Soap Queen

Tutorials on soapmaking, bath fizzies, lotions and more

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Facebook Photo of the Week (October 25th ~ November 1st)

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

This past week has gone by in a flash, and I can’t believe it is Friday again! This week we’ve had a quick-and-fun tutorial for Mint Candy Lip Balm (a great stocking stuffer) as well as another cold process soap using our fabulous new swirl tools. We brought our LabColors back with a blog post explaining the change (new sizes and a new preservative) and shared a #BrambleChai Mashup post for some of the entries into our Make It Month contest –for a chance to see all the participants, check out our Facebook album here. Last but not least, check out our Givember blog post for news on our 2nd annual month-long soapy celebration of giving. Are you ready to check out our favorite Facebook photo of the week?? Take a look below!

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Facebook Photo of the Week (October 18th ~ October 25th)

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

After a quick trip to Las Vegas for a business conference, I couldn’t wait to get back into the office to see all the fabulous photos that were submitted to Bramble Berry’s Facebook page. Many of you have even shared your soapy creations with us for our #BrambleChai Make It Month contest. Remember, you only have until October 30th (Wednesday) to get your photos submitted. For more information on the contest, click here. If you need some extra creative inspiration, check out the Chai Tea Latte Candle Tutorial.

This week we had a great time catching up with Silvia from S.V. Soaps with a second interview finding out what has changed in her soapy business from a few years ago until now.

The end of the year is coming up soon and we know how important it is to keep your business running throughout the holidays, be sure to check out the The Ultimate End-of-the-Year Business Inspiration guide for interviews, blogs posts, how-to guides and more for your business needs. Are you ready to find out who we are featuring this week? Check it out below!

This weeks feature is a burst of color from a familiar face. Katie of Royalty Soaps shared her Crisp Anjou Pear and Champagne cold process soap.  Her design was stunning and we all thought that she has an eye for color. She told us that,  “Bramble Berry’s Fragrance Oils are really just top of the line quality. They make creating gorgeous things easy!”  You may recognize Katie from our Spring 2013 S.O.A.P. Team. She was part of the team that picked our Tart Apple, Shave and a Haircut and Spring Meadow Fragrance Oils. We enjoyed Katie’s responses to the scents, and you can check out her videos (!!) here and here. Thank you to Katie and all the soapers and crafters that make our community a wonderful place to share and learn from — I am always so excited to see what you have to share with us.

Katie’s Facebook Page: Royalty Soaps

Katie’s Blog: Royalty Soaps

Katie’s YouTube Channel: Royalty Soaps

Post pictures of your soap creations on the Facebook page each week for a chance to be featured on the Soap Queen blog and receive a sweet soapy package from Bramble Berry.

Facebook Photo of the Week (October 11th ~ October 18th)

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Halloween is creeping and crawling closer and closer, and this week we’re focused on creating all kinds of ghoulish crafts. If you need some extra-spooky soapy inspiration, check out our Spooky Eyeball Soap and the SpiderWeb Cold Process Soap. If melt and pour is more your style, you might like our Jack-O-Lantern, Candy Corn or Fall Leaves Project.

In related soapy news, we kicked off this week with a quick primer on how to use our fragrance calculator. You’ll never again have to guess how much to fragrance your holiday-scented goodies! On Thursday, we discussed something all cold process soapers dread: soda ash. Check out the post for tips on how to prevent the ash from forming or strategies to clean it off so your bars look shiny and clean.

Speaking of shiny and clean, this week’s photo is a beautiful milky-white bar of soap with a spooky twist. Read on to learn more about our winner!

 This week’s feature is a delightfully spooky set of soaps from LeeAnn, owner of Rowan Tree Bath Works. LeeAnn showed of the new packaging for her line of Bathtime Oddities Soaps, which are a line of macabre-inspired soaps (perfect for the Halloween season!) We just loved the cute mini-bathtubs that were part of her presentation, and thought that the packaging was spot-on. For more inspiration on packaging, check out this #packaging album on our Facebook page. Thank you so much to LeeAnn and all the soapers and crafters who are a part of our amazing soapmaking community. You continue to impress me with your creativity, determination and dedication to the craft. =)

LeeAnn’s Facebook Page: Rowan Tree Bath Works

Post pictures of your soap creations on the Facebook page each week for a chance to be featured on the Soap Queen blog and receive a sweet soapy package from Bramble Berry.

Facebook Photo of the Week (October 4th ~ October 11th)

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

I can’t believe it’s the second week of October already. Time flies even more when you have two kids (!). The holiday crafting season is ramping up. There have been many creative and ingenious soaps on Bramble Berry’s Facebook page and I can’t help but geek out on them a couple times week. We were so excited about the upcoming holidays and we know you need to plan so we posted our first festive tutorial earlier this week — it’s a fun Holiday Cookie Bar swirl, and it looks good enough to eat.

