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!
no sorry, my soap does gel, but I don’t insulate at all. I’m in Miami and soap in a room with minimal a/c… sorry for being difficult 🙁 I’m starting to think that it has something to do with it being too cool everywhere apart form the very center of the soap, is that possible? that it cracks because of uneven temp distribution?
No worries Maria! Soapmaking is a complex process and there are lots of factors to take into account. I think I have an idea of how to help. Thanks for answering all my questions. 🙂
Is the soap cracking right in the middle, or where the soap is gelling fairly hot? If so, I think it may be a temperature issue. Cracking is often caused by overheating so the soap may be getting really hot in that concentrated area. Because slab molds are more spread out, that warmth may not be reaching the outer corners. That could explain the concentrated cracking. If it’s on the outer edges – it may be the same issue. The soap is hottest closest to the mold. Learn more about cracking here: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/why-did-my-soap-crack/
If those cracks are due to overheating, I think popping the whole mold in the freezer or fridge for 5-24 hours will help! Slab molds insulate the soap well, so the soap can get hot even without insulation. Putting it in the fridge or freezer will help keep it cool over the whole mold and hopefully prevent the cracking!
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
The leaf soap from IG is so lovely. I’ve seen that texture mat used elsewhere in other projects! Any idea where one could find that mat?
Absolutely, Steso is so talented! I’m not entirely sure where she got the mat for that soap. You may try teachsoap.com/forum to see if someone there may know! We also have some fun silicone impression mats you may like. 🙂
Silicone impression mats: https://www.brambleberry.com/Search.aspx?k=silicone+impression+mat
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I wonder if you could help me… I’ve been making soap for over 8 yrs and more or less using the same recipe. I only ever use to use log molds. Recently I bough a slab mold and have been going back and forth between the two. Every time I use the slab I get small cracks on the surface of the soap. Any idea why? Exact same recipe, always room temperature. So confused as to why only in a slab mold. happened again tonight and I’ve put the mold in the freezer just in case. I usually use lots of clays and gel and in my logs it never seems to be an issue. Hoping you may be able to shed some light on this 🙂
Hi Maria!
Typically, cracking is caused by heat. However, loaf molds tend to insulate soap a bit more than slab molds. That means if the soap is getting too hot, it’s more likely in a loaf mold than a slab mold. Can you tell me a bit more about your recipe? I can help you troubleshoot. Thank you! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
hi Kelsey,
my recipe is 62% hard oils, coconut & palm, 32% olive oil, + castor & usually a butter, herb infusions and/or clays etc, but I have been making it, and variations of it for a long while, never had a cracked soap before. I now go back and forth between my log molds and a slab and only get cracks in a slab (20b). The only time I didn’t get cracks was about a week ago when I almost ended up with a soap on a stick. I heavily insulated hoping that any bumps etc will smooth out whilst gelling. Some bumps still stayed but there were no cracks for the first time with that mold 🙂 Very confused as I cannot find absolutely any references to anything like this online.
Clay can sometimes cause that cracking! How much are you adding to your batch?
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
not a lot, about a teaspoon ppo
OK, I think I finally have an idea! Are you insulating the soap each time? Does that involve blankets, heating pad, cover?