Soap Deli News

DIY Lemon Lip Gloss Recipe

2012-05-23T08:00:00.000-04:00

LEMON LIP GLOSS
(Recipe courtesy of SpaIndex.com: Guide to Spas)

INGREDIENTS:
2 teaspoons of grated beeswax or pellets
1 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon Aloe Vera
1 teaspoon pure lemon extract
1 tablespoon Vitamin E Oil
3-6 drops of Lemon Essential Oil

DIRECTIONS:
Select a lip gloss pot, readily available from container stores, or, from used makeup or cosmetics. Insure the container is sterile by boiling it in hot water. This will help prevent contamination of your finished product, which could lead to spoilage. Melt beeswax, remove from heat and while constantly stirring - add honey, aloe vera, almond extract, and Vitamin E. Add the Lemon essential oil last. Store in a clean pot, preferably in the refrigerator.

For quality, organic essential oils and other ingredients for this project, I highly recommend shopping with Mountain Rose Herbs.

(Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

DIY Father's Day Gifts - Homemade Bay Rum Aftershave and Handmade Bay Rum Soap

2012-05-22T07:30:00.000-04:00

Father's Day is just around the corner. And just for dad, I recommend giving the gift of homemade! A bar of handmade bay rum shaving soap and a container of homemade bay rum aftershave you've made yourself ties together perfectly as a great Father's Day gift!

The Handmade Bay Rum Goat Milk Soap for Men from Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen makes the perfect gift for dad on Father's Day! This incredible handmade men's soap boasts a masculine fragrance perfect for men with dry or more sensitive skin. This handmade soap is scented with a masculine, old time barber shop blend of bay leaves and orange peel. It is strongly scented so you are left with a light fragrance on your skin afterward. Men love this in the shower and for shaving too!

This handmade goat milk soap is specially formulated for normal to dry skin and is hand crafted in small batches using the cold process soapmaking method. It contains rich, wholesome goat's milk, shea butter, cocoa butter, olive oil, rice bran oil and even colloidal oatmeal. (It's the same great recipe as Rebecca's bestselling Handmade Unscented Goat Milk Soap.) You'll find this bar is highly scented for a fragrance that lasts even stepping out of the shower. Use it on your face, hands, and body and even try it in your hair! It's all natural expect for the fragrance and contains no color. This soap is available now from Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen.

Now that you've got your soap, why not try your hand at a homemade bay rum scented after shave for dad with this easy aftershave recipe.

BAY RUM AFTERSHAVE

Recipe courtesy of SpaIndex.com: Guide to Spas

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup vodka
2 tablespoons Jamaican rum
2 dried bay leaves
1/4 teaspoons whole allspice
1 cinnamon stick
zest from a small orange

DIRECTIONS:
Mix together all the ingredients and place into a clean jar with a tight fitting lid. Place the jar in a dark, cool place for 2 weeks. After two weeks, strain liquid through several layers of cheesecloth or a coffee filter. Discard solids. To use, splash on the face after shaving.

Organic herb, oils, and spices are available in bulk and at great prices at Mountain Rose Herbs.

(Shaving Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

DIY Handmade Shaving Soap in a Mug - Great Father's Day Gift

2012-05-21T08:00:00.000-04:00

Want to make a personalized gift for dad on Father's Day? Then try your hand at crafting a handmade shaving soap mug! This craft project makes a great Father's Day gift and even the kids can join in on this one!

Here's what you'll need:

A clean, empty mug - I used a handmade mug from LaPella Pottery
A 4oz. bar of unscented, handmade soap or soap slivers that weigh a total of 4oz. - I used a bar of Unscented Banana Oatmeal Soap
3 Tablespoons milk
A small amount of essential oil or fragrance oil of your choice - Mountain Rose Herbs is a great source for organic essential oils
A Shaving Brush

Here's what you do:

1. Grate your bar of handmade soap or leftover soap slivers into a saucepan.

2. Your grated soap should look like this. There's no need to grate it as fine as possible. Stir in 3 Tablespoons of milk (alternately you may use distilled water, but I think milk works best) and put on medium heat.

3. Stir the soap occasionally until fully melted. Once melted stir in your choice of essential oils or fragrance oils and mix well. Sandalwood is a great choice for a masculine scented essential oil as is a combination of cedar and sage essential oils. Generally you'll want to use about 2-4% of essential oil per your total soap weight or 4-8% in fragrance oils. But always refer to manufacturer guidelines on how much fragrance or essential oil should be used. I used a fragrance oil called Edward's Temptation for this soap that is a blend of Bergamot, Rosemary, Moss, Sandalwood, Mint, and Amber.

4. Spoon the melted soap into your clean mug. Then allow to cool and harden. The soap is ready to be used as soon as it has hardened and all excess liquid has evaporated from the soap.

5. Pair your mug of shaving soap with a Shaving Brush and gift to your favorite man!

Alternately this method of soapmaking - which is commonly referred to as handmilling or rebatching - can be used with any leftover handmade soap to create new soaps with a fresh, new fragrance outside of a mug. Instead of pouring the soap into mugs, simply pour it into molds and remove once hardened. (The soap will shrink slightly as the excess liquid evaporates making them easier to remove from the molds.) Or, wait for the melted soap to cool and roll into soap balls. Gifting can be as easy as wrapping in waxed paper with a ribbon!

Don't forget, Father's Day this year is June 17th! If you don't have time to make dad something special, you can still give him the gift of handmade! From now through June 17th, 2012 at 11:59pm ET Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen is offering 25% off all Handmade Men's Soaps. Simply apply coupon code: FORDAD to your cart before you make your payment and 25% will be deducted from all qualifying soaps in your cart. Choose from masculine scents like Bay Rum, Fragrant Woods, Abalone and Sea, Cedarwood and Sage, Eucalyptus Tea Tree, Forest Pine, Mountain Lake, and Appalachian Trail.

Handmade Summer Jewelry Inspired by Nature, Perfect for Summer

2012-05-20T08:00:00.001-04:00

There's been such a great response so far to the Modern Flower Child Handmade Jewelry Giveaway that's running now on Soap Deli News, I thought I'd share some more beautiful handmade creations by other talented artisans.

Above: Tropical Green Flower Bracelet handmade by Modern Flower Child (USA)

These one of a kind jewelry creations, like those handcrafted by Modern Flower Child (above), are also inspired by nature and are available in this summer's hottest trending colors. I hope you enjoy my selections and be sure to enter for your chance to win your choice of handmade jewelry from Modern Flower Child though Soap Deli News through May 31, 2012.

