Blog Reader Challenge 5


questonAs I was sitting at my desk today, I realized that I’m wrapping up the Mother’s Day Gift Baskets this week. This made me wonder what have the blog readers made for themselves, family, friends, mothers, etc. Therefore, the curiosity has made me want to see pictures of your projects. I challenge all blog readers to send me pictures of their latest projects.

This challenge brings me to my next series of questions.

1) What do you struggle with in your crafts?
2) What would you like to see covered with more detail in a blog post or post series?
3) What is your favorite thing to make?
4) Is there something in your recipes or formulations that just doesn’t make sense?
5) Are there themes that you would like to see on this blog in the future?
6) Would you like to be a guest editor for the day and demonstrate your recipe, technique, or packaging?

Andee

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About Andee

Director of Happiness. I'm a thirty-something soap snob. I've grown up with handmade soaps, and I love them! I really like making lotions, soaps, and perfumes. I adore mixing scents to come up with something new. My favorite scent is either Wicked or Cotton Candy. I tend to hoard fragrances, I even have an Earl Grey Tea from the MMS catalog. I won't tell you how old it is, but it sure is good!

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5 thoughts on “Blog Reader Challenge

  • Beauricua

    Is there a time limit to this challenge? I recently purchased supplies to make some items
    that were covered in your blog, like the Cuticle Gelly, Lip balm, Lip Glosses, Lip Scrubs,
    Perfumes, and Body Splashes

    Our new projects of interest are:

    Lipsticks
    Facial Cleansers
    Facial Toners
    Facial Moisturizers

    Our challenge is finding the right packaging for these products since we like to stay within our
    color theme which is silver, white and orange. The packaging choices have been black, white,
    and clear or frosted containers. Please let us know what is appropriate to post. Thanks.

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    • Andee Post author

      Beauricua-
      You will be glad to know that there is not a time limit to this challenge.

      I came up with a quick idea that might help with your packaging/color theme challenge. White or frosted containers with white lids, orange labels, and silver ribbon or elastic around the product.

      I will look into your projects of interest. They sound fun! I’ll see what I can find out and then post back.

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  • jaspersgarden

    Hi Andee ~ thanks for asking ;o)

    I struggle the most with which ingredients are best for which products. For example – I formulated a very nice hair conditioner
    a year ago. In my next 4 batches, I added different ingredients – like dl panthenol, IPM (don’t know why!), Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone,
    vitamin E, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Silk Amino Acids, Liquid Silk, then some different extracts (ie White Lily
    Extract, Orchid Extract). But it seems like the less extra ingredients I add – the better the hair conditioner is…!! Sometimes the ingredients
    I read from vendors sound like it would be really nice in my hair conditioner…viscious cycle! So it would be nice to know exactly what
    would work in different formulas and why! (lotions, creams, hair conditioners, etc.)

    Your 2nd question ~ I would really LOVE to make a liquid soap from scratch. I’m already familiar with naoh, so I would have to pick
    up some KOH to get started – but I’m just scared to death for some reason when it comes to liquid soap…it’s probably really easy, but when
    you’re scared because you haven’t seen pictures and instructions, it’s hard to get up the nerve! I would really love to make my own
    shampoo ~ so that it would go nicely with my hair conditioner. I’ve tried your shampoo base already – but it’s not the same as making
    it yourself – do you know what I mean? It feels like I’m cheating or something ;o) And if I’m stuck using bases (I don’t have a problem
    using bases BTW!), are there ingredients I can add to it to make it more conditioning?

    My absolute favorite thing to make is soap ~ CP and/or hot process with a crock pot! This past Fall, I lost my confidence. I made the
    mistake of using someone elses fragrance oils that were not compatible with soap making, even though they claimed they were CP safe…
    I’m talking about 6 – 4# batches…One batch was sooo bad – it ate my wooden mold – how bad is THAT? LOL! (these were NOT FO’s from MMS)

    The other thing I struggle with is labeling. With the new FDA labeling laws – it’s hard to know if I’m in compliance or not. I try really hard
    to not make statements – because then you’re going into “is it a drug, or is it still a cosmetic?” But how do you let customers know the properties
    of different oils, butters, EO’s, etc. without making claims?

    Thank you Andee!
    Kathy

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  • KimVH

    Hi Andee,

    I am very new at this and still in the learning phase. It’s just my girls and I making things for ourselves, friends and family.

    We have made lip balm-our favorite- cuticle jelly, lip scrub and whipped shea butter and would like to try lotion/body butters next.

    The thing I struggle with the most is knowing why one oil/butter is used over another. Also, if I don’t have a particular ingredient is there an acceptable substitute or is there a reason that particular ingredient was used. I know that with more study this will become easier but maybe this could be added to the recipes in the posts when appropriate.

    I don’t know how realistic this is but since I don’t do this as a business it would be nice to have recipes with smaller or sample amounts included.

    As a theme I think Beauricua had a great idea in the items specifically for the face.

    Thanks for doing this blog. It has helped me jump into things I might have been hesitant to try.
    Kim

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  • tamithornton

    I would love to find an awesome recipe, helpful tips, and packaging ideas for body butter.

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