Craft Blog|all things crafty & creative

Melt and Pour soap makes it easy for anyone to make fancy soaps. Basically, you buy a slab of special melt-and-pour soap. It usually is already perforated to help you break it apart. You then heat up the soap in a pan (some brands you can use with a microwave) and pour it into molds. That’s it, your done! You can also add in other things, such as coloring, essential oils, or herbs to dress up your soap.

This is a great way to make some nice soaps without having to worry about working with fat and lie, or even mess with rebatching. It’s quick and easy and great for the casual or one-time soap maker, or even children with a little supervision.

Technorati Tags: soap making, rebatching, melt and pour soap

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I actually got out my sewing stuff to start a quilt this afternoon. I spent some time cutting and playing with arranging fabric and wanted to sew the first few blocks together to see how it was going to look. So, I get out the sewing machine, unwrap the pedal and cords to set up - yes, it’s the very first time the new sewing machine has been used. And ugh, just my luck it’s not the right power cord! And I’m not sure if the wrong one came in the box or if I mixed them up when we were moving. So now I’ve got to put the sewing machine back away, look for the missing power cord, or pick up a replacement one. I really wanted to put these blocks together and get started today. Pooey. I guess I’ll just keep cutting my fabric so that when I find the right power cord all I have to do is sew. Seriously, I think I might cry now. I was looking forward to some sewing. Sewing is like drug rehab for a failed crafter, I need to just do it already!

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I want to thank Lisa for pointing this out to me. We had a miscarriage what feels like a million years ago. I was right at the end of the 3rd month going into the 4th month when it happened. It was probably the single most painful, traumatizing, burned in my memory forever experience that I will ever go through. I can go through every moment of that day in my mind even now after many years. The bleeding, the phone ringing, the ambulance siren, the feeling of being lost in a sea of confusion…. it’s all a very vivid memory, nightmare, bad dream ….

A miscarriage is something the world seems to make us feel like we should be embarrassed or ashamed of. A dark secret never to be spoken of. Or maybe it’s just too painful and awful for people to have to think about. The truth is that it happens and it happens very often to many women every single year, maybe even every single day all across the world. And it never, ever gets any easier for any of them.

Miscarriage’s that are ignored often lead to depression, anger, resentment, drug use and ultimately drug rehab, and many forms of treatment for various types of depression. And I don’t just mean the confusing PPD (post partum depression) that occurs, I mean serious life ending depression. So if you know that has had a miscarriage, recently or ever, give them a hug. Trust me, they need it.

Light a Candle and think hopeful thoughts please

P.S. I apologize for cross posting, if you read my other blogs you might see this again today.

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On top of my being a day late, it looks like I’m without a picture to show you this week again! But, not because I haven’t been doing anything. I’ve actually done quite a bit of stitching, I just couldn’t get a good photograph of it and the scanner - ugh - well that’s all I have to say about the scanner right now. Maybe I’ll try again later this week when I’m not so frustrated. But, don’t let my lack of photograph discourage you from participating this week. Craft on people, craft on.

Technorati Tags: online craft club

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12 oz grated soap
1 oz cocoa butter

Cocoa butter is known for being a substance that helps soften skin. This recipe for cocoa butter soap is very gentle to help soften even the most sensitive skin. Melt the grated soap in a pan with some water. Add 1 oz of cocoa butter for ever 12 oz of soap used. Be sure to stir well, then pour into molds.

Technorati Tags: soap making, cocoa butter, cocoa butter soap

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Okay, so this really doesn’t have a lot to do with stitching. But one of the reasons I stitch is to relieve stress, anxiety, tension. And another way that I like to do that is with a video game. Sometimes a mindless easy to play video game, and other times a crazy video game where I can kill stuff and blow things up! LOL Woohoo!

Video games seem to be the popular stress reliever in my household, the boys go crazy without them. They only play once or twice a week so I don’t mind too much. The big wish on everybody’s list right now, including mine is Nintendo Wii. Wii’s are currently a little pricy and pretty hard to find. The closest I’ve come is finding the empty display boxes at the store, never the real thing. I probably haven’t given it that much effort though because that dollar sign is flashing in the back of my mind all the time. So of course when I was looking for coupon codes tonight online I was pleased to find that Everybody Loves Coupons blog is holding a contest to give away a Wii set and the very popular Mario Party 8 game! I know the kids would be in heaven if we actually won a Wii! And it would keep them off my notebook computer for awhile I’m sure. There would probably be a line of kids around the block to come over and play too -lol-

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This is going to be a new thing here on the blog. It’s just going to show up at random times, and the charts are going to be different all the time. So, it will be a bit of a surprise! No schedule, no specific designers, just lots of charts and lots of fun. This time the chart giveaway is Silver Needle by Just Nan (pictured to the left.)

Recommended Just Nan Embellishments:
JNB03 Just Nan embellishments

Recommended Linen:
32 CT Zweigart Lavendar Mist

Design Size:
171 H x 89 W (10 3/4″ x 5 1/2″)

I’m sure you’re wondering how to enter to win this lovely chart. It’s easy. Just blog about the drawing and Craft Blog and link to this blog, then come back and leave me a comment on this thread letting me know that you’ve done so. That’s all there is to it.

On Friday October 26th I will have a drawing from those that have entered and the winning name will receive the chart.

Please make sure you leave a valid email address with your comment so that I have a way to contact you when your name is drawn. Good luck to everyone!

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I have been so sick the past month, ugh … it just won’t go away. Bronchitis is evil and won’t go away, and the weather is even more evil because it won’t pick a temperature to be outside and my arthritis has been going crazy flaring up on me. But, I have managed to get back into stitching mode and that is a good thing. Stitching for me has always been a stress reliever, a way to unwind from the insanity that is my life. And for the past year I haven’t been stitching - maybe that’s why I’ve been a neurotic mess. Just over this weekend I managed to stitch and I felt so relaxed and at peace with myself.

Now, if I could find a headache treatment that made me feel up to par I’d be okay! Stitching and headaches don’t really go together very well. I do make enlarged working copies so that I can see the chart better, and I have magnifiers and all that jazz, but ugh sometimes I don’t even want to look at the fabric. Even if it is pretty!

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A question I often hear is what companies do I recommend for a crafter that wants to work at home. The truth is I don’t recommend any. There are many a scam that directly targets the crafter wanting a home based business that is creative. Far too many a mail order scam begin by looking for “crafters from home.”

If you want to work from home I suggest one of two approaches. One, make your favorite type of crafts and sell them online. You can set up your own website. Contact me if you need help getting started or need a website design, I will be happy to help you get started. Or you can sell on ebay, or even better etsy! Etsy is awesome for crafters that want to sell their wares.

The second being to find a direct sales company that sells something creative like scrapbook kits, or jewelry making supplies and sign up a representative. You’ll gain contacts, get to talk to people about creative stuff, and make a few extra dollars on the side.

Of course there are other options too I’m sure, that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to working from home.

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I don’t know about you but I like to have a cup of tea or coffee while I’m stitching in the evening. Which, by the way I’ve started doing again! I am very excited about that. Now, I haven’t had any coffee other than some boring instant French Vanilla thing because I don’t even have a coffee maker. The reason for that being that I don’t really drink much coffee anymore, and if I do I only have a cup for me and no one else has any. I’ve been considering getting one of those coffee makers that uses pods and only makes one cup. Of course a super cool jura capresso station would be cool and I could have cappuccino’s and all sorts of java creations just like my own little coffee shop. But I just don’t have the counter space for something like that!

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