If you’re looking for more holiday inspiration, be sure to check out our Make It Month feature with the Chai Tea Cybilla sample of the month. You’ll get the opportunity to have your products featured on the Soap Queen blog. Are you ready to find out who this weeks Facebook Photo of the Week winner is? Check it out below!

This week’s feature for our Facebook Photo of the Week is a tasty little preview of all the holiday goodies to come.  Austi, owner of Soaps and Suds, created these fun melt & pour soaps with the  ever popular Gingerbread Man mold. She told us that she “…loves the holiday molds you guys have…and the Sleigh Ride and Gingersnap Fragrances are amazing!”

I just love the pop of red and white in these soaps, and if you want to make similar holiday-themed soaps, check out our Tree Flexible and Snowflake molds.  Be sure to check out her fun bath & body creations below, including the super creative Fruit Cocktail Bath Rocks (which is a super cute name for bath bomb fizzies). A big thank you to Austi for being part of our soapmaking community, and to all of you who post and share your creations with us every single week on Bramble Berry’s Facebook page — keep soaping!

Austi’s Facebook Page: Soaps and Suds

Austi’s Blog: Soaps and Suds

Post pictures of your soap creations on the Facebook page each week for a chance to be featured on the Soap Queen blog and receive a sweet soapy package from Bramble Berry.

Facebook Photo of the Week (September 20th ~ September 27th)

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Another week has just passed and I’ve seen so many amazing soaps shared in our community. We just finished up our Soap Crafting Pinterest Post and I can’t wait to see your versions of the recipes from the Soap Crafting book. What an honor (!!). To see what other soapers are making, check out our Soap Crafting Board here. In the mean time, check out the Photo of the Week. It’s a sweet treat!

This week’s photo comes to us from James, owner of  London Suds. He told us that the Blueberry Delight Fragrance Oil is a huge hit. In fact, this was the caption of his winning photo: “Just wanted to say that my London Suds customers are in LOVE with your Blueberry Delight fragrance!” We couldn’t agree more, and it’s one of our favorite dessert-type scents too.

If the grey-skies and rainy weather of fall get you down, try this fun summer blend during these winter months to bring a little pep and zest into your soapmaking: 2.5 parts Lime Fragrance Oil, 1 Part Pink Grapefruit and 2 parts Blueberry Delight. Thank you so much for being a part of our soapmaking community, James! We can’t wait to see where your business is going to take you. Be on the lookout for a special soapy package headed your way.

James’ Facebook Page: London Suds

James’ Website: London Suds

Post pictures of your soap creations on the Facebook page each week for a chance to be featured on the Soap Queen blog and receive a sweet soapy package from Bramble Berry.

Facebook Photo of the Week (September 13th ~ September 20th)

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

This week we’ve been inspired by the changing weather and temperatures in the Pacific Northwest. On Sunday we featured the super skin-loving Shea Butter, which can make your even winter-chapped skin feel luxurious. On Tuesday, our most recent melt and pour project reminded us of the stormy grey skies that accompany fall and winter. This week’s Facebook Photo of the Week continues our fall trend, so curl up next to a warm fire and enjoy!

This week’s photo comes to us from Kathy, owner of Sand Creek Soaps. She told us this was her first time using the delightful Almond Biscotti Fragrance Oil. To complement the amazing fragrance oil, she added some exfoliating Ground Walnut Shells as a special touch. If you want to make a fall-inspired scrubby soap, check out the Oatmeal Stout Cold Process Soap (the exfoliant is oatmeal)  or even the Handmade Soap for the Gardener. I appreciate everyone who participates in our fantastic soapmaking community, and can’t wait to see what new ideas you come up with. Keep sharing your soapy creations with us on Bramble Berry’s Facebook page!

Kathy’s Facebook Page: Sand Creek Soaps

Post pictures of your soap creations on the Facebook page each week for a chance to be featured on the Soap Queen blog and receive a sweet soapy package from Bramble Berry.

Facebook Photo of the Week (September 6th ~ September 13th)

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

We’re heading into fall with plenty of projects and posts to keep you busy. Earlier this week, we featured a French Macaron-inspired bath fizzy recipe as well as continued our Bramble Business Series with a primer on Twitter (we’ve also covered how to set up a Facebook page and an Etsy shop). We’ve introduced a few new products to the Bramble Berry line too, so be sure to take a look at the What’s New Blog.

