fall Archives - Soap Queen

Introducing the Autumn Frost Fragrance Collection!

September 13, 2016 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Traditional scents like Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil are always a favorite when fall rolls around. However, sometimes it’s nice to switch it up and try something different. That’s where the new Autumn Frost Fragrance Collection comes in! It includes four unique fragrances that are perfect for fall and winter. They are Cocoa Butter Cashmere Fragrance Oil, Vermont Maple Fragrance Oil, Sparkling Snowdrop Fragrance Oil and Cedar and Amber Fragrance Oil.

For a limited time, try all four fragrance oils in a 2 oz. size and save $10! All of these fragrances are permanent additions to the Bramble Berry line, but this specially discounted kit is only available until September 30th. Try the collection today for just $13.98.

[Read more…]

Fall Into Autumn Projects & Inspiration

September 12, 2016 Filed Under: Bath & Body Tutorials

Staying a season ahead is important when crafting. This is especially true if you have a small business. If you haven’t created your fall projects, now is the time! It’s also the ideal time to start making holiday projects. The holidays may seem far away, but nobody wants added stress in November.

Looking for new fragrances for your fall projects? Tomorrow, Bramble Berry’s new Autumn Frost Fragrance Collection is launching! We tested hundreds of fragrance oils this year and found four of the very best smelling and performing fragrances for fall and winter. Want to learn more about the new scents? I’m introducing them live on the Bramble Berry Facebook page at 2 p.m. PST tomorrow! Click here to “attend” the event on Facebook, and be reminded to tune in.

Cold process soap created now will cure by the middle of October. That’s the perfect time for pumpkins, warm colors and spooky projects. Pumpkin spice products are always a hit, and we have plenty of inspiration. The Pumpkin Spice Swirl Cold Process embraces the trend of tall bars and the drop swirl technique. The Pumpkin Spice Latte Cold Process Soap features soap frosting for a foam-like appearance. If soap frosting is intimidating, dollops of frosting are created by allowing the soap to thicken in the Pumpkin Pie Cold Process Soap Tutorial.

Far left, clockwise: Pumpkin Spice Swirl Cold Process, Pumpkin Spice Latte Cold Process Soap, Pumpkin Pie Cold Process Soap Tutorial

Melt and pour soap does not require cure time and is ready to use when fully cooled. It’s a great soapmaking method for last-minute projects. The Pumpkin Soap on a Rope Tutorial uses two 3D molds (the Spooky Pumpkin Mold and Spooked Pumpkin 3D Mold) that are great for rope soap. The Pumpkin Pie Melt & Pour Soap contains ground pumpkin seeds for a bit of exfoliation.

Left: Pumpkin Soap on a Rope Tutorial, Pumpkin Pie Melt and Pour Soap

Walnut shells are combined with sugar for a gentle feel in the Pumpkin Spice Latte Sugar Scrub Tutorial on Soap Queen TV. Foaming Bath Whip and coffee butter feel light and fluffy when whipped together. The coffee butter also adds a light scent, which smells amazing with the Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil and Turkish Mocha Fragrance Oil. Learn how to make it in the video below.

Fall projects aren’t just about pumpkin spice. Fall can be expressed in a number of ways, from a comforting scent to deep, rich colors. The Neptune Column Pour Soap is a great example. It’s made with Tobacco and Bay Leaf Fragrance Oil, which features notes of fir needle, cedarwood and bergamot. The slightly smoky scent is complemented by deep burgundy, yellow and blue. It’s a great “fall-ish” project!

The Neptune Column Pour Soap is a non-traditional fall tutorial.

For many, fall means the return of the NFL. If you’re ready to cheer on your team, the Mini Melt & Pour Football Soaps are a great way to do so. They are scented with Leather Fragrance Oil and Grass Stain Fragrance Oil for a combination that’s fresh yet earthy. I plan on bringing them to a football party as a host/hostess gift.

Fall means the return of football! How cute are these Mini Melt & Pour Football Soaps?

