Soap Queen

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Searching for a New S.O.A.P. Panel!

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Do you love testing new fragrances in your soapy projects? Here at Bramble Berry, we receive hundreds of fragrance oil samples. To help choose the very best fragrances to add to our line, we are looking for eight new members to join our S.O.A.P Panel! As part of the panel, you will have the opportunity to test eight new mystery fragrances, and help us decide which new scents to add to our lineup.

Each member of the panel will receive eight 1 oz. bottles of fragrance oil. These fragrances can be tested in cold process, melt and pour, lotions or other bath and body products. To keep opinions unbiased, the fragrances will not have names, but instead will be labeled with a number. Not knowing the name is part of the fun!

At the end of the testing and reviewing process, each S.O.A.P. Panel member will fill out a survey regarding the fragrances. We then review this survey, and choose the very best fragrances to add to our line. While not a requirement, many S.O.A.P. (aka: Soap Opinion Awesome Panel) members share their opinions and test results on their blog, Facebook pages or other social media outlets. We love hearing your honest opinions regarding the fragrances, so an ideal member of the panel won’t hold their feelings back!

Previous S.O.A.P. panel fragrance winners were: Mandarin Oasis Fragrance Oil, Mahogany Fragrance Oil, Autumn Fig Harvest Fragrance Oil, Lavender and Cedar Fragrance Oil, and Heavenly Honeysuckle Fragrance Oil.

Note: S.O.A.P. Panel members have about 7 weeks to test the fragrances. Please make sure you will be able to commit to testing all fragrances before entering. Because these fragrances can’t ship internationally, we are not able accept international entries.

This old post is a great example of what previous S.O.A.P. panel members have done for testing, blogging and tweeting. If you’d like to see more examples of how S.O.A.P. Panel members have shared their opinions and test results, check out the links below!

Want to join in the fun? Entering is easy!

To Enter:

  • Tweet, Facebook, Pin, Instagram or blog about your favorite Bramble Berry product (including the links) and why you should be selected for the S.O.A.P. team.
  • Comment on this blog post, with links to your social media updates.
  • The last day to enter is August 28th. You can still post about your favorite BB product, but you won’t be considered for the panel!
  • S.O.A.P. Panel will be announced by September 5th and samples will be sent out by September 10th.
  • Completed surveys need to be returned by November 3rd. 

    Ready, Set … Apply! =)

Soapy Social Media Roundup

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

It’s been a wonderful week, full of excitement! My new niece Alise arrived on Sunday, and she is absolutely beautiful. I can’t wait for Alise to grow up alongside Lily and Jamisen (cousins are like built in best friends!). This weekend the family is going to be spending lots of time with the new addition =)

My brother Erik with his daughter, Alise

It’s hard to believe that summer is already wrapping up. I’ve started thinking about fall soapy projects and fall gardening, do you have fall on the brain? I’m loving all the fall inspired soap popping up on the Facebook page! Speaking of social media, here are some of my favorite tweets, pins and instagrams from the week. Pins: Left, clockwise:

Instagram: It’s always fun to experiment with new design ideas, and attempting to use tools in new ways. For this soap, I used the Vertical Wood Mold to create a double in the pot swirl! This month I’m taking part in Great Cakes Soapworks Soap Challenge Club. It’s a fun way to push yourself to try new soaping techniques. This month is “Negative Embedding,” I’m excited to see all the creative designs! Tweets:

Have a great weekend! To keep up with the latest soapy social media throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine and YouTube.

Handmade Beauty Box Contest Winner!

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Today is a great day to give away a free three month subscription to Handmade Beauty Box. Wouldn’t you agree? Thank you to those who voted, offered project suggestions, and liked/followed/shared/pinned Handmade Beauty Box on social media. We read every single comment and created a master list compiling all of your project ideas. Four pages later, we’re swimming in DIY inspiration. You guys rocked it!


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Handmade Beauty Box Announcement + Contest!

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

We have a secret and we can’t keep it in any longer. Fine. We’ll tell you. You practically dragged it out of us. Here it goes. We’re launching a new website this November 2014 called Handmade Beauty Box and we could not be more excited to share the news!

Update: You can now visit HandmadeBeautyBox.com for all the details!

What is Handmade Beauty Box?

Handmade Beauty Box is a subscription box that delivers monthly DIY beauty projects right to your door. Members will receive high quality ingredients to make the most popular DIY projects such as lotions, soaps, mineral makeup, bath fizzies, lipstick, nail polish, foot scrubs, candles, etc. The cost is $29.99 per month for your all-inclusive surprise box (including shipping). You read that correctly. Each month’s box will remain a surprise until you rip it open like a kid on Christmas morning. A crafty girl’s dream come true, right?

Handmade Beauty Box Mailing List

Do you want to be notified when the website launches so you can get in on the fun? Email us at [email protected] and you’ll be the first to know when Handmade Beauty Box goes live.

