Just wanted to share my first soaps, I'm addicted already!

My first batch was olive oil, coconut oil, and lard. Left this one unscented to keep things simple and get a feel for the whole soapmaking thing.  I didn't have a mold so I used a few empty milk cartons. They warped a little during the curing but I think it turned out really well for my first batch! This one was cpop, big thanks to OhHappyDay for her tutorial, it was a great beginner recipe and helped me not to be afraid to give soap making a try!

My second batch was olive oil, coconut oil, and soybean oil. I used strong coffee in place of the water (phew did that stink!), and added hazelnut cappuccino and fresh brewed coffee fragrances as well as some used coffee grounds at trace. Made this one in a mold my dad made for me (thanks, Dad!), and attempted to oven proccess, but it started to get foamy on top, any ideas on that? Everything seems okay, no zap and it smells great and is curing nicely.

Just did my third batch last night with palm oil, coconut oil, and olive oil. Added Oatmeal, milk & honey fragrance and some ground oatmeal at trace. I left this one out to try to prevent gel, but up close it looks like it might have paritally gelled? Not really sure? Anyhow, it sliced up nicely and I can't wait to see how to cures! I think it might brown a little since the fragrance said it contains vanilla (this one was from WSP).

Anyway, I'm really excited about how my first attempts have turned out! No complete failures yet, but I don't expect every recipe to turn out as nice as these ones, haha.

Thanks for reading and offering opinions!
Oh and the soaps are all actually pretty nice and straight despite how the photo looks.  I took it on my phone and the angle was kind of wierd?  LOL

I got a great German package today from princesspepper! The box looked like it had been through a war zone and unfortunatly the saucers that go with my new awesome coffee mugs were damaged.  Actually, one arrived broken in half and the other one must have broken and fallen out of a hole in the side of the box!    But everything else was just fine and I love it all!  Without further ado:


For my two kids she included a copy of one of her favorite stories and two stuffed birds.  My older son promptly claimed the green one!   He also decided that the coin bank will be his as well. 

For the dh and I a few coffee mugs for our morning joe, as well as some chocolate mix (is this for chocolate milk or hot chocolate?)

Also, some gravy mixes (my moms favorite kind, will be gifting two to her and one for myself!), fruit drink mixes (to be mixed with club soda!), some really cute decorative papers (cats, zebras, elephants, floral), transparent paper (vellum), some neat postcards from her hometown, some grwat magazines (Burda, a cooking magazine, and a German edition of Glamour), TONS of candy!!! and most specially a really cute hanfbag which I've done a rotten job of photographing.  I'll be posting a better pic of that one tomorrow. 

Thanks Nadja from me and my family, we love everything!

I got my stamps from marabelle the other day and they are so amazing!  I love them all, so I am going to get a little picture happy, hope you don't mind.   Marabelle, what kind of ink do you use to stamp?  You got such even coverage, I'm never that lucky with any of my stamps?

First, here's the box she stamped on, I thought it was a sticker until I opened the box and found the stamp inside!


Here are all the stamps.  The Mrs. Incredible is obviously from my avatar, the butterfly because I love butterflies.  It is so intricate and beautiful!  The Happy Birthday is so I could make some cards to give out, and the made by diana so I can stamp all of my handcrafted creations. 


Playing with my stamps!



I also got a beautiful stamped card explaining each of the stamps, and I got an LTC (my first!) of marabelle's "literary fairy" stamp.  If you havn't seen it, you must check it out!


I can't believe this was marabelle's first swap, I'd take her for a partner any day!  Thanks marabelle, I love them all!

Calebsmama recieved my stamps a few days ago and said I could post pics that I took before mailing.  The monkey image was based off of an image I found online that I can't find anymore, or else I'd give the original artist credit! 

Here are the stamped images colored in with some artist chalks:


And the carved stamps themselves:


I had so much fun with these!

This was my first attempt at real poly clay work.  Up until now I've mostly dont basic modelling (kind of cartoonish stuff).  I wasn't sure how it would work without a pasta machine, and I never did find out because I decided to break down and just buy one.   I'm still thinking about trying it out just with a roller.  (Diane, I'll let you know my results when I try it out)

Anyway, it is a polymer clay pendant using mica shift technique and rubber stamping.  Its such a cool effect where although the piece looks 3 dimensional, it is actually flat on top. Neat, eh?

