The decline of the honey bee population, known as Colony Collapse Disorder, poses a serious threat to our ecosystem. Researchers estimate one-third of all honey bee colonies in the country have vanished. With a wide variety of agricultural crops pollinated by honey bees, the potential impact to our environment and economy is serious.
Unfortunately, the cause of the honey bee population decline remains a mystery. While theories have been posed, more research is crucial to identifying the cause. To aid research, Bramble Berry donates $3.50 for every Save the Honey Bee Mold sold to the UC Davis Honey Bee Research Fund.
As of July, more than $260 has been donated! Bramble Berry will continue to donate to the program every quarter. Not only are these molds supporting a great cause, they make an adorable bar of soap. Scented with Wildflower Honey Fragrance Oil, this project is a great way to get crafty while making a difference.
What You Need:
Save the Honey Bee Mold
Injector Soap Tool
6.5 ounces White Melt and Pour Base
7.5 ounces Honey Melt and Pour Base
Yellow Oxide Color Block
Ultramarine Blue Color Block
Black Oxide Color Block
Chrome Green Color Block
4 mL Wildflower Honey Fragrance Oil
4 mL Vanilla Color Stabilizer
Click here to add everything you need for this project to your Bramble Berry shopping cart!
Tip: The injector tool will become clogged with hardened soap if you don’t push it out immediately after you’re done. Keep a cup of hot water near by so you can rinse the tool with hot water and keep it from getting clogged in between uses.
TWO: Cut and melt .5 oz. of White Melt and Pour base in the microwave on 10 second bursts. Add shavings of the Chrome Green Color Block and stir to incorporate. Using the Injector Tool, carefully fill in the leaf details. Spray with isopropyl alcohol to disperse any bubbles, and immediately clean the Injector Tool with hot soapy water.
THREE: Melt .5 ounces of Honey Melt and Pour Base in a heat-safe container on 5-10 second bursts. Add shavings of the Black Oxide Color Block and stir. Use the Injector Tool to carefully fill in the small bee details in the mold. Spray with isopropyl alcohol and immediately clean the Injector Tool with hot soapy water.
FOUR: Once all the details have hardened, cut and melt 3 oz. of White Melt and Pour base, and 3 oz. of Honey Melt and Pour Base. Add shavings of the Ultramarine Blue Color Block, and stir to incorporate. Stir in 2 mL of Wildflower Honey Fragrance Oil, and 2 mL of Vanilla Color Stabilizer. Because Wildflower Honey is a fragrance that discolors due to the vanillin content, Vanilla Color Stabilizer prevents discoloration. To learn more about vanilla discoloration, check out the “Why Did My Soap Turn Brown” blog post!
FIVE: Once the fragrance and color block are fully mixed in and the soap is 130°F or cooler, spray the mold and small details with isopropyl alcohol. The soap needs to be 130°F or cooler or it will melt the details below. Spraying with isopropyl alcohol before pouring will help the blue layer adhere to the details. Pour the blue layer evenly into the three cavities, and spray with isopropyl alcohol to disperse any bubbles.
SIX: Allow the blue layer to harden. Cut and melt 4 oz. of White Melt and Pour base and 2 oz. of Honey Melt and Pour base. Add shavings of the Yellow Oxide Color Block and stir. Add 2 mL of Wildflower Honey Fragrance Oil, and 2 mL of the Vanilla Color Stabilizer. Stir to fully incorporate the fragrance. When the yellow soap is 130°F or cooler, spray the blue layer with isopropyl alcohol and pour the yellow layer on top. Spray with isopropyl alcohol to disperse any bubbles.
SEVEN: Allow your soap to fully harden. To release from the mold, use your palm to press firmly on the top in order to release the air lock and enjoy!
To package this adorable project, check out the Soap Queen Tv Packaging Episode! Packaging melt and pour is important in order to prevent glycerin dew.
When making these and marketing them, are there any copyright issues with me calling them “Save the Honey Bees” soap? Thanks a bunch!
Hi Danielle!
You can definitely call them Save the Honey Bees Soap! All of our designs and names are free to use and sell. I think your customers will love these bars. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I LOVE soaping! Thank you Anne Marie and company for all your work…. I noticed in this tutorial, I did not see anything about making sure the temperature of the second (blue) and third (yellow) layers are at 130 F. or below so it will not melt the layer below it when you pour it into the mold. Is this not needed? I thought it was from previous tutorials on multiple layers. I made 5 different soap molds that were all 2 and 3 layers of colors for the Christmas Season, 2014 and it did take some time to make sure the temp. was right each layer. (Gingerbread Man, Holly Bough, Joy, Snowflakes and Peppermint Candy). If that step is not necessary, please let me know or comment on it!
