Hand Made Christmas - Solid Lotion Puds

Making a gorgeous gift doesn't come much easier than this...

This is the first item in our mini series that will help you on your way this Christmas.

If you (like we) are determined to have a hand made Christmas this eye catching lotion "pud" is a lovely place to begin.  

In fact, this little recipe will lend itself to use as a lotion bar, bath melt or massage bar.  Only the mould you use will make the difference.  The balance of butters and oils enables the finished product to melt on contact with skin or indeed warm bath water.  So take your pick, adapt the recipe just by choice of mould and make the most of this versatile combination of ingredients.

Using just Mango Butter, Cocoa Butter and your choice of vegetable base oil, this is a cost effective recipe. Whilst we've suggested the Essential Oils used here (which are a wonderful therapeutic combination with a gorgeous aroma), you can of course adapt these to your favourites or substitute a fragrance oil instead.  A great combination would be a designer similar fragrance and a sprinkle of glitter for a lotion bar perfect for the party season.

Ingredients

(to make 4 x 50g puds)

90g Mango Butter

50g Cocoa Butter

60ml Grape Seed or similar vegetable base oil

1ml Rose Wood Essential Oil

0.25ml Tangerine Essential Oil

0.25ml Mandarin Essential Oil

0.5ml Lavender Essential Oil

You will also need; 4 x holly toppers, pipettes, a suitable mould ( for the image above we used a medium paper souffle case) and a heat source.

Melt the butters beginning with the Cocoa butter and adding the Mango as the Cocoa begins to melt.  Use a low heat setting if using a microwave.  Alternatively use a bowl over hot water but please ensure no water or steam enters the bowl of ingredients.  You may also melt directly in a pan. In all cases, ensure that the butters are only heated to the point of "just" melting. Do not overheat and do not leave unattended.

When the butters are liquid, add the base oil.  Stir and allow to cool to the point of slightly thickening.  ( not for too long - you will still need to pour the mix!)

Add the essential oils and stir thoroughly. 

Pour a small amount into each of the cases first and then fill with the remaining mix (doing so should ensure there is no seepage from the cases - this is also why you should not pour at too high a temperature).

Refrigerate until completely cold.

Peel off the cases and insert the holly topper if using 

So that the aroma lasts, wrap in cello bags, cling film or store in an airtight container until required.

Suggestions

To make bath melts select a small souffle case - this will hold around 30g which is sufficient for a bath melt.

To make a massage bar use a plastic or silicone mould with a capacity of around 50-80g.  Cool completely before attempting to remove from the mould.

If you'd like a massage bar that doesn't melt quite so quickly, increase the Cocoa Butter by 20%

How to Make Prim Heart Bath Melts

We so wanted to share these lovelies with you, as they are simple to make but better yet, they are truly fabulous to use.  So finally, here they are!

So what is a bath melt?

You simply pop one into  your (running) bath.  The natural Cocoa, Shea and Natural Vegetable oils will melt in the warmth of the water, but as you probably guessed they will not disperse fully.  Instead, the oils will be drawn to your skin providing instant moisturising without the effort!

When you finally get out of your bath (take care, it will be slippery and we strongly recommend the use of a bath mat) all you need do is pat your skin dry.  A film of skin loving oils will remain, leaving you with a wonderful pampered feeling.

We're using our Prim Hearts Mould which can also be used for fizzers and soaps, but you can of course use any suitable mould.  Keep the size small, there is no need to have a huge chunk of a melt in your bath.  Novelty ice trays will work as will guest soap moulds.  As this is an oily recipe, it will work well with re purposed yoghurt pots etc too. and should not give you too many de moulding issues whatever the shape.  As with soaps, chilling before de moulding will help tremendously.

What you need to make around 6 melts. (Multiply up if you want to make more)

A mould with a capacity of around 120-130g divided between cavities of around 20-25g (If you don't know the capacity, weigh your mould empty and then again with water in it to calculate the rough capacity)

65g Shea Butter or similar (a butter of similar consistency at room temp such as Mango)

32g Cocoa Butter unbleached (still has its natural aroma)

32ml Vegetable base oil such as Sweet Almond (substitute with your favourite if you prefer)

0.5ml of Thyme fragrance oil

0.5ml of Rosemary fragrance oil

(both fragrances can of course be substituted for your preference)

Due to the oil rich nature of this recipe, the melts that you make are known as a "leave on" product.  That is, there is an increased element of dermal exposure to the fragrance; the oil and the fragrance within the melts will cling to the skin and not be washed away.  

This is in contrast to a melt and pour soap for example that you rinse away and is termed a "wash off" product.  These two classifications are especially relevant for those making and selling products - the two have different permitted levels of fragrance and allergens in the final product.

