Search Results for: rebatch

Rainbow Hearts Melt & Pour on Soap Queen TV

February 17, 2015 Filed Under: Melt & Pour Soap

This Rainbow Heart Melt and Pour soap will make you smile with plenty of sparkle, color and hearts. Inspired by a previous Soap Queen tutorial of the same name, the design has been updated to include more hearts and color in each bar. Pink Grapefruit Fragrance Oil gives the project a bright and happy scent.

This melt and pour soap includes six vibrantly colored heart embeds created with the Mini Heart Silicone Column Mold. Color blocks are used to give each heart a different rainbow hue. To help the layers and embeds adhere, having a bottle of 99% isopropyl alcohol nearby is crucial. Spraying rubbing alcohol in between and after pouring layers helps the soap stick together, and disperses any bubbles on top.

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Pink Clay & Primrose Hand-Milled Soap

January 29, 2015 Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

Hand-milled soap is a fantastic option for crafters who prefer not to work with lye, but still love the look and feel of cold process soap. Hand-milling (also called rebatching) involves melting down pre-made cold process soap and adding a small amount of extra liquid. If you’d like to see this process in action, check out this How to Make Rebatch Soap video on Soap Queen TV.

For this recipe, rose water is used with pink Brazilian clay to give a light rosy hue. Topped with rose petals and scented with Ylang Ylang III essential oil, this Pink Clay & Primrose Hand-Milled Soap project is wonderfully feminine. This project would make a great gift for Valentine’s Day! These downloadable labels make packaging and giving to loved ones easy.

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5 Steps to Build a Better Newsletter

January 28, 2015 Filed Under: Business Musings

Screenshot from a recent Bramble Berry newsletter.

Earlier in the week, I asked the question, “Is a newsletter right for you and your business?” Newsletters are a fantastic method for sharing content with your customers, and ultimately making sales. Of all the online marketing strategies, newsletters have the potential to be the most lucrative. If you have decided to invest in producing a newsletter, it’s important to do it right. If the first few newsletters are not done well, subscribers may not want to look at them in the future.

To help make the process easier, here are five important factors to consider when building your newsletter. If you have questions or concerns about various areas of marketing, including social media outlets, let me know in the comments. I’d be happy to share my tips for success!

1. Grab Your Audiences Attention: Write a Better Subject Line.
When the newsletter arrives in an inbox, the title (aka: subject line) is the first thing a reader sees. The subject line may be the deciding factor on whether or not a reader opens your email. Stay away from boring titles such as “November Newsletter.” Make the title short, snappy, catchy and enticing! Study the subject lines of the emails you receive; what kind of title motivates you to open the email rather than delete it? Consider what the purpose of your newsletter is. Do you want to show off new products, or maybe inform your customers of an event? Decide what the purpose of the newsletter is, and construct a subject line around the intent. Nobody likes to feel that they were tricked into opening an email.
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Soapy Social Media Roundup

January 24, 2015 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

This weekend is full of family, friends and of course a little crafting. Today I spent some time working on a fun Valentine’s Day tutorial that I can’t wait to share (look out for that project tomorrow). I’ve also been doing some meal prep for the upcoming week, while the kids eat their weight in pomegranate seeds. Tomorrow the family is visiting a new trampoline park in town; it’s full of trampolines for all ages, foam pits and obstacle courses…the kids are going to love it. What are your fun plans for the weekend?

These kiddos can’t get enough of pomegranate seeds!

If you’re looking for a weekend projects, the blog has been full of tutorials featuring clays and other natural ingredients. Many of these items are currently 20% with the code, CLAYCLEAN. These items are on sale until January 29th at midnight, PST; click here to see all sale items. Next week, keep your eyes on the blog for a hot process tutorial, as well as a rebatch project. Looking for more crafty ideas? Check out my favorite social media finds from the past week, including pins, instagrams and tweets!