Clockwise from top right: Malva Flower Necklace handmade by AhoyAhimsa (Germany), Lavender Dangle Earrings handmade by Block Party Press (USA), Mosaic Brass Cuff Bracelet handmade by Lizards Jewelry (USA), Three Real Butterflies Bridal Hair Comb handmade by Neile (USA).

Clockwise from top right: Woodland Jewelry Gemstone Bracelet handmade by Cheryl Parrott Jewelry (USA), White Butterfly Post Earrings handmade by Spot Light Jewelry (USA), Initial Personalized Pressed Flower Necklace handmade by Studio Botanica (USA), Garden Tea Party Birds Decoupage Cuff Bracelet handmade by Albina Rose (USA).

What's your favorite summer accessory to wear?

DIY Spa: Lemon Facial Recipe

2012-05-19T09:30:00.000-04:00

LEMON FACIAL MASK
(Recipe courtesy of SpaIndex.com: Guide to Spas)

INGREDIENTS:

2 tablespoons sour cream
1 teaspoon finely ground oatmeal
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 drop lemon essential oil
Cucumber slices (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Mix the sour cream, oatmeal, lemon juice and essential together in a bowl. To use, massage over clean face and neck skin and the rest for 10 minutes (with cucumber slices if you have them) over your eyes. Rinse well with warm water and follow with toner and moisturizer.

Always use Lemon Facial Mask immediately for best results -- the lemon juice will cause the sour cream to curdle if it is not used quickly.

Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen buys her organic, bulk essential oils from Mountain Rose Herbs.

(Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

DIY Natural Athelete's Foot Treatment Recipe

2012-05-18T08:30:00.000-04:00

ATHLETE'S FOOT TREATMENT

(Recipe courtesy of SpaIndex.com: Guide to Spas)

INGREDIENTS:
20 to 30 garlic cloves, minced
2 to 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 to 4 teaspoons powdered cloves
5 oz. 100-proof vodka

DIRECTIONS:

Add garlic, cinnamon, and cloves to vodka in a dark-colored glass jar or bottle with lid. Seal tightly. Store out of direct sunlight for two weeks, shaking to mix every few days. The tincture will be ready to use in 14 days.

To treat athlete's foot, use cotton balls or a cloth to apply the tincture to the entire sole of the foot as well as between all the toes. Apply twice a day, morning and night. Let dry, then dust the entire foot with cornstarch. If a rash or any unusual irritation develops, discontinue using Athlete's Foot Treatment. If, after having used this treatment for two weeks and athlete's foot symptoms continue, consult your physician.

Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen recommends purchase quality, organic herbs and essential oils in bulk from Mountain Rose Herbs.

(Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

DIY Coffee Body Scrub Recipe

2012-05-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

COFFEE BODY SCRUB
Recipe courtesy of SpaIndex.com: Guide to Spas

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups of coarsely ground coffee beans*
1/2 cup raw sugar or sea salt
2-3 tablespoons massage oil

DIRECTIONS:

Mix all ingredients together. Take a hot shower to moisten your skin and open your pores. Using wide, circular motions, rub the coffee exfoliant onto your skin with strong, even pressure. Shower off, pat skin dry, and apply a thin layer of your favorite body lotion.

*We've tried this with used coffee grounds from our coffee maker and it worked just fine. After all, you're after the exfoliating effect and the fact you've used the grounds to brew coffee doesn't lessen this effect. It also makes them a tad softer. Consider it a new form of composting and recycling!

(Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

DIY Homemade Vitamin E Cream Recipe

2012-05-16T07:30:00.000-04:00

HOMEMADE VITAMIN E CREAM RECIPE
Recipe courtesy of SpaIndex.com: Guide to Spas

INGREDIENTS:
2 teaspoons plain yogurt
1/2 teaspoons honey
1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
3 capsules vitamin E (equivalent of 300 units)

DIRECTIONS:

Combine yogurt, honey and lemon juice. Open the vitamin E capsules and fold contents into the mix. Gently massage into skin; Leave on skin for 15 minutes. Shelf life: 3-4 days.

SpaIndex.com Tip: You've heard the adage "Never cook with wine you wouldn't drink." This holds equally true for home spa remedies. Never use ingredients for your home spa treatments that you wouldn't want to eat. Your skin, the largest organ on your body, breathes and is porous. It will absorb the properties of the ingredients you are using. Don't "clean out the fridge or pantry" to create your home remedies. Use fresh, high quality ingredients for the best results, and do not store the assembled-treatment any longer than the shelf life of the *most* perishable ingredient. In addition, take care to research the properties of all essential oils you plan to use in a recipe. Some are photo-sensitive and can contribute to burning when in the sun, and others are harmful during pregnancy. See our Essential Oils List as a start, but research fully. (Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen recommends purchasing organic essential oils from Mountain Rose Herbs.) Finally, insure the containers or jars you will be using are sterile by boiling them in hot water. This will help prevent contamination of your finished product, which could lead to spoilage.

(Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

Handmade Spring and Summer Fashion Color Trends - From Accessories to Home Decor

2012-05-15T21:13:00.000-04:00

The Pantone Color Institute^®is THE trendsetter for fashion and home decor color trends. Touted as the global authority on color, here are the colors that Pantone says will be hot for the spring and summer of 2012.

The colors for this season include: Tangerine Tango, Solar Power, Bellflower, Cabaret, Sodalite Blue, Cabaret, Sweet Lilac, Margarita, Cockatoo, Driftwood and Starfish. To read more on these exciting colors and how to pair them, be sure to read the Pantone Color Fashion Report.

Looking for some great, handmade summer accessories that utilize these great color combinations? Here are just a few of my favorite summer accessories that are sure to take your traditional store bought wardrobe and make it pop!

Clockwise from top left: 6" Fabby Purse handmade by Oh Sweet Bag Of Mine (UK), Seashell Bracelet handmade by Amra Designs (USA), The Big Cool Bag handmade by My Lovely Sunshine (Israel), Orange Ceramic Fashion Jewelry Ring handmade by Azulado (Portugal).

Clockwise from top left: Bright Colors Pop Art Circles Headband handmade by Janine Basil (UK), Custom Embroidered Initial Necklace handmade by The Merriweather Council (USA), Maxi Siamese Transistors Double Metal Frame Purse handmade by Octopurse (Belguim), Retro and Eco-friendly Cassette Case Wallet handmade by Mama Pacha (USA).

