Love it or hate it, candy corn is a Halloween staple. The layers and colors of candy corn translate perfectly to melt and pour soap. Layers of yellow, orange, and white soap are poured into the Tall 12″ Silicone Loaf Mold. Then, they are cut into triangles and the edges are rounded out with the Clean Up Tool.

These Candy Corn Soaps are scented with the classic Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil. Just don’t forget the Vanilla Color Stabilizer, or these soaps will discolor tan. In the video you may notice the candy corns are cut upside down. They look cute either way, but cutting the soap as shown in the photos gives you the most accurate appearance.

What You Need:
Tall 12″ Silicone Loaf Mold
32 oz. Clear Melt & Pour Soap Base
16 oz. White Melt & Pour Soap Base
Perfect Orange Color Block
Fizzy Lemonade Color Block
0.6 oz. Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil
0.6 oz. Vanilla Color Stabilizer
99% Isopropyl Alcohol in a Spray Bottle
Clean Up Tool

ONE: Chop 32 ounces of Clear Melt & Pour Soap Base into small uniform pieces. Then, chop 16 ounces of White Melt & Pour Soap Base into small uniform pieces. Place the following amounts of soap into three heat-safe containers.

• Container A: 16 ounces Clear Melt & Pour Soap Base + 0.5 ounces White Melt & Pour Soap Base
• Container B: 16 ounces Clear Melt & Pour Soap Base + 0.5 ounces White Melt & Pour Soap Base
• Container C: 15 ounces White Melt & Pour Soap Base

TWO: Add a small chunk of Fizzy Lemonade Color Block to container A and melt in the microwave using 30 second bursts. Between each burst, stir the soap to help it melt evenly. If you want the color darker, you can add more of the color block and stir to fully incorporate. Once melted, add 0.2 ounces of Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil and 0.2 ounces of Vanilla Color Stabilizer. Stir in completely and pour into the mold. Spritz with alcohol to get rid of bubbles. Allow to fully cool and harden for about 15-20 minutes.

THREE: Once the yellow layer has hardened and can support a layer on top, add a chunk of Perfect Orange Color Block to container B. Melt the soap in the microwave using 30 second bursts. Between each burst, stir the soap to help it melt evenly.

FOUR: Once melted, add 0.2 ounces of Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil and 0.2 ounces of Vanilla Color Stabilizer to the orange soap. Stir in completely. Check the temperature of the orange soap. If it’s hotter than 130 degrees F, allow it to cool slightly to prevent melting the layer below. Once it’s the correct temperature, spritz the layer below with alcohol to help the layers stick and pour into the mold. Spritz with alcohol to get rid of bubbles. Allow to fully cool and harden for about 15-20 minutes.

FIVE: Melt the soap in container C using 30 second bursts. Once melted, add 0.2 ounces of Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil and 0.2 ounces of Vanilla Color Stabilizer and stir in completely. Check the temperature of the white soap. If it’s over 130 degrees F, allow it to cool slightly to prevent melting the layer below. Once it’s the correct temperature, spritz the layer below with alcohol to help the layers stick and pour the soap into the mold. Spritz with alcohol to get rid of bubbles.

SIX: Allow the soap to fully cool and harden for at least 3 hours or up to overnight. Remove from the mold and cut into bars about 1″ thick. Then cut the bars into a triangle shapes with the white layer at the top. Repeat this process for the entire loaf.
TIP: Save all the extra soap for embeds for a future batch, or remelt all the soap together for light orange bars. 

SEVEN: Use the Clean Up Tool to round out the edges of each bar until you’re happy with the look. Enjoy! Wrap them in plastic wrap to avoid glycerin dew.

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Candy Corn Soap Tutorial

These candy corn soaps are the perfect fall treat.

