Cornerstone Acres Farm 

COLORS (Choose one or two colors)

DARK GREEN - LIGHT BROWN - PINK - BLUE - BLACK - PURPLE - DARK BROWN - LIGHT GREEN - YELLOW - ORANGE - WHITE 

Please keep in mind that our colors used are only all natural ingredients so colors my not be as vibrant as synthetic colors. Colors may vary depending on liquid type and/or additives chosen. For example white will not be achieved using tea, coffee, honey or fruit purees for your liquid or additive. We are now offering you the option of micas.  Adding more than two colors (except white) will cost $2 more for each color (per batch)

COLOR TYPE (choose one)

NATURAL/HERBAL  --   MICAS

Please choose whether you would like herbal or mica colorants above. (Micas will be more vibrant in color.)

LIQUIDS (choose only one liquid type)

GOATS MILK – WINE - FRUIT JUICE (SPECIFY) - VEGETABLE PUREE (SPECIFY) - BREAST MILK (YOU MUST BRING YOUR OWN FROZEN ICE CUBES OF BREAST MILK.) - BEER - NUT MILK (SPECIFY) – COFFEE – WATER

specifiy_______________________________________________________________________

SCENTS (Choose one or two scents)

LAVENDER – LEMONGRASS - PATCHOULI – PINE – ROSEMARY - EUCALYPTUS – PEPPERMINT - TEA TREE

OTHER:_________________________________

TECHNIQUES (Choose one technique/design)

PLOP (SPOON) SWIRL – FUNNEL POUR - EMBED - PENCIL LINE – LAYERED

OILS (Choose one or two luxury oils)

HEMP – WALNUT – AVOCADO - COCOA BUTTER – SHEA BUTTER – JOJOBA – NEEM

ADD-INS (Choose one add-in item)

SILK – HONEY – OATMEAL – COFFEE – SEA SALT – PUREE (PLEASE SPECIFY) – CLAY -- OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY) - HERBS (PLEASE SPECIFY) __________________________________________

Keep in mind that certain additives may affect the final color of your soap, for instance honey would be best chosen to go into a brown or black soap. Suggestions welcome, but we may not be able to accommodate all requests.

Do you have any ALLERGIES to Coconut Oil, Latex or any other oils/ingredients listed? Any other allergies (nuts or gluten for example) that you may have? (Keep in mind others who will also be using your soap.) _______________________________________________________________

Are there any items on our list that you would prefer NOT to see in your soap? (For example something that you are morally, personally or religiously against? You don’t need to explain why, but let us know what items you do not want used in your soap since I prepare all recipes in advance.) ____________________________________________________________________________

Would you like to make a second batch for just an additional $35?  If so, please fill out a second form and be sure to check the SECOND BATCH box.

By signing below you agree that you realize cold process soap making can have some dangerous components (ie working with caustic lye – sodium hydroxide). You are signing that you agree to follow safety protocol outlined at the beginning of your class. You agree that you will not hold Cornerstone Acres Farm or its constituents responsible for any accidents.

(We will have you sign a form the day of the class.)

Using the above choices as your guide, please fill out the below form.   Please submit your registration form a MINIMUM of 7 days* prior to your class date.  Please have your deposit ($25) or full payment arrive at least 4 days prior to your scheduled class.   

Remit payment in the form of a check or money order* to:  

Cornerstone Acres Farm

6022  South 25 Road

Boon, MI 49618

* Money orders must be received a MINIMUM of 10 business days prior to your class date. 

Please do not wear open toed shoes. We ask that you wear full length pants or a full length skirt and full length sleeves with no really low cut neck lines. Gloves and goggles will be provided for you. (If you have goggles or gloves you would like to bring instead, feel free to do so, but we must approve them prior to use the day of class.) Adult attendees will be taking home the soap they make in a plastic reusable mold(s); please bring an old bath towel to wrap your soap and mold in and a small box if you happen to have one (approximately 10x10). The class address is listed below. Class will be held from approximately 12:00pm until 5:00pm unless otherwise scheduled. End time may vary depending on how fast the soaps reach trace for us and the number of batches being made, on average classes run 1 hour per active participant. Registration forms and deposits should be received at least 7 days before the scheduled class (unless specifically discussed prior). Feel free to bring snacks and drinks for yourself. We have outlets for you to plug in crockpots or other warming devices, but unfortunately we will not have the facilities to refrigerate or otherwise heat/cook your foods here.

You may remit payment of DEPOSIT ($25) following this registration form. Deposits are non-refundable unless cancellations are made by attendee(s) at least 10 days prior to class. Balance of $35 is due at the start of the scheduled class. Monies are 100% refundable if we (Cornerstone Acres Farm) have to cancel a class for any reason. (Total class fee = $60) Deposits ARE transferable to another class date if attended within 6 months of originally scheduled date.

You are welcome to remit full amount of the class ($60) with this form. $25 will not be refundable (except as stated above), the other $35 is fully refundable if you don't make the scheduled class.

Charges for extras and second batches will be paid the day of class.

Children ages 10-16 are welcome to attend as observers only. A $10 charge per child is due the day of class.

Email info@cornerstoneacresfarm.com to cancel or with any questions you may have. 

You can also contact us through our Facebook page. 

Call or text at 616-834-4431

Reminders for after your class:

Soaps should be able to be removed from the molds approximately 24 hours from when you made the soap here. If soap appears to be just a little “wet” or “sticky” still, you can wait a little longer (another 12-24 hrs) or place molds in the freezer for an hour or two and then unmold.

Once removed from the molds, be sure to cut your bars while the soap “loaf” still soft. If you have chosen to use one of the toppers (poppy seeds, rose petals, etc) offered in the class, try turning your soap on it’s side before cutting. This will prevent “drag” marks caused by the topper being pushed through the soap with your knife or other cutter. Knives, pastry cutters and cheese cutters all cut fresh soaps very well. A cheese peeler or potato peeler can be used to clean up any rough outer edges. We do recommend that any utensils used on your soaps should be kept separate than those you use for food.

Soaps should be safe to use approximately 48 hours after unmolding, however for best results and a longer lasting bar and for milder results on your skin, soaps should be cured for at least 4-6 weeks.

To cure: Place cut bars standing up and leave air space around all other sides of bars. Store in a dark, dust free area, an open cardboard box within a closet is often a good choice. Lather generally will increase the longer the bar cures (soaps always seem to get better with age).

Keep a record of all the batches you make. Include the ingredients and their amounts, the procedures you followed and date made. Keeping a binder or folder for all these works great and allows you to add notes once you start using your soap. Adding things later like cure time(s) observed, how well scent held, any color changes, how well it lathers and how it feels on your skin can help you tweak future batches.

Links:

www.brambleberry.com (They have a great lye calculator as well as a good link for supplies and tutorials)

http://soapcalc.net/calc/SoapCalcWP.asp (A great printable recipe calculator)

https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/ (A good place for purchasing herbs for colorants)

Amazon of course is a good source for supplies as well. It’s where I buy my lye (most of the time)

https://www.naturesgardencandles.com/candlemaking-soap-supplies/item/00soapsafe/-soap-making-safety.html (A good place to start with researching soap making safety.)

https://www.modernsoapmaking.com/make-handmade-soap-safely/ (A good additional and more in-depth safety checklist than what is outlined below)

Oil info:

Oils that contribute to bubbly lather: coconut oil, palm kernel oil, and babassu oil

Oils that support or sustain lather: almond oil, lard, tallow, cocoa butter, palm oil, shea butter, or sunflower oil

Luxury and nourishing oils for skin conditioning: apricot kernel oil, avocado oil, olive oil, rice bran oil, or sunflower oil (luxury oils” at no more than 5% to 10%) argan oil, evening primrose oil, flaxseed oil, hempseed oil, jojoba oil, meadowfoam oil, pumpkin seed oil, or wheatgerm oi

Some tips:

If you are having lather problems, try decreasing the superfat of the total oils, as too many free oils can cut down on lather. You can also try using a lather increasing additive like sodium citrate, sodium lactate, sugar (honey), or rosin. Also, replacing the water with a lather booster that contains sugars, like beer or wine.

Superfat is the amount of “extra” oils that don’t react with the lye to turn it into soap. Superfatted oils help to keep a bar conditioning to the skin.

Basic soap recipe info:

60% Hard Oils (Solid at Room Temperature) - 25% to 45% Lathering Hard Oils and 15% to 30% Conditioning Hard Oils

40% Soft Oils (Liquid at Room Temperature) - 20% to 30% Nourishing Soft Oils, 5% to 10% Luxury Soft Oils and 5% to 10% Castor Oil