But don't just decorate yourself with these fun new colors, bring them into your home as well! Here is a just a sample of my favorite, handmade housewares and home decor items that boast Pantone's spring and summer color trends for 2012.

Top to bottom: Eco-Friendly Re-usable Nesting Bowl Covers handmade by Sew Much Style (USA), Set of Four Framed Chalkboards handmade by Shugabee Lane (USA).

Clockwise from top left: Seaside Glass Bottle Terrarium Collection handmade by Doodle Bird Imaginariums (USA), Icelandic Driftwood Coaster handmade by Railis (Iceland), Hawaiian Aloha Decorative Pillow Cover handmade by Pillowation (Ukraine).

What are your favorite Pantone colors for Spring and Summer of 2012?

DIY Herb Markers or Garden Stakes for Summer Fun Gardening

2012-05-14T21:43:00.000-04:00

Now that the threat of frost is finally over here in Southwestern Virginia, I can start some serious outdoor planting. For marking my rows of vegetables and herbs, I thought it'd be fun to craft my own DIY Herb Markers. Not only are these garden plant or row markers easy to craft, but they also make a great kids' project! Make some for yourself or as a gift for mom tucked inside a pot of herbs for Mother's Day or her birthday. Or bundle some together for Dad on Father's Day as a gift to line his garden rows! They also make great party favors or gifts for your favorite gardeners!

This project is relatively simple and isn't very time consuming. You will need a few supplies for this project though.

Here's what you need:

Frosted Ruff & Ready Shrinky Dink Paper

Colored Pencils

Permanent Black Marker

Herb Marker Template

Imagination

Oven

Brown Paper

Cookie Sheet

Scissors

Clear Acrylic Spray, Optional

Here's what you do:

1. Print out the provided herb garden marker template. Place a blank page of your Shrinky Dink paper on top of the template, rough side up.

2. Trace the template with a permanent black marker onto your Shrinky Dink plastic.

3. Color in your garden marker as desired with colored pencils. The darker you color, the more vibrant your finished herb marker will be. (My favorite pencils to use are PrismaColor Pencils for their rich, bold and blend-able color.

4. Once you've colored in your garden stakes to your liking, cut them out along the outer edge. Then place on brown paper on a cookie sheet.

5. Bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 minutes and remove from the oven.

6. Allow your shrunk herb marker to cool for a minute or two then remove from the cookie sheet.

7. If desired, you may spray your finished piece with a clear acrylic spray for extra protection.

8. Place your completed herb marker in a pot to mark your plant or in your garden to mark your rows.

Making these great gift worthy herb markers for your own garden? Then be sure to also check out the handmade exfoliating lettuce gardener's goat milk soap from Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen! It's handcrafted from all natural ingredients to get rid of tough dirt and grime while helping to prevent hands from drying out due to repeated washings. Additionally you may also be interested in the great selection of quality, organic seeds available from Mountain Rose Herbs.

For more fun DIY shrinky dink projects, be sure to check out the blog post, DIY Shrinky Dink Magnets - Great Weekend Kids' Craft Project.

Do you garden? If so, what types of thing have you used to mark your plants or garden rows?

Modern Flower Child Handmade Jewelry Giveaway

2012-05-13T13:31:00.001-04:00

It's Mother's Day! So in celebration of all the great moms, moms to be and daughters out there, I'm happy to announce a brand new giveaway being sponsored by Modern Flower Child!

Modern Flower Child is a fabulous handmade jewelry shop that features handmade, real dried flower resin jewelry. The artist behind Modern Flower Child was born to hippie parents, loves being artistic and creative and, as a mom of course, adores her daughter Amelia. She works with resin and nature to make unique, handmade flower bangles that mimic the style of the early 1970's.

And lucky you! You have a chance to win ANY handmade resin flower bracelet from Modern Flower Child that you choose! These bracelets are the perfect summer accessory for yourself, but also make birthday and holiday gifts for moms, sisters, friends and co-workers!

Want a chance to win? Simply be sure to read the rules before entering then enter via Rafflecopter below! The contest ends a minute after midnight EST on May 31, 2012 and is open worldwide.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mother's Day Gift Idea: Handmade Milk Bath Recipe

2012-05-08T19:26:00.001-04:00

Moms work hard and if you're a mom then you know that we don't always get the sleep we need. Sometimes a day off is just what we had in mind. So for Mother's Day, here's a quick and easy recipe for making a relaxing milk bath to help ensure a good night's rest. Whether you're a mom who needs this for herself, or a son or daughter who just wants to give mom a simple gift from the heart, this is a sure winner as a Mother's Day gift for any mom who needs to unwind.

Insomnia Milk Bath Recipe

Recipe courtesy of SpaIndex.com: Guide to Spas

Lavender is well known for its calming properties, however, every facet of this recipe is designed with rest in mind.

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon Almond oil

4 drops Lavender essential oil

3 drops Marjoram essential oil

2 drops Benzoin essential oil

1 cup of powdered milk

Instructions:

Pour oils into a small bowl, mix thoroughly. Stir in 1 cup of powdered milk. Add mixture to bath water.

Looking for more lavender scented products? Be sure to visit Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen for an array of handmade lavender soaps, lotions and lip balms. And be sure to check out Mountain Rose Herbs as your supplier for quality, organic essential oils.

Are you a mom? If you could have anything as a Mother's Day gift, what would want to receive?

(Photo Credit: Everything-Lavender.Com is your source for Lavender Information)

In Love with Lavender Bath & Body Giveaway

2012-04-19T19:31:00.000-04:00

In love with lavender? Then enjoy at your convenience! Enter to win a lavender bath and beauty package from Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen and wear the summer scent of lavender wherever you go.

Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen recently added four wonderful, new handmade products to its bath and body line. These products include: Natural Handmade Lavender Mint Lip Balm, Handmade Lavender Goat Milk Soap, Handmade Lavender Goat Milk Lotion, and Handmade Natural Lavender Solid Sugar Scrub Cubes. To promote these new products, Rebecca is giving away a prize package consisting of her Lavender Mint Lip Balm, Lavender Goat Milk Soap, Lavender Goat Milk Lotion, and any additional bar soap of the winner's choice!

If you're itching to get your hands on some of these amazing handmade bath and body products now, you can save on your purchase when you also purchase any sale items from Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen. Simply spend a minimum of $20 before shipping and receive an additional 25% off all sale products when you apply coupon code: 25SALE to your cart before payment. Spend $50 and receive an additional 50% off all sale products in your cart with coupon code: 50SALE - Coupon codes expire on April 30, 2012 at 11:59pm ET. Shipping is within the USA only and is never more than $6 no matter how much you spend! Shop now for Mother's Day gifts and save on handmade gifts for both mom and a little treat for yourself!

