Soap Queen

Tutorials on soapmaking, bath fizzies, lotions and more

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Licorice Candy Soap

Filed Under: Melt & Pour Soap

I am obsessed with licorice. I’ve heard rumors that chocolate is also delicious but when forced to choose, give me the acquired taste of licorice. For the record, my favorite kind is Panda (though RJ‘s or Darrell Lea’s are never turned down) or the ultra-acquired taste of Salted Licorice (available at fine mail order stores or specialty candy stores). Even though I love straight-up licorice most of all, I’ll still eat delicious Licorice Allsorts. And, I think that this project would make such a fun gift or a since it ’tis the season, a stocking stuffer. This project is easy and suitable for a beginner (just watch those temperatures!).

Licorice Candy Melt and Pour

Recipe:

33.6 oz. White Melt and Pour Soap

22.4 oz. Clear Melt and Pour Soap

Black Oxide Color Block

Non-Bleeding Cherry Colorant

Non-Bleeding Teal Colorant

1.2 oz. Star Anise Essential Oil

9 Cube Silicone Mold

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

[Read more…]

#Christmas Schwag Eye Candy

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Thanks to everyone who threw their hats in the ring for the Make it Monday #Christmas Schwag Challenge! Check out the winners here. And before the holiday season sneaks away from us just as quickly as it approached, I thought you’d enjoy a peek at the over 200 (!) entries from the challenge. Everyone’s photos are also in the Facebook Photo Album for your enjoyment over the holiday break. We’ll be back next year with more fun Make it Monday Challenges, but until then feast your eyes upon this bounty:

Collage One [Read more…]

#Christmas Schwag Winners

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Christmas is coming! Christmas is coming! I can hardly believe that this year has gone by so fast. It seems like yesterday that we were started our very first Make it Monday challenge but it was actually this summer. It’s been so much fun seeing you all participate in these challenges and coming up with such clever and fun products all year, and we can’t wait for our next series (starting next year!) to see what you have up your sleeves. Are you ready for the winners of Make it Monday #Christmas Schwag? Drum roll please…

Christmas Schwag Winners

Top Row: 

Jill Lemaster-Moore – ‘Yultide Soap Balls’

Yurie from Kumamama Soap

Krista Scott – Adaptation of  Cool Yule Peppermint Loaf from Soap Queen

Middle Row:

Katie from Royalty Soaps – ‘Holiday Cheer Cold Process Hanger Swirl Soap’

Patty from Lather Rinse Clean – ‘Snowman Cupcakes’ with Fresh Snow Fragrance Oil

Heather from Blackbird Soap Company – ‘Enchanted’ 

Bottom:

Amanda from Bubblina’s Soap Boutique – ‘Christmas Tree Soap’  with  Santa’s Spruce Fragrance Oil

Ludmila and Pablo from Epuyen Jabones Artesanales – ‘Christmas Magic Wands’

Jenny Rose from I‘d Lather Be Soaping – ‘Christmas Cheer Soap’ [Read more…]

Gift Idea Roundup: for the Kids

Filed Under: Bath & Body Tutorials

Any kids or tweens on your list of gift recipients? Here’s a great mashup of projects could work perfectly as some quick and easy stocking stuffers!

Favorite Gifts for Kids

Top Row: Tween Soap, Cool Yule Peppermint Loaf, Gift Series: Bath Fizzies (Day One & Day Two)

Middle Row: Color Block Rainbow Soap, Candy Pinwheel (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3), Snowflake Soap

Bottom Row: How to Make Tattoo Soap, Dressed Up Bath Bombs, Soaping Cats & Dogs

 

Facebook Photo of the Week 11/12-11/16

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Lately I’ve really been getting into the holiday spirit. We even have Christmas music going at home (eh hem, I’m a sucker for the Glee Christmas Album). We’ve got so much to be thankful for around here. Our Christmas Tree is already up and Jamisen is just having a blast looking at all those twinkling lights. Speaking of cute little guys…

Mike from Soap Passion

This week’s Facebook Photo of the Week comes from Mike of Soap Passion. Mike made these cute little gingerbread men following a Soap Queen tutorial and said, “These are one of my favorite soaps for the holidays, I just love the Gingersnap Fragrance Oil.” All the gals in the office agreed with me and we oohed and ahhed over these adorable little gingerbread men!  Take a peek at more of Mike’s work here:

Mike from Soap Passion

Soap Passion on Facebook

Thank you so much Mike for being part of our soaping community and being an active participant on our Facebook page. There’s a little package of goodies being sent your way, so keep your eyes peeled!

Would you like your photo or project to be featured in a blog post? Come join us for soap talk, contests and lots of crafting inspiration at Bramble Berry’s Facebook page and share a photo with us of your latest project. Next week’s photo of the week pick could be yours!
Psst…Last week we featured Brooke of Her Best Apple, and she was kind enough to write about it in her blog! Thanks for the love, Brooke =)

Fall Sweater Stripes Soap Tutorial

Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

I’ve just added a new board to my Pinterest page: Color Inspiration! How did I go so long without this board? And have you seen the array of color palettes that are out there? Whoa. Inspiration overload. One of my favorite go-to sites for all things color is Design Seeds, and recently there was a color story posted that reminded me of a comfy and cozy fall sweater. Of course, my next train of thought was to turn it into soap, and what better way to use Bramble Berry’s newest fragrance, Cranberry Chutney?

[Read more…]

Baby’s First Christmas

Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

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Jamisen’s first Christmas was a memorable occasion for us all. We started our holiday weekend with Christmas Eve service (which was really a morning service coupled with a delicious brunch). Jamisen was happy and had such an easy going attitude the entire time. He was passed around from person to person and he was sure to favor them all with smiles. There were two childrens’ stories and he sat patiently through both of them. [Read more…]

Merry Christmas

Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

Merry Christmas from our family to yours.

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However you celebrate the season, may it be filled with love, laughter and family.

#AwkwardFamilyPhotos

Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

Thanksgiving 2011

This photo was too funny not to share and ask for help with a caption. Jamisen was rather startled to be handed to a giant green Grinch but, rest assured, Chris and I were right there to cheer him on. Apparently, our cheering? Not so motivating as evidenced by the look on his face.  Got any great ideas for a caption!?

Lump of Coal Soap Tutorial

Filed Under: Melt & Pour Soap

Do you know some one who will be getting a Lump of Coal Soap in their stocking this year (with good humor intended)? This is the perfect soap project to sneak into someone’s stocking. The fragrance oil blend of Cranberry Sweet and Patchouli is a holiday mix that’s musky and tart, perfect for the “sour” people receiving the coal soap (who will actually be getting a very nice gift of handmade soap). And of course I had to add a little bit of glitter, just to make it festive! Why not?

Give the gift of "coal" this year with Coal Soap! It's easy to make, and looks super realistic.

[Read more…]

Twas Three Weeks Before Christmas

Filed Under: Tips & Tricks

If you still need some holiday soaping inspiration, feast your eyes on the most popular Soap Queen soaps for Christmas (below). So many of you were inspired by my Cool Yule Peppermint Loaf project and posting pictures on our Facebook page (love! love!). Needless to say, nothing pleases me more than seeing your variation on these projects. Post them on the BB Facebook page and flaunt your holiday flare!

Cool Yule Peppermint Loaf, Pepperminty Bark Soap, Gnome Santa Clause

Cranberry Fig Holiday CP, Holiday Soap Cubes, Orange Slices

Gingerbread Man Soap, Ribbon Candy Soap, Holiday Soap Stamp

[Read more…]

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…]