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 Learning New Things!  Handmade Cold Process Soap

4/14/2017

17 Comments

 

Rustic Soap Challenge! 

Picture
 

This is my entry for the April Soap Challenge for the Soap Challenge Club.  The challenge was to create a rustic soap with minimalist packaging.  I decided to go green!  The soap is made with cucumber peel puree and nettle tea instead of water.  It's 44.5% Olive Oil, 26% Coconut Oil, 5.5% Castor Oil, 5.5% Avocado Oil and 18.5% Sunflower Oil.  I didn't add any essential oils and went with the earthy scent of the nettle and cucumber.  Surprisingly, the cucumbery nettle scent did survive the cold process. It's very earthy and subtle.  I did add a bit of French Green clay, but I think that most of the colour comes from the cucumber and nettle.  I am really pleased with the colour!  

The packaging proved to be the biggest ordeal.  I actually entered the challenge because I haven't gotten to the packaging part of soap making yet.  I'm very new to this, so this proved to be motivation.  My desk looked like a craft store bomb had gone off.  I was buried in all things rustic.  I finished a grand package with a tiny crate, paper grass, ribbons and tags.  It was elaborate and looked like an earthy Easter basket.  Then I re-read the challenge and discovered the "minimalistic" requirement!  Back to the drawing board.  I decided that I wanted it to look like a brown paper bag.  So I ran with that, did a chalkboard label and used a little hemp cord for the handle.  I used the soap stamp because I just got them in the mail!  I am currently in love with my soap stamps and couldn't resist showing one off!  

17 Comments
Amy Warden link
4/15/2017 09:40:13 am

I love how your soap turned out, Moira!! It is SOOO green - how lovely to get such a nice shade from natural colorants! The packaging and stamp add the perfect finishing touches. I'm so glad you took the challenge!

Reply
Moira
4/16/2017 01:58:35 pm

Thank you for taking a look! I forgot to mention that there is also a wee bit of ground nettle leaf in it too. I am currently obsessed with greens so the colour made me giddy! Thank you too for offering this challenge. I have really enjoyed the process so far :)

Reply
Michelle Rogerson link
4/22/2017 11:30:38 am

Now that is a pretty little soap, and love the creativity in how you came up with the recipe. The packaging is adorable - great job!

Reply
Moira
4/24/2017 01:57:06 pm

Thank You!

Reply
Debi Olsen link
4/22/2017 02:30:56 pm

My goodness, what a gorgeous color! Perfectly rustic and fabulous packaging. Great job!
P.S. I totally relate to the craft store bomb! I must have bought 1000 different possibilities to use - and ended up going with something entirely different! :D

Reply
Moira
4/22/2017 04:24:36 pm

Thank you! I'm wild about the colour. I also have a very large bag of rustic crafties that will perhaps last me a lifetime! :)

Reply
Eva link
4/22/2017 05:24:18 pm

I want to try cucumber peel now! I've used just the juice before, but had no idea how awesome the skin color would look. Cool to use Nettle as well! Hmmm, more ideas... :) super cute hanger sack too!

Reply
Moira
4/24/2017 01:57:59 pm

Thank you! I love natural colours.

Reply
Helene
4/23/2017 06:39:36 am

What a wonderful soap!! I love the colour you obtained with natural colorants.. and cucumber peel! I didn't know that could be used.. very original! ...and your stamp is perfect for the soap :-)

Reply
lisa link
4/23/2017 02:31:24 pm

I enjoyed your blog and love your packaging, I don't know why packaging seems to be so hard, I love your green color and the stamp very pretty soap~

Reply
Linda
4/23/2017 05:56:46 pm

Really love how the CP can make this beautiful rustic look with natural colorants, really love the colour, the textures and the packaging is so neat! Love this soap!!

Reply
Shaman Lisa link
4/23/2017 10:04:22 pm

WOW - that is an impressive natural green! LOVE it - and your packaging really sets it off!

Reply
Maria link
4/24/2017 06:30:29 am


I like the color of soap))) it is interesting - in time it will remain the same bright and juicy !? I like the stamp - it's so to face us with soap, but most of all I liked the idea with a handbag for a piece of soap !!! Good luck !!!

Reply
Jane
4/24/2017 09:54:27 pm

Love how green it is with natural colourants! To me rustic is about using all natural. Good Job :)

Reply
Claudia link
4/26/2017 01:19:15 pm

Gorgeous! I love the color, the stamp and the packaging! I will be very interested to hear what happens to the green over time, as natural greens always seem to fade away on me.

Reply
Moira
4/26/2017 01:48:34 pm

Thank you to everyone for all the encouraging comments!

Reply
Jelena link
4/26/2017 06:12:02 pm

I love the color and the texture of the soap! It does look beautifully rustic to me. Great job!

Reply



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