The rules for this giveaway are as follows: Entries for this contest must be made through Rafflecopter. This contest will end on May 1, 2012 at 12:01AM EST. This contest is open to those residing in the USA ages 18+. The winner will be chosen at random from among all eligible entries using random.org. Your information will not be shared or sold and will only be used to contact you if you are the winner. Any invalid entries - ie. entries that do not first satisfy the mandatory entry or entries for which tasks were not actually completed - will be deleted before the winner is drawn. The winner will have seven business days to reply to notification that they have won. If the winner does not reply within that time frame, a new winner will be drawn. Any final decisions regarding this contest will be made by Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen. The prize for this contest is one lavender mint lip balm, one lavender goat milk soap, one lavender goat milk lotion, and one soap bar of the winner's choice (subject to availability) from Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen and carries a retail value of up to $23.50. Prize distribution will be made by Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen. In the event the soap the winner has chosen is no longer available, the winner will be asked to choose a new soap bar from among available soaps in stock.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DIY Shrinky Dink Magnets - Great Weekend Kids' Craft Project

2012-04-16T08:00:00.000-04:00

I was recently inspired by some lovely, handmade shrink film jewelry I discovered through Painting Bliss blog.

Handmade Shrink Film Jewelry from Painting Bliss

Ashlie Blake, author of Painting Bliss is also the designer behind these lovely necklaces. She makes a variety of beautiful necklaces and earrings that I have just fallen in love with. I am really hoping she decides to put these beauties up for sale in her etsy shop.

In the meantime, I was so inspired by Ashlie's work, I decided to pull out some shrinky dink paper I have had stashed away and give my son a little weekend project. He used this concept to make me some new refrigerator magnets. Because I love dragonflies, he made me a dragonfly in a jar magnet. (He also crafted a butterfly magnet for my fridge and a bracelet for his girlfriend by punching holes in the shrinky dink paper before shrinking then stringing together on string.)

If you were a child of the 80s then you may remember just how awesome shrinky dinks were. Well, they still are. Except rather than coloring in pre-printed designs, now you get to design your own! This is a terrific kids project and adults love making shrinky dinks too! There are so many applications from jewelry and magnets to mobiles and herb markers!

Here's what you need:

Frosted Ruff & Ready Shrinky Dink Paper

Colored Pencils

Imagination

Oven

Brown Paper

Cookie Sheet

Scissors

Here's what you do:

1. Either trace an image you like or design your own image and draw it onto the rough side of a shrinky dink plastic sheet using colored pencils. Regular colored pencils work fine, but if you want a really rich color, opt for PrismaColor pencils. They're pricey, but they're good!

2. Color your image in completely. Don't be afraid to press hard. The richer the color on the plastic, the more vivid your final piece. You can outline the edges with a permanent black marker for a bolder look if you like.

3. Cut your image out of the shrinky dink plastic with scissors.

4. Place the shrinky dink image on brown paper - I used a brown paper bag - on a cookie sheet.

5. Bake the shrinky dink in the oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 1-3 minutes. If the edges curl badly, you can quickly flatten them down with a spatula or chopstick.

6. Remove your shrunken art from the oven and allow to cool for a minute. Then remove your shrinky dink from the paper and pan.

7. To turn your shrink dink into a magnet, simply glue a rare earth magnet onto the back with some E6000 glue. Allow to dry.

8. Then stick your new magnet on the fridge or other magnetic surface to enjoy! These are not only fun for everyday, but also make great gifts from the kids for Mother's Day!

Easy Kids Craft Project: DIY Handmade Soap for Mother's Day

2012-04-15T14:56:00.000-04:00

Happen to have lots of leftover soap slivers? Don't throw them out! Use them to craft new soaps. Here's an easy handmade soap project you do on a weekend afternoon with the kids with quick results from left over glycerin soap slivers and a bit of new melt and pour soap. These soaps are quick and easy and make a fun kids' project or a simple Mother's Day gift that kids can craft mostly themselves depending on their age. (Be sure to always provide age appropriate adult supervision.)

What you'll need:

leftover glycerin soap slivers

melt and pour soap base of choice

peppermint essential oil

mixing spoon

glass measuring cup

knife

containers to use as molds

plastic wrap

Directions:

1. Cut your left over soap slivers into small chunks.

2. Line your containers you'll be using as molds with plastic wrap. I used lids to some of my pottery dishes. But you can also use muffins tins or cups. Just be sure the opening of the container is slightly wider than the base, otherwise it will be difficult to get the soap out!

3. Place an assortment of your soap chunks from your leftover soaps in the lined molds.

4. Cut up some fresh melt and pour glycerin soap base into chunks. I used a natural, opaque shea butter glycerin melt and pour soap base. The amount is up to you based on how many smaller soaps you want to create. Take note of how much soap you are using however, by weighing out the soap either before or after you cut it into chunks. This will determine how much fragrance to use.

5. Melt your uncolored, unscented soap base in a glass measuring cup or other glass container in the microwave. Don't let the base boil.

6. Mix the melted soap base to be sure it's melted through. Measure out your peppermint essential oil for fragrance. The essential oil should equal 2% by weight of the total amount of your soap base by weight. This makes for a great math lesson for the kids! Note that you can use any fragrance you like, but I like to use peppermint as it tends to mix well with almost any fragrance that may still be left in your cut up, leftover soap chunks. Plus it's a refreshing scent most people like and it's great for circulation! Use tripled distilled or Japanese peppermint essential oil for a more peppermint candy like scent rather than a medicinal fragrance. Mix the peppermint essential oil into the soap base and stir well.

7. Pour the peppermint scented soap base into the molds over top of your leftover, colored soap chunks. If you'd like your chunks to "float" within the soaps you'll need to use a suspension soap base. However, you probably won't need a suspension soap base unless you are using a larger mold like a loaf mold.

8. Place your soaps in the molds in the freezer for about a half hour. (Not necessary, but they will solidify faster this way and the kids won't have to wait as long!)

9. Remove from the soaps from the molds once solidified and peel away the plastic film. Use immediately in your shower or by the sink. Or wrap tightly in plastic film to store for use later or so the kids can gift to friends and family.