Pins:

Top left to right, clockwise:

This minty blue soap topped with orange and red poppies is absolutely stunning. Created by Handmade in Florida, the inside of the soap is even better!
I love tea of all kinds, and this Thai Almond Milk Bubble Tea by Love and Olive Oil looks like a yummy variation of the typical cup.
Speaking of delicious variations, this Roasted Moroccan Carrot Salad with Chickpeas is hearty take on the average spinach salad.
With Valentine’s Day less than a month away, it’s time to start making love inspired gifts. These DIY Cement Valentines are an adorable gift idea, and look easy to make.

Instagram:

This month I’m spreading my soapy wings and practicing the Butterfly Hanger Swirl for the Soap Challenge Club hosted by Amy of Great Cakes Soapworks. I’m thrilled with how it turned out, and can’t wait to try this technique again.

Last weekend the kids, Chris and I had a great time watching the big football game (go Hawks!), and spending some time in the rainy outdoors.

Twitter:

When attempting to accomplish any goal, you’re bound to question yourself throughout the process. Instead of questions that create doubt, ask yourself these 5 Questions Success People Routinely Ask Themselves. They are great motivating tools!
We have all heard about detoxing, but Does Detoxing Really Work?
Starbucks is making some big, awesome changes for their employees in 2015. The company is increasing starting-pay rates as well as loosening their strict dress code by allowing employees to show tattoos.
This New York City condo sold for $100 million…is the view worth the price?
If you don’t have a blog, these tips on How to Use a Blog as the Cornerstone of Your Content Marketing might persuade you to start one =)
To keep up with the latest soapy social media throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine and YouTube.

Minty Clay Melt & Pour Bar

January 13, 2015 Filed Under: Melt & Pour Soap

This melt and pour project is full of contrasting layers, texture and refreshing essential oils. With natural colorants such as activated charcoal, green zeolite clay and spirulina powder, this is a great project for soapers who prefer to use natural ingredients. The combination of peppermint and rosemary essential oils is incredibly refreshing and invigorating.The poppy seeds add a subtle amount of scrub, leaving the skin feeling smooth. Both activated charcoal and green zeolite clay are known for their oil absorption properties, making this bar a skin-loving powerhouse!

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Soapy Social Media Roundup

January 10, 2015 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

With the new year in full swing, it’s safe to say I have hit the ground running! The past few days have been spent planning and making goals for 2015 for business, personal and family. If you’re curious, you can read more about my personal goals for the next few months here. After a whirlwind of a week, we’ve got an action-packed weekend planned with multiple play dates and crafts galore. We’ll enjoy lots of time at home with a crafty projects and lots of toy trucks.

Above, Jamisen hauls sweets in his toys. Marshmallows and monster trucks, what more could a kid want? If you have any great ideas for toddler inside games, I would love to hear them! The weather this week is surprisingly clear, but the rain is sure to return. My “Toddler Fun,” Pinterest board is full of ideas, but I’m always on the lookout for more. Speaking of Pinterest, check out my favorite pins, tweets and ‘grams from this week below.

Pins:

From left to right, clockwise:

This stunning butterfly swirl soap made by Handmade in Florida is stunning. The butterfly swirl is one I still need to perfect…practice makes perfect!
Dainty and delicate, the Crepe Paper Cherry Blossom Branches created by Lia Griffith are a great way to always have fresh looking flowers in the house.
Made with quinoa, red cabbage, carrots and edamame, this Asian Quinoa Salad looks incredibly fresh and tasty.
Made with Epsom salt, Champagne Fragrance Oil and La Bomb Colorants, this Mimosa Salt Scrub by Otion Soap Bar

Instagram:

Below are just some of the soapy projects the team and I made in 2014. I can’t wait to see what fun projects 2015 brings!
On the left, Lily cuddles up to her daddy. These two have been inseparable lately, and it’s so cute. On the right, this Rose and Primrose rebatch project is a a great way to make cold-process soap without having to handle sodium hydroxide. If you subscribe to our newsletter, you’ve already received the tutorial in your inbox. If not, it will be on the blog later this month!

