Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Soothing Chocolate Bath

Chocolate Cake Bath Salt Recipe
The yummy chocolate cake scent is perfect for chocolate lovers and chocoholics. The simple recipe uses easy-to-find ingredients that you may already have at home.

1 cup Epsom salts
1 cup sea salt or kosher salt (we like course grain, but it doesn't matter)
3 tsp. cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. oil (almond, olive, sunflower or other good quality oil)

In a clean, dry bowl, add together the dry ingredients and mix very thoroughly. Add the vanilla extract and oil. Mix very well again to ensure that the oil is completely blended in. Transfer to small clean jars or cello bags and close tightly.
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"Semi-Homemade" Chocolate Orange Bath Salt Recipe
Orange or citrus scented bath salts are very easy to find in your local discount or drug store. Jazz them up with a just a few ingredients to make aromatic Chocolate Orange Bath Salts. Your chocolate loving friends will adore them!

1 cup store bought orange scented bath salts
1 cup Epsom salts
2-3 tsp. cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. cinnamon (optional)

In a clean, dry bowl, add together the all ingredients and mix thoroughly. Transfer to small clean jars or bags and close tightly.
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Chocolate Mint Bath Salt Recipe
Have more mint growing in your yard than you know what to do with? Use some dried, crumbled mint in this refreshing Chocolate Mint Bath Salt recipe.

1 cup sea salt or kosher salt
1 cup Epsom salts
2-3 tsp. cocoa powder
5 drops essential oil of peppermint (optional)
3 tbs. dried, crushed mint leaves.

In a clean, dry bowl, add together the dry ingredients and mix very thoroughly. Add the peppermint oil if desired and mix very well again. Transfer to small clean jars or cello bags and close tightly. If you don't like herbs floating in your bath water, place ingredients in the center off a piece of muslin or cheesecloth and tie closed before allowing the bath water to run through it.
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Soothing Chocolate Almond Bath Salts
The addition of powdered milk makes this combination luxurious and soothing!

1 cup dried powdered milk
1 cup sea salt, Epsom salt, or a mixture of both
2 tbs. of almond oil
2-3 tsp. cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. almond extract (optional) - This is only to scent the mixture. Do not use more.

In a clean, dry bowl, add together the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. Add the almond oil and almond extract (if desired) and mix very well again. Transfer to small clean jars or cello bags and close tightly.

Bath salts start with salt, of course! A variety of salts can be used and they can be combined for texture and interest by using both fine and coarse salt. The most common types of salt used are Epsom salt, kosher salt or sea salt. A basic recipe for bath salts is as follows. Then oils are added for scent. These can be fragrance oils or essential oils. Fragrance oils tend to be cheaper because they are man-made, but essential oils last a long time because only a small amount is needed for a powerful scent. Either kind will work well in bath salts. Bath salts can be plain or colored with a few drops of food coloring to make them more vibrant and attractive.
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Basic Bath Salt Recipe

2 cups Epsom salts
1 teaspoon glycerin
2-3 drops scented oil as desired
2-3 drops food coloring as desired

Bath salts need to mixed in a plastic container that can be discarded or in a large, resealable plastic bag. Combine all ingredients together until well mixed.

Clumping can sometimes be a problem with homemade bath salts. Adding glycerin helps prevent clumps and also has the additional benefit of moisturizing skin. When placing you bath salts in bottles or jars for storage or gift-giving, it is important to wash and dry them at least six hours beforehand to prevent moisture from being introduced into the bath salts. Bath salts should also be kept tightly capped, as the damp bathroom air will make the salts lumpy.
For people with very dry skin or other skin conditions, this second recipe is especially good. It contains baking soda and milk, both of which are good for the skin.
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Dry Skin Bath Salts

½ cup baking soda
½ cup dry powdered milk
1 cup Epsom salts
1 cup sea salt
Fragrance and coloring as desired

Mix all ingredients well and place in bottles or jars.
This last recipe is for bubbling bath salts. Many people prefer to have bubbles in their baths, so this recipe combines both.
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Bubbling Bath Salts

2 cups kosher salt
1 cup fine sea salt
2-3 drops almond oil
2-3 drops food coloring
¼ cup baby shampoo

Combine the first three ingredients until smooth. Drizzle with baby shampoo. Mix well. Spread in an even layer on a cookie sheet covered with wax paper or parchment paper. Allow to dry. Store until ready for use.
Bath salts make a wonderful, luxurious gift. They can be packaged in decorative, small glass jars or bottles. The lids can be covered with fabric and secured with ribbon or raffia around the neck of the bottle. A small card with directions and a list of ingredients can be added. About 1/3 cup of salts can be used in standard tubs, while garden tub will call for twice that much. To make the salts attractive and fun, cosmetic grade glitter could be added or the bath salts could be colored in several shades and placed in the jar one color at a time for a layered effect.

I pack my salts into 1908 canning jars and give away as gifts all year long.

Free Paper Project Downloads

Great website with free paper project downloads.
Found HERE

Beaded Birds Tutorial

Ok I am crazed about these patterns
Bead tutorial can be found HERE

Fun Kids Craft Recipes

Edible Tempera Color for Cookie Decorate


2 lg Egg yolks
Liquid food coloring

Lightly beat 2 large egg yolks and divide evenly among 5 small
containers. Use liquid food coloring, adding a few drops at a time,
to color each mixture as desired. Apply colors with small clean paint
brush before baking cookies.

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Sidewalk Chalk

1 c Plaster of paris
1/2 c Cool water
Poster paints

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and then pour into molds, such as baking cups. When dried, peel off the paper.

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Monster Goop - (Non-edible)

1 c Elmer's glue
2 1/2 c Liquid starch
Food coloring.

In a medium bowl, mix glue and 1 cup of the starch together. Add a few drops of red/yellow food coloring (to make orange). Cover bowl and let it stand overnight.
The next day slowly stir in 1 to 1 1/2 cups of the starch until a big glop forms. Pour off extra starch. Store in a covered container or place in individual zip-loc bags to be included in the kid's treat bags.

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Clown Face Make-up

1 tsp. flour
1/2 tsp. water
1/2 tsp. cold cream
Food coloring

Mix and use!