If you don't have leftover glycerin soaps, you can use soap slivers from your regular bath soap or cold process handmade soaps. This process is known as rebatching or handmilling soap and involves grating the leftover soap slivers and combining with a bit of milk or water in a pan over heat on the stove top or in an oven. This process is a great way to use up leftover soap bits, but it does take some time for the excess water to evaporate from your bars before use. You can find instructions on how to make handmilled soap here.

For more on making melt and pour soaps, be sure to check out Lisa Maliga's The Joy of Melt and Pour Soap Crafting.

DIY Home Decor Crafts for Spring

2012-04-08T15:05:00.000-04:00

Want to brighten up your home for spring? You don't need to give the rooms in your house a major facelift. Instead, try crafting a few new accessories that are both bright and beautiful to bring some cheer to dark corners and focal points. Not only are these projects easy, they are so beautiful your friends will think you bought these awesome accessories rather than crafting them yourself! Following are ten simple ways to update your home decor.

DIY Wine Tumbler Vase from I Don't Know How She Does It

Spring flowers brighten up any space! Create several vases with a designer look from wine tumblers with the tutorial for a textured vase from I Don't Know How She Does It!

DIY Clay Petal Vase from Centsational Girl

If you're crafty with clay, use some lightweight stone clay to update an old, boring vase with petal flowers! You can go bold with a solid white finish, or paint the vase and flowers complimentary colors to match your existing decor. The tutorial can be found at Centsational Girl.

DIY Green and White Dresser from The Ridiculous Redhead

Update a boring, brown dresser by making it over in bright colors and patterns. This would look great in a bedroom or even in living room or dining room. Drawers don't just have to be for clothes. They can also hold dvd's or dishes and flatware! See how it was done at The Ridiculous Redhead.

DIY Hanging Book Display from Penny Carnival

For even more storage without comprising floor space, try crafting these fabric wall mounted bookshelves. Use bright colored fabric for spring and summer and change out the fabric for fall and winter. Or just switch it up whenever you want a fresh look! It's great in practically any room. You can find the tutorial for this hanging book display at Penny Carnival.

Organic Bloom Frames from Small and Chic Home

Been trying to decide just how to display your favorite family photos? Paint wooden frames in bright colors rather than sticking to plain black, store bought styles and hang them in groups on empty walls. There are some great framing ideas at Small and Chic Home featuring frames from Organic Bloom that you can purchase if you're unable to source wood frames with flair on your own.

DIY 15-Minute Pillow Covers from The Full Moxie

Update your couch with something as simple as bright, new pillow covers. You can grab the tutorial for making your own diy 15-minute pillow covers at The Full Moxie.

DIY Colorful Wooden Floor Mat from Lowe's Creative Ideas

Or, simply brighten up the entrance to your home with a diy wooden floor mat. You can find out how to make this colorful floor mat at Lowe's Creative Ideas.

DIY Embellished Tea Towels from Hardly Housewives

Update your boring kitchen towels with some simple fabric embellishments using the tutorial at Hardly Housewives. They'll look pretty even when they get left out and you can craft new colors for every season. You can also craft some colorful DIY tea towels from flour sacks and fabric markers using the tutorial at Skip to My Lou.

Easy Cabinet Updates from Better Homes & Gardens

Or create a more drastic change to your kitchen by updating your kitchen cabinets. There are number of ways to do this from metal inserts to chalkboard paint. Better Homes & Gardens offers 25 simple ways to update your cabinets DIY style.

DIY Paper Lantern from Design Sponge

Changing out your light fixtures or updating your lighting with new accent lamps or chandeliers is another great way to add a small, decorative touch. These sculptural paper orb lights are made using coffee filters and cupcake liners. Find out how to make these decorative paper lanterns at Design Sponge.

For more DIY home decorating ideas, visit my For the Home and Jonesing for Crafts Boards on Pinterest. How do you add an updated look to the rooms in your home with little to no effort?

Handmade Arts and Crafts from the Historic Roanoke City Market

2012-04-07T20:25:00.001-04:00

I love going down to visit our local city market on Saturdays. We have such a wonderful array of artists, crafters and farmers! And, this year we already started off with a handful of new vendors. Here are some of my favorites pieces from the Roanoke City Market today.

A regular long time vendor on the Roanoke City Market is Brian Seckinger of Roanoke Pottery Works. I always love discovering new pots he's created whether from slabs or a pottery wheel. And I love that he's able to throw some of the largest bowls I've ever come across. In fact I own two great pieces from him that are around 1 1/2 feet in diameter.

These are new hand built slab pottery pots with handles for spring. They come in an array of bright colors including blue, green, yellow and red. They're perfect for indoor and outdoor planting - I'm using my green one to grow garlic! - for small plants and herbs or indoors for storage or decoration. These can be tied onto a trellis or hung from a porch in multiples to save on space!

Brian also recently made some raku horse hair pottery for spring. To see more of Brian's work, be sure to take a peek at his photo albums on his fan page - Roanoke Pottery Works - on facebook.

A new potter to the market is Mary Hadden of Floyd, VA. She hand builds all of her clay works and finishes them with a unique matte, glaze finish that she worked hard to perfect.

I love all of Mary's pieces, but I think my favorite pieces of hers are her wind chime fairies.

She also makes lovely handmade flower pots, soap dishes, bird houses, lidded boxes, and even business card holders! You can see more of Mary's pottery in my Market Days Album on Facebook.

Both Brian and Mary sell their pottery on the Historic Roanoke City Market on Saturdays, weather permitting.

A few other highlights include the following:

Unique, handmade jewelry crafted from bracket fungi. These one of a kind necklaces, earrings, and brooches are made by Penny Lane, also of Floyd, VA. Penny shares a booth on the Roanoke City Market with Mary Hadden on Saturdays.

Lunar Scapes - owned and operated by regular vendors Kyle and David - hand crafts and sells recycled wine and beer bottles. These melted bottles come in various shapes, sizes, and colors and are perfect for cheese and crackers, butter, and other party appetizers. Each cheese tray is embellished with beads and wire work and comes with a small knife.

One of my favorite market photographs is one I took in June of 2009 of David kissing a local goat that liked to visit the market on weekends.

A new vendor, Joe Stanley of Upcycled Cards, also creates his wares from upcycling. He recycles wine corks and used gift cards to make something new.

Joe uses spent corks to craft handmade coasters and serving trays.

And retired gift cards are used to make one of kind jewelry including fun bracelets and earrings.