In non-soapy news, we’ve been reaping the benefits of our garden lately. I couldn’t believe it when I dug up this potato that was bigger than Lily’s head! We harvested a few watermelons too, and so of course we had a little photo shoot à la Anne Geddes.

We’re continuing the fruit and vegetable trend with the Facebook Photo of the Week. It also happens to be related to the Soap Crafting book, so see if you can name the recipe (speaking of Soap Crafting, you can still register for a spot in our Soap Crafting Club)!

This week’s photo comes to us from Heather at Heather’s Handmade Soap. It is her version of the Pumpkin In-the-Pot Swirl from the new Soap Crafting book using the fall-inspired Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil. It stood out because the ITPS (In-The-Pot Swirl) is relatively easy to achieve and always turns out stunningly, and Heather’s swirls and warm color combination totally got me excited for fall. If you haven’t had a chance to try out an in-the-pot-swirl, check out this palm-free recipe. Thanks to Heather for being part of our soapmaking community, and we can’t wait to see what you will make next. It’s fantastic to see such a vibrant community come alive each week on our Facebook page, so keep the photos, questions and tips coming!

Heather’s Facebook Page: Heather’s Handmade Soap

Post pictures of your soap creations on the Facebook page each week for a chance to be featured on the Soap Queen blog and receive a sweet soapy package from Bramble Berry.

Facebook Photo of the Week (August 30th ~ September 6th)

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Happy September! This week started off with the beginnings of a wet and windy Pacific Northwest fall, which made us long for hot cocoa, warm sweaters, and the holidays (it’s never too soon to celebrate!). If you are looking to bring on the fall spirit, try out our Falling for Pumpkin Pear or Apple Jack Peel Cold Process Soap Tutorials. In the spirit of fall and the return to school for so many, we have a special young guest for this week’s Facebook Photo of the Week. Read on to find out more about this amazing soaper.

This week’s absolutely adorable photo comes to us from Bella, a 9-year-old entrepreneur and owner of The Little Bubble. Her excellent set up caught my eye. Her prices are clearly visible, the table is clean and professional, and her products are beautifully packaged. With this booth, she is setting herself up for success!

Bella has been working hard all summer using Bramble Berry products to create some fantastic soaps. Even while in school, Bella diligently jots down ideas for new soaps. Thank you so much for being part of our amazing soapmaking community on Bramble Berry’s Facebook page, Bella, and be sure to watch out for a special little package headed your way!

Bella’s Facebook Page: The Little Bubble

Bella’s Store: The Little Bubble

Post pictures of your soap creations on the Facebook page each week for a chance to be featured on the Soap Queen blog (as well as receive a sweet soapy package from Bramble Berry).

Facebook Photo of the Week (August 23rd ~ August 30th)

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

What a soaperiffic week! On Thursday evening we had the official release of the Soap Crafting book at Village Books, a local and independent book dealer located here in Bellingham. It couldn’t have gone better! There were cupcakes and soap favors and mimoasa galore, and I met fantastic soapers from all over the Pacific Northwest. I was even able to ‘talk shop’ with people who really understood the soapy world and my Mastermind groups came out to cheer me on too. It was a great night and I felt so supported. If you haven’t gotten a chance to check out the book, be sure to take a look.

Despite all the commotion, we saw some fantastic photos on our Facebook page throughout the week. Are you ready to check out this week’s winning photo? It’s a very sweet treat.

 This week’s photo is from Kirsten, owner of Kensico Soap Bar located in New York. This dessert-inspired soap was one of my favorites this week because I am a sucker for any cupcake-related item (check out some fun cupcake-inspired recipes from the blog here and here). Kirsten told us that these were mini cupcakes made for Kensico Soap Bar’s first birthday celebration (Happy Birthday!) that were made with Bramble Berry’s Swirl Quick Mix from the Soap Guild Conference Goodie Bag, scented with the popular Pineapple Cilantro and topped with Ultramarine Violet frosting. Thank you so much for being part of our soapmaking community and be on the lookout for a super soapy package headed your way. Keep sharing your photos with us for a chance to be featured on the Soap Queen blog.

Kirsten’s Facebook Page: Kensico Soap Bar

Kirsten’s Instagram: Kensico Soap Bar

Post pictures of your soap creations on the Facebook page each week for a chance to be featured on the Soap Queen blog (as well as get a sweet soapy package from Bramble Berry).