Twitter:

This year, both UPS and FedEx are changing how they charge customers for lightweight shipments in large boxes. Read more about that here.
You’ve probably heard the rumor that cellphones give you cancer…but is it true?
During your free time, how do you spend it? These graphs looking at an average day of unemployed men and women are surprising and interesting.
Sometimes multi-tasking is completely necessary, but it can also kill productivity. Here are 5 tools to combat multitasking and get your focus back.
Does a watermark actually prevent image theft? Kenna from Modern Soapmaking argues “no.”

To keep up with the latest soapy social media throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine and YouTube.

Soapy Social Media Roundup

December 20, 2014 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

This week has been equal parts amazing, hectic and inspirational. On Tuesday night, Umpqua Bank hosted a magical launch party for Handmade Beauty Box. It was an incredible night filled with food, drinks, a DIY salt scrub bar and lots of love and support. I’m so proud of the Handmade Beauty Box team, and everything they have accomplished. A big thanks to everybody who has supported this new venture…I hope you are all having a blast making the first Handmade Beauty Box project!

Despite the gloomy and grey weather, this week has been full of colorful soapy projects. Check out the fun projects we have been making via my favorite Instagrams below, along with lots of colorful pins! Also, look out for a spicy and warm soup recipe tomorrow =)

Pins:

From left to right, clockwise:

I love the idea of using leftover materials to make something beautiful. These colorful presents are made using recycled materials, and they look fantastic!
Full of vibrant color, this Layered Modified Mantra Rainbow Soap made by Kenna of Modern Soapmaking is the perfect soap for winter blues.
The holidays present a lot of opportunities to indulge in sugar and butter. This Arugula Salad with Sweet Potatoes and Goat Cheese looks like the perfect, reduced-guilt holiday salad.
Speaking of leafy greens, this Kale Pendant is made with real kale! Wouldn’t mind if this necklace was under the tree this year =)

Instagram:

Top row, left to right: Rosey rebatch soap scented with Ylang Ylang Essential Oil…smells amazing! This sunshine soap makes me happy every time I look at it; it’s made with embeds created from the 6 Half Cylinder Silicone Mold.
Bottom row, left to right: Earth and water was my inspiration for this blue and green soap made with the Vertical Wood Mold. Pantone’s color of the year, Marsala, was the inspiration for this wine colored lip tint.

Twitter:

Some days, getting out of bed is so hard! Here are some tips to drag yourself out of that warm, cozy bed. One tip is grabbing your laptop and start working before leaving bed…sounds good to me =)
Do you follow the Paleo Diet? Personally I love the way it makes me feel, but this article makes some great points about why it may not be the best choice.
Ever wonder how active your pets are during the day while your at work? This man strapped a FitBit on his cat to find out, the results are so interesting!
If you are a listener to the Serial Podcast (and if you’re not, start listening!) these photos of the real-life “characters” bring the story to life.
Do you love eggs? I probably eat at least one a day! Find out the recommended daily egg intake here.

I hope you’re all having a great weekend! To keep up with the latest soapy social media throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine and YouTube.

Shimmering Sea Glass Cold Process

December 16, 2014 Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

The ocean is a constant source of inspiration, from the icy blue colors to the fresh ozone scents. Inspired by the textures of the sea, this Shimmering Sea Glass Cold Process uses clear melt and pour pieces to mimic the look of translucent glass found on the shore. Melt and pour pieces are embedded within the soap, and placed on top with plenty of glitter for a crystal-like effect. A simple In-the-Pot Swirl creates a fluid swirl of teal, purple and white.

Over time, the embedded melt and pour pieces may begin to shrink slightly due to the loss of moisture. Using LCP (Like Cold Process) melt and pour bases helps avoid this, because of the lower glycerin content. Embedding melt and pour soap is a great way to recycle leftover bits from previous projects.

