The home spa theme continued this week with projects like the Lavender Lotion Bars. They’re made with argan oil, avocado butter and white beeswax, which feel moisturizing and luxurious on the skin. The lavender 40/42 essential oil gives the bars a relaxing scent. They work well on dry areas like elbows, hands and feet. The bars are also ideal for traveling because they fit easily in a bag or purse.
Archives for October 2016
Honey Bee Melt & Pour Soap on Soap Queen TV
A few months ago, I created these cute Honeycomb Melt and Pour Soaps. I loved them so much, that I decided to make them into a Soap Queen TV tutorial! I changed the colors slightly, but stuck with Pure Honey Fragrance Oil. It smells absolutely amazing and is such a huge crowd pleaser. These honey bee soaps are made in the 6 Cavity Honeycomb Silicone Mold, which makes unmolding easy. It’s also easy to clean and works well for a variety of projects including cold process soap and lotion bars. There are also free downloadable labels for this project to package and give as gifts!
This honey bee project is suitable for both beginner and advanced crafters. It does require some detail work, which can take a little patience. To help with filling in the bee details, I recommend using an Injector Tool and having a Clean Up Tool nearby to fix any mistakes. As with any melt and pour project, 99% isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle and an infrared thermometer are key!
DIY Cucumber Lavender Face Spritzer
I always use moisturizer in the morning and at night. But every now and then, my skin still feels a little dry throughout the day. If your skin is in need of a pick-me-up, this Cucumber and Lavender Face Spritzer is great for quick hydration. It’s made with a combination of aloe vera liquid, cucumber essential water, lavender essential water and glycerin. Essential waters are purified water infused with essential oil. They have a mild scent and feel great on the skin. Feel free to swap out any of the essential waters in this recipe for another if you prefer.
Simply spritz the mixture onto your skin any time, and allow it to dry. This spray feels refreshing during the hot months, and relieves dry winter skin. I actually made this spray in July and used it throughout the summer after being out in the sun all day. I like to carry it in my purse for little pick-me-ups.
Lavender Lotion Bar Tutorial
When skin needs serious moisture, lotion bars are the way to go. A lotion bar typically refers to a combination of butters, wax and oil that create a firm yet spreadable product when combined. Because they are made solely of oils, they are great for extremely dry areas like elbows, knees and cuticles. They are wonderful for a home spa day, or if skin needs a pick-me-up throughout the day.
These Lavender Lotion Bars are made with a luxurious blend of argan oil, avocado butter and white beeswax. Argan oil is rich in vitamin E and gives this bar a spreadable texture. Avocado butter and beeswax add firmness to the bars. Lavender 40/42 essential oil gives a light and calming floral scent. I love using the mini deodorant tubes for lotion bars because they are easy to travel with and carry around in your purse. Download and print this free label template for a finishing touch.
Hydrating Lavender Hair Oil Tutorial
If your hair is feeling dry, oil might be the answer. This is especially true if you use hot styling tools every day or color your hair. Hair oil can be used in a variety of ways depending on your hair texture and severity of dryness. This Hydrating Hair Oil was specifically formulated to be easy to make and to be used in a variety of ways depending on your preference. Fractionated coconut oil gives this oil an overall light texture, while argan oil adds amazing antioxidant properties along with a blend of fatty acids that are amazing for hair.
Need some extreme moisture? Gently heat the hair oil and apply to dry hair. Wrap your hair in a warm, dry towel and allow the oil to penetrate the oil for about 30 minutes. Wash out thoroughly; it will probably take two shampoos to fully remove the oil. You can also apply a small amount of oil to the ends of dry or wet hair to keep hair smooth throughout the day. This recipe is also suitable for beards, facial hair and can be used as a body oil. This project also includes free templates! Download them here.
Soapy Social Media Roundup
Happy Sunday. =) My folks are up for the weekend so it’s family, family, family. We are loving the rainy PNW fall and finding it interesting (challenging!) to find our drizzly moments to get outside and run off the kids’ energy.. Pinterest certainly comes in handy when you have read every book in the house, or have played hide-and-go-seek too many times to count. Need some rainy day ideas? My Toddler Fun Pinterest board has lots of crafty projects. I have my eyes on this Rainbow Foam Dough for later today.
Above, the whole family was able to take advantage of a dry-but-misty-day for a hike. How beautiful is that waterfall? I’m crossing my fingers that we get a few more hikes in this year before it gets too cold!
Left to right, clockwise:
- I love this “Find Joy” iPhone Wallpaper by Thyme is Honey. Such a good reminder that happiness is a choice.
