3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Information about colors, scents, additives and, December 20, 2011
This review is from: The Joy of Melt and Pour Soap Crafting (Kindle Edition)
Glycerin soap, originally, was made using real soap, alcohol and sugar and a long cooking process. Some people still make it that way. Melt and pour glycerin soap is made using surfactant chemicals that behave like soap does in cleaning and foaming, along with alcohol and sugar. It has a high amount of glycerin in it, which is hydroscopic which means it attracts moisture, which makes it a non-drying option for people who have issues with soap drying their skin too much.
So, science and explanation out of the way, the e-book is very detailed about the process of soap crafting with melt and pour soap. The author cares a lot about the topic and wants to share that with you.
If you've seen the kits, it's some blocks of clear soap, sometimes some coloring and stuff to include in the soap, fragrance oil and short instructions which say to microwave the soap. Not very satisfying for crafty minds that want to create. This is a lot better.
The first half of the book is about the process of melt and pour soap. She explains what you can mix in, with lists of the attributes to different oils and herbs. She also includes some information about additives you might not think of, like tapioca pearls for a gently massaging soap. She explains how to use colorants, liquid, mica, mineral and natural. She also explains why using a double boiler or a crock pot is a better option than microwaving your soap.
A chapter of tips that she's learned to tell you things that won't work and things that work well, then you get to the recipes.
The recipes include a lot of techniques in themselves. How to do layered soaps,cake soaps,soap embed and my favorite section, shampoo bars!
She finishes up with a lot of information about labeling and selling your finished soap products.
One of the best things in my opinion about melt and pour soap crafting is that it's a very friendly craft. You don't need to be a kitchen chemist. It's a craft that's ideal for parents to do with children as gifts or as the start of a home based business. Because of the nature of melt and pour soap, any thing that doesn't work out is still usable in your home.
My daughter was interested in this book because she's looking at ways to make extra money this summer and she loves crafting. I love the ideas in the book, but I prefer hand-milling soap and a lot of her tips and ideas can be used in hand-milled soap as well. I plan to try some shampoo bars both ways, using melt and pour and hand-milling.
A lot of great information in this book if you've ever had an interest in melt and pour soapmaking.
[I received a complimentary copy of the book to review on my craft blog- Don't Eat the Paste. My reviews are always my honest opinion]
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
How to Make Melt and Pour Soap, December 16, 2011
This review is from: The Joy of Melt and Pour Soap Crafting (Kindle Edition)
Learning a new craft for the first time can be a daunting task sometimes filled with a lot of trial and error - especially if it's a craft you are teaching yourself. Making handmade soap, especially, can be confusing and sometimes unsuccessful your first try if you don't have the proper knowledge or someone knowledgeable in the field to lend a hand. When I first started making soaps, I made melt and pour soaps. While chemically simpler than making cold process soaps, they can still provide a unique challenge as far as the ingredients you may wish to include in your soaps and the coloring, design and even the unmolding of your creations. Fortunately, if you're giving melt and pour soapmaking a first time try there are many valuable resources available to you. One of my favorite resources is the book, The Joy of Melt and Pour Soap Crafting by Lisa Maliga. Had this book existed the first time I melted cubes of soap, color and fragrance in my microwave, I definitely would have had more successful trials and less error. But now that it's been written, it's one book you're sure to want to add to your collection for future reference and research into this exciting craft.
What I like best about this book is how comprehensive it is overall. It starts small with many of the basics some instructional guides tend to skip over or breeze through, and expands on the information as you progress. It includes instructions on not only the best way to make your soaps, but what equipment to use for the greatest product results. This helpful how to soapmaking book covers everything from choosing your soap base and molds to adding fragrances, herbs, and color. There's also information for labeling and packaging your soaps for those wanting to give their end product as gifts or those considering starting their own business.
I was extra excited that Lisa shares her soap secrets in this book. There are a few tips in this book that I learned the hard way on my own which resulted in a disappointing soap. While still usable, it wasn't pretty. Had I known that lavender buds in melt and pour soaps will discolor the entire bar of soap brown before I made my first lavender scented melt and pour soap, I would have not ended up with some very ugly soap bars. Luckily, Lisa shares her tips on what not to add to melt and pour soaps due to the unflattering results as well as what additives you can use and the results you can expect. Additionally Lisa provides very thorough information on buying fragrance and essential oils, the differences between various methods used to obtain essential oils, and blending tips for creating your own unique scents. There's also an explanation of the benefits of the various oils, herbs and other additives you may choose to use in your melt and pour soap and a how to on colorants. As if that wasn't enough, you'll also find 40 melt and pour soap recipes you can try out for yourself - from a simple one color-one fragrance recipe to more advanced soap recipes with multiple colors, soap embeds and additional, creative ingredients.
Lisa's book definitely makes melt and pour soapmaking a rewarding experience for the novice soapmaker. So if you're just getting started in melt and pour soapmaking or just need a little extra help getting to where you need to be, definitely invest in the book The Joy of Melt and Pour Soap Crafting by Lisa Maliga - a hundred and thirty-four pages chock full of information you'll reference time and again and even includes a list of melt and pour soap suppliers. Buy it and you'll be making Lisa's Lentil Bliss Shampoo Bars and Vanilla Bean Speckles Soaps in no time. And not long after, you're sure to have your own unique recipes under your belt.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
EBook Review-The Joy of Melt and Pour Soap Crafting, January 2, 2012
This review is from: The Joy of Melt and Pour Soap Crafting (Kindle Edition)
Making melt and pour soap is also a good project for teenagers. The recipes are so simple but good recipes that you will actually want to use. Its a great business to start for extra income too. I know the woman I seen at the craft show last summer was selling a lot of bars and she had repeat customers. The book also explains about starting a business selling your soap. There are recipes using herbs, oils, fragrance and certain molds. She also explains labeling and packaging. If you own a kindle or not you can download the book. You can also download it on your computer from Amazon. I highly recommend this ebook. She has pictures in the ebook so you can see what your soap should look like. It would also make a great gift, you can purchase it and it can be sent as a gift through email. Very simple and fun to do. Anyone will enjoy making her recipes. Try them out and have fun with it.
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