sweetshoppesoaps

Beer Soap

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Couch) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:45:00 +0000

We are working on a beer soap recipe and can't wait to share it with you!! We are letting the beer go flat as we speak. First try we didn't let the beer go flat and it exploded all over my stove. Not a fun mess to clean up. Beer and lye solution can be dangerous!! Pics and recipe soon!

Blogger's Comment Issues

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Couch) — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 17:51:00 +0000

Hello everyone! I changed the settings for my comments because Blogger was having so much trouble. Now you should be able to comment with out any problems. :) Bull Rock Bokeh has some information on their blog. Stop by and check it out. It may help you get more comments too.

How to Make Artisan Soap

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Couch) — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 17:37:00 +0000

I just tried a new technique when making one of my last batches of soap. It was just a simple one. I had fun with it. I think its cute too.

Fresh cut. It was a pineapple cilantro scent.

I think it is very cute and it was just the way I tilted the log mold. I'll show you want I did. Who says lye soap has to be so plain. Here is the recipe I used for this soap.

3 Layer Log Recipe

5.5 oz of olive oil

5.5 oz of coconut oil

5.5 oz of palm oil

5.5 ox of soybean oil

3.11 oz of lye

7.3 oz of water

Only make one batch at a time or it will firm up on you. Then you wont be able to get the look.

1. Line your log mold.

2. Gather your supplies and weigh out your oils.

I microwaved the oils to get the to around 90*.

I have my log mold tilted with a stapler. lol It

works.

3. Added my lye and mixed it all in. Then got my

stick blender to finish the job. I couldn't make soap

without my stick blender. Be sure you only use the

stick blender for about 2 mins at a time then stir by

hand for 30 seconds or you will get a false trace.

4. Once it reached race (see the small lines left in the

mixture from lifting the beater) add color and scent.

5. Pour it into the mold and it should fill up one side.

You can use a spatula to smooth out the top if you

want an even line. I didn't because I like the more

natural lines it gives. Let sit for about 30 mins to

firm up a little.

6. Turn the mold around and tilt it on the opposite

side.

7. Prepare your soap the same way you did for the

yellow making it a different color. I wanted it white

so I left it natural. Let sit for 30 mins to firm up some.

8. Put the mold down flat now for the last layer.

9. Prepare you last batch of soap for the last color.

I used green for the cilantro part of the scent. To keep

from damaging the bottom layers I pour the green

onto a spoon that was held close to the mold.

Just let it run off the spoon.

You are finished. :) Let set over night and then

remove from the log and cut. Then let cure for a

few weeks. The longer it cures the better the bar.

How cute!!!

If you make some be sure to send us pictures!! We would all love to see.

Happy Soaping!!

Happy Mother's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Couch) — Sun, 08 May 2011 16:51:00 +0000

Happy Mother's Day!!

Hello everyone!!!

I want to wish all the mother's out there a Happy Mother's Day! We wouldn't be the people we are today without you! In honor of Mother's Day I am going to work on a milk bath recipe. A milk bath is one of my favorite ways to relax. It makes my skin feel so wonderful!! It is said that milk baths use the lactic acid and alpha hydroxy acid to dissolve the glue that holds the dead skin cells together. Makes for a gentle exfoliate and a great moisturizer. Milk has proteins that are much like our own skin which make moisturizing easier. Any mom is going to love this!

Simple Lye Soap Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Couch) — Fri, 06 May 2011 01:16:00 +0000

Hello everyone!!!

While we were at the Art Fair we made a simple soap tutorial with pics. This is our simplest soap recipe but it makes a great soap! Makes you feel squeaky clean and naturally soft. This one is my favorite recipe out of them all. All of these can be picked up at Wal-mart.

Ingredients:

6.3 oz of Olive Oil
6.3 oz of Coconut Oil
12.6 oz of Crisco

Lye solutions:
3.5 oz of Sodium Hydroxide(lye)
8.3 oz of water

Direction:

Mix your lye solution together. Be sure to follow all the safety precautions. Safety glasses, gloves and aprons. Add the lye to the water and not the other way around. In an open area so you don't breath the fumes. They can be deadly. Be sure to be safe around the lye solution. It can burn you severely. Let it sit and cool down to about 90* before adding it to the oils. I use a plastic measuring cup to mix my lye solution in. Glass will bust some times.

Weigh all of your oils on a digital scale and heat them

to around 100*. I stay between 89* to 100*. I love

to use those large candy bowls you get at Halloween

and heat my oils in the microwave for 1 1/2 mins.

If your oils gets over 100* wait until they cool before

adding the lye.

