Library Reading

Homemade Vanilla Sugar Candle

January 24, 2017 By Ann 3 Comments

Homemade Vanilla Sugar Candle

This easy to make homemade vanilla sugar candle is really sweet! The sugar makes for a beautiful glistening look and smells a lot like home baked cookies. Get started with candle making using this homemade vanilla sugar candle tutorial.

How is this for a super cute, unique candle idea? The bonus is it is a soy candle, so no build up on the walls or ceiling. I absolutely adore soy candles. They are my go-to candle when buying, and now when making.

If you like soy candles too, you may like these candle recipes and tutorials: Homemade Coffee Bean Soy Candle (like fresh brewed coffee!? this one is for you!), Homemade Mason Jar Soy Candle (any color, any scent! Truly customizable) or this delicious Homemade Autumn Spice Soy Candles tutorial. Get into candle making! It is really easier than you think.

Homemade Vanilla Sugar Candle Materials:

• 2 cups Soy Wax
• 1 Candlewick (with a weighted bottom)
10 Drops Vanilla Candle Scent (You could also use Vanilla Essential Oil if you have it on hand)
• 1 tsp Decorators Sugar
• Glass Measuring Cup
• Pencil, Chopstick or Wooden Stick
• Scissors
• Glass Jelly or Mason Jar

Homemade Vanilla Sugar Candle Instructions:

• Place your candlewick in a glass jelly or mason jar allowing the wick to drop to the bottom.
• To hold the candlewick in place, wrap the top around a pencil or chopstick.
• Place the stick over the jar and let the bottom of it drop to the bottom. A weighted candlewick does this nicely and settles on its own.

• Add 2 cups of soy wax to your large glass measuring cup (do not use a plastic measuring cup) and heat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. or Using a double boiler on the stove to heat the soy wax flakes until they liquefy. (If using a non-stick pan to heat the soy flakes, use a very low heat and stir frequently – do not allow to scorch.)
• Add vanilla scent to the liquid soy wax (you can use more than is listed here, and if you prefer a scent other than vanilla, use that!).
• If you want to color your candle, DO NOT use food coloring as it will not mix well. This candle is naturally white, but if you wish to add color use pieces of broken crayon to do so. Peel the crayon and break it into small pieces (just ¼ of a crayon will work for a light color, more is necessary to achieve the darker colors). Allow the wax to melt and tint the mixture.

• Slowly pour your liquid soy candle wax into the glass jelly or mason jar
• Immediately re-center the candlewick if needed.
• Store the candle in a cool place until it sets. Allow it to harden at its own pace.
• After approximately 30 minutes – when the candle has begun to solidify – sprinkle the top of the candle with decorator sugar.
• Once the mixture has hardened, remove the pencil and you can snip the candlewick to shorten it.

• Light and enjoy!

Safety tip: never leave a lit candle unattended!

• This is a super easy project! You can dress up your Mason Jars with ribbons when giving as a gift! Think teachers, small gift exchanges, housewarming presents, stocking stuffers and more!

• To print the Homemade Vanilla Sugar Candle instructions, click here.

• Disclosure: the links in this post may be affiliate links.

• For more Craft posts on Ann’s Entitled Life, click here.

• If you enjoyed this post, be sure to sign up for the Ann’s Entitled Life weekly newsletter, and never miss another article!

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Filed Under: Crafts, Decor, Library Reading

How to Make Your Own Soothing Foot Balm

January 19, 2017 By Ann 1 Comment

How to Make Your Own Soothing Foot Balm

Many of us get hardened feet and cracked heels from time to time. It is pretty safe to say all of us get tired, worn out feet at times. If you need help with hard, cracked heels and tired and sore feet, this foot balm may be just what you need. Try this lovely Soothing Foot Balm with Melaleuca and Peppermint Essential Oils!