Cuisine Melt and Pour Soap

Cook Time 2 hours hours

Total Time 2 hours hours

Servings 3 pounds of soap

Author Soap Queen

Ingredients

• Tall 12″ Silicone Loaf Mold
• 32 oz. Clear Melt & Pour Soap Base
• 16 oz. White Melt & Pour Soap Base
• Perfect Orange Color Block
• Fizzy Lemonade Color Block
• 0.6 oz. Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil
• 0.6 oz. Vanilla Color Stabilizer
• 99 % Isopropyl Alcohol in a Spray Bottle
• Clean Up Tool

Instructions

• Chop 32 ounces of Clear Melt & Pour Soap Base into small uniform pieces. Then, chop 16 ounces of White Melt & Pour Soap Base into small uniform pieces. Place the following amounts of soap into three heat-safe containers. <br>Container A: 16 ounces Clear Melt & Pour Soap Base + 0.5 ounces White Melt & Pour Soap Base<br>Container B: 16 ounces Clear Melt & Pour Soap Base + 0.5 ounces White Melt & Pour Soap Base<br>Container C: 15 ounces White Melt & Pour Soap Base
• Add a small chunk of Fizzy Lemonade Color Block to container A and melt in the microwave using 30 second bursts. Between each burst, stir the soap to help it melt evenly. If you want the color darker, you can add more of the color block and stir to fully incorporate. Once melted, add 0.2 ounces of Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil and 0.2 ounces of Vanilla Color Stabilizer. Stir in completely and pour into the mold. Spritz with alcohol to get rid of bubbles. Allow to fully cool and harden for about 15-20 minutes.
• Once the yellow layer has hardened and can support a layer on top, add a chunk of Perfect Orange Color Block to container B. Melt the soap in the microwave using 30 second bursts. Between each burst, stir the soap to help it melt evenly.
• Once melted, add 0.2 ounces of Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil and 0.2 ounces of Vanilla Color Stabilizer to the orange soap. Stir in completely. Check the temperature of the orange soap. If it’s hotter than 130 degrees F, allow it to cool slightly to prevent melting the layer below. Once it’s the correct temperature, spritz the layer below with alcohol to help the layers stick and pour into the mold. Spritz with alcohol to get rid of bubbles. Allow to fully cool and harden for about 15-20 minutes.
• Melt the soap in container C using 30 second bursts. Once melted, add 0.2 ounces of Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil and 0.2 ounces of Vanilla Color Stabilizer and stir in completely. Check the temperature of the white soap. If it’s over 130 degrees F, allow it to cool slightly to prevent melting the layer below. Once it’s the correct temperature, spritz the layer below with alcohol to help the layers stick and pour the soap into the mold. Spritz with alcohol to get rid of bubbles.
• Allow the soap to fully cool and harden for at least 3 hours or up to overnight. Remove from the mold and cut into bars about 1″ thick. Then cut the bars into a triangle shapes with the white layer at the top. Repeat this process for the entire loaf. TIP: Save all the extra soap for embeds for a future batch, or remelt all the soap together for light orange bars.
• Use the Clean Up Tool to round out the edges of each bar until you’re happy with the look. Enjoy! Wrap them in plastic wrap to avoid glycerin dew.

The post Candy Corn Soap Tutorial appeared first on Soap Queen.

Fall officially started last week, which means it’s time for Halloween projects! Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. It’s an excuse to embrace dark colors, moody fragrances and spooky themes. For this Crescent Moon Cold Process Soap, I wanted to create a bar of soap that would be appropriate for Halloween and beyond.

These bars are a sophisticated take on Halloween with a striking yet simple design. Black Oxide gives the bars a dark gray hue. If you want a darker color, feel free to add more colorant. Just keep in mind the more you add, the darker the lather will be. The crescent moon shape is created with melt and pour soap and the Mini Moon Silicone Column Mold. Gold Sparkle Mica on top really pops against the dark gray. The bars are scented with Tobacco & Bay Leaf Fragrance Oil, which is a wonderfully smoky and complex fragrance. It’s great for both men and women.

This project is appropriate for both beginning and intermediate soapers. It requires a medium to thick trace, so you don’t need to worry about over blending with the stick blender. But, keep temperatures in mind. Melt and pour soap begins to melt around 120-130 ° F. If this soap gets too hot, the moon embed could melt. I recommend soaping around 100-110 ° F and not insulating the soap to keep temperatures cool.

