Cleaning up for Imbolc

As Imbolc a Sabbat associated with cleansing and purification, an ideal craft idea is soap. I have been avoiding the soap thing but the more I read, the more easy it looks. As a germ freak I would use a bowl for soap only, but other sites state that you can use just any plain glass bowl. Now just to tell you I have read horror stories about plastic bowls, so make sure that you use a glass one. As for the soap, I have seen plain soap kits at various discount stores but there is no reason why you can’t use a regular pure soap bar. Most sites like Ivory to start out with but you can use what is available. If you go to a craft store ask for clear glycerin soap base. Next you will need to grate the soap. Again I would buy a grater just for soap, but I am told that soap washes off, so it is up to you. Now you can do small, very small pieces instead of grating, they both work well but some people prefer grating because it melts better. You need to be careful that you don’t over heat it so start out with a small batch. You will put the soap in your bowl and nuke it in the microwave for 10-30 seconds. Stir and repeat for another 10-30 seconds. Do this until it is melted and chunk free. DO NOT nuke it for more than 30 seconds. You must have patients or it will not work out and all you have is a mess. I have not done this yet but I have read all the horror stories, so I try to have some patients and do it the right way too. Again I need to repeat that you need to be careful not to over heat it. Many people recommend that you do small batches until you know what you are doing.

Next is when you add your own additives, which can range from oils to herbs. Like I said I am no expert but many sites give recipes for exfoliating soap by adding oatmeal to it. Some say add cocoa butter to add a moisturizer to it. There are probable lots of different alternatives but you get the idea. My main problem is, allergies, I am allergic to just about everything. I have to be very careful on what additives are added, so keep that in mind if you are making them for other people.

What about some color? I found this site that has natural coloring for soap at DYI Natural.

Alfalfa: (use dried, ground alfalfa) gives medium green color
Alkanet root: (infuse in oil) produces purple to blue color
Annatto: (infuse in oil) produces yellow to orange color
Calendula: (dried, whole flowers) produces yellow streaks; has healing properties
Calendula: (powdered) adds yellow color; healing benefits
Carrots: (use ground, raw) produces yellowish orange color; contains beta carotene
Chamomile: (use dried, powdered) produces beige to yellow color
Chamomile essential oil, German: results in light green color
Cinnamon: brown color; can be irritating to some skin types
Cloves: (use ground) brown color; can be irritating to some skin types
Cocoa powder: brown color
Chocolate: (use a melted chocolate bar) brown color
Coffee: (use finely ground) brown to black color; exfoliating, has antioxidants, and removes odors
Coffee: (instant) brown to black; antioxidant and odor eliminating
Cornmeal: yellow color; exfoliating
Green tea powder: brownish green color; antioxidants
Henna: olive green to greenish brown color
Indigo powder: deep blue color; Caution: Stains easily!
Kelp: green color; minerals and iodine in minute amounts
Milk: shades of beige to brown, maybe orange
Paprika: gives an orange color
Poppy seeds: black specks; exfoliating
Pumice: gives gray color; good for exfoliating
Rose hips: (use ground) produces burgundy to brown color; high in Vitamin C
Safflower petals: produces yellow to orange color
Saffron: results in yellow color
Sage: (use dried, ground) produces green to brown colors
Sandalwood powder: (depends on the type used) red will be brownish red; yellow will be yellow to beige
Spearmint: (use dried, ground) green to brown color
Spinach: (use dried, ground) produces light green color
Tumeric: results in yellow color
Wheat grass juice: gives green color
If you are going to use these natural colors, you will need to do your research on how to do it properly. I will be taking the short cut and just buy soap dye from the store. So after you decide what to add or not add and very thing is stirred, it is time to put them in the molds. Now one thing that most of the various sites say is to protect your molds by adding a thin layer of petroleum jelly to them. Now I have seen sites using you holiday molds to tuna cans. You can use just about anything for molds like a Pringles can or pudding cups.

Halloween is my favorite holiday so I looked at some ideas and I saw soaps with surprises in them. Spiders and eye ball galore can bee hidden in the soaps. You could plant a duck or any small items by just adding them before they dry. If the mold is curved remember that if you want a symbol or something more on the top you need make sure it is on the bottom. To get the soap out of the molds you have to turn them upside down, so the bottom is now the top. Now remember that it will take several days to harden. After it is hard you can cut into the bars. You must be patient if you want to do this and there are lots of different ideas and fun to have.

Cloud Burst Soaps

Now here is one that is really, really, really simple and easy. It comes from Our Best Bites site that gives you step by step instructions. This one you will need to buy Ivory soap. I was reading the comments from the site you can use Irish Spring but the smell is very strong. But back to the story, you will need a bar of Ivory soap and put it in the microwave. Don’t forget to put a paper towel down first for better clean up. You will need to watch it but nuke for a couple of minutes. The bar will start to puff up. It will look cool as it grows but remember the keep an eye on it because you don’t want to burn it. Be careful that not to smash it as you take it out of the microwave. You can break it up in a bowl and break it down. Another note is to sweep up the crumbs because if you use a wet towel you will only get a soapy mess. Once you have the soap broken down you can use a spoon or mixer and start adding warm water until the is like pie crust.

This part is simple and fun, it’s time to break out those cookie cutters. You  can stuff the cookie cutters and make cute little objects. They will take a few days to dry, so put them in a nice spot to dry. Now the blog says you can add food coloring but regular food coloring with stain, so you will need soap coloring. There you go and we have some nice little gifts for Imbolc.

Imbolc is not the only holiday that you can use this for. The possibilities are endless, you just need to be creative. So enjoy and I know that my mother will enjoy them when I make them for her.