Autumn and winter also bring darker, moodier cosmetic products. In particular, it’s time to bust out bold lipstick colors! Red is a classic choice and is great for holiday parties. In the Radiant Red Lipstick Tutorial on Soap Queen TV, there are three color combinations to choose from. The formula is creamy, shiny and leaves lips feeling moisturized. Check out the video below. If you prefer something a little less dramatic, the Creamy Marsala Lip Tints give lips a sheer color. It’s inspired by the Pantone color of the year for 2015, “Marsala.” It’s also easy to make with only one colorant: Merlot Sparkle Mica.

When the weather gets colder, I tend to take more baths. If you need a hot bath to fight the cold, the Pumpkin Spice Bath Bombs fill your tub with bubbles, moisturizing coffee butter and a milky quality thanks to powdered goat milk. They also smell amazing with a combination of Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil and Espresso Fragrance Oil. If you prefer hot showers, the Aromatherapy Shower Fizzies fill the shower with scent. Depending on what fragrance or essential oil you use, they are the perfect way to relax before bed or to start the day.

The Pumpkin Spice Latte Bubble Bath Bombs are inspired by the popular fall beverage.

How do you celebrate fall with handmade projects? If you get photos, I would love to see them! Tag #Soapshare on Instagram. =)

Fall Project Ideas & Inspiration

September 28, 2015 Filed Under: Bath & Body Tutorials

It’s officially fall! The colors on the trees are changing, temperatures are dropping and the smell of pumpkin spice is in the air (well, around this office at least). While summer is dear to my heart (I love the long days and all that natural vitamin D from the sun), fall is a close second for favorite season. Autumn is full of crafting inspiration, and the cool weather is a perfect excuse to stay inside and create. If you’re looking for project ideas to reflect the time of year, we have you covered.

When considering fall scents, you can’t ignore the current fall favorite: pumpkin spice. Inspired by the classic spice combination, pumpkin spice is warm, comforting and sweet. It’s easy to see why it’s so popular! Bramble Berry has several pumpkin scents, including the Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil, Pumpkin Souffle Fragrance Oil and the Pumpkin Pie Candle & Soap Fragrance Oil.

Thanks to Starbucks, pumpkin and coffee have become an incredibly popular combo. I’ve even been getting in on the #PSL action with Bulletproof Pumpkin Spice Lattes (they’re delicious!). If you can’t get enough of pumpkin spice lattes, the Pumpkin Spice Latte Sugar Scrub on Soap Queen TV uses Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil and Turkish Mocha Fragrance Oil to create a mouthwatering scent. You can see the original tutorial here. Looking for soap projects? Check out the Pumpkin Spice Latte Cold Process tutorial to learn how to create these adorable bars. Made with soap frosting and melt and pour embed, they imbue fall into every slice.

The Pumpkin Spice Latte Cold Process was inspired by the popular fall drink.

If you prefer the classic pumpkin scent, the Pumpkin Pie Melt and Pour Bars are easy to make and smell just like the fall dessert. Made with ground pumpkin seeds, these bars give the soap gentle exfoliation. The Pumpkin Spice Swirl Cold Process also smells like pumpkin pie, and has real pumpkin puree! The Pumpkin Puree Cold Process soap also uses real pumpkin. Want to learn how to make your own pumpkin puree? Click here.

Left to right: Pumpkin Pie Melt and Pour Bars, Pumpkin Spice Swirl Cold Process

Feeling a little pumpkin’d out? There are plenty of other great fall scents and ideas! The Fall Sherbet Cold Process Soap is a fun take on pastel shades. Looking to celebrate Oktoberfest? The Bramble Beer Soap uses blonde ale instead of water to create a beautifully layered bar. Speaking of layers, the Fall Sweater Stripes Tutorial is inspired by the comfort of warm fall sweaters.

Top, clockwise: Fall Sweater Stripes Tutorial, Fall Sherbet Cold Process Soap, Bramble Beer Soap

Cooler temperatures can mean dry, flaky skin. Now is the perfect time to use heavier body butters and lotions to keep the skin feeling comfortable. The Moisturizing Heel Butter has a thick, Vaseline-like texture that is hydrating and spreadable. It’s also suitable for the rest of the body. If you like a lighter, whipped texture, the Whipped Champagne Shea Butter is creamy and bubbly smelling. Missing your summer glow? Fake it with the Whipped Amber Bronzing Butter. With a mousse-like texture, warm scent and slight tint, it’s sure to be a favorite.