To see more wonderful arts and crafts from local artists on the Historic Roanoke City Market from past to present, be sure to check out my Market Days Album. There are so many beautiful works of art, it's just impossible to include them all in one post. And don't forget to stop by the Roanoke City Market to shop for Mother's Day!

What are some of your favorite things to buy from your local farmer's market?

Easy Homemade Pita Pizza Recipe

2012-04-06T18:31:00.000-04:00

Ever wondered what to do with that tiny bit of leftover spaghetti sauce? Our solution was to make homemade pita pizzas!

It's inevitable. You make spaghetti and sauce and once dinner's over it seems you've either made too much sauce or too much spaghetti. In our case, we still have leftover pizza sauce. So rather than have spaghetti again and have to buy another jar of sauce, Scott and I used our leftover spaghetti sauce as a pizza sauce for some homemade pita pizzas! Here's what we used:

Ingredients:

Pack of 10 Mini White Bread Pitas (King of Pitas Brand available from The Fresh Market)

Fresh Mozzarella Cheese, sliced

Red Pepper, sliced and seeds removed

Baby Portabella Mushrooms, sliced

Deli Sandwich Pepperonis, sliced

Yellow Onion, sliced

Leftover Spaghetti Sauce (or flavored tomato sauce)

Fresh garlic, finely minced

Fresh oregano and basil, finely chopped

Sea Salt and Cracked Pepper

Directions:

Place up to six pitas on a baking sheet and spread spaghetti sauce on top of the pitas. Add slices of mozzarella cheese. Then top with desired ingredients and bake at 350 degrees F until the cheese has melted.

We made two different pizzas. One all veggie and one meat. My pizzas were topped with pepperoni, mushrooms, garlic, oregano, and basil. Scott's were topped with peppers, onions, garlic, mushrooms, oregano, and basil. Both had light salt and pepper on top. These were by far the BEST pizzas we've had anywhere in a long time. Definitely better than eating out or ordering in! The fresh ingredients really made the biggest difference.

How do you use up leftover spaghetti sauce at your house?

DIY Easter Chicks

2012-04-04T08:00:00.000-04:00

Easter is this coming Sunday! So why not make Easter dinner extra special this year by crafting up some Easter chicks with the kids for your family meal? These Easter chicks are made from mashed potatoes and are both fun to make and fun to eat for the entire family! Just follow the tutorial below. It's been graciously provided by guest blogger, Melike, of A Cup of Sparkle Blog. Be sure to visit Melike's blog for other great diy projects and food recipes as well as check out her handmade shop, A Cup of Sparkle, for beautiful, handmade jewelry and accessories.

Easter Chicks: Fun cooking activity for kids and adults

I have a fun cooking tutorial today for you in preparation for Easter, made of potatoes. Are you ready to make the cutest chicks you ever seen? I have to warn you beforehand though. You will have hard time eating them afterwards :)

Here is what you need: Potato, pepper, salt, carrot, butter, lettuce

Step 1: Boil and then, mash potatoes - I didn't use milk to make it easy to roll later.

Add desired amount of salt, ground pepper and butter while meshing the potatoes

Step 2: Roll two different sizes of balls from mashed potatoes: one for the body and one for the head of the chicks.

Step 3: Put the head on the body and shape the chicks with your hand -- this is where creativity kicks in! Just have fun using your fingers...

Step 4: Cut the carrots to make the mouth of the chics. You can have the mouth open and closed. It is a bit simpler to make it closed. Tomatoes also work well instead of carrots.

Step 5: Use ungrounded pepper for eyes or small pieces of black olives

Step 6: Now, it is time to decorate your serving plate. You can cut lettuce, or use any other green vegetables you have to make it look like grass. Place your chicks on top of the greens...

WA-LA ...it is time to serve your meshed potatoes! It will make an awesome Easter dish that you can prepare with kids. It will also make a great appetizer for any lunch or dinner party.

What will you be doing special for Easter this year?

DIY Natural Coffee Kitchen Soap

2012-04-03T08:00:00.000-04:00

Craft your own natural kitchen soap made with real coffee beans to neutralize odors!

If you suffer from allergies you know just how unbearable some fragrances can be. So I decided to craft a kitchen soap using fresh, real ingredients from my herb garden rather than fragrances. The idea was to make a soap that would not only clean great, but that would remove odors from your hands you acquire when cooking - neutralizing odors like garlic, onion and fish. It needed to have a great lather, but not be drying, and I definitely didn't want anyone to walk away from the sink smelling like synthetic apple or a flower orchard. (Plus Scott does the majority of the cooking and he HATES flowery scents.) This is the recipe I came up with.

Natural Coffee Kitchen Soap Recipe

Ingredients:
1 oz. unrefined cocoa butter
5 oz. unrefined shea butter
2lb. 7oz. 76‌° melt point coconut oil
1lb. 8.5oz. palm oil
2lb. 8.5oz. olive oil
6oz. rice bran oil

15.6oz. lye
36oz. distilled water

1.2oz. whole bean, certified organic coffee
.8oz. fresh herbs (lemongrass, basil, lemon verbena)

Optional: If you would like to scent your soap, use 6-8oz. of fragrance oil or 3-4oz. essential oil (Be sure to refer to manufacturer's directions for % of usage for oils as these can vary.)

Instructions:
Before you begin, be sure to refer to my cold process soapmaking tutorial if you have never made soap before. You need to careful about safety and know how the process works to avoid mistakes. Substitutions for any oils or butters can change the amount of lye you need for your soap as does reducing the recipe.

You'll need to start by lining your molds and preparing your ingredients. I used three basic wooden box soap molds for this recipe. The inside dimensions of my molds measure 11"L x 3.5"W x 3.25" H.

Weigh out your whole coffee beans, then finely grind the beans in a coffee grinder. I chose to use Counter Culture Coffee No. 46 which is available from The Fresh Market. Then take your collection of fresh herbs - I used about 2/3 fresh lemon balm leaves, just under 1/3 fresh basil leaves, and freshly picked lemon verbena leaves for the rest. Combined they should weigh about .8oz. Finely chop these with a sharp knife. Set the coffee and herbs aside.

Measure out your distilled water and pour into a glass or plastic pitcher. Then weigh out your lye. Pour the lye carefully into the water and stir well. Set aside to cool.

Next, weigh out your butters and oils and combine into a large, stainless steel pot. (If you're looking for organic ingredients, I recommend checking out Mountain Rose Herbs.) Place the pot on the stove and melt the ingredients over medium-low to medium until the ingredients have completely liquified. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

Allow your lye-water and soapmaking oils to cool down to about 100° F. This can take anywhere from 1-2 hours.