Now pour your lye solution into the oils. Be careful

and wear all your safety gear.

About half way through mixing it should look like this.

The stick blender is the best tool for modern soap making.
Use it for 2 - 3 mins then turn it off to mix the soap
by hand with a spoon or whisk. Then turn on the blender
for another 2 - 3 mins. Use it that way until it is done.

Once it gets to trace its done.

You can tell you reached trace when you raise
the blender out of the mix and it leaves lines
that doesn't fade away quickly. It will leave
faint lines for a few seconds before it fades.

Stir it a little then its done. You can

add your scent in at this stage. Or if you an all natural

soap add a spice. Cinnamon or mustard is great for

the skin.

Pour it into your mold. It can be a wooden log

mold lined with wax paper or any silicone mold.

Let set until hard and unmold. Then let sit to cure

for 4 weeks.

All done. :) You have just made soap. There are lots of great things you can add to your soap that is great for your skin. My favorite 3 are milk, honey, and pumpkin puree. They feel so wonderful!!

I share this on Homestead Revival: Barn Hop! Stop on by and check out all the links!

Soap Demonstration at Art Fair

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Couch) — Sun, 01 May 2011 04:51:00 +0000

Hello everyone!!!

We had such a great time at the art fair at our local College of Craft. It was in a beautiful building that seemed to fit the fair just perfect! The building itself was art. They had lots of students and teachers from local high schools come through and it kept us on our toes for sure! I really couldn't have done it with out my sister!! She was a HUGE help. Keeping everything working so well. Lots of the students were very interested and asked many questions. One student even got to make a batch. It was really great to see the younger generation take an interest in the arts and being an artisan. We didn't really have time to take many pictures. It was really hopping! We did get to make a simple lye soap tutorial while we were there so I'll be posting that soon. I look forward to next year!! Thanks Keila for asking us to be there!!

Lye Soap Demonstration

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Couch) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 13:35:00 +0000

Hello Everyone!!

Now that the holiday is over I can get back to the blog and writing tutorials. I love sharing my ideas and the way I do things. I may not do it the right way but I get it done!! lol

This Friday we have a soap demonstration at an Art Fair through the college. I am a little nervous because I don't like to public speak but I love showing people how we make soap. I believe everyone needs to know how to make things on their own. Even if they never do. I'm sure glad my family passed down the knowledge!! I wouldn't know what I would do if I couldn't make my own soap with my allergy. I will take pictures to share with you guys when we get back. :)

I have plans for a cute wash cloth tutorial. Its how to make it look like a cupcake or ice cream cone. I will include templates also. No gift basket is complete without a wash cloth cupcake!! lol I also have plans for a beer soap tutorial and a log mold tutorial. A really simple way to make your own mold.

I will get all these posted soon and hope you like them. :) Can't wait!!

More soon. :)

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Couch) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 21:26:00 +0000

Hello guys!!

I have been a bit busy and now for the past few days I have been down. I will be back very soon with some more tutorials. We will be making our own log mold the easy way and will be showing you how we do that. Also we have plans for a swirl pattern bar tutorial and popsicle tutorial. Once I feel better we will be posting away. :)

Silicone 3 Tier Cake Pans

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Couch) — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 22:41:00 +0000

I have to share with you guys what I found in one of the new LTD Commodities book. For only $5.95 too!! They are the cutest things. I have been finding some cute things in there to make soap with these days.

It works great too. No trouble getthing them out after they set up. The only thing I wish is that it had a better support on it. Once its full the biggest tiers push in on the smaller one. Other than that works great!

Here are some we made. I can just see them all decorated up in branches and cherry blossoms. We plan to use the "icing" soap to decorate it just like a real cake.

Laundry Soap Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Couch) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 16:24:00 +0000

Because of my allergy I can't even use store bought laundry soap. Even if I double rinse. Any kind of soap residue and I'm headed for ER and some shots. Ouch! I would rather not. So I looked into making my own laundry soap with the soap I make. It turns out its really easy and cheap!! I can make enough laundry soap for 144 loads for about $2.60 ish. Not bad!! I have tried many different recipes and ways to make it and like this one the best. Most of them get all goopy and you have to stir it up before you use it. Not this one. No solid chunks floating on top. So this is how I make my laundry soap.

Ingredients:

5 gals of water

1 cup of borax (Food City)

1 cup of washing sodas (Food City)

2 - 3 bars of handmade soap

(in this tutorial I used banana scented lye soap)

Directions:

1. Add one gallon of water to a huge cooker.

I used a deep water bath canning cooker.

It has to be large enough to boil 5 gals of water.