What You’ll Need:
Embed:
Mini Moon Silicone Column Mold
LCP White Melt and Pour Base
Shimmer Sparkle Gold Color Block
Shimmer Yellow Color Block

Base:
10″ Silicone Loaf Mold
10.8 oz. Coconut Oil (30%)
10.8 oz. Palm Oil (30%)
10.8 oz. Olive Oil (30%)
2.5 oz. Mango Butter (7%)
1.1 oz. Castor Oil (3%)
5.2 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
11 oz. Distilled Water
2 oz. Tobacco & Bay Leaf Fragrance Oil
Black Oxide
Gold Sparkle Mica

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

Make the Moon Embeds:

ONE: Chop and melt 4 ounces of LCP White Melt and Pour Base using 10 second bursts. Add shavings of the Shimmer Yellow Color Block and Gold Sparkle Mica Color Block until you achieve a soft yellow color. Place the Mini Moon Silicone Column Mold into a container to position the mold upright.

TWO: Carefully pour the soap into the Mini Moon Silicone Column Mold. Click here to learn more about how to use the Silicone Column Molds. Allow the soap to fully cool and harden for several hours. Remove from the mold, and trim if necessary. Cut the moon embed to fit in the 10″ Silicone Loaf Mold lengthwise.

Make the Base

If you’ve never made cold process soap before, stop here! I highly recommend checking out our FREE four part SoapQueen.tv series on Cold Process Soapmaking, especially the episode on lye safety. And if you’d rather do some reading, Bramble Berry carries a wide range of books on the topic, including my newest book, Pure Soapmaking. You can also checkout the digital downloads for that instant gratification factor.

SAFETY FIRST: Suit up for safe handling practices! That means goggles, gloves and long sleeves. Make sure kids, pets, and other distractions and tripping hazards are out of the house or don’t have access to your soaping space. Always soap in a well-ventilated area.

COLOR PREP: Disperse 1/2 teaspoon of the Black Oxide colorant into 1/2 tablespoon of sunflower or sweet almond oil (or any other liquid oil). Use a mini mixer to help get rid of any clumps. Have the Gold Sparkle Mica nearby to sprinkle on top at the very end.

FRAGRANCE OIL PREP: In a glass fragrance oil safe container, measure 2 ounces of Tobacco & Bay Leaf Fragrance Oil. Set aside.

ONE: Slowly and carefully add the lye to the water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set aside to cool.

TWO: Fully melt and combine the coconut oil, olive oil, palm oil, castor oil and mango butter (remember to fully melt then mix your entire container of palm oil before portioning). Once the lye water and the oils have cooled to 130 degrees or below (and are ideally within 10 degrees of each other), add the lye water to the oils and stick blend until thin trace. If you’d like a harder bar of soap that releases faster from the mold, you can add sodium lactate to the cooled lye water. Use 1 teaspoon of sodium lactate per pound of oils in the recipe. For this recipe, you’d add about 2 teaspoons sodium lactate.

THREE: Once you’ve reached a thin trace, add 1/2 teaspoon of dispersed Black Oxide. Use a whisk to fully mix in the colorant.

FOUR: Add the Tobacco and Bay Leaf Fragrance Oil. If the soap is still quite thin, use the stick blender to fully mix in the fragrance oil until the soap is a medium trace.

FIVE: Pour a small amount of the black soap into the mold, and tap it firmly on the counter.

SIX: Place the moon embed into one the black soap, toward a corner. Feel free to place it in any direction you’d like.

SEVEN: Gently pour the remaining black soap into the mold, and tap firmly on the counter to help eliminate bubbles.

EIGHT: Use a spoon to build the soap towards the center of the mold, and create peaks and divots. There is no right or wrong way to create texture on top of soap, so just have fun with it. =)

NINE: Once you’re happy with the top, sprinkle Gold Sparkle Mica on top of the soap, concentrating it toward the center.

TEN: Spritz the soap with 99% isopropyl alcohol to help avoid soda ash. Allow the soap to stay in the mold for 2-3 days. Unmold and cut into bars. Allow the bars to cure for 4-6 weeks. Enjoy!

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Crescent Moon Cold Process Soap Tutorial

This Crescent Moon Soap features a melt and pour embed, and plenty of sparkle on top.

