Tutorials on soapmaking, bath fizzies, lotions and more
There are many factors to consider when making cold process soap. This week and next week will focus on the basics of soap making. One of the most important parts is safety. When working with sodium hydroxide lye, it is important to wear safety gear like goggles, gloves and long sleeves. With the correct precautions, soaping is a safe process. Learn more in the Back to Basics: Lye Safety Guide.
This week was all about the 1960’s, with inspired tutorials like the Groovy Peace Sign Melt and Pour Tutorial. The Peace Mold is iconic and creates an unforgettable bar of soap that symbolizes peace and love. The swirled effect is achieved with LabColors dropped into the mold before the soap is poured. The soap is scented with Flower Child Fragrance Oil.
The Basic 12 LabColors used in the tutorial are 25% off until midnight tonight! Just use the code: BASICLAB at checkout.
Happy almost 4th of July everyone! If you’re looking for a little crafty inspiration during the long holiday weekend, you’ll love the Argan and Ginseng Gel Eye Serum video on Soap Queen TV. The serum has argan oil, jojoba oil and ginseng extract, which help moisturize your skin. Bonus, it doubles as a makeup remover.
The African-inspired tutorials continued this week with the Animal Print Melt and Pour Bars Tutorial. The Animal Print Tray Mold is used to create an alligator, zebra and leopard design in the bars. The colors are complemented by sultry and creamy Sandalwood Vanilla Fragrance Oil.
From now until June 27th, receive 25% off a selection of products used in the tutorials. Use coupon code SAFARIMADE at checkout. To see the full collection of Handmade Safari sale items, click here.
With vibrant colors and wild animals, Africa is full of crafting inspiration. This week featured several Africa-inspired projects, including the Whipped Amber Bronzing Butter. The butter gets its fluffy and moisturizing texture from three butters, including coffee butter. It has Copper Sparkle Mica, which adds shimmer and a slight tint to skin. Amber and Ancient Sedona Fragrance Oil are added for a warm scent.
From now until June 27th, receive 25% off a selection of products used in the tutorials. Use coupon code SAFARIMADE at checkout. To see the full collection of Handmade Safari sale items, click here.
Warm weather is perfect for outdoor activities, like swimming and gardening. After a long day of fun in the sun, it’s nice to relax. The Aloe Bubble Bath Bombs are a great way to unwind. They create big bubbles with the addition of SLSA, and soothing properties from aloe extract. The fizzies get a fresh and sweet scent from Basmati Rice and Kentish Rain Fragrance Oil.
Exfoliants help scrub away dirt and dead skin, leaving your skin feeling fresh and smooth. Bramble Berry carries a variety of exfoliants, such as colloidal oatmeal, shredded loofah and cranberry seeds. What exfoliant you choose for your recipe depends on personal preference. Learn more about which exfoliant is right for you in the All About Exfoliants post.
The spring-inspired tutorials continued this week with projects like the Butterfly Sparkle Surprise Bath Bomb. Along with fizzing in your tub, the bath bombs will release Iridescent Glitter and a butterfly eraser. They will also add a sweet smell to the tub from a mix of Crisp Apple Rose Fragrance Oil and Pure Honey Fragrance Oil. It’s a perfect project to make with kids.
This week was full of colorful inspiration, with a vibrant cold process tutorial and information on mica colorants. Micas are a mineral-based colorant that work great in a variety of products, such as melt and pour soap. They are fine textured and usually have a light to intense shimmer. While some micas can morph in cold process soap, they can still be used for mica lines or mica painting. Read more in the Sunday Night Spotlight: Mica Colorants post.
Spring is here, which means it’s a great time for cleaning. This week featured several cleansing recipes, including Fizzy Toilet Fresheners. The fizzies are made with sodium bicarbonate and citric acid, which help protect against stains. They also make your bathroom smell fresh from a combination of Lemon Essential Oil and Peppermint Essential Oil, 2nd Distillation. They’re an easy way to freshen your bathroom in between cleanings.
The past few weeks have been full of projects involving milk. This week featured cold process soap made with cow milk. The Creamy Cow Milk Cold Process Tutorial has a classic black and white color palette. The swirls inside are made by plopping different size spoonfuls of soap into the mold. The soap is scented with a fresh and earthy combination of Vanilla Rosewood and Grass Stain fragrance oils.
