Kick Arse Crafts: Bath & Body Works

1. Rosemary & Thyme Bath Syrup
CraftBits

2. Easy Body Butter
Samsara @ Craftster

3. Almond Oat Cleansing Meal
Donna Maria @ MakeYourCosmetics

4. Hair Rinse
The EGCG Blog

Kick Arse Crafts: Bath & Body Works

1. Milk Bath
The EGCG Blog

2. Flower Embed Soap
The Ponte Vedra Soap Shoppe

3. Ketchup Hair Mask Tip
Lifehacker

4. No Fail Bath Bombs
MareMare @ Craftster

Kick Arse Crafts: Bath and Body Works

So, I'm actually clearing out a lot of the blogs I read. If you are a reader and would like your blog added to the list let me know- I still like to "share teh lurv". I had a realization last night while pondering my pile of dishes and laundry- I'm letting the internet, blogging/reading blogs to be specific, take over my life. In other words: I need to unplug more. I'll still be posting my newest finds but I'm also going to go through my huge pile of bookmarked items. I guess this won't change much- maybe my format a little since I'll use the mosaic maker more. Just thought I'd mention it anyways.

1. Coconut Oil Hair Treatment
Etsy Green and Clean Guild

2. Basic Bath Bomb Recipe
The Ponte Vedra Soap Shoppe

3. Strawberry Swirl Lip Gloss
Adventures with the Sage

4. Bath Salts
The Idea Room

Another Quick and Easy Lip Balm

I love easy recipes. This Lip Balm Recipe from Little House in Suburbs sounds simple enough for me to go throw together right now. It's great that I don't have to weigh the measurements this time- I hate that part, or the cleanup afterwards I should say.

Sometimes it's the simple things in life...

And what could be more simple than this Perfume/Body Mist tutorial from Adventures With The Sage? It's seriously just alcohol and fragrance oil in a bottle. I know I'll be giving this one a go as Mother's Day draws near.

Pumpkin Face Mask

I can't remember the brand but when I was younger I always used to swipe my mothers pumpkin facial products. I don't know what is but there's something so comforting about pumpkin and spices. It makes me think of fall- long sleeved shirts, crunchy leaves, trick or treating, and family gatherings. The Etsy Green and Clean Guild gives us this recipe for a DIY Pumpkin Face Mask. It may not have that spicy smell but that's where a cup of chai tea comes in once you're finished. I know I'll enjoy it!

Homemade Spa Stuff

I'm still on my homemade bath and body kick which is why Cathie's homemade spa recipes would be so good for me. After I botched that last batch of lip balm I'm in need of some serious hand-holding for the next attempt. Better than their understandable directions, they use small ingredient amounts for the recipe. This means if I mess it up I won't be stuck with 10 junk lip balms in my fridge... again.

All-Natural Diaper Rash Cream

This is by far the best diaper cream I have ever used. Am hasn't had a single rash in the whole time we've used it. We just ran out yesterday so I had to go back to my petroleum based backup. Sure enough, today she has a horrid rash. It hurts just looking at it. So now it's back to the stove top to whip up another batch of Wabi Sabi Baby's All-Natural Diaper Rash Cream. (Note: If you need help finding zinc oxide drop me a line here and I'll go track down my source for you.)

Body Scrubs for Fellow Food Lovers

For those of you wanting to give some non-edible food related gifts, here are two mouth-watering body scrubs. I've tested both so I can certainly say they're worth the work. I stashed a ton of baby food jars back in the day so these will be the sample sets in my gift baskets.



The EGCG Blog posted this Sweet and Spicy Brown Sugar Body Polish. Personally this one reminds me a lot of gingerbread, smells soooo good. ^^



You can find this Lemon Tea Sugar Scrub over on Craftster.com. I thought the coloring on this one made a nice contrast and even my own mother liked the scent (which says a lot)!

"Homemade" Body Butter

I made this *lovely* body butter a few weeks back when I was experimenting with some recipes. I used Vanilla-Hazelnut Fragrance Oil for mine and it smells heavenly! I just simplified the recipe a bit more from the original and am certainly going to be making these for my X-mas Baskets this year.


You Will Need: 7 oz of Shea Aloe Butter ($7- 1 lb), Cosmetic-grade Fragrance or Essential Oil ($3- 1 oz of Vanilla-Hazelnut FO), 4 oz Jars ($5- 10 pk in Size 70), Matching Lids ($3- 10 pk in 70 mm), a makeshift double boiler or microwave, & a kitchen scale (about $4 at Walmart).

Basically what you'll do is measure out the butter into your double boiler or microwavable bowl. You'll heat the butter just long enough until it melts to a liquid form. Take it away from the heat. Then add your fragrance oil and stir- as much as you'd like. If I recall I think I used about 1 tsp. Pour the liquid into your containers. This made 2 4 oz jars worth. Let it cool and that's it- homemade body butter.

You'll still have enough ingredients left to make more. I ended up buying 3 lbs of the butter for $19 and plan to make 8 jars worth. This will come out to $4.25 each (probably more like $4.50-$5 when you count shipping) for a product that smells just like one you'd find at Bath and Body Works for $14 or more for 5 oz. In the end I'd say it's money well spent.

Teacup Candles

Christmas is getting closer day by day. I just ordered the supplies here to make some of Kate's Teacup Candles from Design Sponge and am on the edge of my seat, wanting to get started.

My tip for the day (if you're making these):
Check your local thrift/consignment store for glass punch bowl sets. I was able to pick up a set with about 12 cups, a ladle, & bowl for $4. That's only $0.34 per cup! You can color and scent them to be hot cocoa, eggnog, coffee, green tea, cider, etc. The sky's the limit. Plus, when you're done with this craft you'll still have a great big bowl to use for another project (or just to put punch in ^^).

Coffee-Cinnamon Infused Bath Salts

Craftster once again gives us a gem with the recipe for these budget friendly Coffee-Cinnamon Infused Bath Salts and, if coffee's not your thing, you can also find a variation for Green Tea-Ginger Salts instead.

3 Ingredient Moisturizing Lotion

If you're like me then you're already searching ahead for homemade Christmas gift ideas. Wabi Sabi Baby gives this simple recipe for 3 Ingredient Moisturizing Lotion. I'm no expert but I'm betting the most expensive ingredient would be the bottles to store it in.