Facebook and Instagram Photo of the Week (Nov. 14th ~ 20th)

This week in Soap Queen Land (Soapqueenlandia?) was full of easy DIY holiday gift inspiration, like the Potpourri Gift Tag Tutorial. The gift tags add a special touch to any present. They are easy to make and scented with a warm blend of Cinnamon Sticks and Warm Flannel Fragrance Oil. You can also customize the bags with a stamp or marker. The best part is after the gift is opened, the tags can be put in a drawer or other space for a comforting holiday scent.

For another DIY gift that smells amazing, check out the Make Your Own Scented Pine Cones Tutorial. The pine cones make a beautiful holiday centerpiece. They are scented with Cinnamon Sticks Fragrance Oil and Christmas Tree Cybilla Fragrance Oil, but you can scent them with any of your favorite holiday fragrances. If you have children in the home during the holidays, the pine cones are a great alternative to candles.

Can’t get enough holiday inspiration? The Stocking Stuffer Ideas & Inspiration post is full of products that fit snugly in stockings. Handmade stocking stuffers can be customized for your friends and family. Have a relative who loves warm baths? The Orange Creamsicle Bath Truffles have skin-loving shea oil and cocoa butter to moisturize the skin and provide a luxurious spa experience at home. Click here for more ideas.

In addition to making great gifts, handmade products are fun to make. Melissa with Hallowell Soap Works started making soap less than a year ago and is now selling it wholesale and online. She is known for her gorgeous photos and interesting soap designs, including the “strong arm swirl.” Click through the Chatting with Melissa of Hallowell Soapworks post to learn more about Melissa and what inspires her to craft.

Clara with Auntie Clara’s Handcrafted Cosmetics is known for her creative soapy techniques as well. Her Mexican Lace soap is this week’s Facebook Photo of the Week. It is scented with a Black Raspberry Vanilla Fragrance Oil blend.

Clara’s soap is stunning! Her signature Mexican Lace soap is given a summer twist with gorgeous pink, white and black hues. The black lace looks amazing on the bright white soap. I just love this technique! Using Clara’s technique, we made the Jasmine Lace Cold Process Soap. For more soap with interesting designs on top, click through the Emerald Swirl Cold Process Soap Tutorial.

Above (clockwise, left) are Clara’s Peppermint and Kumquat Soap, Gold Bar Soap, Spring Soap and Avocado and Lemongrass Soap. For more golden inspiration, click through the Gold Mine Cold Process Soap Tutorial. Gold looks great on bath bombs as well, as seen in the Midas Touch Bath Bombs Tutorial.

Find Auntie Clara’s Handmade Cosmetics
On Facebook
On the web
On Instagram

This week’s Instagram Photo of the Week also uses a creative technique. Sorcery Soap topped their holiday soap with an adorable cardinal. The cardinal is finished with a bit of sparkle and settled next to cute branches and leaves. I love all the details in the soap! See more of their beautiful work on their Instagram page.

Post pictures of your crafty 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. Photos are chosen based on consensus from the Bramble Berry staff, so the best way to increase your chances of winning is to show us lots of photos!

To participate in the Instagram contest, hashtag your pictures with #soapshare. Each Friday, I will pick a photo on Instagram to be featured on the Bramble Berry Instagram account.

For those of you who have been featured on the blog, we now have an official “Featured on the Soap Queen” badge! You can include that badge on your website, blog, pictures, etc. To save the badge, click here. =)