“The best cupcake you’ve ever made” — Norman |
Archives for March 2011
New Herbs and Extracts!
to benefit from their unique properties. The oil soluble extracts (some are oil soluble, some are water soluble) can be used in balms too for an extra nourishing lotion bar, lip product or salve. The dried herbs can also be used as natural colorants, either as an oil infusion or some added directly to soap.
Mango Avocado Balmy Salve
Tweets ‘Ya Missed
Just in case you don’t follow me on Twitter, I read a bunch of articles almost daily (reading is my favorite hobby besides soapmaking) and tweet out the ones I think could be helpful to other people. Since a lot of them are small business related, I thought you might enjoy a recap of last week. [Read more…]
To Gel or Not to Gel
Guest Post from Kat (our retail store Assistant Manager – we heart Kat!)
I love testing new scents in cold process soap because I get to feel like a mad scientist. You never know what you’re going to get– some scents immediately seize or accelerate, others turn crazy colors, some over-heat and some go through gel phase, like the examples below.
What is Gel Phase anyway? According to Anne-Marie on the Teach Soap Forum, “Gel phase simply refers to a part of the saponification process where the soap gets extremely warm and gelatinous. Soap that has not gel-phased is still soap. There is nothing wrong if your soap does not gel phase. You will find slight color and shine variations in gelled versus ungelled soap. Some soapers prefer not to have their soap gel at all so do not insulate. Again, it is a personal preference.”
Fair Ivy Wants to Buy YOUR Soap
May 2011 Soap Swap Line-Up (Thus Far!)
Here is the official Master List of Swappers for our May 2011 swap. We will keep this list updated with the fragrances being used and we will also note when we’ve received your soap.
Green Machine (Melt and Pour Tutorial)
Who’s Ready for Another Epic Soap Swap?
Who’s Ready for Another Epic Soap Swap?
- You send us an email telling us what Bramble Berry fragrance you are using.
- You make 12 bars of soap (Cold Process or Melt and Pour) and label them with the ingredients you used and your name, your company name or soaping alias.
- You send the soap to Bramble Berry ensuring that it is received by Monday, May 2nd.
- Ship to: Bramble Berry Inc.
- C/O Soap Swap
- 2138 Humboldt Street
- Bellingham, WA 98225
- You purchase the Soap Swap item on the Bramble Berry website and choose what shipping method you would like. (USPS Flat rate box will be $13.15 but FedEx or Priority Mail may be less expensive depending on where you’re located). We’ll make the payment option available two weeks before the deadline.
- Sit back and wait for your exciting box of goodies! We will get the swap boxes sent out by Monday, May 9th.