Fall is the perfect time to cozy up at home, and nothing creates a comfy atmosphere quite like a warm scent. One of my favorite fall candle projects is the Chai Tea Latte Candle Tutorial. It fills the room with the warm and spicy notes of Chia Tea Cybilla Fragrance Oil. It also looks just like a warm chai tea latte. I gave these candles to some of my friends last year, and they still rave about them. If you prefer a no-flame option, you might like the Spicy Holiday Potpourri or the Winter Gardenia Room Diffuser.

The Chai Tea Latte Candle features whipped candle wax for a realistic layered look.

I have loved seeing all your gorgeous fall projects popping up on social media. In particular, I love scrolling through the #SoapShare hashtag on Instagram. Below are a few of my favorites…keep them coming!

Top left, clockwise: Pumpkin Spice Cream Soap by lssc0000, Leaf Guest Soap by tandjsoap, Pumpkin Spice Pie Soaps by woolinandco, Pumpkin Spice Soap by orchardhilltradingco

Top left, clockwise: Candy Corn Soap by singlebarrelsoaps, Peek-a-Boo Ghost Bath Bombs by indulge_bath_bombs, Pumpkin Spice Bubble Bars by shellyswicked, Harvest Moon Soap by riverbendsoap

What are you making this fall? I’m trying to get a head start on holiday projects this year =)

Pumpkin Pie Melt and Pour Soap

September 8, 2015 Filed Under: Bath & Body Tutorials, Melt & Pour Soap

While the day after Labor Day is not the official first day of fall, here in the PNW, it certainly feels like summer is over. Seasonal items are hitting the shelves, including the Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks (happy #PSL day!), and everything pumpkin flavored. I love the warm and comforting taste (and smell!) of pumpkin treats. These Pumpkin Pie Melt and Pour bars celebrate the arrival of the #PSL and pumpkin-spice-everything. Scented with Pumpkin Pie Candle and Soap Fragrance Oil, these bars look and smell like your favorite autumn dessert.

These bars are made with the creamy and hydrating Goat Milk Melt and Pour Soap Base. This base is great for dry skin, and has a neutral custard color. Ground pumpkin seeds give the bars a very mild amount of exfoliation. To learn more about various exfoliant options, click here. A small amount of ground cinnamon is used for a realistic pumpkin pie appearance. Some people have a sensitivity to using cinnamon (particularly cinnamon essential oil). If your skin is sensitive to cinnamon, feel free to leave it out.

[Read more…]

Introducing the Rustic Fragrance Collection

August 23, 2015 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Believe it or not, now is the time to start planning projects for fall and the holiday season. If you are in need of project inspiration, the new Rustic Fragrance Collection is here to help! The collection includes four incredible fragrance oils: Cinnamon Sticks, Rustic Woods and Rum, Honey & Leather and Warm Flannel. Each fragrance oils is nuanced, sophisticated and perfect for the upcoming months. For a limited time, receive 2 ounces of each fragrance for under $15. Click here for more information.

I introduced these four fragrances LIVE on Thursday. I gave my color palette suggestions as well as related product ideas. You can watch that 28 minute video here. These four fragrance oils were chosen out of hundreds of fall scents. We tested each fragrance in several different batches of cold process soap, to make sure they are tried-and-true and didn’t perform poorly. We found that all of these fragrances behaved awesome in cold process soap, with only some mild acceleration. Read more about each fragrance oil below.

Honey & Leather Fragrance Oil: Mild acceleration, discolors to ivory.
Top Notes: juicy nectarine, bergamot
Middle Notes: honey, orchid, jasmine
Base Notes: leather, cedarwood

Cinnamon Sticks Fragrance Oil: Mild acceleration, discolors brown. Some of the “bready” notes fade in cold process soap.
Top Notes: butter, sweet icing, warm baked bread
Middle Notes: cinnamon, clove, anise, cardamom, ginger
Base Notes: vanilla bean, brown sugar, maple

Warm Flannel Fragrance Oil: Behaves wonderfully in cold process soap, discolors to dark brown.
Top Notes: simple citrus accord of bergamot and orange
Middle Notes: sweet nutmeg atop vanilla orchid accord
Base Notes: cedar, patchouli and creamy sandalwood blended with a balsamic ambery background

Rustic Woods and Rum Fragrance Oil: Behaves wonderfully in cold process, discolors to a light brown.
Top Notes: white citrus, ginger
Middle Notes: hay, cinnamon
Base Notes: rum, birch, tobacco

I was so inspired by these new fragrances that I created Pinterest boards for each, along with a custom color palette. You can find all the boards on my Pinterest page. If you make projects with these fragrances, I would love to see them. Share them on the Bramble Berry Facebook page and on Instagram with the hashtag #SoapShare. I can’t wait to see your projects!

