Hints & Tips
hints & tips
by Jessica Miller
This is a monthly compilation of tips,
knowledge, and just plain old good advice.
50# Bag of Lye Help
I take two large Costco clear plastic bags, cut the bottoms off, cut down the
side and then lay them flat. These guys are super static-y and the lye
beads
that inevitably spill seem to cling like glue to this surface instead of
skittering all over the floor. Then I just clean the surfaces of all my
small containers I just put lye into and set them out of the way, rolling up
the plastic with my empty 50# sack and the escaped lye beads. I re-swept
the floor and I couldn't see any lye left to toss, it all seemed to stay
on the
plastic.
~ Marian
I store mine in a 5 gallon pail with a pour spout. I have a 1 gallon bucket that
holds 10 pounds of lye. I fill the smaller bucket and work from that. That way
if I spill the bucket, no more than 10 pounds gets spilled/wasted and keeps
moisture out of the bigger bucket since I only have to pour from it 4 times, and
the 10 pound bucket is much easier to lift and carry than one weighing up to 40
pounds. I bought a pail tipper on eBay that holds the pail and tips so that you
don't have to lift it in ordeer to pour from it. It's kind of a swing for pails.
~ Paula
Using Lavender
when I use lavender buds in the soap, I grind them to a powder in the food
processor and then add a couple tablespoons of that to a 5 pound (oils) batch of
soap. It does add a bit of "scratchy" to the soap, but not a
lot, and it does feel kinda nice. Oh, and you probably don't want to leave
them whole...then tend to darken when added to soap (like most botanicals) only
lavender buds look like mouse turds!
You can also use the powdered buds in clay masks, salt
and sugar scrubs, and bath teas (you can leave them
whole for that too). You can infuse the whole buds in
oil for all kinds of balms, creams, ointments, even
soap. You can make a "tea" out of the buds and use
that as your water portion in soaps, lotions, creams,
etc. You can add them to flax seed and make eye
pillows or add some other herbs and make dream pillows and sachets.
~ Denise in PA, list co-moderator
Lotion Bar Forms
I use the tubes for some people, but I also use the 2 ounce Solo cups
with lids then into a cello bag with topper for others....and then, I also
use MWM (Milky Way Molds) to make larger bars that are wrapped in clear wrap and
bagged in a cello...
All 3 ways go over well and have repeat users, so I stick to what works. : )
Some like the push up tubes because they don't like to touch the lotion bar,
then
others like to have the lotion bar in their hands to put it on...go figure, I am
willing to work with people, lol.
~ Camille, Listmom2
I do both! The tubes sell better; but, I sell a ton
of the molded ones...simply because they are only a
buck...when they come back for more, they almost
always buy the tubes because it's easier to use.
~ Denise in PA, list co-moderator
The nicest lotion bars I ever bought were simply packaged in like a waxed
tissue paper (which I have never seen anywhere to purchase. They were
molded
into squares and wrapped with label. Qualifying the "nicest I ever
bought"..I have received in swaps and have made lotion bars that just blew
the commercial ones all to heck from a quality stand point. I put mine in
small deodorant containers and in Ziploc baggies.
~ Jackie, Sr. List Co-Moderator
Glad Press & Seal
I am probably the only one who had to figure this out, but just in case there is
someone else with similar thinking process to mine, thought I'd drop a note and
maybe save someone else some time and effort, lol.
We have been using the Glad Press & Seal to line the mold we use. And I was
so proud of myself because I could get that press and seal to be as smooth as a
baby's behind and sticking to every nth of an inch surface on the interior of
the mold. My thought was that if it was smooth, then there wouldn't be a
corresponding wrinkle in the soap from a wrinkled mold interior.
So for several months now, I've had to exert huge amounts of strength and
thought to try to get the two cubes of soap to release from the middle divider
and the base of the mold. The four sides would come off fairly easily. And I've
tried using a dough knife to slide in between the middle and base parts and the
soap cube, I've literally caused a soap cube to be distorted or when I've
finally gotten the soap to release, the middle would sort of be pulled out and
I'd have to push it back in.