2. Grate the bars of soap.

3. Add grated soap to the gallon of water and heat on high.

Stir often until soap is all melted.

4. After it is all melted and mixed well add 1 cup of

borax and 1 cup of washing sodas. Continue to heat on high.

Stir until evenly mixed.

5. After it is all mixed well and even add the other 4

gallons of water. It looks kind of milky at this stage.

Stir ever so often. Continue to heat on high. Be sure

to watch it because if it boils too much it will bubble

over!! Found that out the hard way!!! LOL

6. Now its done! See how clear it looks. Turn off heat.

Its heating it to this stage that keeps it from seperating

in the bucket. Let it cool some and pour into a 5 gallon

bucket. Its ready to use.

I don't much care for lye soap made from lard in this laundry soap recipe. It seems to be too oily to me. It may just be me but I prefer olive oil soaps. I have also made it without washing sodas and borax but really like it with it. Seems to clean better. I haven't added any scent oils just yet to my laundry. The bars do lose their scent after it has been watered down so much. Also the color doesn't get on your clothes unless its super super dark. I've used Kentucky blue color before without any trouble in my whites. Use your own judgement on that one. I have been using this laundry soap recipe for years now and love it. I also use it to clean the house. Mop, wash walls, and counters. If you have any questions just post a comment of send me an email. I am happy to help all I can.

Thanks for stopping by!! :)

Cupcake Icing Whipped Soap Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Couch) — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 18:10:00 +0000

Hello everyone!!

This is on of my favorite things to make! Everyone loves cupcakes and why not make them in soap. I had trouble for a long time finding a way to make the "icing" look real and came across a website about whipped cold process soap. I had to try it. Now this is how we make it. So much fun!!!

As always when making soap take all the safety steps. Gloves, glasses and an apron.

First is the recipe. It took me a year to get it to where I like it. It makes the icing just perfect!

Coconut oil --- 8.6 ounces
Palm --- 8.6 ounces
Soybean --- 8.6 ounces

lye --- 3.81 ounces for a 5% superfat
water --- 9.68 ounces

You are welcome to use your recipe also. It must be more solid fats than liquid fats. I use to add olive oil but if I added any liquid to it at all the soap took forever to dry and it never would dry hard enough. It all depends on what you like. The icing on the top of the cupcake is very small and I use my best soap recipe for the cupcake bottoms so I can live with it. lol

1. Prepare your cupcake bottoms. Trim them to look nice.

I used the wilton silicone baking cups to make mine.

2. Mix your lye and water and set into a bowl of water

with ice packs or just ice to cool it.

3. Once your lye is under 70* its ready. Now to mix your oils.

4. Whip your oils together with a large mixer until

they are evenly mixed. Then whip a little longer

to add extra air for the icing look. Stand mixer

works better with this process and is safer.

5. Turn mixer on lowest setting to add the lye mixture.

If your lye is above 70* it will deflate your whipped oils

and you wont get the icing look.

Add the lye mixture very slowly. The oils will form a strage

looking ball once all the lye is added.

You can now slowly turn up the speed to get it all mixed

up evenly and to add more air for a better icing look.

Scrape the side once and mix again.

6. I use a 18 inch icing bag and large tip to get the soap

icing on top of the cupcakes. You can use the throw

away plastic ones if you like. I can get the whole batch

in this bag and thats why I like to use it. It looks and

feels just like real icing. DO NO LICK YOUR FINGERS!

(my husband did this once and the lye burned his mouth!)

Now comes the fun part!! Decorate!!

I made these hearts by useing a small icing bag and tip.

Then let them dry.

The sprinkles are grated soap scraps and the flag

is a plastic cupcake pick that can be removed

easily before use.

This is a plastic cupcake ring.

Cute!!!

My favorite thing is a cupcake!! They are just cute and fun. This is a very cold process method of making soap and takes a few weeks to reach a safe PH so be sure to allow time for that. Also if you use color it will dry lighter than what you start with. You may have to add extra and powder is always best with this. If you have any questions please feel free to leave a comment or email me. I am happy to help all I can.

Coming Soon...

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Couch) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 03:32:00 +0000

Hello everyone!!

I know I have been MIA a lot in these months. I promise soon I will be back but in a new way. I will be posting tutorials of the soaps we make!! I look forward to this and it will be lots of fun!! Hope to see you back again soon!

New Soaps Planned. :)

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Couch) — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 03:38:00 +0000

Hello everyone!! I hope you had a wonderful Holiday this year!! We had a very Merry Christmas!! I have some new popsicle soaps, sucker shape soaps, pie soaps, cupcake soaps and drink soaps planned for the new year!! I have ordered new molds and can't wait to try them out. Ordering some new scents for the spring this week also. I'm very excited about all the new items!!! I will be posting pics as I get them made.