Facebook Photo of the Week (August 16th ~ August 23rd)

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

I can hardly believe it — we’re already headed into the last week of August! The Fall leaves are already appearing in Bellingham and Jamisen is starting in a new preschool class next week. I’ll admit; I’m sad about official end of summer.  We’ve been making the best of summer’s end though; on Sunday we started the week off early by announcing the Soap Crafting release party for any and all soapy enthusiasts who live in the Bellingham, Seattle or Vancouver B.C. area. I’ll be giving a presentation about the book, answering questions and signing (!!!) copies of the book too! There have also been two fun tutorials on the Soap Queen blog, including an absolutely stunning guest post on lip balm wedding favors from Jen at Something Turquoise and a fun bicycle-themed melt-and-pour project. Speaking of melt and pour, check out this week’s Facebook Photo of the Week. It’s melt & pour at its finest!

 

This week’s photo comes to us from Amie Van Devender, owner of Liefde Soaps & Gifts. This soap immediately caught my eye because of the crisp and clean leaf embeds. In addition to the soap shavings on top, this soap reminded me of all the fall soaps that I plan to make in the coming weeks to get ready for the colder days and holidays.  Amie told us she used the Red Apple Fragrance Oil sample she received from Bramble Berry in one of her last orders to make this soap truly festive for fall. Amie, watch out for a special soapy package being sent your way. Thanks to everyone for posting photos and interacting with us each week on our Facebook page, keep’em coming!

Amie’s Facebook Page: Liefde Soaps & Gifts

Post pictures of your soap creations on the Facebook page each week for a chance to be featured on the Soap Queen blog (as well as get a sweet soapy package from Bramble Berry).

Facebook Photo of the Week (August 9th ~ August 16th)

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Welcome to another weekend, everyone! Hopefully you had a fun and productive week — I know I did because my Mom was here to help out with the craziness that comes with two kids and two working parents. To celebrate the release of Soap Crafting, I created a series of cold process recipes inspired by the book. Each recipe was chosen for its unique additives or challenging new technique. I hope they help you expand your soaping skill set. The recipes are Busy Beeswax Soap (soaping with beeswax), Sudsy Shampoo Bars (soaping with citric acid to lower pH), Strawberries and Cream (adding cream and fruit puree to soap), and Bramble Berry Soap (soaping with beer).

In baby news, Lily spent mornings at home with the nanny and Grandma this week and then came to work with me in the afternoons. It’s hard to believe, but she is almost 3 months old now. She is turning into quite the charmer. Having Mom/Grandma around to help help take care of Jamisen and Lily and our garden was such a relief; bless her; she planted all my Fall starts in the garden. It’s always a great time when she comes to visit. I’m looking forward to a fun, family-filled weekend since Grandpa arrived on the train late last night (and we let Jamisen stay up to welcome him). But before we take off to Farmer’s Market, here is our Facebook Photo of the Week. These little guys are just wait for their kisses to turn into Prince Charmings.

This week’s photo comes to us from Michelle Daniel, owner of Tea Time Creations, LLC. What I loved about this soap was the sheer amount of detail that went into it. The handmade frogs with their little tongues and eyes, the reeds growing up the sides of the cake and even the unsuspecting little black fly sitting next to the frog. I can’t imagine how many hours of painstaking focus and precision it must have taken. Michelle made this soap for the Holly Swirl Challenge hosted by Great Cakes Soapworks, which presents awesome competitions with a different theme each month. Michelle has plenty of her other creations displayed on her website, blog and shop too, and sometimes it’s hard to believe they aren’t edible! Thanks to Michelle for this excellent display of creativity, and thanks to everyone else who posts, comments and interacts with us each week on our Facebook page. I look forward to seeing your wonderful photos each and every week.

Michelle’s website: Tea Time Creations

Michelle’s Facebook Page: Tea Time Creations

Michelle’s Blog: Tea Time Creations

Be sure to post pictures of your soap creations on the Facebook page each week for a chance to win a gift package from Bramble Berry, and don’t forget to check Soap Queen regularly for soapy news and updates!

Facebook Photo of the Week (August 2nd ~ August 9th)

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

This week, we shared (hopefully!) useful tips and tricks to keep you busy until summer’s end. Looking to experiment with some new fragrances or molds? We’ve got you covered! We also wrote up a mini guide on measurements, including when (and how) to use volume versus weight measurements when creating a recipe. It’s something that can be tricky, and we all need a little refresher sometimes.

We’ve also been busy with the release of the Soap Crafting book! Within the first week, more than 500 books went out the door, which is absolutely incredible, and something we’re all very proud of.  I can’t wait to hear about which recipes you all have enjoyed the most. If you’re hungry for more Soap Crafting goodness, we made two recipes from the book this week, including the Neon Swirl and the Lab Color Ombre.

As for the Facebook Photo of the Week, this cute little treat just screams summer time. Read on below!