- Getting kids into bed can be a chore. I may need to give this Printable Evening Routine Chart a try!
- There are so many creative ways to decorate pumpkins for Halloween. These DIY Paint Splattered Pumpkins caught my eye.
- I’m currently leading a fitness and nutrition challenge, so sugar is off the table. But once it’s not…I may need to treat myself to a Gingerbread Cupcake.
Instagram:
The team and I have been brainstorming and testing new projects for Soap Queen TV. I think these cute doughnut bath bombs are a go! The base is colored with Rosy Pink La Bomb, and the sprinkles are created with a mixture of micas and 99% isopropyl alcohol.
I love the look of in-the-pot swirls. This swirl was created with Buttercup Mica, Magenta Mica and Slushy Blue Mica. Buttercup Mica turns orange in cold process, but returns to a light yellow.
- Is fear holding you back? Follow these five steps to overcome it.
- If you’re a gamer, or have one in your life, check out this Homemade Minecraft Creeper Soap by Simplistic Living!
- It’s hard to avoid comparing yourself to others. But, social comparison can be detrimental to your mental health and small business. Learn some strategies to avoid it.
- It’s officially soup season, yay! I think I need to whip up a batch of this Roasted Pumpkin Soup next week.
- Need a good read? I loved this non-fiction book by Dan Lyons.
To keep up with soapy social media throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine, YouTube and Snapchat. I’m Bramble-Berry on Snapchat. Don’t forget to tag your soapy projects on Instagram with the hashtag #SoapShare so I can see what you’re making!
Facebook and Instagram Photo of the Week (Oct. 1st ~ 7th)
The holidays can be a stressful time of year, especially for busy crafters. This week the blog featured projects that promote relaxation, like the Cucumber and Lavender Bath Bombs. They’re scented with a calming blend of Lavender 40/42 Essential Oil and Cucumber Melon Fragrance Oil. They also have skin-loving cucumber extract.
Cucumber Melon Sea Salt Scrub DIY
Cucumber is such a soothing and refreshing fragrance. It’s the perfect scent to relax and rejuvenate. Earlier this week, I mixed it with lavender to create Cucumber & Lavender Bath Bombs. Now that our skin has been treated to a hot bath, the next step in the home spa experience is to scrub away dead skin. This Cucumber Sea Salt Scrub does the trick.
The base of this scrub is Foaming Bath Butter. It’s a premade base that when whipped with a hand or stand mixer, transforms into a light and fluffy consistency. It is made of gentle surfactants that mildly cleanse the skin. To the base, a combination of Fine Grained Dead Sea Salt and Forest Green Jojoba Beads are added. The jojoba beads add a light green color and gentle exfoliation. Learn more about jojoba beads here, and how they differ from microbeads.
Fine grained Dead Sea salt is great for the body, but can be a little scratchy on gentle facial skin. The amount of salt in this recipe provides gentle exfoliation. If you prefer something “scrubbier,” feel free to add more salt to suit your preference. We also created free printable labels for this scrub! Simply add download the label and print the labels on waterproof label paper.
Soothing Eye Tea DIY
Need a few minutes to relax and unwind? This Soothing Eye Tea is a great pick me up. The “tea” is made from a combination of chamomile herb, calendula petals and lavender buds. Once you’re ready to kick up your feet, boil some water and submerge the tea bags just like normal. “Brew” the tea for about a couple minutes and remove the tea bags. Place the tea bags into the fridge to completely cool, then place the cold tea bags on your eyes for a refreshing feel. You can also place the warm tea bags on closed eyes until fully cool. It all depends on what you prefer. =)
I like to make a large batch of these to have on hand whenever I need a little pick-me-up. They are especially nice during a bath, or before bed. The recipe below makes about eight tea bags, so feel free to size up the recipe as you’d like. You can also adjust the amounts of each herb as you see fit. This project is the perfect time to use a “Keep Calm and Make Soap” mug! =)
Cucumber & Lavender Bath Bomb DIY
Everybody needs to treat themselves every now and then. If you’re in need of some pampering, there is no need to leave the house. You can enjoy the luxury of the spa at home by whipping up a few easy bath & beauty products. For the next two weeks, be on the lookout for a collection of tutorials to turn your home into a spa. These projects are also great for a crafting with friends if get-togethers are your way of de-stressing.
