Happy weekend everybody. =) This past week has been extremely (extremely!) exciting. I got my hands on the first copy of my upcoming book Pure Soap Making, and I visited Project Violet to donate the proceeds of October’s Handmade Beauty Box. In addition, Otion participated in a local Christmas tree decorating event put on by the Bellwether Hotel. Check out their adorable tree below! Get it? The Christmas tree is hanging out in the shower. =)
Next week, I’ve got a few more holiday-inspired tutorials to share before we start focusing on the new year and Valentine’s Day. Kinda crazy that it’s already time to think about 2016, isn’t it? If you’re not ready for Christmas to be over, check out some of my favorite holiday pins below. =)
Pinterest: 
Left to right, clockwise:
- I love the frosty look of these DIY Glitter Bulb Ornaments. They would be perfect for bulbs that have died.
- Tis the season of sugar, and these Dark Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes fit the bill perfectly. =)
- This DIY Sharpie Doodle Gift Wrap is such a simple idea and looks fantastic! The gold really pops against the black.
- This Swirled Soap by Handmade in Florida is so elegant. I love the crisp and delicate swirl.
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It’s been quite a long time since I made bubble bars, so I decided to make a fresh batch. The bath bars below are made with this recipe and LoveSpell Type Fragrance Oil. They are colored with the Easter Purple LabColor and Pinkberry Sherbert LabColor, and dusted with a little Fine Iridescent Glitter.
Every year, Pantone chooses a color of the year. Last year was Marsala (see the Marsala Lip Tints here). This year, Pantone announced two colors to represent 2016, Rose Quartz and Serenity. When I saw them, I instantly thought of the Once Upon a Dream Cold Process Soap. =)
- The holidays can be stressful, and it’s easy to fall back into bad (yet comforting) habits. If you need to get back on track, here are 50 ways to be happier.
- This Custom Pet Dog Portrait Carved Crayon is so cute…but I don’t think I could ever use it! Amazing craftsmanship.
- Reserve your spot for the 2×4 Live Weekend in Nashville in April, it’s going to be a blast. There are only 15 tickets left (!)
- Love a good Netflix binge? Find out exactly when you are most likely to get hooked.
- Could there be a link between beer drinking and exercise? Some studies suggest there is!
- Goldfish tea is all the rage in Taiwan. Intrigued? Click here to find out what it is. =)
I hope you’re having a wonderful Saturday! To keep up with the latest soapy social media throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine and YouTube and Snapchat. To watch my ‘stories’, which include sneak peeks into future projects, add me. 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! =)
Thank you, Kelsey. So, if I am understanding, the .39 or .40 is an estimed guess of how much oil would be needed to fill 5lb mold, then that number is plugged into the soap calculator for an exact figure or total?
Hi Debra!
I’m not entirely sure about the .40 number! I do know that number is used in a formula to calculate the volume of your mold. That formula is often used if you receive a mold and don’t know how much soap it can hold. I don’t use it often, so I’m not too familiar with it. Sorry about that! Someone on teachsoap.com/forum may know more about it though.
To find out how much the oil weight is, I like to use the Lye Calculator method. Once you know the exact oil weight for your recipe, you can use that for the mold each time. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hello. I am very new to soap-making and am still a bit confused on how to calculate the amount of oils that I would need to fill a soap mold. I do understand that I would need to multipy the lenghtxwidthxheight of the mold, then multiply those numbers by .39 or .40. Can you tell me if .39 or .40 is a standard number for a 5lb mold or how that number is arrived at? How would I calculate the amount of oils for a 2 or 3lb mold once I multiply the lengthx widthxheight of those size molds?
Thank you for your expertise and asssistance.
Hi Debra!
To get the amount of oils your mold holds is a bit of guesswork! You can find the number using our Lye Calculator: https://www.brambleberry.com/Pages/Lye-Calculator.aspx
For instance, let’s say I’m making 100% olive oil soap for a 3 pound mold. To find out how much oil I’ll need, I can select “Percentage” on the Lye Calculator. It will ask how much my oils will weigh, and I’m going to guess 2 pounds (32 ounces). Then, I’ll plug in my oil percentage, hit 5% superfat and then “Calculate.”
The final amount is 46 ounces, which is pretty close to 48 ounces (3 pounds). To get it more exact, I can increase the oil amount to 33 ounces and then hit “Resize Batch.” That gives me exactly 48 ounces. 🙂
This post on how to resize your soap shows that process, and includes helpful screenshots: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/how-to-resize-cold-process-soap-recipes/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi I have a question about hydrolused silk amino acids.
I was just wondering if you can use this liquid silk in lotions ?
It seems like a really nice additive for a silky lotion.
Almost all lotions with the exception of (soap queen in shower lotion) have felt kind of dry on my hands.
I think it must have been the glycerin that makes the lotion sink in better (in shower lotion recipe).
I’d love to try the liquid silk it seems like it would really make my hands nice and soft , so I would love to try adding this, if I can use this at what point would I add this into my homemade lotion recipe?
Hi Robin!
You can definitely use liquid silk in lotion! You can add it up to 5% in your lotion. It gives the lotion a lovely silky feeling, and I think you’ll really like how it feels on your hands. 🙂
Because the liquid silk is dissolved it water, I would recommend adding it to your water phase. Then, you can emulsify the silk and water with the oils. Read more about liquid silk here: https://www.brambleberry.com/Liquid-Silk-P4097.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Rose and Aloe In-Shower Lotion: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/lotion/rose-aloe-shower-lotion/