Pumpkin Soap on a Rope Tutorial

October 7, 2014 Filed Under: Melt & Pour Soap

Isn’t this soap striking? It’s created using Pumpkin Souffle Fragrance Oil, plenty of orange colorant and a hint of black shimmer. The Spooky Pumpkin and Spooked Pumpkin 3D Molds create unique shapes that work incredibly well with soap rope. The rope allows the melt and pour to hang and avoid contact with excess water which helps the soap last longer.

The 3D molds are made up of two pieces, a white opaque back and a clear (or white) front. The molds also include two thick rubber bands to ensure the front and back pieces stay together while pouring the soap. In the instructions below, the front half of the mold is filled first, and the two mold pieces are put together. If you prefer, you may also put the pieces together and pour all at once, as seen here. For more 3D mold tips and techniques, check out this Soap Queen TV 3D Mold Episode.

[Read more…]

Halloween Project Roundup

October 6, 2014 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

With Halloween a few short weeks away, now is the time be inspired by ghosts, ghouls, witches and yes, soap! Keep your eyes on the blog for a festive Halloween melt and pour project tomorrow. To whet your appetite, here are several fun and spooky Halloween projects to get your creative juices flowing.

If you are a cold process soaper, the Cold Process Spider Webs project is created by utilizing squeeze bottles and a simple chopstick-tool technique. Made with contrasting black and white hues, this project also looks great with eerie greens, purple or orange tones.

Cold Process Spider Webs
[Read more…]

Shimmer Fall Layers Melt and Pour

October 2, 2014 Filed Under: Melt & Pour Soap

As leaves change to vibrant shades of red, orange and yellow, it’s hard not to be inspired. Created by layering various shades of gold, burgundy and green, this melt and pour project celebrates the change of seasons. Scented with the October fragrance of the month, Spiced Amber Ale Fragrance Oil, this soap smells as warm and inviting as it looks.

Now until midnight on Sunday, October 5th, the Disk Mold and Package used in this project is 35% off! Use the code: SPICYSALE during checkout. The Disk Mold and Package is incredibly convenient as it acts as both a mold and packaging. Simply create your project in the mold, add the lid and your soap is ready to sell, give or store.

[Read more…]

Soap Queen Cuisine: Homemade Pumpkin Puree

September 28, 2014 Filed Under: Soap Queen Cuisine

With the change of seasons, new fresh produce comes available. Although it’s sad to say goodbye to berries, I’m excited for squash, pumpkins and apples. During fall and winter, I make sure to have plenty of pumpkin puree on hand for making breads, soups and yes, soap. While buying puree at the store is always an option, I prefer to make mine at home to freeze for later (especially if it’s for soap making because, no additives). It’s easy to make, and freezes well.
When making pumpkin puree, remember to use baking pumpkins rather than carvings pumpkins. When hollowing the pumpkins I like to save the seeds to roast and snack on later. If you’re looking for another way to use the pumpkin puree, the Pumpkin Puree Cold Process recipe uses real puree to create a luxurious bar of soap!
[Read more…]

Fall Sherbet Cold Process Soap

December 12, 2013 Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

This soap ended up being a happy accident. We were originally going for a marbled scarf look (very similar to this pattern) but ended up with something quite different though equally as beautiful. We combined several dispersed micas to achieve soft pastel colors, and fragranced this soap with a blend featuring our brand new Palmerosa Essential Oil, giving it a gentle floral scent. The pouring pattern leads to an exquisite and interesting inside pattern during the cutting process. Here’s to happy accidents!

