Welcome to the March Pinterest Challenge Blog Hop, hosted by My Pinterventures. If you aren't familiar with the Pinterest Challenge, it's a monthly event that challenges us to not just be pin hoarders, but to make it happen!
This post contains links to products, if you purchase something after clicking on my link I may earn a small commission to help with my craft expenses (at no extra cost to you).Thank you!
This month, I chose to make Shower Steamers for a Relaxing Bath Experience. I love taking relaxing hot baths, but haven't enjoyed one since we moved into this house over six years ago. When we had our home built, we elected to have the tub removed in the master bath and replaced it with a closet for the hubby. We do have tubs in other bathrooms but I haven't had the urge to use them that way. It just wouldn't be the same for me. But I just love the theory behind turning your shower into an aromatherapy by using shower steamers! And I've pinned and seen quite a few different ways to make them! After checking out a few on Pinterest and the comments I read, I like this pin the best : https://www.pinterest.com/pin/38069559333718611/ It's easy to follow and right to the point! I even saw a tutorial on the Hallmark Channel that convinced me to make a few!
This post contains links to products, if you purchase something after clicking on my link I may earn a small commission to help with my craft expenses (at no extra cost to you).Thank you!
This month, I chose to make Shower Steamers for a Relaxing Bath Experience. I love taking relaxing hot baths, but haven't enjoyed one since we moved into this house over six years ago. When we had our home built, we elected to have the tub removed in the master bath and replaced it with a closet for the hubby. We do have tubs in other bathrooms but I haven't had the urge to use them that way. It just wouldn't be the same for me. But I just love the theory behind turning your shower into an aromatherapy by using shower steamers! And I've pinned and seen quite a few different ways to make them! After checking out a few on Pinterest and the comments I read, I like this pin the best : https://www.pinterest.com/pin/38069559333718611/ It's easy to follow and right to the point! I even saw a tutorial on the Hallmark Channel that convinced me to make a few!
Shower Steamers are a wonderful and easy way to relax and unwind in the shower! And there're so many ways to enjoy using them - just by adding different blends of essential oils in the mix! There might be different reasons you'd want to use shower steamers, say, for instance - if you just want to relax or need help in getting to sleep (lavender, geranium, sandalwood), or maybe ease congestion (eucalyptus, peppermint) or help you to get wide awake and energized for the day ( lemon, peppermint, bergamot, ylang ylang)! There are so many usages just by adding certain essential oils!
Here's the basic recipe that I tweaked for my purpose of just relaxing in the shower with a fizzy, wonderful aroma:
Ingredients:
2 cups baking soda
1 cup citric acid
1/2 cup cornstarch
3-5 Tbsp. water in a spray bottle
80+ drops essential oil (sandalwood, lavender)
30 drops soap colorant
Molds - silicone or plastic soap molds
Molds - silicone or plastic soap molds
- Combine the baking soda, citric acid and cornstarch in a large bowl. Use gloved hands to diminish any lumps or clumps and mix well.
- Slowly spritz the mixture all over with water, a little bit at a time, using your gloved hand to mix together while checking to see if the mix is holding together by squeezing it in your hand. If it doesn't hold together, it's not ready. But if it looks like damp sand or a snowball and holds together, enough water has been added. You will probably hear a bit of fizzing as you mix the water or any liquid in, for that matter. The citric acid causes the fizzing. Just make sure to gently add the water and not pour it directly in.
- Next, add the essential oils, blending in the drops all over the mixture with gloved hands.
- If you'd like to have your steamers a bit colorful, add drops of soap colorant at this time. Remember this is liquid too and will affect the consistency. There is a dry colorant called mica powder that provides a deeper coloring if you'd like that. Continue mixing the solution, and squeezing until ready.
- Then take some of the mixture and press firmly into the molds, making sure there are no air pockets or gaps. Use the back of a spoon to press and smooth down.
- If you're using metal molds, once you press the mixture firmly into the mold and the ingredients have taken shape, you'll notice it will easily slide out - which is a good thing. Slide the shaped steamers out and place on parchment paper and allow to dry completely and get hard. Unfortunately, I left both types of molds intact overnight and found the metal ones impossible to remove the next day - no matter what I did. The plastic filled soap molds released easily onto towels. And I'm sure using silicone molds would have easily released the forms, too.
- Store in a jar with a tight top or inside a sealed bag. Decorate if giving as a gift. Keep in a dry, cool place.
My take away from this pin:
- The amount of essential oil drops used is just a guide. You can add more if you like. I love sandalwood fragrance and would have liked a bolder scent of it.
- It's best to use silicone or plastic soap molds. They're so much easier to use and release the forms.
- Don't let metal molds dry overnight - remove the forms from the molds as soon as they're formed and easily slide out intact. Let dry completely out of the molds.
- Use dry mica powder instead of a liquid soap colorant for a more intense shade.
- The shower steamers should be called fizzies and not steamers. More fizz - no steam, except from the hot water.
- Love the overall experience - my shower was very relaxing and the aroma filled the bathroom - the fragrance permeated into the bedroom, too! And the best part - I felt great! Will make more to use and give as gifts!
To join next month's challenge, click here to sign-up ⇒ April Pinterest Challenge
Now let's see what other things Pinterest inspired! Head over and visit the other hosts to see what they crafted, cooked, built, or tried!
Erlene - My Pinterventures • Shirley - Intelligent Domestications
Jenny - Cookies Coffee and Crafts
Joanne - Our Unschooling Journey • Magen - The Kusi Life
Roseann - This Autoimmune Life • Kelli - The Olympic Nest
Lynne - My Family Thyme • Beverly - Across the Blvd.
Debra - Shoppe No. 5 • Pili - My Sweet Things
Laurie - My Husband Has Too Many Hobbies • Kristie - Teadoddles
Julie - Sum of their Stories • Gwen - Geez, Gwen!
Marie - The Inspiration Vault • Candice - Fearlessly Creative Mammas
T'onna - Sew Crafty Crochet • Kenyatta - My Design Rules
Cherryl - Farm Girl Reformed • Lisa - Blogghetti
Micah - Home Faith Family • Kelley - Simply Inspired Meal
Lauren - Mom Home Guide • Deborah - Salvage Sister & Mister
Gail - Purple Hues and Me • Terri - Our Good Life
Lauren - Wonderfully Made • Sue - A Purdy Little House
Toni - Small Home Soul • Maureen - Red Cottage Chronicles
Marci - Stone Cottage Adventures • Michelle - Our Crafty Mom
Emily - Domestic Deadline - Maria - Tinseltown