Course Cold process soap

Cook Time 2 hours hours

Total Time 2 hours hours

Servings 3 pounds of soap

Author Soap Queen

Ingredients

Embed:

• Mini Moon Silicone Column Mold
• LCP White Melt and Pour Base
• Shimmer Sparkle Gold Color Block
• Shimmer Yellow Color Block

Base:

• 10 ″ Silicone Loaf Mold
• 10.8 oz. Coconut Oil 30%
• 10.8 oz. Palm Oil 30%
• 10.8 oz. Olive Oil 30%
• 2.5 oz. Mango Butter 7%
• 1.1 oz. Castor Oil 3%
• 5.2 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
• 11 oz. Distilled Water
• 2 oz. Tobacco & Bay Leaf Fragrance Oil
• Black Oxide
• Gold Sparkle Mica

Instructions

Make the Moon Embeds:

• Chop and melt 4 ounces of LCP White Melt and Pour Base using 10 second bursts. Add shavings of the Shimmer Yellow Color Block and Gold Sparkle Mica Color Block until you achieve a soft yellow color. Place the Mini Moon Silicone Column Mold into a container to position the mold upright.
• Carefully pour the soap into the Mini Moon Silicone Column Mold. Click here to learn more about how to use the Silicone Column Molds. Allow the soap to fully cool and harden for several hours. Remove from the mold, and trim if necessary. Cut the moon embed to fit in the 10″ Silicone Loaf Mold lengthwise.

SAFETY FIRST: Suit up for safe handling practices! That means goggles, gloves and long sleeves. Make sure kids, pets, and other distractions and tripping hazards are out of the house or don’t have access to your soaping space. Always soap in a well-ventilated area.

COLOR PREP: Disperse 1/2 teaspoon of the Black Oxide colorant into 1/2 tablespoon of sunflower or sweet almond oil (or any other liquid oil). Use a mini mixer to help get rid of any clumps. Have the Gold Sparkle Mica nearby to sprinkle on top at the very end.

FRAGRANCE OIL PREP: In a glass, fragrance oil safe container, measure 2 ounces of Tobacco & Bay Leaf Fragrance Oil. Set aside.

• Slowly and carefully add the lye to the water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set aside to cool.
• Fully melt and combine the coconut oil, olive oil, palm oil, castor oil and mango butter (remember to fully melt then mix your entire container of palm oil before portioning). Once the lye water and the oils have cooled to 130 degrees or below (and are ideally within 10 degrees of each other), add the lye water to the oils and stick blend until thin trace. If you’d like a harder bar of soap that releases faster from the mold, you can add sodium lactate to the cooled lye water. Use 1 teaspoon of sodium lactate per pound of oils in the recipe. For this recipe, you’d add about 2 teaspoons sodium lactate.
• Once you’ve reached a thin trace, add 1/2 teaspoon of dispersed Black Oxide. Use a whisk to fully mix in the colorant.
• Add the Tobacco and Bay Leaf Fragrance Oil. If the soap is still quite thin, use the stick blender to fully mix in the fragrance oil until the soap is a medium trace.
• Pour a small amount of the black soap into the mold, and tap it firmly on the counter.
• Place the moon embed into one the black soap, toward a corner. Feel free to place it in any direction you’d like.
• Gently pour the remaining black soap into the mold, and tap firmly on the counter to help eliminate bubbles.
• Use a spoon to build the soap towards the center of the mold, and create peaks and divots. There is no right or wrong way to create texture on top of soap, so just have fun with it.
• Once you’re happy with the top, sprinkle Gold Sparkle Mica on top of the soap, concentrating it toward the center.
• Spritz the soap with 99% isopropyl alcohol to help avoid soda ash. Allow the soap to stay in the mold for 2-3 days. Unmold and cut into bars. Allow the bars to cure for 4-6 weeks. Enjoy!

The post Crescent Moon Cold Process Soap Tutorial appeared first on Soap Queen.

This year, I used the Stephenson Jelly Soap Base to create these Spooky Spider Soap Jellies. LabColors give the soap bright, translucent shades of green and purple. The soap is scented with Spellbound Woods and Applejack Peel Fragrance Oils. The little spiders are actually small plastic toys that are available for a limited time. They are great for many projects, including solid melt and pour and liquid soap. The legs on the spiders are a little poky, so wash with care. To use jelly soap, tear off a very small amount of the jelly and create a lather using a loofah or washcloth.

UPDATE: The spider toys have been discontinued. You can usually find spider toys at your local craft store during Halloween! They are also available on Amazon. 

