Adventures With The Sage

So far this week, we’ve worked on scrubs. Now we’re going to make a scrub using the Glycerin Scrub Base. This base has a similar sudsy effect to yesterday’s Cranberries & Lime Body Polish, but it does create a few more bubbles. We are going to use the Red Clover Tea Glycerin Scrub Gift Kit. Items that we will need: Sugar, or Salt if you prefer Glycerin Scrub Base Spoon Fragrance Oil (We are using Red Clover Tea) Scale Mixing Bowl Containers Purple Raspberry Color in the dropper bottle from the Jan 12 2009 blog post Add fragrance oil and color to the gallon of Glycerin Scrub Base. Recap the gallon jug and shake. You are going to need to shake the jug like you are a crazy maniac. If you can’t shake the jug like crazy, then find someone else in your house or the neighbor boy. You could make cookies like Andrea’s Valentine Sugar Cookies as payment! After the Glycerin Scrub Base is mixed, add to the sugar and mix thoroughly. I like to add the sugar to the scrub base just because that way some of the sugar doesn’t get forgotten at the bottom of my mixing bowl. Stir until completely mixed. Once the scrub is mixed, go ahead and spoon into containers and cap. Yippee! We now have adorable scrubs to give out as gifts. Notes: I’m at the bottom of my bag of sugar and the bottom of the bag always has more sugar dust. This dust is easily dissolved by the scrub base and can make a syrupy layer at the bottom of the jar. To remedy that problem, I added 3 tablespoons of salt to the 8 pounds of sugar I used for the scrub. If you are using larger sugar crystals in this recipe then the salt can be omitted. Next week we are going to work on cold process soap. Don’t forget the supplies you will need!

Collect needed items. Add fragrance and color to scrub base and then shake. Add 3 tablespoons of salt to sugar.

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Sometimes I need to make a new lip balm because I’m out of lip balm again. Yesterday I made the Kissable Lip Gloss and I thought since I was thinking about the lips, I might do a lip balm. One of my favorite wintertime Lip Solutions is the Mango Butter Lip Solutions. The Mango Lip Solution is a light and fluid feeling lip balm, it doesn’t have a lot of gloss to it nor is it tacky. In my opinion, it is a great lip balm for when I’m outdoors in the snow. Today I’m using the Mango Butter Lip Solutions Gift Kit with Black Cherry Flavor Oil and I’m going to give it a faint color using Ruby Lip Balm Color. You will need: one jar Mango Butter Lip Solutions four 10 packs Clear 1/4 ounce Jars four 10 packs White Lids, Size 33 a pack of Small Pipettes Black Cherry Flavor Oil Labels Ruby Lip Balm Color (optional) Take the lid off the jar of Lip Solutions. I like to melt it in the microwave, but you can also melt it in a sauce pan of water as long as there is a wire rack for the glass jar to sit on. The amount of time you microwave the Lip Solutions will vary on the microwave you are using. I microwave in short time bursts to prevent making the Lip Solutions too hot, because if the Lip Solutions is too hot it could melt the pipette. Once the Lip Solutions is melted, add the flavor and color. Draw the tip of a clean pipette through the lip balm color and then transfer the color to the lip gloss mixture with that pipette. Use another pipette to add the flavor oil. I’m going to add 6 mL of Black Cherry Flavor so I can keep a light flavor. Stir the Lip Solutions to blend the flavor and color. Now that the Lip Solutions is all mixed, we can put the mixture in the jars. After the lip balm cools, we can cap and label the jars. Wow! Aren’t they adorable? They are very easy to make.

Collect Lip Solutions Kit. Set out lip balm jars. Add flavor to melted Lip Solutions.

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For this last part, I picked a color for my birthday. Purple! I’m going to use Lilac & Lavender Fragrance Oil.

