Di's Delightful Creations
& Crafts

Bath This & That

BATH POWDER
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup cornstarch
Fragrance oil - optional
The above quantities are provided as a guideline.
Basically, you want to use equal parts of baking soda and cornstarch, adding about 20 drops of fragrance oil for each cup of the mixture.
Combine baking soda and cornstarch together in a bowl and mix together until thoroughly blended. If desired, add fragrance oil and stir until thoroughly blended.
Let dry before packaging

BATH OIL
1 whole egg
2 T. honey
1/2 cup baby or mineral oil
1/4 cup whole milk
2 t. liquid soap or dishwashing liquid
1/4 cup vodka
Fragrance oil (optional)
Mix all ingredients in a blender for 30 seconds.
Use only one or two tablespoons of this oil in a bathtub of water.

BATH OIL BEADS
Makes 10 Beads
1/4 c powdered milk
2 T white flour
2 T borax powder
1 1/2 t rosewater or water
2 t mineral oil
12-15 drops rose fragrance oil (or fragrance of your choice)
1-2 drops red food coloring (optional)
Combine the dried milk, flour and borax in a bowl, using a fork, stir until well mixed.
Add the rose water, mineral oil, rose fragrance oil, and food coloring, (if desired).
Stir until you have thick dough.
Take a teaspoon of dough and roll it into a ball, with your hands. Keep rolling and working with the dough until it is shiny with oil all over it. Repeat until all of the dough has been shaped.
Place the balls on waxed paper or foil and let air dry for 24 hours.
You can leave in ball shape or press designs in them.
It makes a handful of fragrant bath beads. When one or two dissolve in warm bath water, they release skin-softening mild and oil, and the scent of roses.

BUBBLE BATH
2 cups soap flakes or grated soap
1 gallon water
1/4 - 1/2 cup glycerin
2 cups shampoo or liquid dishwashing detergent
Scented oil of your choice
Mix the soap flakes, water and 2 tbsp glycerin in a pot and set over low heat, stirring occasionally until the soap has dissolved. (This liquid soap can be stored in a covered container and used as an all-purpose soap or hand soap in the kitchen.)
In a bowl, add 2 cups of this mixture to the rest of the glycerin, shampoo and add a few drops of your scented oil.
Put into a quart container and store covered at room temperature.
When you're ready to bathe, add about one cup to your tub as it's filling.

HERBAL BATH
Place herbs into a muslin bag and tie it directly under the tap as the water is running. You can also add scented oil to the mixture if desired.

Here are a few ideas for herbs to use:
Chamomile - soothing and cleansing
Comfrey - rejuvinating
Lovage - deodorizing and cleansing
Lady's mantle - soothes skin irritation
Black tea - relieving sunburn pain
Mint - soothing and relaxing
Lavender - relaxing and aromatic

BATH MILK
2 cups dry milk powder
1 cup cornstarch
1/8 t. fragrance oil of your choice
Blend together all ingredients in blender. Add 1/2 cup of mixture to hot bath water

BABY WIPES
1/2 roll of Bounty paper towels
2 T. baby oil
2 T. baby bath
2 cups of water
Cut roll of paper towells in half, remove center cardboard.
Mix liquid ingredients, and pour on top of paper towels, pull first towel up.
Each roll of towels makes 2 containers of wipes.

GEL AIR FRESHNER
(sometimes referred to as Jelly Jar Scents)
2 cups of distilled water
Essential or fragrance oil of your choice.
4 packages of knox gelatin
Food coloring (optional)
Heat 1 cup of water almost to a boil.
Add the gelatin and stir until dissolved.
Remove from heat add another cup of distilled water, 10-20 drops of oil/fragrance, and food coloring if desired. You can replace food coloring and oil/fragrance with premade liquid potpourri (available at most craft stores, candle shops, etc.). The procedure would be the same.
Heat 1 cup of the liquid potpourri, almost to a boil.
Stir in 4 packets of Knox gelatin, until dissolved.
Stir in 1 cup cool liquid potpourri.
Pour the mixture into clean baby food jars and set at room temperature overnight until "set".
You can place the jars in the refrigerator if you need them to set more quickly, but be aware that the smell will permeate the fridge.
For gift giving, you can decorate the baby food jars by wrapping with material, or glueing on wallpaper, stickers, wrapping paper, etc.
To use, place the jar on the stovetop (not directly on the burner!) while cooking, heat in a potpourri burner, or simply set out on a table and enjoy the aroma.
Note: some use a t. of salt, to prevent mold (optional)

GLITTER GEL
1/4 cup aloe vera gel
1 t. glycerin
1/4 t. fine polyester glitter (any color)
5 drops fragrance oil (your choice)
1 drops food coloring (your choice)
Mix aloe and glycerin in a small bowl. Stir in glitter, fragrance and color. It is ready to use immediately.

HAND AND BODY GEL
3/4 cup water
1 t. gelatin
1 T. lemon juice
1 T. witch hazel
1 T. cider vinegar
1 T. glycerin
Dissolve gelatin in 1/4 cup of the water. Heat in the microwave 30-40 seconds on high. Stir in rest of the ingredients. Chill till set.

SPRITZER
To 4 ounces of distilled water add essence oil:
8 to 10 drops for the face
30 to 40 drops for an all over body spritzer
80 to 100 drops for a room spray/air freshener
Shake well, spray. May be used as facial toner, to moisten a body wrap or as an all over freshener, or as a room spray.

SUGAR LEG WAX
2 C sugar
1/4 C lemon juice
1/4 C water
1/4 C glycerine
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Stir frequently while heating to 250 degrees F or softball stage. Pour into jars and let cool.
To remove hair: lightly powder area to be treated. While pulling skin taut, spread a thin layer of wax on with direction of hair growth. Apply waxing cloth strip over wax and rub well to get wax to adhere to cloth. While still keeping skin taut, pull fabric strip off against direction of hair growth. Gently wash any powder or wax residue off and apply gentle cream, lotion or oil.

PETROLEUM JELLY
2 oz. beeswax or wax of your choice
1 cup of the oil of your choice
Melt the beeswax in a double boiler or in microwave. Stir in the oil. Remove the mixture from the heat and stir until it is cool.

INSECT REPELLENT
2 c. witch hazel
1 1/2 t.citronella essence oil
1 T. apple cider vinegar
Combine into a spray bottle. Shake vigorously before using. Requires no refrigeration. Apply liberally. This makes 16 oz.

BREATH FRESHENER
1 part distilled water
1 part 100 proof vodka
1 drop peppermint essential oil per teaspoon of liquid
Place ingredients in a small bottle or atomizer. Shake well.
Use one drop on your tongue.
Variations: Use spearmint or wintergreen essential oil for flavoring.

PEPPERMINT ITCH RELIEVER
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup rubbing alcohol
3-4 drops peppermint oil
Oil of eucalyputs or cade can be used in place of peppermint, if you prefer.
Pour the water and alcohol into a bottle, then add the oil.
Cap and shake well.
Apply to your skin with a clean cloth.

BATH & BEAUTY
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