[Read more…]

Chai Tea Latte Candle Tutorial

October 23, 2013 Filed Under: Home Crafts

For a quick and easy fall project that will fill a room with the scent of warm spicey Chai Tea, nothing beats this whipped candle tutorial using our Chai Tea Cybilla Fragrance Oil. As a bonus, all this month you’ll receive a free half ounce sample of Chai Tea with every Bramble Berry order. For this candle, we added straight Chai Tea fragrance oil, but we’ve got a number of fantastic blends to try here. Chai Tea Cybilla Fragrance Oil is a wonderfully warm and comforting scent that is sure to be a hit this season.

If you take photos of your project, be sure to share them with us on Bramble Berry’s Facebook Page with the hashtag “#BrambleChai” before October 30 for our Make It Month contest — check out the blog post for more details. You can also check out the Facebook album of submitted projects to get some inspiration. Happy candle-making!

What You’ll Need:

10.5 oz EcoSoya Advanced Wax
1 CK-16 Candle Wicks (or whatever size is appropriate for your cup)
1 Clear Glass Mug
1 Red Wax Dye Block
1 Orange Wax Dye Block
1 Black Wax Dye Block
7 mL Chai Tea Cybilla Fragrance Oil
2 mL Vanilla, Non-discoloring Fragrance Oil
Droppers

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

ONE: Melt 8 oz. of EcoSoya Advanced Wax on 30 second bursts in the microwave. Color the wax with equal portions of Red, Orange, and Black Wax Dye Block (a cleanup tool works well for shaving bits off the block) and stir until the dye pieces are completely melted.

TWO: Add 7 mL Chai Tea fragrance oil.

THREE: Dribble a little bit of the wax into the bottom of the candle jar. Stick the metal disk of the wick into the wax and allow the wax to cool enough to hold the wick in place.

FOUR: Once the colored wax has cooled to 120 -130°F, pour the wax into the jars. Use pencils or chopsticks on the top of the candle jars to hold the wicks in place. Allow the wax to fully cool and harden overnight.

FIVE: Melt the rest of the EcoSoya Advanced Wax on 30 second bursts in the microwave. Add 2 mL non-discoloring Vanilla fragrance oil.

SIX: Using a hand-held mixer, whip the melted wax until it is thick enough to form slight peaks when manipulated with a spoon.

SEVEN: Moving quickly, spoon the whipped wax on top of the cooled candle. Allow the whipped wax to fully harden

Wait 4 – 5 hours for the wax to fully harden and then your delicious Chai Candle is ready to burn!

Clean Up Tip: I always melt some old melt and pour down in the microwave and allow the hot soap to melt the wax in the containers and my utensils. That’s the easiest way I’ve found to clean up after making candles. Do you have any tips? I’d love to hear them!

Rocking Horses on Concrete

October 20, 2013 Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

It is officially fall in the Pacific Northwest. And, while I’m extremely sad about this (summer is my favorite time of year), it does make some really gorgeous photos and fall activities, like hiking, apple orchards and park time. Ms. Lily is almost 5 months old and she is happier than ever (unless of course, you interrupt her afternoon nap in which case, she doesn’t forgive you for a few hours and shares her frustration by screaming loudly at you).

We went to Whatcom Falls Park this week and checked out the fish (happy, happy fish!) and had a breakthrough! Breakthrough! Jamisen has hated swings, of all types. He never liked being in the baby seat swings, big boy swings, sitting in our laps while trying to swing … nada. But this time, we got him to swing for at least 37 seconds and check out that grin. Whoah! Yeaah, little boy, lovin’ a traditional childhood past time. For all of 37 seconds. But hey, he has to start somewhere.

We also went to an apple orchard. Jamisen loved this terribly unsafe rocking horse thing. I say it’s terribly unsafe because the rocking horse is on concrete. I love that place but was somewhat terrified as Jamisen rocked his little body in an unstable manner over extremely unforgiving ground.

The reason Jamisen isn’t looking at me (and I have 15 photos just like this one) is because he’s staring at the donuts that are being made fresh, right in front of him. Apple Cider donuts, hold the sugar, because Chris is such a conscientious Daddy.

We picked apples in the apple orchard and Jamisen ate them directly from the tree. Go Jamisen! Also, look, it’s Lily! She was here for all of these festivities but when I’m holding the camera, you don’t see Lily because I’m also holding Lily. That’s also why these photos require massive editing and culling since most of them are shot sideways and out of focus.