At the base of this soothing foot balm are some awesome, all-natural ingredients that may have positive benefits for your body – such as shea butter and beeswax. The bottom of your feet is the best place to put ingredients like this as well because it leads directly to so many vital places in your body. (Check out this reflexology chart online if you are unfamiliar! It is amazing!)

The essential oils of melaleuca and peppermint are both considered powerhouse oils, too. The melaleuca has antifungal and antibacterial properties and many people feel it really helps soothe and heal the skin. It can really help with your feet, and if you have cracking going on, make sure you apply this balm liberally to it! The peppermint extract may help by relaxing you, cooling your feet and helping to relieve pain and tiredness. Peppermint is so invigorating! So, give your feet a good soak and then apply this soothing foot balm to help with those cracks and tired, worn tootsies.

Soothing Foot Balm Ingredients:

• ¼ cup Shea Butter
• 2 TBSP Coconut Oil
• 2 TBSP Olive Oil
• ½ oz Beeswax Pastilles (or if you have the brick type, just be sure to chop it up somewhat to let it melt easier.)
• 15 drops Melaleuca Essential Oil
• 13 drops Peppermint Essential Oil

Soothing Foot Balm Mise en Place:

• Measuring Cup
• Double Boiler
• Spoon
• Measuring Spoons
• Spatula
• (1) 4 oz Glass jar or (4) 1 oz Glass Jars (I personally used 4 of the 1 oz. size ones.)

Soothing Foot Balm Directions:

• Set out your clean jars. Remove the lids. Set aside.
• Fill the bottom of your double boiler about half – 2/3 full of water. Bring to a full boil, then lower the heat to a simmer so your beeswax and shea butter does not burn or scorch.
• Add the beeswax to the top of the double boiler (not the water part!). Stir occasionally until melted.

• Chop up the shea butter and add it to the beeswax once the beeswax has melted. Allow the shea butter to melt. Stir occasionally.

• Once the beeswax and shea butter is completely melted and smooth (no lumps!), add in the coconut oil and olive oil; mix well.
• Add in the Melaleuca Essential Oil and the Peppermint Essential Oil; stir well.

• Once your balm is well blended and a clear liquid with no lumps, pour the foot balm slowly into the jars. Leave a small amount of head room.

• Allow the soothing foot balm to set up for an hour or two at room temperature, before putting on your lids.
• Your foot balm will start out clear and then you will start to see the wax setting up and cooling. I always feel the bottom center to test and see if it is cooled before I am sure they are ready to add a lid.

To Use the Soothing Foot Balm:

• Put a small amount of soothing foot balm on your finger and rub the balm thoroghly over any cracked or sore area on the bottom of your feet. (Do this to a damp and clean foot as the moisture will help it set in.)
• Rub around toes and in arch for sore feet as well.
• Use as needed.

Note: None of this is meant as medical advice. I am not a doctor and do not play one on the internet. Please consult a physician if you have any questions about using essential oils so your doctor can better explain to you the benefits, possible side effects, and any warnings about essential oils.

You may also be interested in these DIY Beauty tutorials:
• DIY Peppermint Hand Cream
• Easy DIY Peppermint Bath Bombs Recipe
• Make Your Own Peppermint Soap

• To print the How to Make Your Own Soothing Foot Balminstructions click here.

• Disclosure: the links in this post may be affiliate links.

• For more DIY Beauty posts on Ann’s Entitled Life, click here.

• If you enjoyed this post, be sure to sign up for the Ann’s Entitled Life weekly newsletter, and never miss another article!

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Filed Under: DIY Beauty, Library Reading, Lotions

Make Your Own Orange Creamsicle Soap

January 17, 2017 By Ann 1 Comment

orange soap and orange kitchen towel on beadboard background

Making your own soap is fast, fun and easy. This terrific recipe for Orange Creamsicle Soap smells fantastic and feels wonderful on your skin. If you enjoy a zesty citrus scent, follow these easy tutorial instructions to learn how to make Orange Creamsicle Soap!