The ingredients I need for my last project are:

32 oz of Jumbo Crystal Salt
Purple Raspberry Color in a spray bottle from the January 19, 2009 blog post
Silver Mica
Lilac and Lavender Fragrance Oil
Large Zipper Top Plastic Bags
Parchment Paper or paper plates (I like the plates the best)
Preference of Dish or Bowls
Small Transfer Pipettes
.15cc scoops

Place 16 oz of salt in a large zipper style plastic bag. Use Purple Raspberry Color in the spray bottle. Shake the salts and spray directly onto the salts. I sprayed 20 times, mix well.  I also added two .15 cc scoops of silver mica to the salts. Shake the salts to coat all surfaces with mica and color. Add one teaspoon of Lilac & Lavender Fragrance. Shake well to coat all surfaces. Put on a plate to allow fragrance to penetrate all pockets and cracks of the salt crystal while drying. This color is gorgeous! Put in your favorite glass container for display.

There are a lot more colors and fragrances to choose from.

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Another way to make potpourri salts is to rinse the salt in water. I especially love this because it is fast to do and yet is very pretty.

The ingredients I will need for my project are:

32 oz of Jumbo Crystal Salt
Frosted Cupcake Fragrance Oil
Large Zipper Top Plastic Bags
Parchment Paper or paper plates (I like the plates the best)
Preference of Glass Dish or Bowls
Colander
Small Transfer Pipettes

16 ounces weight of Jumbo Salt seems to be the right amount for the first project. Put the 16 oz salt into the colander and rinse under cool water. Shake to remove excess water and transfer to zip bags.  Add 1 teaspoon of Frosted Cupcakes Fragrance Oil and mix salts to coat evenly. Transfer salts to paper plates to dry. These potpourri salts have a glass-like look. Groovy! Arrange in your desired glass container for display.

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Hi, my name is Betty. I am the guest editor for the day. I work in lots of areas here at MMS. I really like potpourri. So, today I am going to show you a different style of potpourri.

Moving from one home to another, I decided I wanted something different in potpourri. Something different in the smell, the beauty of colors and the container it was in. After finding what I needed in the MMS catalog, I decided to venture that direction.

The ingredients I need for my project are:

2-32 oz containers of Jumbo Crystal Salt
Aqua Mica
Dream Fragrance Oil
Large Zipper Top Plastic Bags
Parchment Paper or paper plates (I like the plates the best)
Preference of Glass Dish or Bowls
Small Transfer Pipettes
.15cc scoops

My project today is simple but beautiful and easy. Put 16 oz of salt crystals in large zipper style plastic bag. Add three 0.15cc scoops of Aqua Mica. Close bag and shake until all crystals are coated evenly. Add 1 teaspoon of Dream Fragrance Oil in bag and shake. Put on a plate to allow fragrance to penetrate all pockets and cracks of the salt crystal. Put in your desired glass container. Wow!

Always choose a glass container for displaying your salts. Fragrance oils are strong solvents and will break down plastics.

Making these potpourri salts has been so much fun and what great gifts to make. Try it and enjoy!

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On Friday, we made Foaming Fruity Layers with Juicy Grape Fragrance Oil. I made an interesting little mistake. I forgot that if the fragrance oil has a color to it, then the salt will be colored as well. I decided to go prowl the shelves and find a fragrance oil that would be suitable for keeping the salts white. I finally found the fragrance oil that would not color my salts. I’m going to be using Lavender Fleur Fragrance Oil.

Again, you will need Epsom Salt, Bath Salt Tubes, Purple Raspberry Color in the dropper bottle from the Jan 12 2009 blog post, Grape Color in the dropper bottle from the Jan 12 2009 blog post, a zipper bag, a funnel, and a fun fragrance oil.

Each bath salt tube will hold about 4.1 ounces of Epsom Salts. I am making 50 tubes so I need 12.9 lbs. I also need 3 Tablespoons Sodium Laurel Sulfoacetate. I have separated these amounts into three even sections, 8 1/2 cups, because we will have three distinct layers. Each amount of Epsom Salt will be scented and colored on its own.

Measure the salt. This is about 25 1/2 cups of Epsom Salt.

8 1/2 cups of salt go into our first bag. Add 1 Tablespoon of Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate to the salt. Add the fragrance oil and 12 drops Grape Color and 38 drops Purple Raspberry. Zip the bag closed and knead well. Make this color dark and vibrant.

