Pampering body powder and powder puff - tutorial

This week's tutorial is in the spirit of Valentine's Day. Something decadent and pampering for a loved one or for yourself.

Our project is a sweet-smelling body powder made from kitchen ingredients, no fancy stuff or chemicals, just the good stuff. Plus, an adorable powder puff to make it extra special.

Approximate time for powder and puff: up to 30 minutes

Materials: 

   

• A wide-mouthed container with secure lid
• Fun fur in your choice of colour/pattern
• A handful of wadding of soft fabric scraps
• Needle and thread
• Cornflour
• Bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) - optional, not pictured
• Your choice of scented oil

 Tools:

•  Scissors

 Steps:

• On the reverse of your fabric, trace around the lid of your container twice to make two pattern pieces

• Cut your shapes. TIP: when cutting fur fabrics, carefully snip the backing fabric only, NOT the pile. Otherwise you will end up with a fun fur haircut on your finished piece
• Spike up the fabric so none of the pile hangs over the cut edge and pin the pieces together with right sides facing

• Sew around your edges with a simple stitch, you could use a sewing machine for this part but it took me less than 30 minutes for this whole project including hand-sewing. Leave a small gap to turn the puff back out the right way.

• Turn your piece right-sides out and stuff with your wadding. If you do not have wadding available, use a handful of soft fabric scraps or cotton balls.
• Stitch the puff closed carefully. Once again, ignore the pile of the fabric and stitch only the backing fabric.

• Grab your container, make sure it's clean :D. Half-fill with cornflour and add a teaspoon or two of baking soda if you like. Baking soda has deodorising properties and is refreshing on the skin.
• Add a few drops of your favourite scented oil (or perfume), replace the lid on the container and shake well to combine. Check the scent and add a little more oil if you like.

• Pop your puff in the container and seal it up.

• Add a label or message if the powder is a gift and you're done!

TIP: if making the powder ahead of time, you can infuse your cornflour with herbs or spices. Pour cornflour into a large container with a secure lid and add your choice of scents, eg. cinnamon sticks, vanilla pods, lavender or rosemary sprigs. Shake well and allow to infuse for a week.


TIP: no really, don't try regular flour. Honestly, you will end up covered in papier mache glue if you dust yourself with flour and sweat in the night. Not attractive, especially for Valentine's Day.