Of course at home there are no regulations covering your own creations made for personal use, but the rules exist as a point of safety. For this type of recipe, use no more than 1% fragrance or essential oil in your mix in total. This recipe uses around 129g of ingredients and so using 1ml in total of fragrance will keep you within the recommendations.  Our suggested fragrances Rosemary and Thyme have relatively low levels of allergens in their formulation.  Allergen free fragrances are available here

Rosemary & Thyme make a fabulous fragrance combination that should not be kept for stuffing!  But you may also have other ideas. Don't be shy - you can combine any of our cosmetic grade fragrance concentrates to create your own classy combinations but please don't mix Essential oil and fragrance oil.  How about Vanilla & Cinnamon for a warm spicy autumnal soak? Or English Rose & Patchouli for a sensual soak?

Method

Using a saucepan over a very low heat, melt your Cocoa Butter first.  When half liquid, add your Shea Butter and Oil.  Stir gently until completely liquid but do not overheat.

Remove from the heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes.  Add your fragrance and stir.

Cool for a further 5-15 minutes, observing the mix to ensure it is not setting.

Pour into your moulds.

Allow to cool, refrigerate until cold before popping out of the mould.

For our Prim Heart mould, turn the mould upside down and press firmly but gently in the middle of each cavity.  Your melts should release easily.  If not, they may not be cold enough - pop them back in the fridge.

Wrap & Enjoy!

Beautiful Bath Melts - More Credit Crunch Beauty

Beautiful Bath Melts

So pretty and so straightforward to make - yes really!  

Melts are an absolute delight for those of us who suffer from dry skin; the butters melt in the bath but will leave a film of skin loving goodness on the bather - just pat dry after bathing and you'll find that you don't need to moisturise.

If you're planning a wedding, these make gorgeous favours.  A single melt can be tied into a small cellophane bag and finished with a piece of curling ribbon. They look fabulous and don't cost the earth.

To make them successfully, you want a mixture that sets up well in the little cases or moulds but that will gently melt into warm running water.

Here is a recipe that will achieve exactly that.  This one makes around 20-25 petit four size melts.  If you want to make more or less simply multiply the amounts up equally.

INGREDIENTS 

Cocoa Butter 100g

Shea Butter      50g

50ml Base oil - vegetable such as Sweet Almond, Grape Seed or even a richer oil such as Wheat Germ/Calendula/Evening Primrose etc

Optional: 2 - 4ml Fragrance or Essential Oil Concentrate

(Use the lower amount where possible; for goods for resale this recipe could be classed as a leave on product due to the fact that the rich butters and oils will adhere to the skin even after bathing.  Pay particular attention to the nature of any Essential Oils you may wish to use.)

25 petit four size paper cases

or

10-15 small paper souffle cases

or 

Small cavity size moulds of your choice

Rose Buds, other dried (plain) flowers/seeds, cosmetic glitters

A teaspoon of Jojoba Beads - coloured - a simple way to add a hint of colour to your melts

METHOD

Cocoa Butter will take the most amount of time to melt.  Break it into small chunks if possible and microwave on half heat for 20-30 seconds at a time, taking care not to overheat.

When the Cocoa Butter is "just" melted, add the Shea Butter. Stir, and return to the microwave for just enough time to melt the Shea.  

Add the Base Oil (and Jojoba Beads if using) and stir, add (optional) fragrance or essentials, stir thoroughly 

If the mix is setting up, return very briefly to the microwave

Pour into your cases/moulds.

EXTRAS

If you want to add a standing rose bud as seen in our pictures, pop your poured melts in the fridge until slightly cloudy but not completely set.  Remove and holding the bud by the flower insert the stalk into the partially hardened melt.  If the melt is at the right stage, this will result in the bud standing up.

Follow the advice above to sprinkle with glitter as this is best done before the melt has completely set but not too soon otherwise they will sink to the bottom.

Bear in mind that whatever is on or in the melts will end up firmly planted on your skin.  A single Rose Bud can be captured... a mountain of glitter cannot :D (ah but for me that's the best bit - getting out the bath all of a twinkle!)

Enjoy! 

PS We supply a kit to make Melts that you can find here 

Spotlight on Caroline's Creations

This is the first in our new series of Spotlight posts.

Once a month, we will be turning our spotlight on to people who’ve taken their love of crafting to the next level.  If you would like to be included please contact us

Meet Caroline, owner of Caroline’s Creations

We've known Caroline for a while now & are very pleased that she kindly agreed to fit an interview with us into her already hectic schedule.