8 1/2 cups of salt go into our second bag. Add 1 Tablespoon of Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate to the salt.
Add about 6 drops Grape Color and 26 drops Purple Raspberry color and add the fragrance oil. Zip the bag closed and knead well. Make this salt a bright raspberry color.

8 1/2 cups of salt into our third bag. Add 1 Tablespoon of Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate to the salt.
Add no color to this bag. We want white salts in the middle this time. Add the fragrance oil. Zip the bag closed and knead well.

Using a spoon, add 2 rounded tablespoons of the first bag (darkest colored salts) to the Bath Salt Tube.
Now add 2 rounded tablespoons from the third bag to the tube. Finally add 2 rounded tablespoons cups from the second bag to the tube.

Cap and tie with ribbon.

I like these Foaming Bath Salts because the white layer between the color is fun!

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Epsom Salts are my favorite soak, the don’t leave petals in my belly button or leaves between my toes.  But what about the commercials of the last many decades which have said “lather means clean” through their pictures?  Maybe we need to making foaming bath salts!  Combine the benefits of a good soak with the fun of bubbles.

We are going to continue the Valentine’s Day theme  and expand on yesterday’s post.  We are making Layered FOAMING Bath Salts today.

You will need Epsom Salt, Bath Salt Tubes, Purple Raspberry Color in the dropper bottle from the Jan 12 2009 blog post, Grape Color in the dropper bottle from the Jan 12 2009  blog post, a zipper bag, a funnel, and a fun fragrance oil.

Because I am varying the colors in today’s post I am going to use Juicy Grape Fragrance.  The bottom color will be purple, the midway color will be raspberry, and the top will be white.

Each bath salt tube will hold about 4 ounces of Epsom Salts.  I am making 50 tubes so I need 12.5 lbs.  I also need 3 Tablespoons Sodium Laurel Sulfoacetate. I have separated these amounts into three even sections, 8 1/2 cups, because we will have three distinct layers.  Each amount of Epsom Salt will be scented and colored on its own.

Measure the salt.  This is about 25 1/2 cups of Epsom Salt.

8 1/2 cups of salt go into our first bag.  Add 1 Tablespoon of Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate to the salt.  Add the fragrance oil and 12 drops Grape Color and 38 drops Purple Raspberry.  Zip the bag closed and knead well.  Make this color dark and vibrant.

8 1/2 cups of salt go into our second bag.  Add 1 Tablespoon of Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate to the salt.
Add about 6 drops Grape Color and 26 drops Purple Raspberry color and add the fragrance oil.  Zip the bag closed and knead well.  Make this salt a bright raspberry color.

8 1/2 cups of salt into our third bag.  Add 1 Tablespoon of Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate to the salt.
Add no color to this bag.  We want white salts on top.  Add the fragrance oil. Zip the bag closed and knead well.

Using a spoon, add 2 rounded tablespoons of the first bag (darkest colored salts) to the Bath Salt Tube.
Now add 2 rounded tablespoons from the second bag to the tube.  Finally add 2 rounded tablespoons cups from the third bag to the tube.

Cap and tie with ribbon.

The salts don’t look different from yesterday.  But in the bath they will foam and add lots of bubbles.

Epsom Salts are magnesium sulfate.  They are used as a soak, help sore and achy muscles and increase magnesium absorption to the body.

For the Valentine’s Day theme I am making layered salts for the Bath Salt Tubes.

You will need Epsom Salt, Bath Salt Tubes, Purple Raspberry Color in the spray bottle from the January 19, 2009 blog post, a zipper bag, a paper cone cup, and a fun fragrance oil.

Today I am using Polynesian Red.  This pomegranate scent is climbing fast on the sales chart, and I want to play with this scent.

Each bath salt tube will hold about 4 ounces of Epsom Salts.  I am making 50 tubes so I need 12.5 lbs.  I have divided this amount by three because we will have three distinct layers.  Each amount of salt, 8 1/2 cups, will be scented and colored on its own.

Measure the salt.  This is about 25 1/2 cups of Epsom Salt.

8 1/2 cups of Epsom Salt go into our first bag.  Spray on the Purple Raspberry color and add the fragrance oil.  Zip the bag closed and knead well.  In order to make this color dark and vibrant, I used 100 sprays of color.

