Twisted Color

Hi! I'm Becca. I'm a small time crafter from the Midwest. I have many interests and Tumblr allows me to share them in shiny, picture glory. Here you'll find photos of wax tarts and Costa Rican towns, writings of daydream ideas and musings, links to cool how to's or a post of a recipe. Maybe a story about a character from my life but most definitly you will be able to watch the tale of an attempt at crafting glory. Thanks for stopping by :) Oh, and, it won't link, but http://www.etsy.com/shop/TwistedColorCrafts

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Fresh poured Patchouli Tea Rose classic cold process soap. The pretty color topping the loaf was made with powdered Alkanet root!

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A bit of beautiful batter. #TwistedColorCrafts

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A bit of beautiful batter

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Fresh cut Patchouli Tea Rose! Classic cold process sulfate free soap #TwistedColorCrafts

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#Orange #Vanilla #Dream #Coconut Milk #Soap #New #Handmade by #TwistedColorCrafts (on Meylah) #handmadesoap

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#TwistedColorCrafts

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#TwistedColorCrafts

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Baby Buttermilk and Glycerin Loofah Loaf #New #Handmade #Soap by #TwistedColorCrafts on #Etsy and #Meylah.

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Lavender-Lemongrass Rosemary Embossed Soaps Recipe

So, as promised, Here is my “recipe” for the Lavender Lemongrass bars with crushed rosemary recently featured in my Embossing Tutorial here:  http://twistedcolor.tumblr.com/post/46052610301/dishes-are-drying-so-its-update-time-i-know-im I say “recipe” because I was really just experimenting with small amounts of melt and pour soaps. The three good size bars shown are what I got out my small recipe. I used detergent free melt and pour bases for this soap. when ordering, if you haven allergies to sulfates or have trouble finding soap that meets your skin needs, I would definitely suggest giving bases labeled “DT Free” a try and double checking the ingredients list. My recipe follows… Materials 2 parts opaque white melt and pour soap (I used Shea Butter) 1 part clear glycerin melt and pour soap 1TB rosemary, well ground 2 pinches kaolin clay (optional) Blue colorant (I used CraftersChoice matte cobalt blue pigment powder. It’s cheap but know that a little goes a long way.) Green colorant—the rosemary will add some, but mixing a bit of turmeric from the cooking aisle with the blue cobalt works well. Rubbing alcohol (70%) in a misting spray bottle Kitchen Thermometer 1/4 tsp Lemongrass essential oil (for small batch) 1/2 tsp Lavender essential oil (for small batch) You will also need 2 microwave safe measuring cups and some molds. There are numerous articles online about using household and dollar store items for molds, but if you’re looking to make the stamped raised edge type I have you can visit the soap making aisle in just abut any craft store.  The Work !. Chop your soap bases into rough one inch cubes and put the opaque in one measuring cup and the clear in the other. Microwave each until liquid. 2. Add a small amount of blue colorant to the clear base. Add to color taste but remember a little goes quite a way and this will color will be sandwiched, giving it a deeper hue. Add a a few drops of each essential oil (EO). If desired, add 1 pinch Kaolin clay. Mix well, set aside. 3. Ensure your rosemary is thoroughly crushed. Even so, Rosemary can be an abrasive exfoliant and this soap is not really meant for the face. 4. Add rosemary and green colorants to color taste (you can also use more or less rosemary.) Add EOs. If desired, add 1 pinch kaolin clay. Mix well, let cool to 120°.  5. If using embossing technique, be prepping your molds 6. Spray molds lightly with rubbing alcohol. Pour molds 1/3 full of your Rosemary mixture. —Alternatively, pour 1/4 full, make extra blue mix, and create bars with two blue lines. Spritz lightly with the rubbing alcohol and allow thin skin to form. 7. Spritz top of skins, pour your blue. You may need to reheat the blue. Just be sure when you pour it is not too hot to break the skin formed on the green. Spritz, Let form skin, repeat this step with the green (at 120° or less) to top off your molds. Spritz. 8. Let set and cool. Pop out of molds. If using the embossing molds, I’ve found that once ready to be un-molded a 15 minute stint in the freezer followed by pressing evenly around the raised edges is helpful. There you have it! Beautiful soap that is ready to use right away! In case you’re wondering, kaolin clay adds to the glide of the soap, making it a nice additive to shaving soaps in particular. The rubbing alcohol helps meld  the layers together and helps prevent air bubbles. Thanks for the read, and if you do decide to give it a try I’d  love to hear of and see pics of your own creations! —The Color Twister, Twisted Color Crafts

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Hot process

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Dishes are drying so it's update time! I know, I'm late. But I have pretty pictures. 

I tried my hand at embossing some melt and pour soaps with stamps today.  It's simple, looks great, and allows for a pretty much infinite mumber of design options. I used the pre-cut "soap embossing" stamps I found at the craft store but it's easy to create your own from a stamp of your choice.  Just use an Xacto knife to cut through the adhesive between the stamp and the wooden base. Use adhesive remover to clean the back of the rubber stamp, then wash and dry before using with soap. 

Closeup!  Ok so you have your stamp. Now use a little bit of your melted soap to adhere the stamp--face up-- to the bottom of your mold. Give it a couple minutes then pour your soap. 

I used some embossing molds from the craft store and I love the way they give me a raised border. I've seen them in ovals, squares, and rectangles. The ovals make a brilliant Apricot Seed Hemp soap although haven't used embossing on that yet. Is your soap cooled and fully hardened? Alright! Carefully unmold. Now take a pin and gently lift up a corner of the stamp and slowly peel it off. If you need to you can use a paring knife or a guitar pick to clean up edges. And that's it! You have lovely embossed soap! And so do I! I'm off to the testing lab (AKA the shower) and if I like this soap I shall post the "recipe" tomorrow! Thanks for following! The Color Twister  

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How to Make Handmade Shampoo Bars - Book Review and Giveaway - Learn how to make your own homemade shampoo bars with the new diy book from Lisa Maliga, How to Make Handmade Shampoo Bars! Read the review and enter to win a free copy for yourself through March 24th, 2013!

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Beth's finished plate. Totally awesome. I even like the bubble effects. The top edge needs to be sanded a little to be fully finished.

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Thanks to my little sister's just finished 4H project, I just spent about an hour making the slightly harder version of those little plastic bead and iron things I made as a kid. Anyone remember those? They rocked. This version is the same idea, but pony beads, and in a pie pan. Its a lot bigger and heavier when cooked. I just put mine in the oven, so we'll see how it turns out! If you feel like trying this, you're supposed to bake at 425 for no more than 30 minutes. Also it smells bad so turn your fan on high!

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Up and Running! Not a ton of choices yet but I have more made than listed. I'm really excited to introduce Watermelon. It totally smells like a jolly rancher to me but besides that it looks awesome. Also, save money when ordering 10 mix-n-match tarts of your choice at once!