If you’re looking for a milky melt and pour project, you’ll love the Lemon Goat Milk Melt and Pour Bars. The Goat Milk Melt and Pour Base used in the tutorial is made with 10% fresh liquid goat milk. The project also features lemon peel and Lemon Essential Oil, which give the bars a fresh smell and creamy color.
Milk can also be used in other products, like face masks. The Silky Coconut Milk Face Mask uses coconut milk powder to give the recipe a silky feeling and subtle coconut scent. Vitamin E oil and Evening Primrose Extract are used to add moisturizing and soothing properties. For a little bit of exfoliation, colloidal oatmeal is added to the mask.
If you plan to sell your milk recipes, Instagram is a useful tool. Instagram allows you to share pictures of your products and connect with other crafters. Taking the time to edit your photos can really help them stand out. Setting the soap up nicely and using props can help as well. Find out more in the Instagram Tips and Tricks post.
Thoughtful editing can also be used for pictures of your culinary creations, like the Spinach and Blueberry Yogurt Popsicles. The simple recipe is made with blueberries and vanilla Greek yogurt. Because they’re sweet and healthy, they’re a great way to get your kids to eat their fruits and veggies.
While the popsicles are a cool treat, the Facebook Photo of the Week is full of fire. Kristie with Seven Seas Soaps scented her soap with smoky Dragon’s Blood Fragrance Oil.
The yellow and red colors in Kristie’s soap look stunning against the black base. It’s topped with whipped soap and a flame for a unique and beautiful look. If you’re looking for more fiery projects, click through to the Dragon’s Breath Cold Process Soap Tutorial. For a lava-inspired soap, click through the CP + MP = Magma Soap.
Above (clockwise, top) are Kristie’s swirled soap, chocolate soap, orange cream soap and sweet pea soap. For more flowery inspiration, click through the Purple Blackberry Flower Candle Tutorial. Flowers also look adorable on the Pikake Flower Bath Bombs.
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This week’s Instagram Photo of the Week is full of bright color as well. The collection of soap by Hallowell Soap Works is full of color, texture and accents like rose petals. The wood provides an interesting and natural background for the soap. Check out more stunning photos on Hallowell Soap Works’ Instagram page.
Post pictures of your crafty creations on the Facebook page each week for a chance to be featured on the Soap Queen blog and receive a sweet soapy package from Bramble Berry. Photos are chosen based on consensus from the Bramble Berry staff, so the best way to increase your chances of winning is to show us lots of photos!
To participate in the Instagram contest, hashtag your pictures with #soapshare. Each Friday, I will pick a photo on Instagram to win a copy of the Soap Crafting book, and share on the Bramble Berry Instagram account.
Using milk in cold process soap gives it a luxurious and creamy feeling. For the next couple weeks, the blog will be full of projects made with milk. Adding milk to your cold process soap is different than using distilled water. If milk gets too hot, it can scorch. That creates an unpleasant smell and can discolor your soap. To prevent milk from scorching, it helps to freeze it beforehand. Then, add the lye slowly and stir well. Learn more in the How to Add Lye to Milk for Cold Process Soap Post.
The warmer temperatures and sunny days this week inspired tutorials that are full of color. The Dragon’s Breath Cold Process Tutorial has orange, red and yellow colors, which are inspired by the fire emitted from a dragon’s mouth. It is accented with a smoky scent from Dragon’s Blood Fragrance Oil. To get the fiery layers, the Tall Narrow Wood Loaf Mold is set on its lid to keep your mold tilted. Click through the post to see how to make the soap.
The longer you soap, the more soapy supplies tend to build up. Before you know it, your house is overflowing with oils, fragrances and molds. This week had tips on how to use and care for your supplies. For instance, if your wood molds get messy, you can use a soap scraper/cutter to remove any hardened soap and polish them with Simple Citrus Furniture Polish. Silicone molds are easy to maintain, and can be cleaned with 99% isopropyl alcohol, dish soap and warm water. Read more tips in the How to Care for Silicone and Wood Molds post.