The first project in this series are these Cucumber & Lavender Bath Bombs. A hot bath is an instant de-stresser, and also preps the skin for scrub and moisturizer. These bath bombs are scented with a calming blend of Lavender 40/42 Essential Oil and Cucumber Melon Fragrance Oil. The bath bombs also contain Cucumber Extract, which is known for its soothing properties. The extract is dispersed in fractionated coconut oil, which adds a touch of moisturizing properties to the bath water. The green and purple hues are created with La Bomb colorants, which are specifically made for bath bombs. Learn more about them here.
Be on the lookout for a Cucumber Salt Scrub, Lavender Hair Oil, Cucumber & Lavender Facial Water and Lavender Lotion Bar in the next two weeks. By the end, we will all be 100% relaxed and right for the holidays, right? =) If you plan on giving these projects away as gifts, download and print free label templates for the projects.
Inside Anne-Marie’s Fall 2016 Soap Swap Box!
In the Spring Soap Swap, I decided to be a participant for the first time. That meant my ten soaps were swapped with the others, and I received a box filled with ten unique bars. It was so much fun, I had to do it again for the Fall 2016 Swap. If you’d like more information regarding the Soap Swap, check out this blog post to read the details. Want to participate in a future swap? Sign up for our newsletter; the date of the next swap will be announced in advance for newsletter subscribers.
I’m sure you can imagine, I see a lot of soap on a day-to-day basis. But, most of it is online. One of my favorite things about the Soap Swap is the ability to see, touch and smell a variety of handmade soaps. It’s fun to admire the packaging, and eventually use it in the shower. Like my previous Soap Swap box, I was blown away with the soaps in this box! I didn’t choose which bars made it into my box. My team randomly entered my soap into one “round” of swapping. Check out each soap in my box below, and learn a little bit more about the soaper who made it. Then, check out my unboxing video on Facebook!
SOAP #1: The first bar is Loofah Edge Soap made by Shannon of Elderberry Edge. Shannon started soaping about a year and a half ago, and is also a farmer. On her farm she grows a variety of crops including elderberries, blackberries, watermelon and garlic. She also grows her own loofah gourds for her soap! You can read about her loofah production here. Shannon’s beautiful soap is scented with Gardenia Cybilla Fragrance Oil, and also contains goat milk. I can’t wait to try it!
SOAP #2: This gorgeous bar was created by Merrie. To create the beautiful flowers on each bar, Merrie first piped the shape of the flower. Then, she used a wet cake decorating brush to pull the edging down to make it look like embroidery. Merrie also sprinkled iridescent glitter on top. I just love the wonderfully feminine look of these bars! They bars are scented with Energy Fragrance Oil. Merrie also attached a wood tag to the bars, which really elevates the packaging.
SOAP #3: This showstopper was made by Aileen of Soap Fixations. Aileen used to be a competitive pastry chef, and is a graduate from the Culinary Institute of America. Her skills in the kitchen can obviously be seen in her gorgeous soap. These bars feature Apple Moss Green Mica, Light Gold Mica, Super Pearly White Mica and Raspberry Mica. They are scented with Apricot Freesia Fragrance Oil for a floral scent. I’m blown away by the gorgeous swirl and intricate flower details on top. I also really appreciate the packaging of these bars; the sturdy box did a great job protecting the soap and looks very professional.
Find Aileen
Website
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SOAP #4: The next soap is this adorable bar made by Haruna. Haruna started making soap when she was 14 years old in Japan. She now resides in Oregon, but was inspired by her time in Japan to create this cherry blossom soap, scented with Cherry Blossom Fragrance Oil. The soft pink color is achieved with rose clay. I just love the unique and adorable shape of these bars, and the soft swirl. The green and pink cigar band complement it perfectly.
SOAP #5: This bar of soap was created by Lindsey of Kirkland’s Creations. Scented with Grapefruit Bellini Fragrance Oil, this soap is actually a rebatched bar after the first batch didn’t quite turn out. I love how Lindsey made lemonade with lemons! They look absolutely beautiful with a gold mica line and sparkle on top. The bars feature a plethora of amazing ingredients including aloe vera liquid and goat milk.
Find Lindsey
Etsy
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Instagram
SOAP #6: Created by Kim, these beautiful bars are scented with White Ginger and Amber Cybilla Fragrance Oil. I love how the warm color palette complements the scent. The bars include Tussah silk, kaolin clay and aloe juice. I love the idea of framing the swirl with two mica lines. It really makes it pop! The packaging on these bars is really fun as well.
