Soap Queen

Tutorials on soapmaking, bath fizzies, lotions and more

Tutorials by difficulty level:

Search Results for: trace

Apple Jack Peel for Fall

Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

Are you ready to get creative with a new cold process technique? Then this is the project for you. I got a little crazy and experimented with a third divider in the vertical mold. And to get even more creative I added powdered goat milk to the recipe. Powdered Goat milk is easier to use and store than fresh goat milk and is very quick to mix-up when using our little mini-mixer tool. You’ll also notice in the instructions that I added the goat milk at trace, which is an easy way to add the goat milk without turning the soap brown. Oh…and if you’ve never used Apple Jack Peel, you’re in for a real treat! Enjoy!

[Read more…]

Linear Swirling (Cold Process)

Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

Advanced Swirling Part 5: Linear Swirling

Guest post by Kat from Otion (Bramble Berry’s retail store)

This is the grand finale of my advanced swirling tutorials.  Today is linear swirling! Make sure that you check out parts 1 (Understanding Color Theory Terminology) , 2 (Getting Brave with Color),  3 (Soap Design and Color Matching) and part 4(In-the-Pot swirling) if you haven’t already. Learn the secret to a fabulous linear swirl!

Before you get started, check out my must have materials for swirling!

Step 1: At a light trace, separate half of the batch into two smaller containers; one for each color, add scent by hand before pouring.

Step 2: Linear swirling is about building layers. Create a pattern using the two colors first so there is something on the bottom of the bars.

Step 3: Pour about ½ to ¾ of the white on top for the mid section which your lines will form into.

[Read more…]

In-the-Pot Swirling (Cold Process)

Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

Advanced Swirling Part 4: In The Pot Swirling

Guest post by Kat from Otion (Bramble Berry’s retail store)

Welcome back! This is part four of Kat’s advanced swirling tutorials. Please make sure to check out parts 1 (Understanding Color Theory Terminology) , 2 (Getting Brave with Color) and 3 (Soap Design and Color Matching) if you haven’t already. In this section, the secrets to successful swirling are revealed!

Must have materials:

Before beginning, make sure to have all safety equipment and supplies at hand. Have your colors picked and prepared and your fragrance oil weighed, line your wooden mold and have divider inserts set up on the side. Snug fitting rubber gloves are ideal for maximum dexterity (Tip! Pick up some hair-dying gloves from the local beauty supply store). A rubber spatula is your best friend for swirling! This tool manipulates the swirl pattern and pulls it through the entire bar.  Use a bamboo skewer for creating finer details and surface swirls. You will also need extra smaller heat resistant pitchers for dividing the soap into sections to color.

[Read more…]

Cold Process Spider Webs

Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

Team Bramble Berry and I were brainstorming Halloween soap ideas and this was the project that we got most excited about. It’s a very simple technique that adds that extra special (spooky)  touch for Halloween. Give these away as a hostess gift or put them in  your guest bathroom to impress your friends.

[Read more…]

Crazy for Cubes

Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

I know I always say this (um, like a lot), but I think I just found my new favorite mold! There are a whopping 25 cavities in this bad boy. It has a glossy finish, which I love, and the cube shape fits perfectly into the palm of my hands. Plus, they are the ideal size for stamping with our new acrylic stamp line. They’re perfect! Ok…enough gushing about the molds. Check out my specially formulated recipe  below. Why specially formulated? The cube mold works best with super hard recipes. Since no air flow gets into the mold, it can take forever and a day to get the soap to release. The Sodium Lactate, low (4%) superfat plus water discount all contribute to being able to get this soap out of the mold with no sticking. Because of this, the recipe will move fast. Experienced soapers will still be able to swirl but if you’re a newbie? Stick to one color.

[Read more…]

Soapfest 2011: Black and Tan Beer Soap

Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

Oktoberfest is an annual beer festival that originated in Germany. They celebrate with beer, food, music and other festivities. The only thing missing from Oktoberfest is soap! That’s how we’re celebrating Oktoberfest this year. Enjoy our variation of the black and tan drink (traditionally, it’s Guinness and a Pale Ale beer layered in the glass) soap made with real beer, scented with the delicious Oatmeal Stout fragrance oil blended with a little Almond Biscotti. You’re going to love this Fall blend.

