What’s more fun than a bath fizzy? Making your own special fizzies in just the right shape, color and fragrance, that’s what. They make great gifts year round, but for Valentine's day heart-shaped fizzies seemed just right.
I cut a 10-heart mold in half from the soap making department at Michael's Crafts and shared with a friend. Five wet globs of fizzy mix is just about all I can handle at one time. You'll find the mostly inexpensive ingredients at the grocery, drugstore or international market. Making things with my hands keeps my brain engaged and my spirits aloft when I'm struggling with black thoughts.
I've even had fizzy parties at my house with friends. Fizzies are pre-teen and teenage friendly, too. It’s a little hard for kids under ten to pull these off, but not impossible.
This craft needs close adult supervision, so plan to sit beside crafters younger than twelve. Be sure to prepare the kids, their clothes and the craft area against food color stains, too.
You’ll need some small soap molds. The hearts I used are one and a quarter inch at the widest part and about a half-inch deep. I don’t wipe my molds with cooking spray, but some folks do.
This year, I used gel food colors, so my blue hearts are more smurf blue than baby blue and the green is a robust mint rather than a whisper. Pack these in cellophane bags tied with a great bow, or in a silver Chinese takeout favor box from the dollar store. Recycle a great glass jar and cover the lid. Have fun.
Here’s the basic recipe:
Fizzy Bath Bombs
Yield: 16 to 20 small bath fizzies
2 cups baking soda
1 cup citric acid (available at international food stores or online)
essential oils (for fragrance)
Food coloring
Witch hazel in a fine spray bottle to mist the soda/acid mixture.
- If desired, spray molds with non-stick coating spray, then wipe the molds with a paper towel to remove any excess.
- Mix together baking soda and citric acid in a large glass, plastic, or paper container. I use my whisk to break up clumps and blend evenly. You don’t want lumps. Also, the container should be thoroughly dry or mixture will begin to fizz. Set mixture aside
- Scoop ½ cup into a clean bowl. I use paper disposable dinnerware.
- Add 2 drops essential fragrance oil and blend it into the soda/citric acid mix. I use a spoon and a fork to mash it around all through.
- Add a very small amount of food coloring. Next time, I’ll squeeze out a drop of gel color onto a piece of waxed paper and transfer it with a toothpick to tint my bombs. Stir in, then work the mixture with fingertips until all color is evenly distributed.
- Spray a very small amount of witch hazel into the bowl and stir to mix. Add more until the mixture is just damp enough to press into the molds. It will be a little crumbly. You don’t want to overdo the witch hazel spritz. I usually spritz very lightly, turn and mix about four times. If you go overboard with the witch hazel, the mix keeps foams and grows.
- Press mixture into molds, working quickly, packing the molds firmly. Remove excess mixture from the edges of the mold so you get a clean edge.
- Allow the bath bombs to set up for ten minutes or so, then invert the mold onto waxed paper and press out the bombs.
- It may take a few times to get the right touch on these. Repeat this process 1/2 cup at a time.
- Let bombs set 24 to 36 hours.
To use: toss a fizzy bomb in bath under warm running water
