I was just thinking that all the emphasis on crafts I’ve had for the last few weeks, all the kits I’ve bought the kits and the different crafts I’ve done with them, may lead some people to believe that I am crafty. Nothing could be further from the truth. When I was a kid, my worst subject in school was Drawing, to the point that even today I draw like a five year old. My second worst subject in school was Actividades Prácticas, “practical activities”, which could be described as “crafts”. I can’t tell you how bad I was at it. With the exception of a collage of Nefertiti that I made in 7th grade and a clay figurine of “the Devil as a serpent in Paradise”, I was never able to do anything good. Even the devil figurine came about because I was trying to make a face and what turned out look so gaunt that it could be the devil – so I made it horns and, because I knew that making a body was beyond me, I made a serpent shape to which I stuck the head. My art teacher actually liked it 🙂
But anyway, the point is that I suck at crafts but the kits I’ve bought are for little kids and doing what a 7-year old is expected to be able to do is not that hard. And crafts gives me something to do with the kids that is not overwhelmingly boring. But lord, I’m definitely not crafty.
Page 63 of 177
How to make homemade body Lotion
I have made lotions for several months now, but until now I have been following recipes. The following one is the first one I’ve planned out by myself. Alas, I haven’t made it yet and I’m not going to make it until I run out of the many other lotions I have – but I’m writing it down here so I don’t lose it. This recipe should give you a bit over 10 oz of lotion.
As for the instructions, they are the usual ones. Mix the oils and waxes and heat until they emulsify. Wait until they cool down or heat the waters until they are the same temperature as the oils. Pour the oils into the water, slowly and gradually with a stick blender
- 1/2 oz Apricot seed oil
- 1/2 oz Shea butter
- 1/2 oz Jojoba oil
- 1/2 oz Avocado oil
- 1/2 oz Stearic acid
- 1/2 oz Emulsifying wax
- 6 oz water
- 1 oz aloe vera
- 1/4 tsp. glycerin
- 1/2 tsp. vitamin E oil
- 1/2 tsp. phenonip (preservative, skip if you want)
- 4-10 drops essential or fragrance oils
- colorant (optional)
Update: I’ve been using this cream for a couple of days now and I love it. It’s very light and silky, not at all oily, it absorbs quickly and leaves my skin very soft. I’ll definitely make this lotion again when I’m done with what I have.
I made this recipe for my friend Lola’s birthday. It makes a nice and light lotion, with a silky/creamy consistency. This version has no preservatives, but it should be good for several weeks if you make sure to sterilize your pots and containers before using them. Otherwise store it in the fridge, and it should last for several months. Given how hot it is, I like keeping mine cold anyway. The cream is light enough that you can use a lotion pump for it, but it’s OK for a wide-mouth jar as well.
This recipe makes a little over 5 oz. I used three types of oils, but you can use one or more in whatever proportions you want – just make sure they come up to 6 tablespoons or so. I used chamomile infusion (tea), but you can use regular distilled water or a different infusion. If you do use an infusion, let it seep for at least 2 hours.
It takes a while for this mixture to thicken up, but don’t despair, it will. Just blend (at intervals, so that your blender does not burn out) until it cools down.
- 2 Tbsp. Jojoba oil
- 2 Tbsp. Avocado oil
- 2 Tbsp. Coconut oil
- 1/2 tsp. Stearic acid
- 1/4 tsp. Emulsifying wax
- 1/4 cup herbal infusion or distilled water
- 1/4 tsp. Borax
- 1 tsp. Vitamin E oil
- 3-4 drops Essential or Fragrance oil
Put the carrier oils in a small microwave-safe bowl (I used a pyrex ramekin) and add the stearic acid and emulsifying wax. Microwave in high until the wax melts 30 to 90 seconds, depending on your microwave.
Mix the infusion/water with the borax in a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave until it boils, 30 to 60 seconds, depending on your microwave.
Pour the oils into the water, slowly and gradually, while blending all the time with an electric stick/hand blender
Add the vitamin E and blend until incorporated. Add the fragrance or essential oil and blend until incorporated again.
Transfer the lotion to bottles/jars.
Note: To transfer thickened lotions into bottles with a small aperture, I first spoon them into squeeze bottles
Recipe adapted from Article Base.
Last night I made my first swap at http://www.swaptree.com/, a website that allows you to swap specific books/cds/games that you have for others that you want. At a whim, I entered the collection of books that I want to get rid of, and after a week or so got my first offer of a trade: Crafty Girl: Cool Stuff
The one negative thing about this swapping thing is that I have to actually mail the book. Which means I need to find some sort of packaging materials for it. Mailing it is only $2.80 or so but mailing it is a hassle (one that I’m passing on to Mike). If you think about the fact that I can much more easily donate the books I have to the library and then buy the ones I want, probably for about $4 each, including shipping, from an online vendor, perhaps this swapping thing doesn’t make that much sense. But… how cool is it to have found someone who wants to trade a book on girls’ crafts for one on medieval prayers?
Recent Comments