Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

I enjoy making soap whether it is from scratch or using soap base (melt and pour soap).  I found this project while sorting through the endless files on my computer.  I learned to make this type of soap from Marie Browning, a very talented designer from Canada!  I hope you enjoy it.

Materials

• Soap Base
• Knife or Vegetable Cutter
• Large Glass Measuring Cup
• Colorant
• Scent
• Loofah sponge (expanded)
• Long Handled Spoons
• Microwave Oven
• A sturdy plastic bag
• Plastic wrap
• Tape
• Drinking glass to hold the loofah until soap is set.

Instructions

1.  Wrap the loofah several times with plastic wrap.  You want the top of the loofah open or even with the top of the plastic wrap.  Fold excess plastic wrap at bottom of the sponge back up and around the sponge.  Secure into place with tape. Place loofah sponge into the sturdy plastic bag.  You want the bottom of the sponge to be at the bottom of the bag.  Fold any excess plastic bag (except around the top) around the sponge and tape into place.  Make sure the plastic bag is very secure around the sponge.  Cut away any excess plastic from the top area of the sponge if you think it will interfere with pouring the soap into the sponge (mold).

2.  Cut soap base into smaller pieces.  Place in large glass measuring cup and melt.  The coconut oil soap base tends to melt much faster than the clear glycerin soap base.  Place measuring glass into microwave and heat on medium for 30 seconds.  Continue to heat in 15-second increments until all the soap base has melted.  You do not want the soap base to boil or smoke.  If this happens you are using too high a heat setting, so lower the heat.  Keep this in mind if you are heating the soap base on a stove element.  Remove glass measuring cup from microwave or stove element.

3.  Stir melted soap base and then wait until the soap base has a thin film covering the top of it.  This happens faster with the coconut oil soap base.  Remove the film with your spoon.  Now the soap base has cooled enough to add colorant and scent.  Colorant is added in small amounts and keep stirring until well mixed.

4.  Add scent and stir until well mixed.  You’ll need to add several drops of scent.  Most scent packaging will give you exact amounts of scent to add.  Scents are divided into three categories:  high, medium and low notes.  High notes fade quickly like lemon while low notes remain strong over time like lavender or lime.  Stir until scent is well mixed into the soap base.

5.  Place loofah mold into a drinking glass that can hold the mold’s weight and hold the filled loofah’s weight.  Pour soap into the loofah.  Tip:  You can fill the loofah to the top with the melted soap, but the loofah is going to absorb some of that soap.  So, check back in a few minutes to see if you need to pour in more melted soap.

6.  Allow the soap in the loofah to cool for about 1-2 hours (depending on the loofah sponge size which does vary).  Remove all the plastic bag and wrap.  Cut the loofah every 1- 2 inches to make individual soaps.

 Pretty Little Potholders by Lark Books

Potholders are just fun and make a great gift for any occasion.  This book has over 30 projects that range from quick and easy to a little more detailed.  The book includes great instructions for all the sewing techniques used including embroidery, yo-yos, quilting, and beading.  Most projects have a retro look and feel, but with different fabric selection can be changed to meet your personal taste and style.  I enjoyed the pot handle cozy and the yo-yo potholder.  This is a fun book with great illustrations, photographs, and step-by-step instructions. 

I enjoyed combining yo-yos with quilting for this set of potholders.

Guest Blogger: Jeanne Baruth for Diamond Tech

Fuseworks^TM Microwave Kiln is fast, fun and easy to use. Create beautiful glass baubles and pendants in approximately 3 minutes. It is recommended for ages 16 years and older, as the glass inside the kiln can reach temperatures of 1400ºF-1500 ºF.View a complete set of the Fuseworks^TM Kiln instructions and popular Q&A about the kiln at Diamond Tech’s Website: www.DiamondTechCrafts.com.

Here is one of my favorite little glass projects, guaranteed to bring fusing success to even the beginner!

First, it is recommended that you use Fuseworks^TM glass in the Fuseworks^TM  Kiln. Cut one piece of black glass in a 1″ X 1″ square. Cut one piece of clear dichoric glass in a 1″ X 1″ square.

Clean your squares with clear water and a lint free cloth. Be sure your glass is completely dry.

Cut a 2″ square of kiln paper. Place the kiln paper in the center of the bottom of the kiln.

NOTE: There are two sides to clear dichroic glass. Side “A” will give you a matte finish when facing upward in the kiln. Side “B” will give you a glossy finish if facing up.

How do you tell which side is A and which is B? Use a pen! Touch the tip of the pen to the clear dichroic glass surface. If you can see the reflection of the pen and the reflection appears to touch the actual pen tip; that side is “Side A” or the side containing the dichroic coating, naturally the opposite side would be side “B”. 

Place the black glass square in the center of the kiln paper. Put the clear dichroic on top of the black glass with side “B” facing up towards the top of the kiln.

Gently place the kiln bottom in the microwave, cover with the lid.

Fuse using the chart below. PLEASE NOTE: All microwave and kiln combinations will have different firing patterns. Be sure to take careful notes and log all fusing times for future use.

After the first time interval, open microwave and, using Hot Mitts, carefully lift the lid just enough to inspect the fusing process. Next, proceed to the second firing interval of 1 minute: 30 second. Open the microwave using Hot Mitts, carefully lift the lid again just enough to inspect the fusing process. Continue to fuse in 30 seconds interval until the desired results are achieved.