Once your lye-water and oils have cooled, slowly pour the lye-water into the pot of oils. Mix well with a stick blender. Once your soap reaches a light trace, add your ground coffee beans and fresh, chopped herbs. (At this point you would also add fragrance if you choose to use a scent. Though this soap has a wonderful, natural scent without any added fragrance.)

Mix well, then pour the soap into your molds.

Cover your soap molds either with a lid or a piece of cardboard cut to fit. Than lay a bath towel or blanket over the soap to insulate it.

Wait 24 hours before unmolding your soap and cutting it into bars. Allow bars to cure 3-4 weeks before use. This batch should yield about 30-36 bars of soap depending on how thin or thick you cut your soap. The resulting handmade soaps should be good solid, scrubby bars that do what soap is supposed to do without leaving you walking away from the kitchen smelling like a perfumery. And really, why do you need perfumed soaps in the kitchen anyway? Instead, you get a nice, natural soap scent that leaves you smelling - quite simply - clean.

You can purchase the limited edition soap bars from this batch that I made at Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen as soon as they have cured! Be sure to follow me on facebook or twitter or sign up for my email newsletter for updates on when new products become available. You'll also be notified of sales, coupon codes, contests and more!

For more diy bath and body recipes, follow my DIY Bath and Body Board on Pinterest or check out my website, Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen.

Growing a Container Garden: From Bush Cucumbers to Herbs and Fruits

2012-04-02T08:00:00.000-04:00

Don't have the time to till a garden bed or just don't have the space? Even if you don't have a yard you can still grow vegetables for your table! I went down to the Roanoke City Market over the weekend itching to buy something other than herbs that I could grow in a pot. The solution? Bush cucumbers!

After talking to Tim of Rolling Meadows Farms I purchased some bush cucumbers from him, then transplanted half into a large container. (As they grow I'll probably split these again into a second container.) The other half I left for my mom to plant in a container somewhere she could place up high so the deer couldn't eat her crop this year like they did last year. Apparently bush cucumbers are perfect for containers. They'll also produce cucumbers a lot sooner than cucumber plants that grow on vines. Just make sure to place your container of bush cucumber plants in full sun and keep watered.

Cucumbers aren't the only things you can grow in containers though. There are a long list of fruits that can be grown in pots like strawberries and kumquats, and veggies like summer squash, tomatoes, acorn and pumpkin squashes, hot peppers, sweet peppers, small melons, and of course herbs and many greens. Be sure to check out TLC's article, 66 Things You Can Grow at Home: In Containers, Without a Garden, for a fairly substantial list.

And, if you're looking to deter pests and diseases in your garden - however you choose to grow one - I highly recommend taking a peek at the article, 35 Pest and Disease Remedies, from Fine Gardening Magazine. It offers some great recipes for keeping your garden looking great with ingredients from your kitchen! For even more great gardening ideas, be sure to check out my Gardening Board on Pinterest.

What types of plants are you going to be growing in your garden this year?

How to Grow Garlic

2012-04-01T08:00:00.000-04:00

Did you know that one clove or bulb of garlic, when planted, can produce up to an additional twenty cloves? So instead of tossing out your garlic that's started to sprout, plant it instead!

Simply plant garlic cloves individually. If they've started to sprout, even better! Otherwise plant them with the pointy end up. Make sure they are in a sunny location and soil isn't too damp. You can plant multiple cloves four inches apart either in your yard or in a pot. It will fair well even if planted among other flowers or vegetables.

Then just sit back and wait for your garlic to grow. If it's potted, water it occasionally but don't drown it. As your garlic grows, it will sprout leaves. Once the leaves turn brown and die, it's time to harvest your garlic. (Don't harvest any earlier or your cloves will be too small!)

Once you harvest your garlic, hang the bulbs in a cool, dry location to dry them and prevent rot. Your garlic should dry in about a week, at which time you can simply brush off the dirt and start cooking with the cloves or plant some more!

The handmade pottery pot photographed above that I used for planting my garlic bulb was purchased from Roanoke Pottery Works on the Roanoke City Market. These little pots are great for growing all kinds of things, especially if you're limited on space. Because these handmade pots have handles, they are great for tying to lattice work or a trellis and building an herb garden upward instead of outward. Or hang them from a porch ceiling!

Fresh Shrimp Salad Recipe

2012-03-31T18:33:00.000-04:00

I recently purchased an amazing pot of lettuce and field greens from Walter's Greenhouse on the Roanoke City Market.

After getting a few side salads with dinner, it was really time to pick a good portion of the more mature lettuce to eat so some more could grow back in it's place. So Scott used our home grown container greens to make a really great fresh, shrimp salad. Following is that recipe. Feel free to substitute the greens for your favorite lettuce or whatever you may have growing in your garden!

Shrimp Salad Recipe

Ingredients:

1 lb. fresh raw shrimp, peeled and de-veined (I bought ours at The Fresh Market)

3 cloves fresh garlic, minced

2 shallots, finely diced

cracked pepper and sea salt (I buy mine organic and in bulk from Mountain Rose Herbs)

1 TBS butter

1/8 Cup white wine (We used a local wine from Château Morrisette Winery)

1/8 Cup chicken broth

1 1/2 TBS fresh thyme, chopped (I'm using a plant I bought from Rolling Meadows Farm)

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Fresh lettuce greens of choice

Directions:
Salt and pepper the shrimp. Then prepare your pan by drizzling some olive oil in a skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add 1 Tablespoon of butter to the pan. Add shrimp to hot skillet and cook for about one minute. Turn shrimps over and cook for an additional 30 seconds more til shrimp is cooked through. Place the shrimp on a plate and set aside.

Leave the drippings in the skillet and add 1/8 Cup white wine and 1/8 Cup chicken broth. De-glaze the bottom of the pan by scraping the leftovers from the bottom of the pan off the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon and mixing with the wine and broth. Immediately reduce the heat to medium, then drizzle a little more olive oil into the pan. Add the minced garlic and finely diced shallots. Cook 1 minute.

Reduce heat to low and stir in cooked shrimp and thyme.

Remove all from skillet and plate on top of your fresh lettuce greens. Top with fresh, grated Parmesan cheese.

Serve and enjoy!

What are some of your favorite ways to eat shrimp?