Here's a link to the tutorial I used, the audio was really faint for me but I pressed my ear up against the speaker.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=OGBNV7IBNyY

I'm putting together a stamping kit for OWS and had to pick up an extra set of supplies to give this stamp carving a go for myself.   These are the first two stamps I came up with.  Thanks to everyone who has posted tips/tricks/tutorials, so much help!

Gumby will be living with my MIL's girlfriend who loves the green guy (yeah, I gotta get some green ink before the Gumby police come after me). My son was so excited about the first stamp that after he fell asleep tonight I decided to carve him a George, so he'll have a little suprise waiting for him tomorrow.

Definatly not perfect, but not too shabby either!

I guess this could go in either the embroidery forum or here, so I just picked one.   I made a pair of baby booties for the Ongoing Wish Swap using a pattern for Bitty Booties available here: http://heatherbailey.typepad.com/heather_bailey/2006/06/bitty_booties.html.  The pattern was easy to follow, and I was so happy with how they turned out!  I used wool felt and made fabric yo-yos for the blossoms and embroidered the stems, butterflies, and some grass.  This was my first time embroidering and making yo-yos, it was a lot of fun!  Here is a pic taken by the recipient, Banga, as her photos turned out much better than mine.

I recieved from Quilted yesterday!  She claimed me for hair ties, vintage brooch, and supplies.  I love the hair ties she sent me, they are exactly what I was hoping for.  The fabrics she used are really pretty, I wish I could see what the whole prints look like.  The brooch she sent me is from her grandparent's costume jewelry store, and although she isn't sure exactly when it was made, but it's definatly pre-1965.  I can't wait to use it as an embellishment on a bag I'm making for my mom, she will just love it!  Also included were lots of zippers, which I really need (big project), some neat buttons and snaps, and two sheets of felt (not pictured) which I've already cut to use on a project!  Sorry for the camera phone pics, I was having trouble with my camera last night so decided to make sure I get some photos up and used the camera phone. 


She also sent me a letter on wonder woman stationary, which was really cool!  I wanted to get a close-up of the brooch, but it refused to be photographed. I will try to get better pics up when I figure out what happened to my camera (probably toddler related).

Thanks Quilted!!!!!!

This was my second ever crochet project, the all elusive fat bottom bag.  It's just done in cheap carlson simply soft in country blue.  I finally found a use for the tweed remnant I found at hobby lobby for 26 cents.   The brooch I found on the floor at the Olive Garden I work at, it was broken so I took it home and loved it a little and now it adorns my new bag!  Sorry for the picture quality, the second one is more true to color.

Prepare to be jealous! Indigo_Roses crafted me some wonderful gifts for this (my first) swap, I am pleased at how everything she sent me is not only beautiful and Harry Potter-licious, but it’s all useful! I’m not a huge fan of knick-knacks, but I know I will use everything she sent me.  Thanks Katy!


My dog Stanley was curious!


Not one, but two modgepodged boxes for all of my HP goodies! She made sure all my favorite characters were included in the photos on the boxes. Sorry for a blurry pic.




A HP stamp she hand carved (I know she’s been experimenting with stamps lately and I hoped I would get one!), a blue Ravenclaw inkpad to go with it, Gryffindor earrings (where did you find those charms?), and a radish necklace, yay!



Because every HP enthusiast has to have one, a house scarf in Ravenclaw colors. And through a little bit of stalking she knew I just started crocheting and sent me a skein of beautiful wool yarn. I’ve just been using cheap acrylic while I’m still learning, so I might have to save this for the “perfect project” when I get a little better. It’s some really pretty yarn, I love the colors! 



And last but not least, a HUGE Hogwarts bag! Seriously it’s a monster, it’s about 12x18!  She even lined it with pretty blue fabric that reminds me of a starry sky, sewn in by hand.  The bag was difficult to photograph because of it’s size. The photo doesn’t show how awesome it really is! I just had a baby last month and have been looking for a new diaper bag, I think I’ve found it! Finally something not covered in gingham and Pooh!   Thanks Katy, I love everything!



PS- I’ll post an action shot when my SO gets home and takes a picture!