My Newest Crafting Experiment

I finally started to attempt to make soap.  I was a little fearful, partially from others telling me how dangerous it could be and partly because of my own crazy mind, though I think others remarks had helped to make my mind worry more than it would otherwise.  I also have this crazy fear of failure in anything and everything I do.  I like to be perfect in everything I do, and I have a hard time remembering that most of the time, it takes a lot of practice to get things perfect, even close to perfect.

I finally made the decision to go ahead and try it.  How hard could it be?  I definitely made sure that I researched and read up on making soap in a crock pot.   I watched many a youtube video on crockpot soap making and finally decided that I was comfortable attempting it.

I made sure that I had my iPad right next to me with a youtube video going.  I made sure that the kids were all in bed and fast asleep.  I made sure that I had gloves and vinegar in case I spilled the lye.  I didn't spill the lye.  Things went well and I had soap the next day.  I learned that there are better lye calculators than others, or at least there are many lye calculators and people have different feelings about the different ones that are out there.  Personally, I like http://soapcalc.net for all the info that I get and as a new soap maker, I really appreciate what it gives me.

I learned that there are many different oils that can be used and different outcomes.  My first soap was pretty soft and then once I found different oils, I found that you can make a harder soap right from the start.  My most recent soap consists of olive oil, coconut oil, and crisco, yes crisco.  I'm not really sure how I feel about crisco, but it seems to work well.  I now plan to try Walmart shortening and see how soap with that vs crisco is.  

I love making soap and plan to continue making it, experimenting with different oils and scents.  I may, at some point, attempt cold process, but that takes a little longer before the soap is ready.  I can't wait to learn more.

I have been pretty productive this summer.  I could always be more productive, but I am happy with what I've done.  I still plan to try to make some things for my twins group and hope that I can finish a few things to donate for them to sell at our national convention.  I also hope to start creating more for charity and maybe become part of a specific charity, Enchanted Makeovers.

A few picture of my soap and other projects from this summer!

First soap ever in the mold

first soap out of the mold cut and drying

rag quilts for the twins

doll bed, with quilt and rag rug

soap for Michael's teachers in the mold

soap for Michael's teachers cut waiting to be wrapped

my new pincushion

mixing my latest soap

latest soap at trace

soap cooking in the crockpot

soap almost finished cooking

soap molded and cooling. Can't wait to cut it tomorrow!

This is jut a few of the projects that I have completed and have been working on.  I have a few other things in process and can't wait to find time to finish them.  I can't what to get things organized so that I can have more time to craft rather than finding where to craft, a place to craft and then remembering to clean up!  Loving being creative!

Amy

Newest Doll Project

I have had this old clementine crate for the longest time (probably not that long, it just feels that way) and I finally decided to do something with it.  I had heard that you can make a small doll bed from the crates so that they are recycled and have a new use.  I looked online to get some ideas, but I finally decided to jut use some wide popsicle sticks to make a headboard and a footboard and then paint the whole thing.  I then attempted to make a mattress, but measured wrong and pretty much totally screwed up, but I added a pillow and I think it looks ok.  I love the tufting of the mattress.  I am really liking how creative I am being.  For my own mental health, I think it is important for me to find some sort of creative outlet, plus, it's so much fun making things for the kids! I now need to make a doll quilt for the bed!

I think it may be time to work on some boy projects once I am finished with the doll quilt!!  The poor boys seem to get lost in the shuffle of making cute things.  There are so many cute girly things, I now need to find some cute boyish things!

I also think that I really like sewing!  I'm not a huge fan of sewing clothing (though I would like to learn how to better)!  I love sewing craft things.  I really need to figure out what I like and spend some time perfecting my craft.  Oh, and a Facebook friend from high school mentioned that this bed would be great for small dogs and I should think about selling them for that reason.  It's a great idea!

Happy creating!
Amy

Ideas To Do With Kids

I am terrible at coming up with creative things to do with the kids.  They don't really like to sit still for long, so reading a book, doing a craft, anything that requires sitting for a period of time is tough.  I am looking forward to the warmer weather so that we can go to the park and they can get some of their energy out and maybe then we can do some sitting activities.  One of my friends over at http://thedoublescoop.com/ has some really great creative ideas that I really need to try out.  I am hoping that she will share some of her sources for these creative ideas.  One of my goals is to spark my kids creative imagination and help to maintain it.  I also want to provide educational things for them and make it a fun way to learn.  I'm still getting used to Michael's new schedule with pre-school , but I think that once i get used to his schedule, I will be making  up a schedule for us so that we can have fun, do some educational things, and get these kids to do more than jus trun amd jump and climb and move.  Maybe while Michael is at pre-school I can go to the book store with just the twins, though I have to say I took just the twins grocery shopping today and it wasn't that much easier.  I am going to pick up the book "Rainbow Fish" and attempt to do an activity from http://thedoublescoop.com/.

Any suggestion for fun things to do with active toddlers/preschoolers are more than welcome.  Any ideas on how to get them to sit and listen to a story are very much needed!

Amy