Fall is a magical time of year.

And on that note, I can hear Lily crying because her afternoon nap really isn’t going the way she wanted it to (or for that matter, the way I wanted it to). I’ve got a busy week ahead with vendor visits, a quick business trip to Las Vegas and quite a few batches of soap to make to try out some new techniques. Happy weekend – and upcoming week – everyone!

Fall Leaves Melt & Pour Soap Tutorial

October 15, 2013 Filed Under: Melt & Pour Soap

Autumn is upon us and to celebrate we’ve created this gorgeous soap project full of colorful leaves. This project takes advantage of the clarity of Bramble Berry’s House Clear Melt & Pour Soap Base to highlight the depth created by layering the soap leaves. You can even customize this project to mimic the new spring leaves come springtime.

What You’ll Need:

27 oz Clear Melt and Pour Base

27 oz White Melt and Pour Base

Shimmer Copper Sparkle Color Block

Non-Bleeding Perfect Orange Color Block

Shimmer Light Gold Color Block

Non-bleeding Perfect Red Color Block

Shimmer Cappuccino Color Block

Non-Bleeding Chrome Green Color Block

1 teaspoon Iridescent Glitter

8 ml Red Apple Fragrance Oil

0.5 oz Arabian Spice Fragrance Oil

3 mL diluted Aqua LabColor

Glossy Silicone Square Tray Mold

Clean-up Tool

Fall Leaves Template (PDF)

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

ONE: Cut and melt 12 oz of Clear Melt and Pour base into small, 1 inch cubes. Melt in the microwave on 30 second bursts, add 1 teaspoon of glitter, 5 mL of Red Apple Fragrance Oil and then divide into six different containers. Each container should hold about 2 oz of melt and pour base. Then, color each container with shavings from a single color block. Remember, the color blocks are WYSIWYG, so add more or less color according to your preference.

TWO: For this step, pick two colors that are complimentary and simultaneously pour the two colors into the Glossy Silicone Square Tray Mold. Move your hands as you pour to create interesting patterns, and you can even drag a chopstick or dowel through the soap to give it an extra swirl. TIP: I used three separate Glossy Silicone Square Tray Molds so we could pour all three color pairs at once, but if you are working with just one mold, you can wait 15 minutes and let the soap dry, unmold it and then pour your next set of colors.

THREE: After about 15 minutes, unmold the flat, colored layer of soap. Cut out the leaves on the free Bramble Berry Fall Leaves Template, then use a Clean Up Tool to trace the outlines onto the soapy leaves. This part takes some patience and precision, but it’s totally worth it! After you’ve traced light outlines on the soapy leaves, they are easy (but time consuming!) to cut out with a craft knife.

FOUR: Cut out about two dozen leaves and then set them aside. Then, cut and melt about 5 oz. of Clear Melt and Pour Base. Add 3 mL of Red Apple fragrance and stir, and then pour the layer into the Brownie Tray Mold. Wait 5 – 10 minutes for the layer to form a thick skin, spray the soap liberally with isopropyl alcohol, and then arrange the soapy leaves in a “pile” on the clear soap.

FIVE: Repeat the process of cutting and melting 5 oz. of Clear Melt and Pour base, adding fragrance, letting it dry, spraying isopropyl alcohol and arranging a new layer of leaves until you’ve filled about half the mold. I repeated this process three times, but it may be different for you depending on how many leaves you originally cut out. Be careful to pour when your clear soap is at 130 degrees or less. If you pour any hotter, you risk melting your pretty leaves!

SIX: Cut and melt 27 oz. of White Melt and Pour base. Once the soap has been fully melted, mix in 0.5 oz. of Arabian Spice FO and 3 mL of diluted Aqua Blue Lab Color. Once the soap has cooled to 130°F or below, and the soap in the Brownie Tray Mold has formed a thick skin, spray the molded soap liberally with isopropyl alcohol and pour the blue soap over it. Spray again with isopropyl alcohol to disperse bubble and surface tension. Let the soap dry overnight and then unmold and cut!

Give the soap 1 – 2 hours to dry before unmolding and then cut, wrap and enjoy. Want wrapping tips? This is a great video to watch for help with your soap wrapping.