Also, how will I know what you answer – will a notice go to my email: [email protected] or do I need to keep checking back to this tutorial to see an answer? Thank you! I love making Vicki’s Body Candy – and have you to thank!
Hi Victoria!
I must have missed this question. I am so sorry about the delay!
You are correct – the second and third layer do need to be poured at 130F or cooler. That way they won’t melt the layer below them. Thanks so much for catching that! I’ll update the blog post with that information. 🙂
Also, I believe you will receive an email when a response is posted on your comment!
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi….being new to soaping i have to say how WONDERFUL Brambleberry has been for me. i have tried a few other products and the quality just doesnt match. My QUESTION IS…… i find that my hands dry out a bit after using my finished MP projects. Can i or should I be adding and almond oil or some type of butter (mango, shea, cocoa) to my MP batch? I dont want to make my soaps mushy but the extra moisture products would be nice. is there a separate recipe of MP + added butters? I could use some help on these questions. Many THANKS!
Julie
Hi Julie!
Thank you so much for your kind words! It means a lot to us. 🙂
Adding extra butters to your melt and pour can be tricky. Because they are already soap, extra oils and butters can make them greasy or oily.
However, you may like our Shea or Goat Milk Melt and Pour Base. They are very moisturizing. 🙂
We also have a great recipe that uses Shea Melt and Pour Base and additional shea butter for a smooth and creamy soap.
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Shea Melt and Pour Base: https://www.brambleberry.com/Shea-Melt-and-Pour-P3192.aspx
Goat Milk Melt and Pour Base: https://www.brambleberry.com/Goat-Milk-Melt-And-Pour-P3184.aspx
Fresh Face Cleansing Bars for Dry and Oily Skin: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/melt-and-pour-soap/cleansing-soap-dry-oily-skin/
What a great mold. As a soap maker and bee keeper it really strikes a chord with me. I will be buying a mold and using it for my lotion bars. Sometimes I am able to sell honey and my soaps and lotions at the same events and this is a perfect way to tie them together and a great ice breaker to “preach” my save the bees campaign.
Thank you for being a supporter of a worthy cause.
Hi Barbara!
So glad you like this mold! It sounds like a perfect way to combine your crafting with your beekeeping. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Thank you for saying how much you’re donating (and making it a significant amount). I hate when companies say, “A portion of proceeds…” without saying what portion. I appreciate your integrity.
Hi Jennifer!
You’re welcome! Integrity is important to us. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
This doesn’t have anything to do with this post but I don’t know where to find an answer for this. I was going to sell my soap making supplies. I just don’t have the time for it. Idk where to sell it though. On some forum u have to be a member for like 6 months and have made 10 posts to sell anything is there another way or place to do this. It’s mainly just some molds and fragrance oils
Hi Brett!
I’m not sure of any specific forums where you might be able to sell your supplies. However, if you search “Soapmaking forums” online, quite a few options pop up!
I’ve also heard of people selling their supplies on eBay. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Thanks for helping the bees & calling attention to the problem!
For those who don’t do melt & pour (though that mold is freakin’ adorable and anyone who does melt & pour should get one), there are other ways to help the bees: Plant flowers, especially wildflowers, especially late-blooming ones. Provide a water source, in the form of shallow water for the bees to drink from. Avoid pesticides! Thanks again!
Hi Larissa!
Thanks so much for those great tips. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Planting late blooming flowers is so important. In CA where I live it is so dry every fall that the bees have to go into overdrive to find forage this time of year. Sunflowers, salvia, Crepe Myrtle trees, zinnias, goldenrod, and asters are good choices.
And my personal soapbox…even the insecticides that are supposedly “bee friendly” are only safe for the bees if they are used when the bees are not on the plants. So that means that you usually have to spray at dusk as bees are early risers. The insecticides that are systemic have been banned in Europe and suspected as a major player in Colony Collapse Disorder. Insecticides need to be boldly labeled with information regarding bees and other beneficial insects.
Those are truly adorable and how wonderful of you to donate to such a worthy cause. Yet another great reason to make our purchases from you.
Hi Monica!
So glad you like this post. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry