Rose Dusting Powder - Bath Blend of the Month

It may be a bit early for blooming roses, but spring rain and I am am thinking of ways to use flowers. In fact I dedicated this month's newsletter to information on Edible Flowers, so if you are interested in receiving the Monthly Newsletter, please sign up here.

This after shower powder is great for softening and soothing skin and smells great!

Rose Dusting Powder

• Petals from 4 roses (medium size)
• 1 cup cornstarch
• 3 Tbls baking soda
• 3 dried rose heads

Directions:

1.    In a small cardboard box, layer the petals and cornstarch. Fit the cover on but don’t seal tight, you want the contents to still have a bit of air. Leave for 24 to 36 hours.

2.    Sift the pieces from cornstarch then add the baking soda (you may have to sift a few times to remove all the petals). Mix well then split the powder mixture into two batches. *See tip below

3.    Next take the dried roses, remove the stem and leaves and add the rose heads to one half of the powder mixture. Pour into a blender and mix until the dried flowers are finely ground.

4.    Add the fine ground powder mixture to the other half of the powder mixture, use a wooden spoon to blend the powder by hand.

5.    Pour the scented powder into a decorative box or shaker jar, allow to sit for a day before using.

Tips:

If you prefer a stronger scented dusting powder, you can add another batch of fresh petals and allow the powder to sit another 24 hours (first sift out the initial batch of petals).

You can use lavender or other scented flowers if you prefer.

To Use:  Dust skin with a powder puff after bathing or showering.  Lightly sprinkle on bedding for a nicely scented sleep.  Use to scent lingerie drawers or closets. Great to give as homemade gifts

Body Powder Puff – DIY (for MOM)

Mothers Day is May 14, 2017, so I thought this month I would share a great step-by-step for making a powder puff you can give to mom for Mother’s Day.  And if you don’t have a mom to make one for, treat yourself!

Body Powder Puff

 10” square of fabric or a cloth hanky (vintage items are perfect for this)

½ cup French white clay

1 Tbls. Powdered rose buds

1 Tbls. Powdered lavender buds

20 drops of lavender essential oil

20 drops of rose geranium essential oil

Cotton batting

Rubber band

12” of decorative ribbon (that compliments the fabric)

If you do not have or cannot find powdered herbs, make them yourself.  Using about 4 to 5 Tbls. of dried crumbled rose petals or lavender buds, run them in a blender or food processor or even a clean coffee grinder until you get a fine powder.

Mix powdered herbs with clay and add essential oils.  The oils will ball up in the clay so mash them with the back of spoon to get them to granulate and mix evenly into the clay.

Place the clay mixture in the center of the fabric, which you have laid out on a flat surface face down.

Place the batting on top of clay and gather up the 4 corners of fabric and secure with a rubber band.

Tug in all the edges of the fabric to create a tight ball with no gaps.

Cover the rubber band with the decorative ribbon tied in a pretty bow.

To use: Pat the powder puff on skin, then rub the clay in.  You can also use this to dust and scent the bed linens.  It is fun to find an old tin or cardboard box at a vintage store to put the puff in, or decorate a plain take out box with personalized art.