Tutorials on soapmaking, bath fizzies, lotions and more
When I was writing Pure Soapmaking, I knew I wanted a really unique looking bar of soap. I also wanted a recipe that included several techniques, including embeds and infusions. That's where this Annatto-Yarrow Soap with Embeds comes in! It's a fun and funky bar made with natural colorants and … Continue Reading
Rhubarb is such a distinct scent. As soon as you read the word, you likely remembered the smell right away. For me, the scent makes me think of rhubarb pie. I love it so much I decided to make a Berry Rhubarb Crumble Cold Process Soap with Red Berry Rhubarb Fragrance Oil. That got me thinking - what … Continue Reading
Do you have a friend or family member who enjoys crafting? If you do, you know how amazing it is to have somebody in your life who loves creating as much as you do. I love swapping recipes with my crafty friends, testing their products and giving feedback, troubleshooting with them, and having … Continue Reading
Happy Sunday! I'm taking the day "off" today after a long week (well, few weeks) of studying like crazy. Friday was the final test of my Nutritional Therapy Degree from South Puget Sound Community College. It's a 10 month program that includes 4 day in person labs and workshops, textbook studies, … Continue Reading
This week featured new ideas to try this holiday season. The Horse Sculpted Layers Soap Tutorial is a newer technique made popular by Claudia Carpenter of Om Nom Soap. It involves using cardboard cutouts to create shapes in your soap. We used a horse cutout and an in-the-pot swirl to create these … Continue Reading
I'm constantly blown away by the talent and innovation in the soapmaking community. There are so many amazing ways to manipulate soap to create various effects. One of the most impressive techniques that I've seen in the past few years is the Sculpted Layers technique made popular by Claudia … Continue Reading
Years ago when I started soaping, after 6 failed Cold Process soap batches, I switched and focused on melt and pour soap. Eventually, I tackled cold process soap again, which then lead to trying hot process and rebatch. There are several other soaping techniques that fall somewhere in between, like … Continue Reading
Hot process is a great soapmaking method when you want to enjoy your soap quickly. The main difference between hot process and cold process soap is that hot process soap is "cooked," which speeds up the saponification process. This results in a loaf of soap that can be cut and enjoyed the same day. … Continue Reading
The holidays are a great reason to get together with friends and family. With all the stress the holidays can bring, a party is the perfect way to unwind. I try to host one get together every holiday season, even if it's just a small wine night with a couple close girlfriends. If … Continue Reading
Happy Halloween weekend! It's always a little bit of a bummer when Halloween falls on a weekday, but it's also fun to celebrate at the office. This weekend, the kids did a little trick-or-treating, and have become very protective and concerned with their buckets of candy. I don't keep a lot of sugar … Continue Reading
The holidays will be here before you know it, so now is the time to start thinking of gifts. This week the blog was full of handmade gift ideas. The Melt and Pour Gem Soaps are a great option. They're easy to make and customize with your favorite colors and scents. Find more inspiration in the … Continue Reading
Silicone mats aren't just for baking! When placed at the bottom of a mold, they create gorgeous and intricate patterns on soap. In this tutorial, cold process soap is colored with Mermaid Mica and poured into the Butterflies and Feathers Impression Mat. White soap fragranced with White Magnolia … Continue Reading
Starting a small business can seem daunting for many reasons. There are so many numbers to crunch, and demands to meet. There are also the legal aspects of small business. And let's be honest, unless you're a lawyer or have access to one, it can be tricky to make sense of all that. One … Continue Reading
Here on the western side of Washington state, we don't get a lot of snow. Luckily, the mountains are nearby when we want to enjoy skiing, snowboarding, sledding, or just building a snowman. Personally, I have my fingers crossed for a little snow below the mountains this year; our yard has a little … Continue Reading