What You’ll Need:
12 Bar Square Silicone Mold
32 oz. Stephenson Jelly Melt and Pour Base
.3 oz. Applejack Peel Fragrance Oil
.3 oz. Spellbound Woods Cybilla Fragrance Oil
.3 oz. Vanilla Color Stabilizer
2 mL Green Apple High pH LabColor
2 mL Easter Purple High pH LabColor
10- 20 Spider Toys (These have been discontinued. You can  find spider toys at your local craft store during Halloween, or on Amazon)

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

DILUTING LABCOLOR: You’ll need to dilute your LabColors in order to use them in this project. We like diluting the small bottle of LabColor in 4 oz. of distilled water. For more on diluting LabColors, check out this blog post.

ONE: Cut the Stephenson Jelly Melt and Pour into small pieces. Place in a large heat safe container and melt using 1 minute bursts. This melt and pour base takes a little longer to melt than regular melt and pour soap, so longer bursts are needed. Keep stirring between each burst but only a few times; jelly soap has a tendency to create bubbles. Because the soap base is so thick, the bubbles do not rise to the top like regular melt and pour bases. Once melted, remove from the microwave. The base will be thick. Split the soap into two even containers.

TWO: To one container, add the Spellbound Woods Cybilla Fragrance Oil and Vanilla Color Stabilizer. This prevents the Spellbound Woods Cybilla Fragrance Oil from discoloring the soap brown. Read more about fragrance discoloration here. To the other container, add the Applejack Peel Fragrance Oil. Stir gently to incorporate while avoiding creating bubbles.

THREE: To the container with Applejack Peel Fragrance Oil, add the diluted Green Apple LabColor and gently stir to incorporate. If the base begins to harden and cool, place back into the microwave using 30 second bursts to melt.

FOUR: To the container with Spellbound Woods Fragrance Oil, add the diluted Easter Purple LabColor and gently stir to incorporate. If the base begins to harden and cool, place back into the microwave using 30 second bursts to melt. FIVE: Place two to three spider toys face down in the mold. Spritz with rubbing alcohol to help the spiders stay in the soap and slowly pour the green and purple soap into the molds. We found this recipe comfortably creates 3-4 soap jellies in each color. Because the soap is so thick, spraying the top with 99% isopropyl alcohol is not needed. The alcohol does not work very well to disperse bubbles. Allow the soap to fully cool and harden for several hours. Gently remove from the mold.


During our tests, this base was fairly resistant to glycerin dew. Our soap was left in the open for a week and did not form glycerin dew. But to be on the safe side, wrap the soap in plastic wrap to keep them in tip-top shape. Learn more about storing your soap here. To use, tear off a small piece of the soap and work it into a lather with a loofah, washcloth or sponge. Some like to freeze soap jellies to harden the product. In our tests, freezing the Stephenson Jelly Soap Base did not produce a completely hard soap; it was still quite wiggly and soft.

How are you celebrating Halloween this year? I’d love to see any ghoulish bath and body products you create! Tag me on Twitter or Facebook or Instagram when you post them; I’m @brambleberry in all three of those places =)

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Creepy Crawly Spider Soap Jellies

These Creepy Crawly Spider Soap Jellies are super wiggly, making them perfect for Halloween!

Author Soap Queen

Ingredients

• 12 Bar Square Silicone Mold
• 32 oz. Stephenson Jelly Melt and Pour Base
• .3 oz. Applejack Peel Fragrance Oil
• .3 oz. Spellbound Woods Cybilla Fragrance Oil
• .3 oz. Vanilla Color Stabilizer
• 2 mL Green Apple High pH LabColor
• 2 mL Easter Purple High pH LabColor
• 10- 20 Spider Toys

Instructions

DILUTING LABCOLOR: You’ll need to dilute your LabColors in order to use them in this project. We like diluting the small bottle of LabColor in 4 oz. of distilled water. For more on diluting LabColors, check out this blog post.