The Contest

The Handmade Beauty Box website is currently under construction. That’s where you come in. We need your help deciding on a new company logo!
Enter the contest by:
1) Voting on your favorite logo HERE
2) In the comments section of the blog, tell us what project you would like to see in a Handmade Beauty Box. Think beauty, easy and something that anyone just trying the craft could try and make successfully.
The winner will receive a FREE three month subscription to Handmade Beauty Box. Contest ends Tuesday 7/22.

Pssst. Do you want to double your chances of winning? Follow Handmade Beauty Box on social media. Like, follow, and share your little hearts out. In your “Here’s what I’d like to see in your Handmade Beauty Box” just tell us where you followed us and your user name and boom, double entry!

Find Handmade Beauty Box:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Pinterest

Ready to vote, and be entered to win? Ready, set, VOTE!

Shine Bright: Bronze Series + Bronzing Lotion Recipe

Filed Under: Lotion

Whether you’re taking an exotic trip this summer or tanning in your backyard, you’re covered with this series of Bronze tutorials. First up, give your lips some moisturizing shine with the Beautiful Bronze Lip Tint tutorial. Featuring a special blend of Merlot Mica, Copper Mica and Gold Sparkle Mica (which is 20% off this month!), it’s perfect for subtle color. Then, visit Soap Queen on Tumblr for the complimenting Bronze Goddess Nail Polish. This recipe makes 3 bottles of polish, so keep one for yourself and give the rest to friends!

From top left clockwise: Shimmer Stick, Bronze Lip Tint, Bronze Goddess Nail Polish, Coconut Cream Cold Process

For bronze-y skin care, take a look at the Shimmer Stick that came out in this week’s newsletter (didn’t get it? sign-up here!) It’s a super-pigmented solid bar that also imparts plenty of skin-loving moisture. It’s fragranced with Burnt Sugar Fragrance Oil, which features delicious notes of amber and vanilla. For more skin-loving goodness, take a look at the Coconut Cream Pie Cold Process tutorial. Made with 100% coconut water instead of distilled water, it’s a tropical soapy treat!

Sometimes all that glitters really is gold!

The final tutorial in our Bronze Series is the Beautiful Bronzing Lotion. Made with the Aloe Lotion Base, this is a beginner recipe that can be made in a matter of minutes.

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Soapy Social Media Roundup

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

I hope everyone had a lovely and safe Fourth of July. We put the kiddos to bed early (thanks to a city-wide personal fireworks ban, that was possible this year). Today, we did a fun play date on Lake Samish (complete with a slip’n’slide for the kiddos). I am continually amazed by the beauty of this place! The weekend isn’t promising to be as hot as last weekend, but since it’s not over yet, I still plan on doing lots of gardening and taking a few sunset evening walks. At Bramble Berry, we’re gearing up for a series of tutorials next week to give your skin a beautiful bronze glow, so keep your eyes on the blog and sign up for our newsletter.

Enjoy the rest of the holiday weekend! With the help of my very active set of kids, I know I will =)

Pins:

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Guest Post: From Gel Phase to Sell Phase

Filed Under: Business Musings

It’s many soapers’ dreams to be able to open up a real storefront. Our guest blogger Dawn gives us an excellent recap of a 2014 Soap Guild session by Charlene Simon, a small business owner who has opened up three storefronts (!!!) in 6 years. Read on for some small business tips from an expert! — A.M.

How do you take your best bath and body products and turn that into a successful business?  That is what Charlene Simon presented to us in a fun, inspiring session.

In under 6 years, Charlene Simon has successfully brought to life three retail storefronts, Bathhouse Soapery, Fat Bottomed Girl’s Cupcake Shoppe (as seen on Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars”), and evilO Oils & Vinegars.  Charlene shared her experiences of making these hobbies into income producers.

Charlene Simon has successfully brought to life three retail storefronts in 6 years.

Charlene explained that in her storefront, customers get to physically see the products and she showed us a great shot of her storefront where she showed how she displayed her products.

Earlier this year we interviewed Kensico Soap Bar, which also opened up their own storefront. Click here to read about how they opened their beautiful shop.

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Soapy Social Media Roundup

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Can you believe the fourth of July is only two weeks away? I definitely can’t! At Bramble Berry we’re all looking forward to summer though, and earlier this week we featured a Fireworks Cold Process tutorial to get you thinking about summer-themed projects. Since the weather has been so nice lately, the kiddos and I have spent plenty of time outside either working in the garden or visiting the farmer’s market for fresh veggies.

Speaking of summer, keep your eyes on the blog, follow us on Facebook or subscribe to our newsletter to be in the know about an upcoming promotion. It features lots of fun tutorials to get beautiful, beach-ready hair =) Until then, take a look at my favorite pins, tweets and ‘grams from the week!

