How to Throw a DIY Glycerin Soap Making Party with Free Printables!

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One thing I love about making glycerin soap is how easy and fun it is, for all ages!  I gathered up my friends and family for this video to show you how to host a soap crafting party.  As a bonus, I have included the printable signs and name tags to this post!  All you need is a crock pot and a freezer, plus supplies (which you can find in the soap section of most craft stores).

One thing that really tickles me when people make soap is how magical it seems!  From stirring in the color and watching it swirl into the soap, to choosing fragrance (which is a very personal decision!), and then the fun of popping a soap out and admiring their work.  The whole process is exciting and entertaining (as you'll see with my friend Alison)!

Get everyone outside and make something useful and creative.  For the full instructions, check out Let's Get Soapy which includes your supply list and ideas for party themes.  From birthdays to bridal showers, this party idea will make you the hostess with the mostess!

Find all of Soapylove's eZines and tutorials at www.soapylove.com!

Ladies Only Summer Camp!

A few weeks ago it occurred to me that many of us spend our summer sending our kids off to fun camps, but where are the camps for moms?  So I threw a little party for all the ladies (moms or not) with crafts, lunch, drinks, and even home made ice cream.  Here are a few pics that my sister took (thanks, Cher!!).  Maybe you'll be inspired to throw a little summer camp day of your own - you deserve a break, too! :)

First we did a tie dye project (because what's more summer campy than tie dying?).  I got some white cotton gauze at a fabric store and made some really basic scarves.  Then I got dyes and supplies from Dharma Trading Company in Olive Green, Dusty Rose, and Black.  We all knotted up and rubber banded our scarves then went to town with lots of dye.

After the scarves sat in the sun for a while (the heat speeds up the color setting) I rinsed them out with the hose (like my new dark hairdo?). Then we laid our scarves out on the grass to let them dry, admiring each other's neat designs, and grabbed another Watermelon Margarita.

After that we made Erin Pikor's Solid Sugar Scrub Cubes.  They were fun and easy to do. I put out the basic ingredients (sweet almond oil, fragrance oils, sugar, additional exfoliants such as ground loofah and jojoba beads) plus a rice cooker of melted soap base.  So it was easy for people to mix up their scrub and pour it into clam shell boxes.  No freezing or unmolding to worry about.  Everyone's scrubs came out beautifully - it's such a great recipe! 

Finally, I made a batch of S'Mores Ice Cream.  You can't really go wrong with anything that has Marshmallow Fluff, right?  The Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker made it go really quickly, plus it was fun for people to watch.  

I know many kids will be heading back to school soon, so don't miss a chance to get your friends together and have some grown-up fun.  There are tons of great projects online that would be perfect for a craft party.  Here are some sites I used to get ideas:

Craft Zine
Soap Queen
Martha Stewart (great Summer Crafts section)
Dharma Trading Company

Have a great Monday!

Feeling the Holiday Spirit Around Here!

Since moving back to San Diego 4 1/2 years ago, I just haven't had much of the Christmas decorating spirit. I love getting gifts for people and stuff - I'm not a scrooge, but we have a small place and decorations just feel like clutter.

But now that my son is 3, he is getting me back into it. And this year, my husband is donating some Acupuncture treatments for a local restaurant's fund raiser and needed a wreath made to go along with the gift cards.

In true Soapylove spirit, I went at the project (hubby entrusted the task to me) with color and sparkle! Here is a picture of the wreath. It has yummy Sweet Tart candy canes on it, rainbow lights, and iridescent garland. I might squeeze some soapsicles on it, too, but I kind of like it the way it is.

Tomorrow I have to say goodbye to this frothy thing on my door, but at least I have a picture! And in the end, I don't have to store it, so YAY! :)