Soap Queen

Tutorials on soapmaking, bath fizzies, lotions and more

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Cool Yule Peppermint Loaf

Filed Under: Melt & Pour Soap

Bramble Berry was recently mentioned in the 2011 Martha Stewart Holiday Handbook. Yippy! (And yes, we all did the Happy Soaping dance in the office when we saw our name in print in the Divine Ms. M’s magazine). If you don’t have that issue already, you should definitely get it. There are lots of yummy cookie recipes included. Martha did a wonderful red and white striped soap project using melt and pour soap. Even though  Bramble Berry was just noted as a supplier (and not the author of the recipe), we received a ton of calls in customer service asking how to make the “Martha Soap”  which we were so happy to help with (and so proud to be associated with! Thanks Martha and team!). The calls  inspired me to create my own “Martha Inspired” peppermint layer loaf. This is obviously an iteration of the soap by the Martha but it also takes inspiration from last year’s  uber popular Peppermint Bark soap.

See the snowflake ornaments in the background? These beautifully crocheted ornaments for the tree were a gift from a customer. Thanks Eleanor, that was so sweet of you! [Read more…]

How to Label Cold Process Soap

Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

This is the second post in my series on how to label your products. In the first post I explained how to label lip balm including how to list your ingredients using the proper terms in the correct order.

As I mentioned in that post, this is just the bare minimum; there are so many little details that I can’t possibly cover in a blog post. Thus, I highly recommend the book Soap & Cosmetic Labeling by Marie Gale. It is a concise and easy-to-read book, full of examples about labeling cosmetics with a special emphasis on soap. Also, the FDA’s website has many interesting articles and bonus, you can read the law as it is actually written. They also have a free Cosmetic Labeling Manual that addresses all of the basics of labeling.

Soap is a special case when it comes to labeling. The FDA does not require ingredient labeling for soap. That’s right! Nothing. [Read more…]

Soap Weekend Intensive 2012. Be There.

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

SWI 2012: June 15th -17th,

Sign Up HERE!

Bramble Berry’s annual Soap Weekend Intensive is an incredible opportunity to learn innovative techniques from some of the best instructors in the country. These classes are HANDS ON and you’ll leave with soap, supplies and the confidence to make projects on your own.

This year, we are proud to welcome back Debbie Chialtas of Soapylove, Erin Pikor of Naid Soap Arts, Kat Hackney of Otion, Jill Heuser of Northwest Scents, and of course, moi, Anne-Marie Faiola of Bramble Berry. Also, the very vain part of me would like to point out that in the photo below, I look a little doughier in the face than usual because I had just had a baby. Eh hem, back to the topic at hand…

Anne-Marie cutting the CP soap project- SWI 2011 [Read more…]

Labeling Your Products : Lip Balm

Filed Under: Lip Products

Labeling your handmade products can seem so confusing. In this 3 part series, I am going to give some basic examples of how to label lip balm, cold process soap, and lotion so that you can confidently sell or give these products as gifts.

I am just going to be touching the tip of the iceberg though. There is more to know than I can explain in a few blog posts.  If you’d like to become a labeling ninja, I highly recommend the book Soap & Cosmetic Labeling by Marie Gale. It is a concise and easy-to-read book, full of examples about labeling cosmetics with a special emphasis on soap.

The FDA’s website has many interesting articles and you can read the law as it is actually written. They also have a free Cosmetic Labeling Manual that addresses all of the basics of labeling.

The Basics for Labeling Lip Balm: [Read more…]

How to Shrink Wrap Soap

Filed Under: Tips & Tricks

With simple-to-use shrink wrap soap bands, you can easily provide a professional finish for your soap without investing in a heat tunnel. Our Shrink Wrap bands shrink down with the application of heat from a heat gun. Although a hair dryer will work, it won’t achieve the smooth, fully shrunken wrap results. Best of all, these shrink wrap bands have a perforated easy-open strip for ease of use when your customer gets their soap home.

Directions: Slide the soap into the shrink wrap so the  perforated plastic is on the long edge of the soap (the part that you would tear to open). I like to start on on the front side of the soap. Apply the heat until it starts to shrink. It may look funny at first but once you apply heat to all of the sides and ends you’ll see it starting to come together. I like to do the ends last for the finishing touch.

Dimensions: 3 15/16″ x 3 7/16″ (opens on this side). Tear strip runs the 3 15/16″ length.

Tip: If you have small soap, just cut the Shrink Wrap Band in half to fit smaller bars easily. We like to do this for sample soaps.

Voila! Professionally wrapped bar of Rosemary Cold Process Soap. It’s super easy to do and the soap looks super professional to boot.

