Tutorials on soapmaking, bath fizzies, lotions and more
Beeswax is an incredibly versatile ingredient. It's used in a variety of projects including balms, soap, lotion and more. In these Beeswax & Honey Lotion Bars, yellow beeswax gives firmness and a lovely yellow color. To add softness and skin-loving properties, olive oil and shea butter are … Continue Reading
If you're reading this blog, you probably enjoy crafting. But, what kind of crafter are you? Are you the artistic type, who is always inspired to create a one-of-a-kind masterpiece? Or, are you more of a budget crafter, who enjoys turning trash into treasure? Take the short quiz below to find out! … Continue Reading
Sugar scrubs are a favorite of mine; they are easy to make and sugar feels refreshing and nice on the skin. Using up the sugar in my pantry also prevents sugar temptation! ;) To give this Wildflower Honey Sugar Scrub a little extra "oomph," I added strawberry seeds. They are a mild tan color and are … Continue Reading
Today Heather Alvis, a local beekeeper, is sharing her beekeeping story. Heather and her husband Miguel have raised bees for over ten years in their backyard. Heather was kind of enough to share several jars of her "A Bee's Honey," with us, and it's what I used in the Pure Honey Cold Process Soap! … Continue Reading
This week the blog was all about honey. It's popular in handmade bath and beauty products because it helps moisturize the skin. In cold process soap, it also helps create lather. Because honey can scorch if it gets too hot, temperatures are important. Click through the How to Use Honey in Bath and … Continue Reading
Bramble Berry is committed to giving back to our community, and donates a portion of profits to various charities every year. For a full list of charities donated to in 2015, click here. One cause that is important to us is protecting the honey bees from Colony Collapse Disorder. Researchers … Continue Reading
Honey is a popular additive in cold process soap. It's a wonderful humectant and is great from a marketing standpoint. But, adding honey to soap does pose some challenges. The sugar from the honey can cause the soap to overheat. The key is keeping soaping temperatures cool and not using too much … Continue Reading
A humectant is an ingredient that absorbs moisture from the air. Natural humectants include aloe vera gel, eggs and honey. The humectant properties of honey, combined with its antioxidant properties, make it a popular choice for homemade bath and body projects. But, due to the natural sugars, water … Continue Reading
Over the past few years, I have spent more and more time in my garden. As my garden has grown, so has my appreciation for honey bees. Honey bees pollinate a wide variety of agricultural crops, making them a critical part of our ecosystem. The decline of the honey bee population, known as Colony … Continue Reading
Over the past six weeks, we celebrated color with the #SoaptheRainbow series. Each week focused on a different color of the rainbow. Thanks to everybody who shared photos on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. And congrats to the 21 soapers who won a $10 Bramble Berry gift certificate! Check out all … Continue Reading
Purple projects closed out the #SoaptheRainbow series this week. It's hard to believe it's already over. We loved seeing all your beautiful creations. There is still time to enter to win a Grand Prize worth more than $250. Enter to win here. If you're in the mood for more purple inspiration, this … Continue Reading
"Confetti soap" refers to bars that contain shreds of previously made batches. The soap shreds look like pieces of confetti or sprinkles in the final bar. I love the playful look it creates. The technique is a great way to use up extra soap or a batch that didn't turn out quite right. I have used … Continue Reading
UPDATE: The Fall 2016 Soap Swap is NOW FULL, and registration is closed. Thanks to everybody who signed up, we can't wait to see your soap! For those we were not able to join this swap, we will have another next year. Sign up for the Bramble Berry newsletter; we give our newsletter subscribers an … Continue Reading
Violet is one of my favorite "purple" smelling fragrances. Isn't that funny how a scent can convey a color? These Violet Sugar Scrub Cubes are made with Violet Fragrance Oil, which is a delicate and feminine floral scent. Sugar scrub cubes are essentially the same thing as a sugar scrub but in … Continue Reading