Help something went wrong making soap...

[the.fee.fairy]

I used pringles tubs and orange juice cartons.

When it says prepare the mould, i usually take it to mean grease the mold.

I think i still had to tear the tubs off the soap though

Now you've got a long wait to use the soaps - and it seems like forever!! I've got a week til my shampoo bars are useable (anyone up for trades - see the trades threads!!) and i can't wait!! I just know that next sunday, i'll be frantically cleaning my hair, then sniffing it for the next few days to see if it smells good!

Then, in 2 weeks time, my coconut ice soap will be ready (trades welcome on this one too!!) - can't wait to use that either!! Cue another round of frantic cleaning and sniffing!

[Peggy Sue]

Oh well I'll try greaseproof next time and won't expect too much!

Tell me more about shampoo soap, like to give that a go...

Not sure I have anything of value to trade apart from some leftover seeds we couldn't quite squeeze into the allotment (due to great enthusiasm on the ordering front when we got the green light in June)

I have a plan to try and make home-made xmas pressies this year- not sure if the soap will cut the mustard, but I bet the sloe gin will get a good reception!

[the.fee.fairy]

Are they interesting seeds.... If you PM me your address, i'll send you a block.

I don't know what the difference is between the shampoo soap and other soap (apart from the fact it has egg yolk in it). It might be creamier or something when it lathers.

I got the recipe from melinda Coss's book: Handmade Soap. If you want, i can PM you the recipe.

[Peggy Sue]

Most of the sees are real seed company seeds- I liked their philosophy. I've got chinese cabbage, pak choi, white beetroot and probaby a few others I can't think of right now. Not sure if they are classified as interesting or old hat??? They are 1st timers for me and seem to ahve done very well so far on the plot.

If you like the sound I'm up for a swap.

[the.fee.fairy]

Sounds good!

PM me your address, and i'll get the shampoo bar in the post for you next week (it's ready from Sunday, and i want to make sure its cured properly).

[Wombat]

Oh well I'll try greaseproof next time and won't expect too much!

Hey PS!

I use the siliconised stuff, greaseproof stuck to the soap like the proverbial to a baby's blanket, so does waxed paper!

Nev

[Peggy Sue]

Thanks for that tip- this whole process looked complicated....and is!!

Do hope it's worth it in 3 weeks 5 days!

[the.fee.fairy]

Nev: how do you get nice neat cuts of soap? When i cut mine into blocks, it broke bits off the bottom.

[Wombat]

Hey Fee!

I use a cheese cutting set up, the type where you have a base and a metal ...................hoop sort of thing that has a wire stretched across one end. Put the soap onto it and bring the wire cutter down and bingo! nicely cut soap

Nev

[the.fee.fairy]

Must get one of them then... I've been using a shapr kitchen knife, and it makes a great cut until i get about 1/2" from the bottom, then it just seems to break (the soap that is, not the knife)!

[blathanna]

Would someone kindly direct me to the soap making recipes as i don't seem to be able to find it.

[the.fee.fairy]

http://www.selfsufficientish.com/soapmaking.htm

[British Red]

Just a quick tip on moulds. If you can find any cheap, silicon bakeware makes fantastic moulds for soap. A loaf tin works well to slice into bars but if you use a muffin tin you get lovely round soaps. Mini muffin trays make great travel / guest sized soaps. The nice thing is you don't have to grease them and they last for ever. Because they are fairly soft the mould just "peels away"

Red

[the.fee.fairy]

I used Ikea Silicone ice cube moulds for some soaps, and they came out brilliantly! They're the puzzle shaped ones!