How to Stamp Soap on Soap Queen TV

Filed Under: Tips & Tricks

Stamping soap is a simple and easy way to bring a that special detail to your cold process or melt and pour soap. At Bramble Berry we sell two different kinds of stamps, acrylic and resin, and they each have their own tips and tricks to make the stamps really pop. Enjoy the video!

These products were used in the video:

Swirled Heart Cold Process Soap on Soap Queen TV

Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

In this episode of Soap Queen TV, I am joined by Kristy Schemrich of Kristy’s Lovely Lathers. She shows how to make the cutest little heart design in the top of your Cold Process soap, so fast and easy you’ll love the results!

 

 

You can use your favorite soap recipe for this technique – the one we used is below.

Kristy loves adding Goat Milk to her soap. So one variation is to use half of the water to mix your lye with and with the other half add about 1 oz Goat Milk powder. Stir this in at light trace before you add your fragrance.

While we used our beloved Birchwood Mold, you could also use a basic log mold and get a lovely result. [Read more…]

How to Combat Shopping Terrorisim

Filed Under: Business Musings

Last week, we had a person call Tina in Customer Service a “Bi**h” on the phone. It wasn’t a particularly great moment for us in Customer Service. And then, it got worse. The customer sent multiple harassing emails, threatening to tarnish our name and reputation “all over the internet” unless we gave her a refund for product she insisted was bad but that she couldn’t prove she ordered from us (no order number nor could we find an order under her name for) and she had not returned to us. The individual’s daughter called and said, “It would be in your best interest if you just refund us now” with another threat to ruin our reputation. [Read more…]

Holiday Soap Cubes

Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

I am still so in love with our new cube mold! For this project, I wanted to create a seasonal feel using non-traditional colors and an unexpected yet comforting scent blend. What a great way to welcome the colder months.

[Read more…]

New(ish) Premium Bases and Flat Rate Shipping

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Bramble Berry’s house soap bases are now available in a new bulk size. It’s the same amazing clear and white Bramble Berry base that we’ve stocked for 14+ years now, only in a bigger size that can go flat rate. The most exciting part is that you can now choose to ship it for only $16.53 ONLINE via flat rate shipping (without calling in to change the shipping option – I can hear your sigh of relief from here)! If you’ve ever shipped flat rate shipping with us, then you know exactly what I’m talking about. If you haven’t, get ready to save some money!

This is what your 25 pound block of soap will look like.

“New” Premium Bases at Bramble Berry: Buy the original, premium Bramble Berry melt and pour recipe in a new format and save BIG! These three bases come in a 25 pound blocks which are encased in a plastic bag inside the boxes. The soap is poured directly into the box by the soap maker so there are usually bubbles or foam at the top of the block. Handling a solid block of Melt & Pour base can be a little tricky – but we make it easy with step-by-step instructions you can find here. In our opinion, it is well worth the savings! [Read more…]

Falling for Fall Soap Projects

Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

It’s that time of year again when I like to take a stroll down memory lane and dig up the great Fall(ish) tutorials to kick off the holiday season (seriously…how is it November already?). Who is hosting Thanksgiving this year? Will you be handing out soapy favors or will you be bringing soapy hostess gifts?  I’m hosting this year (Eek! My first time hosting Faiola Family Thanksgiving. I guess this means I’m growing up?!) but I still don’t know what I’m going to do for soapy favors so I’m brainstorming. If you’re doing favors, I want to hear about it because I need some Fall Soap inspiration.

Caramel Apple Soap

Flexy Fast Fall Pumpkins

Black and Tan Beer Soap

Applejack Peel for Fall

[Read more…]

Hello to Health Day 8: Relax and Meditate

Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

Relaxation and Meditation

Relax. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath and inhale it down until you feel it in the very base of your lungs. Exhale slowly. Do it again. Now bring your awareness down to your feet. Explore them with mind. Feel any tension in your feet? Inhale deeply, then slowly exhale while you release that tension. Now bring your attention to your legs. Feel any tension or tiredness there? Inhale, then slowly release the tension in your legs as you exhale. Follow through on each section of your body, moving upward slowly, until you’ve exhaled all stress, all tension and all anxiety.

A calming Bellingham sunset.

Hmmm. Feel anything? Something that perhaps feels unusual yet strangely familiar? Could it be that you’re feeling relaxed for the first time in a long time?

Just about everyone cops to feeling overly stressed due to work, family problems, financial issues, relationship challenges, and the list goes on and on. But ironically, far too many of us (Bramble Berry folks included) are so concerned about maintaining good health that we’ve actually developed anxiety and stress over the subject, unwittingly creating a whole new set of wellness issues. Duh. Talk about self-defeating!

[Read more…]