Remove kiln from microwave using the Hot Mitts and place on a heat resistant surface. Cool the kiln for at least 30 minutes with the LID ON. Do not removing the lid or peek under the lid during the cooling stage or this may result in your glass cracking. Glass remains hot for a long time and should be handled with great caution. 

When cool, adhere a large gold bail to the back of the pendant using a glass adhesive such as E6000®. Allow to dry according to glue manufacturer direction. Slip pendant onto your favorite chain and enjoy.

FUSING CHART

I’ve been fusing glass for about 5 years now and it’s a craft that is always fascinating. Glass fusing is basically layering several pieces of glass with the same COE and then fusing the pieces together in a kiln or heat source.  The layers of glass create a new single piece of glass.  You can then go on to slump the fused glass using a mold to create bowls, plates, and all kinds of art.

The process is time consuming.  You must create a design or use a pattern.  You need to cut the pieces of glass.  Clean all the pieces to remove any oils or dust.  You then layer your pieces onto a kiln shelf (that is either prepared with kiln wash to prevent sticking or with a piece of shelf paper). You then must fire or bake the glass in a kiln for a timed process.  You can’t just super heat glass because it will shatter so you slowly ramp up the heat in the kiln until the glass melts and then slowly ramp the heat down.  There are schedules prepared by the manufacturers of the glass to help you time the firing.  Once fired, the glass must cool before you can continue.  Fused pieces can take several hours or several days to create. The end result is worth it!

Diamond Tech has created a product kit that turns glass fusing into a very do-able, easy to understand process with its Fuseworks Beginner’s Fusing Kit.  Imagine fusing glass in your microwave in minutes! I have to be very honest, I couldn’t believe fusing could be done so quickly, but all my doubts were gone after my first fusing with the kit and its mini Fuseworks Microwave Kiln!!!

You get a ton of stuff in the kit: an assortment of 90 COE glass, Dichroic bits and pieces (beautiful patterned glass), millefiori glass (small discs that have patterns like flowers and such), confetti glass (thin shards of glass), kiln paper, glass cutter, hot mitts, and jewelry findings (earring sets and bails), plus very well written instructions.  You can make many fused jewelry pieces with the supplies included in the kit.

And it really is as easy as cutting your glass, laying down the kiln paper, stacking your glass, putting the top on the kiln, placing the kiln in your microwave and microwaving for a few minutes!!!  I was thrilled with my pieces and I didn’t have to fire up my kiln… all I needed was my microwave. Your piece is even annealed during the 40-50 minute cool down.

A few words to know when fusing:

Anneal: this is a process where the glass becomes its strongest, all glass pieces should be annealed or there is a good chance of the glass cracking over time.

COE: Coeffcient of Expansion, this is usually given to you as a number: 90 COE, 104 COE.  All glass has a COE number and you can only fuse glass pieces that have the same COE number.  In other words you can’t mix a piece of glass with a 90 COE with a piece of glass with a 104 COE.  Manufacturers will give you the COE of their glass.

Dichroic Glass: A glass with multiple micro-layers of metal oxides which give the glass optical properties.

Dichroic glass shimmers when fused.

Millefiori: A glass work technique where rods of patterned glass are formed and then cut into small discs.

Many discs of millfiori are fused to create this pendant.

Check out my next blog when guest blogger Jeanne Baruth goes into detail about using this new Fuseworks Microwave Kiln!

This is the front of the shed, you can see some of the original plus the extension. That's one of my dogs, Edison, enjoying the sunshine.

The New Year is upon us and I have to say I really don’t like making New Year’s Resolutions, but it might be time to take part in this yearly tradition since right now my house is pure chaos. It all started when I decided I wanted an extension to my shed in the backyard.  My shed is really a very nice studio, but we still refer to it as “The Shed” since that’s what it was originally supposed to be, a place for the lawnmower and other gardening tools.  However, my husband did such a fine job in building his shed that it became my studio. 

A back view of the shed showing the extension.

Now most creative people would have been thrilled to have 20′ x 22′ under roof with a built in stereo and air conditioning, but I felt that if I had just 10′ x 12′ more… I’d have the dream studio of all time in my backyard.  Thus, the extension was underway.  Granted my husband has a real full time job that has nothing to do with building sheds for creative people, so he has worked weekends to complete my extension since September.  It’s been amazing.  Concrete floor poured.  Wood framing framed.  A roof appeared and the walls went up!  Then an opening was cut between the two and a doorway was created.  I got a huge picture window along one of the new walls.  Finally the flooring went down and it was time to move in all my craft supplies.

Craft supplies all over the counter tops of my kitchen!

Ok, here comes the chaos.  I decided since I had so much space I could move every single piece of art and craft materials into the new and improved shed.  Sounded simple.  Didn’t seem like a big deal.  Have I mentioned lately that I’m a bit of a “not quite living in reality” type of person?

More craft materials lined up in my living room!

You got it.  I have more stuff than the average craft store has in its end of the year inventory.  And I’d put it EVERYWHERE! I bravely have begun to gather all the various supplies into my dining room, kitchen, and living room.  I’ve got stacks here, I’ve got stacks there.  I’ve got piles of yarn, wool roving, and looms.  I’ve got boxes and boxes of paper making supplies including two huge paper presses.  I’ve got tools, kilns, and torches! And man oh man do I have beads, jewelry findings, and a million buttons!

The piles of craft stuff are getting higher and higher, oh, my!

Where the heck am I going to put all this stuff in my new, wonderful, uncluttered shed?

I think my craft supplies are secretly multiplying!

I resolve that by the end of 2009 I will be organized!  Happy New Year and stay tuned……