decoration might want to use pastry cutters, ribbons and bows





YOU WILL ALSO NEED:

• Large plastic bucket or stainless steel pot (not cast iron or aluminium)
• Moulds (eg. simple plastic tubs from kitchen, can use any plastic containers)
• Protective clothing (apron, rubber gloves and goggles)

Work in a well ventilated room
Add the caustic soda to water NOT water to caustic soda.





METHOD

• Put water into bucket, carefully whisk caustic soda into the water and watch as chemical reactions cause it to heat up.
• Put the coconut oil into a large pan on a low heat. Add sunflower and olive oil.
• Once all the oil has melted together pour into the bucket with caustic soda and water.
• Stir the mixture for 40 minutes (!), looking for a change of colour and texture in your mixture.
• Add other ingredients. Kirstie Allsop made 3 flavours so divided the mixture into 3 bowls and added:

i. A handful of parsley and 20ml of lime essence
ii. A handful of oats, glug of honey and some lemongrass essence




iii. Cinnamon and orange essence and fresh orange zest.

• Transfer to moulds to set. (once in moulds Kirstie added real (thin) orange slices to cinnamon and orange soap)
• Wrap the tubs in a blanket for 24 hours to slowly cool down and set.
• Once cooled and set take out of moulds and leave to dry in a cupboard for 6 weeks so caustic soda dissolves and the soap won’t have any harmful effects on skin.
• After 6 weeks cut up and decorate. To make pretty shaped soaps use pastry cutters.

raven-333

hi everyone can i join in too. I lurked rather a lot on last years thread. but didnt manage to do anything. i love crafting well the idea of it. i bought some bits last year but was too scared to try but now i feel ready after seeing the beautiful things you all made.

princesspoppypop

Ive posted on my blog a recycled wine bottle gift and have been thinking about making a few sets up for gifts.
I`d love to have a go at making the body butter and thought I`d add a kiln jar of homemade bath salts http://www.marthastewart.com/good-things/homemade-bath-salts and a pot of homemade lip balm http://www.soapbasics.co.uk/en-gb/dept_487.html in a little basket with a loofah or some exfoliating gloves.

Poppy x