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Layered Lilac Loofah Cold Process

December 11, 2014 Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

When planning a cold process soap design, fragrance oil selection plays a huge role. Some fragrance oils discolor brown (learn more about that here), making bright colors difficult. Other fragrance oils accelerate trace, which can make complicated designs like a Column Pour or a Peacock Swirl tricky to execute. Floral fragrances are known for their tendency to accelerate trace, but that doesn’t mean beautiful soap can’t be created with them! It just means you need to choose an appropriate design, and be ready to work fast. Setting up your soaping workspace beforehand helps immensely!
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Queen of Hearts Cold Process

December 4, 2014 Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

Inspired by the regal character from Alice in Wonderland, this Queen of Hearts Cold Process soap is full of eye-catching contrast. Created with melt and pour embeds, a cold process base and soap frosting, this sophisticated soap will make a fantastic Valentine’s gift (it will be here sooner than you think!). LoveSpell and Baby Rose fragrance oils create a rosy, warm and slightly juicy scent blend that is wonderfully feminine.

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Facebook Photo of the Week (Nov. 15th ~ Nov. 21st)

November 21, 2014 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

The 12 Days of Christmas promotion is officially over tomorrow. Hopefully you have lots of handmade gift ideas for the holidays! The promotion features easy to make projects, like the adorable Chocolate Mint Melt and Pour soaps. With a delectable mix of Dark Rich Chocolate Fragrance Oil and Moroccan Mint Fragrance Oil, this soap smells just like a classic holiday candy. The Moroccan Mint Fragrance Oil is 30% off until tomorrow at noon PST. No coupon necessary.

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Lemon Poppy Seed Cold Process

August 7, 2014 Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

There is something about the color yellow that just screams, “happy!” If you are looking for a project full of cheer, this Lemon Poppy Seed Cold Process Tutorial is the soap for you. Scented with the bright Lemon Verbena Yankee Type and the bubbly Champagne Fragrance Oil, it smells as sunny as it looks.

Poppy seeds give this bar of soap gentle exfoliation, and the contrasting mica vein really makes the layers pop. Tip: when cutting into cold process soap that features a mica vein, don’t cut the soap from the top down. Lay the soap on its side and cut in the direction of the line. This will prevent the mica from dragging through the layers.

What You’ll Need:

9.9 oz. Coconut Oil

9.9 oz. Olive Oil

9.9 oz. Palm Oil

3.3 oz. Rice Bran Oil

4.6 oz. Sodium Hydroxide

10.8 oz. distilled water

Titanium Dioxide

Fizzy Lemonade Colorant

Luster Black Mica

1 tbs. Poppy Seeds

.5 oz. Lemon Verbena Yankee Type Fragrance Oil

1 oz. Champagne Fragrance Oil

10″ Silicone Loaf Mold

Optional: Sodium Lactate

Click here to add everything you need for this project to your Bramble Berry shopping cart!

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Coconut Cream Pie Cold Process

July 10, 2014 Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

If you’ve been dreaming of an exotic vacation, this is the soap for you. This Coconut Cream Cold Process tutorial is all the fun of a tropical beach getaway without the sand in your shoes!

Made with 100% coconut water instead of distilled water, and featuring our brand new Coconut Cream Fragrance Oil, it’s a unique soap that smells as good as it looks. The top is finished off with melt & pour soap frosting and cold process “coconut flakes” to make this a truly decadent dessert soap.

Speaking of sunshine, this week we’ve been showing you all kinds of tutorials to give your skin that radiant glow perfect for a summer get away. Check out the Beautiful Bronze Lip Tint, Bronze Goddess Nail Polish and Magical Bronze Shimmer Stick. As a bonus, a few of the ingredients in the tutorials are 20% off as part of this month’s web specials!

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Guest Post: Making Tallow Laundry Soap

July 9, 2014 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

After Monday’s great overview post on tallow, our guest blogger Eric Vought is following up today with a tallow soaping recipe! Tallow is rendered animal fat, and it is the original fat used in soaping. Some soapers still choose to use it because it’s an excellent substitute for palm oil, has a stable lather and it’s usually readily available at the neighborhood butcher shop. Enjoy! — A.M. [Read more…]