Pins:

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Soapy Social Media Roundup

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Welcome to the weekend, everyone! The weather in Bellingham has been just gorgeous lately, and that means I’ve been spending plenty of time outdoors. We even took Jamisen fishing for the first time! Don’t worry, no fish were harmed in the process.

Meanwhile at Bramble Berry, we’ve been working on a series of projects to treat your toes. Be sure to sign up for the newsletter so you’ll be in the know about the tutorials, as well as special deals (yes, deals!)

I’m off to enjoy the sunshine, but before I do here is a roundup of my favorite pins, tweets and ‘grams from the past two weeks.

Pins:

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Nail Polish for Celebs: Chatting with Ellison’s Organics

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Getting your products in the hands of customers — no less celebrities — is no easy feat. Carleigh Pearce of Ellison’s Organics did both. She started her soap and cosmetic business in 2012, and by April 2014 she had her handmade nail polishes in gift bags at GBK’s Luxury Gift Lounge in honor of the 2014 MTV Movie Awards Nominees & Presenters.

Carleigh mixes each unique polish color by hand using Bramble Berry’s micas and pigments. She also specializes in organic-oils melt and pour soap, and her Lego building blocks and figurines are a hit with kids. Read on to learn more about how Carleigh built her ever-growing nail polish & soap business from scratch!

A quick note: ‘Organic’ is a heavily regulated term by the USDA, while ‘natural’ is not. Do your homework before purchasing products that are labeled as ‘organic,’ and keep in mind that ‘natural’ could mean a range of things. Check out this blog post for more information. Bramble Berry carries a certified-oils Organic Melt & Pour Base as well as Organic Lavender and Rosemary Essential Oils.

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Soapy Social Media Roundup

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Welcome to the (almost) end of May, everyone! It never ceases to amaze me how fast time flies. Within the last two weeks we finished up a rather rosey promotion, experimented with an adorably sweet new mold and perfected a sassy summer nail polish color. To keep up with all our latest news — including word of upcoming sales and promotions — subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

How is your Memorial Day Weekend so far? I’ve been laying low and catching up on yard work around the house, taking the kids on more playdates, and trying to work in a few trips to Bellingham’s beautiful beaches whenever the time and weather allows. Keep in mind that because there is a holiday on Monday, the warehouse will be operating with a skeleton crew and there won’t be anyone in customer service to answer the phones. We’ll be back in full force on Tuesday, though!

Pins:

From top left, clockwise:

  • I’m not usually one for houseplants, but I do like to keep a few succulents on my kitchen window sill. That’s probably why this DIY succulent wreath caught my eye! I just love the diverse colors, and it’s great because I know these little guys will last year round, even with our crazy pacific northwest climate.
  • I did some personal reflection this week as I was thinking about ways to manage big life changes and transitions smoothly. I’ve never been one to sit back and wait for things to happen, and over the years this quote has become my inner mantra. Click here to read part 1 & 2 if you’re about to make a change.
  • Natural clays make such fantastic colorants, and that is no where more evident than in this Clay Cold Process made by the ladies at Otion, our retail store. Those beautiful colors come from 5 different natural clays.
  • I had a sweet tooth this afternoon, because I couldn’t resist including these ice cream cone cake pops. It doesn’t hurt that they are absolutely adorable too. So much goodness in every way!

Instagram:

I was doing a little experimenting with mica-covered embeds in cold process soap. This is a super fun technique that I’m excited to try again this upcoming week.

 Tweets:

Have a great holiday weekend! To keep up with the latest soapy social media throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine and YouTube.

Easy Elegant Coffee Filter Flowers

Filed Under: Home Crafts

Real flowers are beautiful, but sadly they can’t last forever. These coffee filter flowers (yes, those are coffee filters) not only look like the real thing, but they also have a much longer shelf life! These filter “flowers” are incredibly easy to make, and you can dye them an infinite number of colors using a wide array of LabColors. Make a dozen of them for a bouquet, place setting or cute garland.

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Soapy Social Media Roundup

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Spring is in full swing! Last week temperatures in Bellingham hit the high 70s, which is a delightful treat for a city that has a reputation for being one of the rainiest in all of Washington state. April showers definitely bring May flowers, and we’re also smack dab in the middle of floral-fueled promotion. It features lots of light scents, rose water, delicate colors and of course, specials deals and promotions. We’re releasing special deals next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Follow us on social media and subscribe to the newsletter to not miss anything.

Annnnd, speaking of social media, take a look at my favorite social media goodies from the past two weeks:

Pins:

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Sudsing up with London Suds

Filed Under: Business Musings

There are too few male soap artists, but maybe the work of today’s soapy spotlight interview will change that. James Troia began soaping in 2013 after purchasing a $9 bar of soap that quickly fell apart. Determined to make something better, he started London Suds and hasn’t stopped soaping since. Read on to learn more about James, his soapy business, and how he has embraced social media to his advantage.

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