• Cut the Stephenson Jelly Melt and Pour into small pieces. Place in a large heat safe container and melt using 1 minute bursts. This melt and pour base takes a little longer to melt than regular melt and pour soap, so longer bursts are needed. Keep stirring between each burst but only a few times; jelly soap has a tendency to create bubbles. Because the soap base is so thick, the bubbles do not rise to the top like regular melt and pour bases. Once melted, remove from the microwave. The base will be thick. Split the soap into two even containers.
• To one container, add the Spellbound Woods Cybilla Fragrance Oil and Vanilla Color Stabilizer. This prevents the Spellbound Woods Cybilla Fragrance Oil from discoloring the soap brown. To the other container, add the Applejack Peel Fragrance Oil. Stir gently to incorporate while avoiding creating bubbles.
• To the container with Applejack Peel Fragrance Oil, add the diluted Green Apple LabColor and gently stir to incorporate. If the base begins to harden and cool, place back into the microwave using 30 second bursts to melt.
• To the container with Spellbound Woods Fragrance Oil, add the diluted Easter Purple LabColor and gently stir to incorporate. If the base begins to harden and cool, place back into the microwave using 30 second bursts to melt.
• Place two to three spider toys face down in the mold. Spritz with rubbing alcohol to help the spiders stay in the soap and slowly pour the green and purple soap into the molds. We found this recipe comfortably creates 3-4 soap jellies in each color. Because the soap is so thick, spraying the top with 99% isopropyl alcohol is not needed. The alcohol does not work very well to disperse bubbles. Allow the soap to fully cool and harden for several hours. Gently remove from the mold.

The post Creepy Crawly Spider Soap Jellies appeared first on Soap Queen.

What You’ll Need (for all three pumpkins):
Gold Nail Polish Glitter
Silver Nail Polish Glitter
Heavy Gold Mica
Black Oxide Pigment
Luster Black Mica
99% Isopropyl Alcohol
Mod Podge
Masking/painters tape
Various paint brushes

Technique One: Mica Painted Polka Dots

ONE: To create the mica and oxide paint, mix equal parts mica or oxide with 99% isopropyl alcohol in a small container. If necessary, use a mini mixer to stir out the clumps. How much paint you need will depend on the size and quantity of your pumpkins, but a little goes a long way!
TWO: For this project, mix 1 tsp. Heavy Gold Mica, Black Oxide and Luster Black Mica with 1 tsp. 99% isopropyl alcohol. Fill a small container with alcohol to clean the brush in between colors. If necessary, wash off any dirt on the pumpkin and dry.
THREE: Begin drawing polka dots on the pumpkin. Because the paint is thin, do not put too much on your brush or it may drip.
FOUR: In between colors, dip the paint brush in a small amount of isopropyl or rubbing alcohol to clean the brush. Continue painting polka dots of various shades all over the pumpkin.
FIVE: Once happy with the design, spray the design with a thin layer of aerosol hairspray about 10 inches away from the pumpkin. Spraying with aerosol hairspray helps seal the paint, making it more resistant to smudging. It will not water proof the pumpkin.
TIP: Don’t spray too much hairspray, or the paint will begin to drip! Spraying the hairspray too close to the pumpkin can also lead to dripping. If this happens, use a wet paper towel or rag to clean up the drips, and touch up any smudged paint. 

Technique Two: Glitter Stripes

ONE: Rinse and dry your pumpkin. Using masking or painters tape, apply stripes of tape from the stem to the bottom until the entire pumpkin is covered. Applying the tape as even and straight as possible will lead to better results.
TIP: Place the pumpkin on top of newspaper or several small pieces of paper to aid in the cleanup.
TWO: Using a sturdy paint brush, apply Mod Podge glue to one section of pumpkin skin in between strips of tape.
THREE: Pour gold glitter onto the glue, allowing the glitter to fall onto the sheet of paper that the pumpkin is sitting on. Continue applying the gold glitter until the entire strip is covered. Pour the excess gold glitter back into the container.
FOUR: Repeat step three with silver glitter. Continue applying gold and silver glitter until the entire pumpkin is covered.
FIVE: Gently remove the tape strips. If necessary, clean up any glitter that got under the tape.
SIX: To prevent the glitter from falling off the pumpkin, spray the entire pumpkin with aerosol hairspray. Allow to dry, and apply another coat of hairspray.