Anyway, after doing this "how many times?", I finally realized,
"Duh, if the Press and Seal is holding firm to the mold then it is obvious
why the soap won't release!". Maybe this might make a good commercial plug
for the holding durability of the product! <Note to self: contact Glad and
see if they want to shoot a commercial..............I'm gonna be a STAR>
So, long time learning, I made sure on all my batches this past week to just
make sure the press and seal was sealed all around the edges of each side,
middle and base of the mold, pulling it to ensure as few wrinkles as possible
but allowing the press and seal to sort of float on the mold surfaces (with the
exceptions of just around the edges).
And guess what. When I take apart the mold, the soap cubes come off all the mold
surfaces as easily as slicing a pat of butter with a hot knife. Then it is just
a matter of peeling the press and seal off the soap cube.
~ Duane
Home Parties
I have done a few home parties and my advice is to make it fun and to
sample as much stuff as you can. I always have set out slivers (about
1/4" thick and 2 inches long) of all the different soaps (rescued from
ends and bad cuts) so that everyone can feel for themselves the different kinds
of soaps.
I also did a paraffin wax treatment that was really fun! I made them wash
their hands with soap first :) then they used my sugar scrub, then they dipped
their hands in the paraffin wax! They loved it!
For the really beat up, dry hands in the crowd they sampled my shea butter cream
after.
Hope your party goes well, remember - Have Fun!
~ Denise in KS
I haven't done a party but I have been to lots. If you
have 50 different kinds of soap, I would bring five
but I would bring a sample of the fragrance of all the
others. Remember people will order and not expect to
take the items home. The same with the other items,
bring 5. Have a catalogue for each person. I would
play some games and have some small prizes. You can get party games off
the internet.
~ Linda
I like to do Cash and Carry, kind of like a mini craft show and bring
everything I have made that is in stock with me. I do bring order forms with me,
just in case, but rarely have taken an order.
I go about an hour ahead of time and set up. I bring a cross section of
everything I make in different scents. I try to ask the hostess ahead of time
what she would be interesting in seeing, what color, what scent, etc.
I don't play games or anything like that. I detest those games. I usually do
give the hostess a one of a kind gift that you can only get by hosting a party.
Then, I give a VERY brief intro. to my stuff, have samples put out and pretty
much tell the to try, smell and use. I sit back and wait for the questions. The
guests usually schmooze, browse and ask me questions. To me, it's kind of like
shopping at a store but in the comfort of your own home. I sometimes give a
little lesson on the ingredients you use on your skin, what each is good for and
what the typical item you buy in the store has in it compared to those that are
made by hand (differentiates yourself).
I bring lots of change (small bills in all denominations), a calculator, receipt
books, tissue paper and pretty bags. I also take checks made out to the business
but tell them that I can only accept credit cards through PayPal. If I do take
an order, I deliver it to the hostess and she in turn delivers it to the person
who ordered it unless they live close to me or we can meet at a local mall/park.
I also collect state tax per order.
I sit in one area and "cash" out everyone
The hostess usually serves something like cake and coffee or wine and cheese.
They make it like a night out for their friends and I try not to make it to
pressured or sales-ish.
Good luck and have fun!!
~ Sharon K.
Did you check out the info in the Soapnuts Library?
There's quite a bit of info on doing home shows...
http://www.soapnuts.com/homeshows.html
My advice would be to take order forms and brochures
listing all of your soaps and take "orders" for what
you don't have with you. And the games...well that's
up to you and how you think this particular crowd
feels about them.
~ Denise in PA, list co-moderator
I have never done one or been to one for soap...but I think your selection of
5 scents would go big with my customers. However, just a thought here...I
would take more scents and fewer packaged sets. Take orders for what they
want instead and maybe just open up one or two of the sets by the kitchen sink
and guest sink so they can play.
Good luck...we want to hear how everything went. Oh and games...I hate
those things at parties and showers. Just me...I know some love them!
~ Jackie in Orlando
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