Happy New Year Everyone!!

Disappearance

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Couch) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 05:09:00 +0000

Hello :)

I'm so sorry for my disappearance. I am in a Lupus flare right now and hope to get better soon. Been to the doc and have a few more appointments this week. I have new pics of the new soaps!! Can't wait to post them. I also learned a new to me technique and can't wait to try it. :) My sister is helping to get all my samples ready for the Sampler Village Holiday Hoopla boxes ready!! I can not wait for that!!! We made our own little mini pillow boxes and tied them with curly Christmas ribbon. I will also post some pics of those. Thanks everyone for your understanding. I will be back to soaping soon. :)

Today's list. :)

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Couch) — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:49:00 +0000

Today I'm making Christmas Tree Scent bars, and more cupcake soaps. The Christmas Tree scent is a fresh and clean scent. I was pleasantly surprised. I was afraid it would smell like pinesol. lol It doesn't. I think I can add it to my top 10 list!! :) Great addition to any Christmas gift basket. :) Pics soon.

Sampler Village Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Couch) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:49:00 +0000

NEW GIVEAWAY posted on the Sampler Village Blog!

Sweet Shoppe Soaps - A WHOLE PUMPKIN PIE SOAP - SLICED! Yes I said a WHOLE PUMPKIN PIE SOAP! Sliced into individual pieces..WOW!

Come enter today!

http://samplervillage.blogspot.com/2010/10/giveaway-sweet-shoppe-soaps-whole.html

Bars of Soap Pics

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Couch) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 22:19:00 +0000

Cool Water for Men

Eucalyptus

Honey Almond

Oatmeal, Milk and Honey

Pineapple

Creamsicle

Pomegranate

Cucumber Melon

Creamsicle with lots of bubbles

Lavendar

Graham Cracker

Strawberry Pie

Fruit Tart

Ginger Pear

Clean Jeans

Mixed Fruit

Mocha

Baby Powder

Hazelnut Cream

Lavendar

Pink Grapefruit

Apple Crisp

Blackberry

Mandarin Orange

Pie Soap Pics

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Couch) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 21:39:00 +0000

Ice Cream Soap Pics

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Couch) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 21:28:00 +0000

Candy Soap Pics

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Couch) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 21:19:00 +0000

Cupcake and Donut Soap Pics

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Couch) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 21:17:00 +0000

A few new pics. :)

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Couch) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 21:12:00 +0000

The UK soap is the newest! Its blue kool aid scent. Just love it!! Thats for all the UK fans out there!!

The green soap is eucalyptus soap and OMG I love it!! I had a cold not long ago and it was a great help!!

I have also included a picture of one of the newest designs for the petit four soaps!!

And all kinds of new picutes of the pumpkin pie slice soap!! These are a few of my favorites. Then again I love almost every one!!! lol Hope you like the pics. :) Which is your favorite?

Pumpkin Pie Slice Soaps!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Couch) — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 13:36:00 +0000

I have had another Lupus flare and have been down. So I didn't get done as much as I wanted. But once I get better I will make up for it. LOL. I did get one batch of the pumpkin pie slice soaps done!!! I am very happy with the way they turned out. They did get stuck in the pie pan so I had to reshape them a bit. I think I have figured out how to keep them from sticking the next time though. :) Hope you like them. :)

Waiting on supplies!! :)

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Couch) — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 20:05:00 +0000

We are still waiting on the soap supplies to come in. Seems like it is taking forever. We ordered a few new scents also. Looking forward to getting in the pumpkin pie scent, gingersnaps scent, candy cane scent, more orange clove scent, snow cream scent, Eucalyptus scent, and the Ocean Mist scent. :) We can't wait for all the new desings!! We plan to make more fall color cupcakes, pumpkin pie slices, and cake slices shapes for the soaps. Then for winter we plan on making snow cream scented snowballs!! Coal shapes for the naughty person on your gift list. lol And of course all the winter shaped cupcakes and candy soaps. :) We will post pictures as we get them done. :)

Rest :)

noreply@blogger.com (Melanie Couch) — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 18:30:00 +0000

We had a great time at the festivals. We met a lot of new people and got the soaps out for new people to try them. :) Now to take a short rest to recover then make some more Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas soaps. Look forward to all the new designs and having fun with soap. :) I will post lots of pictures as I get them done! Thanks everyone for following the blog!! Means the world to me.