Technique Three: Mica Dots & Glitter Stripes

ONE: Apply strips of masking or painters tape from the stem of the pumpkin, to the bottom of the pumpkin. Apply Mod Podge glue to every other section of pumpkin skin with glue. Pour silver glitter onto the glue, allowing the excess glitter to fall off.
TWO: Once every other taped section of pumpkin has been covered with silver glitter, gently remove the strips of tape.
THREE: Make mica/oxide paint using equal parts mica/oxide and 99% isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol. Stir thoroughly to mix, and if necessary, use a mini mixer to remove any clumps. Begin painting dots of various sizes and colors in between the strips of silver glitter.
FOUR: Once you’re happy with the design, spray the entire pumpkin with aerosol hairspray. Do not spray too much or too close, or the mica painting may drip (see photo above). Allow to fully dry, and apply another coat of hairspray. Allow to dry and enjoy!

What is your favorite way to decorate pumpkins for Halloween? Of course, I’m a fan of basic carving too!

The post Mica Paint & Glitter Pumpkins (3 Different Ways!) appeared first on Soap Queen.

In the mood for more creepy projects? Check out this Pumpkin Soap on a Rope. The project uses melt and pour, orange colorant and Pumpkin Souffle Fragrance Oil, which adds a nutty, spicy scent to your project.

Even if it’s sunny outside, pumpkin scents can make it feel like fall. Scents can also help improve your mood. If you want to learn more about aromatherapy, Otion Soap Bar in Bellingham, WA is offering two “Intro to Aromatherapy” weekend sessions this upcoming weekend in Bellingham, WA (just 90 minutes outside of Seattle or Vancouver, BC). Find out more in this Learn Aromatherapy Basics and More at Otion blog post.

Moroccan Mint Fragrance Oil adds a refreshing and invigorating touch to this Emulsified Scrub. In this throwback Soap Queen TV episode on How to Make Emulsified Scrub, you can learn how to make a product that is both cleansing and moisturizing.

Lotion is the perfect thing to use after an invigorating scrub. If you want a creamy lotion that moisturizes your skin, you can add sodium lactate. Sodium lactate also creates a harder, longer-lasting bar of soap when it’s added to your cooled lye water. Learn more about this liquid salt in this Sunday Night Spotlight: Sodium Lactate.

Sodium lactate is perfect if you want to unmold your soap earlier. It can be helpful if you’re making soap for holiday gifts because you have more time to cure your soap. Making Christmas gifts for friends and family sparked a passion in Jessica of Bellabrice Body Care. She now owns a soapy business! Check out her business tips in this Turning Gifts into a Business post.

Jessica’s soapy cupcakes are so cute. This week’s Facebook Photo of the Week by Kathleen with From the Soap House keeps the dessert theme going. Her coffee cake soap is scented with Espresso Fragrance Oil and Hazelnut Toffee Fragrance Oil for a sweet soapy treat.

Kathleen topped her gorgeous soap cake with fluffy frosting, cinnamon sticks and coffee beans. Then, she sprayed the soap with a mixture of mica and 99% isopropyl alcohol for some extra sparkle. If you want more coffee inspiration, check out this Espresso Shot Cold Process Tutorial. For a sweeter coffee soap with some light and airy “foam,” check out this Pumpkin Spice Latte Cold Process Tutorial.

Above (clockwise, left) are Kathleen’s Purple Haze cupcake bath bomb and sugar scrub, Dark Side of the Moon soap, Ice Cream Man lip balm and moisturizing bath bombs. If you’d like some added moisture in your tub, you’ll love this Soap Queen TV episode on Making Bath Truffles. Skin-loving jojoba oil adds some nourishment to these Mini Heart Bath Bombs.

Find From the Soap House
On Etsy
On Facebook

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!

The post Facebook Photo of the Week (Oct. 4th ~ Oct. 10th) appeared first on Soap Queen.

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.

What You’ll Need:
Spooked Pumpkin 3D Mold
Spooky Pumpkin 3D Mold

(NOTE: These Molds have been discontinued. They have been substituted with the 4 Sphere Silicone Mold.)
9 oz. White Melt and Pour
Liquid Orange
Green Chrome Oxide Pigment
Luster Black Mica
2 Black Soap Rope
.25 oz. Pumpkin Souffle Fragrance Oil
.25 mL Vanilla Color Stabilizer

ONE: Cut and melt 9 oz. of white melt and pour base in the microwave using 10 second bursts, stirring in between each burst. Once the soap has melted, add drops of the Liquid Orange until the desired color is achieved. Thoroughly stir the color in with a spoon.