8 1/2 cups of Epsom Salt go into our second bag.  Spray on the Purple Raspberry color and add the fragrance oil.  Zip the bag closed and knead well.  Making this color medium and fun used 40 sprays of color.

8 1/2 cups of Epsom Salt go into our third bag.  Spray on the Purple Raspberry color and add the fragrance oil.  Zip the bag closed and knead well.  To make this color light and gentle, I used 20 sprays of color.

Using a measuring spoon and paper funnel, add 2 rounded tablespoons of the first bag (darkest colored salts) to the Bath Salt Tube.  Now add 2 rounded tablespoons from the second bag to the tube.  Finally add 2 rounded tablespoons from the third bag to the tube.

Cap and tie with ribbon.

I like the darkest color on the bottom because it looks the heaviest.  I know color doesn’t weigh anything, but if the dark color is at the top, the tube appears as though it might fall over!  Check it yourself and see.

These simple salts are easy to make and color for any time of year.

I wanted more intense color than what occurred with the salts being sprayed, so I redid these salts with the Purple Raspberry premixed color from January 12, 2009.  I made the darkest color with 30 drops of Purple Raspberry, the medium color with 12 drops of Purple Raspberry, and the lightest color with 3 drops of color.  This time the color matched what I had imagined for the color.  What do you think?

I’m Treva, guest editor today. I work in the Graphics Department here at Majestic Mountain Sage.

Are you on your feet all day? I have a cream that will make your feet feel revived. Last night I got home from work and my feet were really tired and achy. Before I went to bed I grabbed my Minty Foot Cream. My daughter even offered to rub the cream on my feet. (I did return the favor.) The foot massage was wonderful!

Today I am going to show you how to make the best foot cream EVER! This cream will not only make your feet feel cool and tingly but it will also soften them. Who doesn’t need that this time of year?

You will need:

1 pail Head to Toe Cream Base
Bucket wrench
1 fl oz Peppermint Essential Oil
1 fl oz Spearmint Essential Oil
Collect the premixed colors we made on January 12, 2009
2 Small Transfer Pipettes (These have the markings on the side to help with measuring.)
Long Handled spoon or spatula
Zipper Bags
Wide mouth drinking cup
Scissors
30 of the 4 oz PET Low Profile Jars (or jars of your choice)
30 of the 70 mm Black Straight Lids (or lids of your choice)
Labels

Remove the tear tab from the lid, using the bucket wrench pull up on the tabs to loosen the lid from your bucket. Use a small pipette to measure 26 mL of the Peppermint Essential Oil, add to your cream; use a different pipette to measure 8 mL of the Spearmint Essential Oil, add to your cream. This fragrance usage rate is higher because this is intended to be a foot cream. Note: If you want to make a Minty Body Cream use 13 mL of Peppermint and 4 mL of Spearmint instead. The Fragrance Calculator can help if you have questions.

I think I will use a mint green color. We want to start off with a subtle color because we can always add, but we can’t take it away. I started with 6 drops of blue and 3 drops of yellow. After stirring it for a couple of minutes, the color was too blue so I added 2 more drops of yellow. Stir, stir, stir. Make sure you stir to the bottom of the bucket to get the color and essential oil evenly distributed throughout the pail. We don’t want to get to the bottom of the bucket and find white cream. This would mean we did a terrible job at mixing!

Once you have the color you want, get your zip bags and a wide mouth drinking cup. Open the bag and insert it into the cup. Fold down the top to keep the zipper area clean. The cup will support the bag while you fill it. Zip the bag closed, cut about 1/2″ off the corner to make a pastry style bag, twist the bag from the top, now you are ready to start filling your jars. The easiest way to fill is to insert the cut corner all the way down into the jar. Squeeze firmly and consistently. Slowly raise the bag as the jar fills. You will get a perfectly filled jar with practice. Wipe any excess cream off the jar and put on the lid.

Using a paper towel polish the manufacturing wax off the lid. This is most obvious on a black lid. Apply the labels and now you are ready to give your feet a nice treat.

These make great gifts for your family and friends. Enjoy!