Make Your Own Orange Creamsicle Soap

Who loves Orange Creamsicles? I clearly do as witnessed by these Orange Creamsicle drink recipes: Orange Creamsicle Cocktail Recipe and Orange Creamsicle Jello Shots Recipe. So, I figured Why not Orange Creamsicle Soap? It smells great, feels good, and making soap is pretty darned easy. Why not an Orange Creamsicle Soap?

Note: If you also enjoy soap making, you may be interested in these soap recipes:

• Lavender and Oats Goat Milk Soap Recipe
– This soothing recipe of luxurious goat’s milk, hydrating shea butter and exfoliating oatmeal smells fantastic and feels great on your skin. Treat yourself to a spa-like experience with this wonderful Lavender and Oats Goat Milk Soap Recipe.

• Rose Petal Soap Recipe – This homemade rose soap recipe incorporates some of the garden’s most beautiful flowers – and my personal favorite – Roses! You will be amazed to learn how easy it is to make homemade soap with rose petals and buds. Roses are purported to calm your mind and reduce your stress level via their aromatic fragrance.

• DIY Peppermint Soap Recipe – The wonderful and invigorating peppermint scent will wake you up in the morning!! Remember, you control the ingredients, so you know exactly what is in the soap you are making and using.

• Snowflake Soap – Make your own Snowflake Soap! Perfect for the holidays or winter season, these decorative snowflake soaps are highly customizable. Changing the scent really is easy in soapmaking. I love making soap. it is wonderful to customize the scents, the colors, and really make great seasonal soaps to use at home or give as gifts.

And now on to the Orange Creamsicle Soap tutorial!

Make Your Own Orange Creamsicle Soap. Making your own soap is fast, fun and easy. This terrific recipe for Orange Creamsicle Soap smells fantastic, and feels wonderful on your skin. If you enjoy a zesty citrus scent, follow these easy tutorial instructions to learn how to make orange creamsicle soap!

Orange Creamsicle Soap Ingredients:

• 1+ cups White Melt and Pour Soap Block
• 8 drops Orange Essential Oil
• 1 Orange (for zest)
• 3 drops Orange Soap Colorant

Orange Creamsicle Soap Mise en Place:

• Soap Mold
• Large Glass Measuring Cup
• Silicone or Wooden Spoon or Stir Stick
• Cheese Grater
• Rubbing Alcohol (and spray bottle if needed)

Orange Creamsicle Soap Directions:

• Cut ice cube sized pieces off your block of soap and place in a clear glass measuring cup. Note: how much soap base you need really depends on the size of your soap mold. This soap mold makes 5 oz bars of soap x 4 = 20 oz. That is one and a quarter cups. If your molds make 3 ounce bars x 4 = 12 ounces, or ¾ cup. Know your mold soap size to measure out an accurate amount of soap base you will need to melt.
• Microwave your soap on high for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds until melted.
• Mix in your orange essential oil and orange soap colorant. (Remember, you can always add more for a deeper scent or richer color.)

• Using a cheese grater, zest the orange. Place a small amount (a pinch) of the orange zest into each soap mold.

• Add the remaining orange zest to your liquid soap.

• Pour the melted soap into your molds.
• Spray lightly with rubbing alcohol to prevent air bubbles.
• Place your mold in your freezer for 45 minutes.
• Once your Orange Creamsicle soap is hardened, pull on the sides of the molds to release the soap from the sides, and press up on the bottom gently to remove soaps.

• If presenting as gifts, you can tie with a ribbon, wrap with cellophane and a ribbon, etc.
• These are perfect for display, gift giving, or to set in a linen closet as well as everyday use!

• To print the Orange Creamsicle Soap Recipe click here.

• Disclosure: the links in this post may be affiliate links.

• For more DIY Beauty posts on Ann’s Entitled Life, click here.

• If you enjoyed this post, be sure to sign up for the Ann’s Entitled Life weekly newsletter, and never miss another article!