Find Kim
Instagram
SOAP #7: This bar created by Tabitha is the perfect example that simple can make a big impact! Scented with Spearmint Eucalyptus Fragrance Oil, Tabitha kept the bars simple with Super Pearly White Mica and Titanium Dioxide for a crisp appearance. Tabitha is currently in the process of starting her own soaping business. I love that Tabitha included a wood soap dish with the bar. It’s great for a marketing standpoint, and soap dishes are essential for handmade soap! That makes it so easy and appealing for the customer.
SOAP #8: How adorable is this French Vanilla Creme Soap created by Anika of Lillia Nikita? I just love the layers, soap frosting and pink embed on top. This bar is scented with Vanilla Select Fragrance Oil. I like how Anika made the fragrance discoloration work for her design. The center layer of these bars contain oats, and the bottom has a cute honeycomb pattern. Anika’s bars contain beeswax and vanilla bean.
SOAP #9: Speaking of foody bars, this Pumpkin Patch Soap made by Barbara of J.L. May SoapMakers looks (and smells!) good enough to eat. It’s scented with Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil, and includes real pumpkin puree in the recipe. I really like how Barbara created a rustic yet totally polished look with this bar. The various colors and layers are complemented by a cute pumpkin stamp. The mica on top gives a great finishing touch with the textured top.
SOAP #10: Last but certainly not least is this beautiful soap made by Desiree of Mexico Beach Soap. Scented with Blackberry Sage Fragrance Oil and Vanilla Select Fragrance Oil, these bars smell both sweet and fruity. The scent is complemented perfectly with the swirls of purple and green. The swirl appears to be a combination of a drop swirl and hanger swirl. It really makes an impact!
Find Desiree
Website
A big thanks to all the soapers who participated in this Soap Swap. And thanks to everybody who was in my box, I can’t wait to use your soap! If you missed out on this swap, we will have another in the Spring. Sign up for our newsletter; we will announce the dates of the swap ahead of time to newsletters subscribers.
Soapy Social Media Roundup
Happy weekend! For the next few days, I’m spending time in Minneapolis with my mastermind group. What’s a mastermind group you ask? In short, it’s a support group. I recently wrote about my love of mastermind groups and how to start your own on my other blog (yep, I have another blog). You can also find more information about mastermind groups in this post, all the way from 2008. Clearly, they work for me! =) I always feel so inspired and motivated after meeting with my group.
Make everyday the best day ever with your own Best Day Ever mug!
We all need a little “treat yo’ self” day every now and then, right? Next week on the blog, be on the lookout for a series of projects for a home spa day! Recipes will include bath bombs, salt scrub, lotion bars and more. In the meantime, check out my favorite pins, tweets and ‘grams from the week.
Left to right, clockwise:
- This was the first week of my Best Day Ever Fall Challenge, so my diet has been full of veggies. This Fall Green Smoothie looks like the perfect addition!
- The swirl and colors in these marble bars made by Ecohouse are so beautiful. It really looks like marble.
- I love the look of sea glass, but had no idea you could create your own with spray paint! This tutorial shows you how.
- The leaf pattern on this Aloe Vera Soap by Steso is so realistic. The colors are gorgeous too.
Instagram:
In need of a home spa day? Next week, look for a series of projects made with calming cucumber and lavender scents. The bath bombs below are scented with a unique blend of Cucumber Melon Fragrance Oil and Lavender 40/42 Essential Oil.
Did you catch the newest Soap Queen TV video? In the video, I show you how to make Orange and Poppy Seed Salt Scrub with my friend Courtney. It’s easy to make and smells amazing!
- This Sun and Cloud Melt and Pour Project by Otion Soap Bar is so cute and creative!
- Goldfish may seem harmless, but when introduced into they wild they cause serious biological problems. Who knew?
- Homemade lunches can get a little boring. This list has some great ideas if you need to spice it up.
- Think your brand is fully developed? Ask yourself these ten questions.
To keep up with soapy social media throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine, YouTube and Snapchat. I’m Bramble-Berry on Snapchat. Don’t forget to tag your soapy projects on Instagram with the hashtag #SoapShare so I can see what you’re making!
Facebook and Instagram Photo of the Week (Sept. 24th ~ 30th)
It’s hard to believe October is here already. This week the blog featured fall-friendly tutorials like the Crescent Moon Cold Process Soap. The bars are all about contrast. They have a dark gray base and a bright yellow embed made with the Mini Moon Silicone Column Mold. They also have a touch of Gold Sparkle Mica sprinkled on top. For a smoky and complex scent, the soap has Tobacco & Bay Leaf Fragrance Oil.