50 DIY Lavender Bath and Body Recipes

2012-03-30T22:06:00.000-04:00

Love lavender? It won't be long until lavender is in bloom! Whether you grow your own lavender or purchase it, here are some great ideas for DIY lavender bath and body projects you can use lavender buds and organic lavender essential oil for!

1. Lavender Rose Milk Bath Soak Recipe

2. Lavender and Cream Cold Process Soap Recipe

3. Lavender Scented Linen Spray

4. Lavender Sugar Scrub Recipe

5. Lavender Citrus Handmilled Soap Recipe

6. Lavender Bath Salt Soak Recipe

7. DIY Lavender Heating Pad

8. Lavender Milk Bath Recipes

9. Lavender Essential Oil Blend for Acne

10. Lavender Flower Water Recipe

11. Lavender Bath Bomb Recipe

12. Lavender Solid Shea Butter Sugar Scrub Cubes Recipe

13. Cold Sore Lip Balm Recipe with Lavender

14. Lavender Rose Sugar Scrub Recipe

15. Purifying Facial Mask Recipes with Lavender

16. Solid Lavender Lotion Bar Recipe

17. Simple Homemade Lavender Air Freshener Recipe

18. Easy Lavender Soap Balls and Coconut Oil Hand Cream Recipes

19. DIY Stamped Lavender Sachet Tutorial

20. Lavender Hand and Foot Wash Recipe

21. Lavender and Peppermint Foot Cream Recipe

22. Lavender Body Butter Recipe

23. Calming Lavender Bath Soak Tutorial

24. Oatmeal Lavender Face Scrub Recipe

25. DIY Dish Soap with Lavender

26. Soothing Lavender and Chamomile Body Lotion Recipe

27. DIY Coffee and Lavender Sugar Body Scrub Recipe

28. DIY Lavender Sea Salt Scrub Recipe

29. DIY Lavender Essential Oil

30. Lavender Honey Salt Scrub Recipe

31. DIY Lavender Hair Mist Recipe

32. DIY Lavender Scented Glass Cleaner

33. DIY Lavender Laundry Detergent

34. DIY Lavender Dusting Powder

35. DIY Lemon Lavender Sugar Scrub Recipe

36. DIY Lavender Vanilla Bath Soak Recipe

37. DIY Lavender Barrier Cream Recipe

38. DIY Lavender Toner Recipe

39. Lavender Sleep Tight Baby Oil Recipe

40. DIY Lavender and Buckwheat Hull Pillows

41. DIY Lavender and Honeysuckle Laundry Detergent

42. DIY Lavender Deodorant (Video)

43. DIY Lavender and Sweet Orange Liquid Hand Soap

44. DIY Lavender Facial Scrub

45. DIY Lavender and Olive Oil Soap Recipe

46. Lavender Deodorant Body Powder Recipe

47. Lavender Solid Perfume Recipe

48. All Purpose Lavender Face and Body Lotion Recipe

49. Lavender Lip Balm Recipe

50. English Lavender Bath Recipe

Need to purchase lavender? I highly recommend buying bulk lavender buds and organic lavender essential oil from Mountain Rose Herbs. Also, be sure to check out the Handmade Lavender Goat Milk Soap made with natural lavender essential oil, goat's milk, olive oil, shea butter and cocoa butter from Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen.

DIY Spring Gardening Projects

2012-03-29T18:31:00.000-04:00

It's almost time to start planting here in Southwestern Virginia! Our last danger of frost usually passes towards the end of April, though with the warm weather we've had recently it's hard to believe we could still end up with a snow storm. (And we have before. I remember back in April of 1993 I believe, we ended up with 3ft. of snow!) But with the super warm days we've been having, I thought now would be a great time to share some spring gardening tips and ideas! Here are a few of my favorites.

Photo Credit: le zoe musings

le zoe musings blog has a great diy tutorial for getting a jump start on your outdoor garden by starting an indoor greenhouse. Kellie uses a 72 cell greenhouse kit with a dome, though you could use recycled newspaper to make your own seedling starter pots and cover with Ball jars, another wide mouthed glass container or the top half of a plastic 2L bottle. You can even start seeds in a lemon peel! Just plant the seeds of your choice and wait for them to bear fruit! I love the selection of seeds available from Mountain Rose Herbs - especially the Lifeline Medicinal Seeds Kit they sell which contains certified organic seeds suited for starting a medicinal herb garden. Each kit contains 1 packet of each: Astragulus (50 seeds), Holy Basil (100 seeds), Burdock (100 seeds), Calendula (100 seeds), German Chamomile (500 seeds), Echinacea purpurea (200 seeds), Elecampane (100 seeds), Evening primrose (200 seeds), Flax (200 seeds), Lemon Balm (200 seeds), Marshmallow (100 seeds), Motherwort (200 seeds), Nettles (400 seeds), Cayenne pepper (100 seeds), Sage (100 seeds), Valerian (100 seeds), Wood Betony (100 seeds), and Yarrow (200 seeds).

Photo Credit: A Journey To A Dream

Another great idea is to recycle a plastic jug into a DIY watering can rather than buying one. A Journey to a Dream Blog has a simple tutorial that shows you how to do just that using the jug of your choice and a heated needle to pierce holes into the lid.

Photo Credit: A Nest for All Seasons

I was also super psyched to discover I can grow my own ginger from leftover ginger I've purchased which keeps me from having to buy ginger over and over. A Nest for All Seasons Blog explains how you can grow ginger from an inch long, unpeeled chunk of ginger. You just need some soil, water, and small pieces of ginger root that have a node on them. You can also keep yourself in green onions without repeat trips to the grocery store by saving the roots once you've used the ends and placing them in water where they will grow back. There's tutorial on how to grow green onions in water over at The Burlap Bag Blog.

Photo Credit: Camille Styles

Want an herb garden for fresh herbs all summer long but don't have the space? Garden up! Camille Styles Blog has an awesome tutorial for crafting your own DIY Mason Jar Herb Garden. Plant all of your favorite herbs along a board that you can hang on a wall. Start your garden indoors by a sunny window, then transfer it outside once the danger of frost has passed. You can then bring your herb garden back indoors once the weather cools back down in the fall!

And, if you plan on doing a lot of gardening this spring and summer, be sure to try out the Handmade Exfoliating Lettuce Gardener's Soap from Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen. It's scrubby enough to remove tough garden dirt, but gentle enough to keep hands from drying out. You can check out a review of this handmade goat milk and shea butter soap at Julie Ann Art Blog.

What are some of your tips and tricks for spring planting and gardening?