 

Q. What attracted you to the products you make?

"I love luxuriating and soaking in gorgeous, scented bath products. But with my family getting older, and a seemingly decreasing amount of spare money at the end of the month, my expenditure on little bath treats for myself was becoming less and less.  I was very much relying on gifts at Christmas and Birthdays for my treats.

Then last summer, at a family BBQ, one of my many cousins had made some bath bombs to compliment the soap that she makes from the beeswax harvested from her 3 hives. I was very curious about how she made them and after a quick "Google" I came across several recipes and the fabulous Bathbomb Biz website. I purchased a couple of kits and thought I'd try and give it a go and make some."

Q. When did you decide to make your hobby a business?

"Originally it never occurred to me to sell what I'd made, but after posting the pictures of my first batches on Facebook, I got loads of comments! My friends were asking how much my creations would cost to buy and then it snowballed really.

I looked into the EU regulations and after loads of emails to (the very helpful) Amanda I decided to get a Cosmetic Safety Assessment package, some insurance and go for it. That was October 2010."

Q. Wow! Things have moved along quickly for you, how do you fit your business around family, work and other commitments?

"I'm a single parent with two boys (14 & 11). I also work part time (25 hrs per wk) as a Sure Start Children's Centre Manager and do 6 hours as a personal assistant to a local family so I’m pretty busy already but I find the business fits in really well.

I can whip up a batch of bath bombs or melts pretty quickly now. As I live very near my local post office, popping orders in the post is very easy. My boyfriend is also very supportive and has set up my business accounts, ordering system and stock information. My first orders were all to friends and family but as the word is spreading I am getting more online sales - Facebook has been a great help."

Q When did you set up your website and was it easy to do?

"My website is www.carolinescreations.co.uk. I think this is the thing that worried me the most because a) I had never done anything like it before and b) I really didn’t want a huge expenditure so early in the start up of the business.

Fortunately I came across an article in a magazine about a new scheme that Google is involved with called Getting British Business Online, so I registered in January this year and after a few tutorial emails I started developing my site. I was surprised at how easy it was, though it still needs lots of work. I am slowly adding new products and paypal buttons but it’s all mine and best of all it’s free for two years!"

Q Where else do you sell your products and why?

"I sell my products in a couple of other places; I met a lovely lady at my first fair in December 2010 who introduced me to a local shop - Flora Lou (Chobham) - that supports people who handmake items by selling them through their shop.  They predominately sell jewellery so were more than happy to stock my lovely goodies. I visit regularly to top the big basket up and they pay me fortnightly for any products sold.

Also I recently took advantage of the introductory offer that wowthankyou.co.uk were doing.  I now have a couple of my new gift boxes available on their site. It’s a great site, established specifically to showcase items that are hand made in this country. A fabulous idea and full of wonderful gifts made by very talented people so please do go and have a good look around."

Q. How important is networking to you?

Networking is my middle name - it is so important you never know when you might need something or someone. My children constantly tell me off for "talking" to everyone but I've lost count of the number of times I've needed something and known exactly where or who to get it from.


Meeting new people through craft fairs and sales are both great ways to make new contacts, but the internet can be a very useful tool too. Take Facebook. Not only have I found some wonderful gifts for friends and family but by "sharing" my page I have received sales from new customers. Not to mention the helpful advice I have received and shared.  Networking pages on Facebook such as Send In The Troops, and Pop Round For a Cuppa who work hard to spread the word about pages are a really useful place to start.

 Q. What benefits has making & selling your products brought to you


"Most importantly my luxurious bath times have been restored :-) but also it has allowed me to be creative and share my talent with others.

I am amazed by the support I have received, not only from my friends and family but also from people who previously were complete strangers, new customers and also all the followers on Facebook. I have some lovely "friends" on there now and I mustn't forget all the help and support I 've received from Bathbomb.Biz. Also, hopefully, the extra income will mean I don't have to get an evening job to make ends meet."

Q. What advice would you give anyone thinking of setting up a home based business, or turning their hobby into a source of income?

"Be brave and go for it, it's very rewarding. There is nothing nicer than people complimenting you on your creativeness and telling you how lovely your products are."

Q. Where do you see your business going over the next year and beyond?

"Long term I would love to expand my range of products, upgrade my website, hit 2000 likes on Facebook and do more craft fairs - one of my friends and I joke about having a little shop when we're retired where we can make things to our hearts content so who knows - watch this space.............................."

Our thanks to Caroline for sharing with us all; we hope that Caroline’s Creations continues to flourish & grow.  If you’d like to see more of her gorgeous products, visit http://www.carolines-creations.co.uk/ or why not pop along for a chat on Facebook with Caroline herself? Don't forget that you can also view Caroline's products and those of other talented UK makers on wowthankyou.co.uk