This weeks photo comes to us from Elaine L. from New York. This is her brand new Ice Cream Soap made with Bramble Berry’s Goat Milk Melt and Pour Base, Sweet Treats Colorants set, and the delightfully summery Peach and Strawberry Fragrance Oils. The team in the office was just drooling over how realistic it looked. Thank you so much for sharing your soap with us and we can’t wait to see your next batch. Be on the look out for a soapy package heading your way! Thanks to everyone who posts each week on our Facebook too, we wouldn’t have the amazing community we do without your involvement and enthusiasm.

Be sure to post pictures of your soap creations on the Facebook page each week for a chance to be featured on the Soap Queen blog! 

Facebook Photo of the Week (July 26th ~ August 2nd)

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Whoah. Okay, seriously. Where did that weekend go? We were so busy all weekend that I completely forgot to post Facebook Photo of the Week. It is hard to believe that August is already here and we are more than halfway done with the year. Jamisen starts pre-school soon. EEK!

If you’re already gearing up for fall craft fairs and preparing holiday gifts, we had a post full of tips for being successful at your next craft show. If you’ve got tips of your own, be sure to share them in the blog comments because we’d love to hear them too!

This week has also been full of pleasant surprises. Drumroll please — the Soap Crafting Book arrived to our warehouse early. You probably could have guessed, but I was absolutely beaming (and okay, maybe I shed a few tears of joy too)! You can order your own copy through Bramble Berry here. We shipped out all the pre-orders last week and any pre-orders that got in just under the wire on Friday are shipping today =)

As always, Bramble Berry’s Facebook page was filled with amazing photos of soaps, bath bombs and more. Check out this week’s feathery-looking feature below!

This week’s entry comes to us from Rebecca at Backwater Beauty. She used a technique that a fellow soaper created during the last Great Cakes Soapworks Challenge called the Feathered Mantra Swirl. The colors and design in Rebecca’s soap are so delicate and soft. This is a technique I’d love to try my hand at, and it’s such a nice twist on the traditional Mantra Swirl. Thank you for being part of our soapmaking community, Rebecca! Each week, I love seeing other soapmakers take the plunge with a new design.

Rebecca’s Website: Backwater Beauty

Rebecca’s Facebook Page:  Backwater Beauty

Be sure to post pictures of your soap creations on the Facebook page each week for a chance to be featured on the Soap Queen blog! 

Facebook Photo of the Week (July 19th ~ July 26th)

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

I’ve been in and out of the office this week on account of  Norm, our COO, mandating me to take it easy (little does he know, no one can stop me from checking emails on my phone!) I’ve been able to spend plenty of outside in the sunshine with Lily, and Jamisen even helped me build a trellis in our backyard garden.

In soapy news, we’re smack dab in the middle of #HomeSpa. Hopefully you’ve been taking advantage of our super special 24-hour flash sales, and if not, sign up for our newsletter to be in-the-know about next week’s coupons. You can also find us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest because we’ll announce deals there too! Along with the sale, we’ve also rolled out a few luxurious tutorials that follow the spa theme. As usual, there was no shortage of gorgeous soap photos on Bramble Berry’s Facebook page. Seeing the inspirational soaps made for a great way to end my mini-staycation week. Are you ready for this week’s feature? It might make you green with envy!

This week’s entry comes to us from Shelly at Green Apple Soaps & Sundries. She told us this was her version (and I’d say a very successful one at that) of the Violet Gradient Glitter Melt & Pour Tutorial. Instead of the glitter, she used mica and the fun and fruity Crisp Anjou Pear Fragrance Oil to come up with what she calls “Layered Pear.” Thank you for being a part of our amazing soapmaking community on Bramble Berry’s Facebook page, Shelly. It’s so invigorating to see the many variations of Soap Queen tutorials (and original ideas) that are shared with us every week — keep it up!

Shelly’s Website: Green Apple Soaps & Sundries

Shelly’s Facebook Page:  Green Apple Soaps & Sundries

We also wanted to share Shelly’s entry to the Make It: #WoodlandElves feature, and remind you that there is still time to make bath & body products with your free sample fragrance oil from this month. We’d love to see what creative ideas you come up with, and don’t forget to share them on Bramble Berry’s Facebook page with the hashtag #WoodlandElves. We’ll showcase all the photos we receive in a Facebook album. For some inspiration, take a look at past MIM albums such as Make It Month Baby Powder, Make It Month Photography and Make It Month 4th of July. Happy Soaping!

Be sure to post pictures of your soap creations on the Facebook page each week for a chance to win a gift package from Bramble Berry, and don’t forget to check Soap Queen regularly for soapy news and updates!