[Read more…]

Pretty in Pink: Salty Cold Process

Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

Why put Pink Himalayan Salt in your CP?  The obvious answer is that it looks totally unique. What you may not know is that  Pink Himalayan Salt is known for its nourishing and soothing properties. I love it inside cold process for its exfoliating and moisturizing abilities. Plus salt bars have a very creamy lather.  For this project, we just added a little of the coarse sized salt on top for the WOW factor!

[Read more…]

CP + MP = Magma Soap

Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

This free flowing, lava like design inspired the name for this project. Magma Soap is an intricate project with so many possibilities. I’ve combined melt and pour soap with cold process soap to create a uniquely fascinating bar.

[Read more…]

Faux Funnel Pour: Advanced Cold Process

Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

This is a great alternative to column pour and funnel techniques. This pour creates a unique and fun swirl in your soap with no two bars exactly the same. Plus, bonus points for getting to soap with a buddy since this technique works best with four pouring hands.

If you have never made cold process soap before, I strongly suggest getting a couple of basic recipes under your belt before diving in, as this is an advanced technique that requires you to move quickly. Check out Soap Queen TV on Cold Process if you want to get started with cold process. It’s a 4 part series that will take you through the basics (and be sure to watch the episode on Lye Safety). Bramble Berry also has some helpful reading tools for you bookworms out there.

[Read more…]

Gardening Cold Process Soap

Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

If you have never made cold process soap before, I strongly suggest getting a couple of  basic recipes under your belt before diving in. Check out Soap Queen TV on Cold Process if you want to get started with cold process. It’s a 4 part series that will take you through the basics (and be sure to watch the episode on Lye Safety). If you’re a book worm, Bramble Berry also has some helpful reading on the cold process technique.

[Read more…]

Sea Clay Avocado Facial Bar

Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

Guest post by Amanda from LovinSoap.com

I was so excited to see sea clay being offered at Bramble Berry!

This dark gray-green clay is ideal for facial masks and body mud masks. It originated as mud laid down under the sea millions of years ago. This clay acts as a mild exfoliant and is thought to have many properties around detox and cellulite reduction. – Bramble Berry website

I immediately thought of making a facial bar.  I had a new recipe that I wanted to try out.  This recipe is great for those that want to go palm oil free but don’t want to sub lard or tallow.  I’m really happy with how it came out and make it often.

[Read more…]

Swirling Alkanet Infusion

Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

 

Alkanet is one of my favorite natural colorants to use. You end up with a wide variety of shades ranging from smoky purple to maroon depending on your soap’s PH, base oils and whether your soap gels or not. The most effective way to use it as a natural colorant is to infuse your liquid oil; I infuse my olive oil. I add 1 tablespoon of powdered alkanet and 5 ounces of olive oil into a jar and let it infuse for a week or two shaking it once a day.

New Floral S.O.A.P. Fragrances!

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

 

It’s finally time for the S.O.A.P. panel (floral edition) fragrance oil reveal (bells and whistles)! The top three fragrances are in the warehouse and ready to order. Bramble Berry is pleased to introduce to you Cherry Blossom, Orange Grove, and Eucalyptus Blossom!

 

Cherry Blossom Fragrance Oil: This lighter fragrance is a fruity floral delight for the senses; with notes of sweet pomegranate seeds, tart juicy currant mingling beautifully with pink cherry blossom and delicate white magnolia, this is a floral that will quietly steal your heart and have you bursting into song for no reason. This was one of the mystery fragrances in our Spring 2011 S.O.A.P. panel and it was a big hit with it’s fresh and clean scent. Does not discolor or accelerate trace in Cold Process soap.

S.O.A.P. Team Reaction: “Heaven! Sweet clean smell favorite in alllllllllllllll products!!!! Will be buying this one as sooooon as it’s ready!!!!!!!! I am in love with this and it preformed well in CP. No problems”

[Read more…]

Going Vertical

Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

Enthusiastic feedback flew in after posting this tutorial in the Bramble Berry Newsletter we just knew we had to share it with the Soap Queen Readers too! We are loving the possibilities with this new vertical mold! PS – Do you get our newsletter? It comes out monthly and has specials for newsletter subscribers only along with a recipe or technique that newsletter readers see before anyone else! Sign up on the Bramble Berry Home page.

[Read more…]