Want tips on wrapping your beautiful melt and pour soaps to prevent them from sweating? Check out this Soap Queen TV video on quick and easy packaging techniques!

Fall Leaves Melt & Pour Soap Tutorial

These bars contain soapy leaves on the inside for a multi-layered look!

Author: Soap Queen

Recipe type: Melt and Pour

Ingredients

27 oz Clear Melt and Pour Base
27 oz White Melt and Pour Base
Shimmer Copper Sparkle Color Block
Non-Bleeding Perfect Orange Color Block
Shimmer Light Gold Color Block
Non-bleeding Perfect Red Color Block
Shimmer Cappuccino Color Block
Non-Bleeding Chrome Green Color Block
1 teaspoon Iridescent Glitter
8 ml Red Apple Fragrance Oil
0.5 oz Arabian Spice Fragrance Oil
3 mL diluted Aqua LabColor
Glossy Silicone Square Tray Mold
Clean-up Tool
Fall Leaves Template (PDF)

Instructions

Cut and melt 12 oz of Clear Melt and Pour base into small, 1 inch cubes. Melt in the microwave on 30 second bursts, add 1 teaspoon of Glitter, 5 mL of Red Apple Fragrance Oil and then divide into six different containers. Each container should hold about 2 oz of melt and pour base. Then, color each container with shavings from a single color block. Remember, the color blocks are WYSIWYG, so add more or less color according to your preference.
or this step, pick two colors that are complimentary and simultaneously pour the two colors into the Glossy Silicone Square Tray Mold. Move your hands as you pour to create interesting patterns, and you can even drag a chopstick or dowel through the soap to give it an extra swirl. TIP: I used three separate Glossy Silicone Square Tray Molds so we could pour all three color pairs at once, but if you are working with just one mold, you can wait 15 minutes and let the soap dry, unmold it and then pour your next set of colors.
After about 15 minutes, unmold the flat, colored layer of soap. Cut out the leaves on the free Bramble Berry Fall Leaves Template, then use a Clean Up Tool to trace the outlines onto the soapy leaves. This part takes some patience and precision, but it’s totally worth it! After you’ve traced light outlines on the soapy leaves, they are easy (but time consuming!) to cut out with a craft knife.
Cut out about two dozen leaves and then set them aside. Then, cut and melt about 5 oz. of Clear Melt and Pour Base. Add 3 mL of Red Apple fragrance and stir, and then pour the layer into the Brownie Tray Mold. Wait 5 – 10 minutes for the layer to form a thick skin, spray the soap liberally with isopropyl alcohol, and then arrange the soapy leaves in a “pile” on the clear soap.
Repeat the process of cutting and melting 5 oz. of Clear Melt and Pour base, adding fragrance, letting it dry, spraying isopropyl alcohol and arranging a new layer of leaves until you’ve filled about half the mold. I repeated this process three times, but it may be different for you depending on how many leaves you originally cut out. Be careful to pour when your clear soap is at 130 degrees or less. If you pour any hotter, you risk melting your pretty leaves!
Cut and melt 27 oz. of White Melt and Pour base. Once the soap has been fully melted, mix in 0.5 oz. of Arabian Spice FO and 3 mL of diluted Aqua Blue Lab Color. Once the soap has cooled to 130°F or below, and the soap in the Brownie Tray Mold has formed a thick skin, spray the molded soap liberally with isopropyl alcohol and pour the blue soap over it. Spray again with isopropyl alcohol to disperse bubble and surface tension. Let the soap dry overnight and then unmold and cut!
Give the soap 1 – 2 hours to dry before unmolding and then cut, wrap and enjoy. Want wrapping tips? This is a great video to watch for help with your soap wrapping.

Apple Pecan Fall Soap

November 13, 2007 Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

Thank you to Jeannie in Georgia for sharing her latest fall creation – Grandma’s Apple Pie Soap.

Jeannie says this about her fall soap creations:

“The apple and pecan fragrances are from the Bramble Berry surplus page….They smell divine!”

All of our Surplus Fragrances and products are one-time deals; normally, they’re overruns from major bath and body companies or products that we saw for a close-out price that we pick up for cost-effective alternatives. Get ’em while they’re here because they won’t necessarily stay around for long.