TWO: Add the Pumpkin Souffle Fragrance Oil and Vanilla Color Stabilizer. Use a spoon to thoroughly combine.
THREE: Pour the orange soap into both clear mold cavities. Spray with isopropyl alcohol to disperse any bubbles.

(NOTE: The Spooked Pumpkin 3D Mold and Spooky Pumpkin 3D Mold have been discontinued. They have been substituted with the 4 Sphere Silicone Mold. Pour soap into the sphere mold and place the rope into the soap. Once the soap has hardened, remove from mold and follow step SEVEN to paint on a pumpkin design.)

FOUR: While the soap is still liquid, gently press the soap ropes into each mold and allow to fully harden.
FIVE: Once the poured orange soap has fully hardened, spray with 99% isopropyl alcohol  or rubbing alcohol and press the white back of the mold onto the clear. Be sure the funnels are lined up to facilitate easy pouring. To help the two pieces stay together while pouring, place both heavy duty rubber bands around both the top and the bottom of the mold.
FIVE: Reheat the remaining orange soap in the microwave using 5-7 second bursts, stirring in between each burst. Pull the rope to the side, and begin to slowly pour the melted soap into the funnel at the top. Once full, tap down to settle any soap at the top. I spray alcohol liberally around the top just to make sure I don’t have a bunch of bubbles in the top and it’s all soap. Allow the soap to fully cool and harden.
Note: Some soapers find it a little tricky to know when the soap cavity is full. If you’d like, you can pour the white side of the mold first and fill while looking at the clear side of the mold.
SIX: Remove the soap from the molds. If necessary, remove hardened soap from the rope, and clean up the edges of the soap. There will be clean up. Use a cheese knife or the clean up tool (pictured below).

SEVEN: Now it’s time to add some detail! In a small container, add 1/16 tsp. of Luster Black Mica and 1/16 of a tsp. of isopropyl alcohol. Stir to combine. The mixture should be liquid, and highly pigmented. Use a small paint brush to fill in the eyes, nose and mouth. In a separate small container, add 1/16 tsp. of Green Oxide and 1/16 tsp. of  isopropyl alcohol and stir to combine. Use a small paint brush to fill in the stem, and allow to dry.

Pumpkin soap is a holiday hit (#pumpkinspiceeverything, anyone?). The theme lends itself to so many fun ideas! What is your favorite fall-inspired soap project?

The post Pumpkin Soap on a Rope Tutorial appeared first on Soap Queen.

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

If you prefer melt and pour soap, the Caramel Apple Melt and Pour Soaps are perfect for Halloween party favors. Looking for something more spine-chilling? The Textured Headstone Melt and Pour brings the creepiness.

In the Hats, Bats and Spider Tutorial, mica is used along with a free downloadable stencil to create a variety of spooky silhouettes. Eerie eyeballs are are layered upon various melt and pour bars in the Spooooooky Eyes and Melt and Pour, creating a fun and festive project.

Top left, clockwise: Caramel Apple Melt and Pour Soaps, Hats, Bats and Spiders, Spoooooooky Eyes Melt and Pour, Textured Headstone Soap

With Halloween comes lots of candy, sweets and of course trick-or-treating. In the Easy Candy Corn Soap Project, recreate the classic Halloween treat by using a loaf mold and cutting the soap into triangle shapes. Incredibly simple, this project is great for the first time soaper.

Easy Candy Corn Soap Project

If you love classic Halloween designs, the Flexy Fast Fall Pumpkins is the perfect project for the fall season. These cute pumpkins are made using the Flexy Fast Molding Putty, a flexible silicone product which allows you to create your own mold. As you can see from the Making a Mini Cooper Tutorial, the Flexy Fast Molding Putty can create a wide variety of creative shapes!

Flexy Fast Fall Pumpkins

Looking for even more Halloween project inspiration? Check out the wide variety of ghoulish fun created by readers for the Make It Monday Challenge! With everything from orange soapy cupcakes to spooky melt and pour, the creativity of the Soap Queen soaping community is unparalleled.

What spooky Halloween projects are you working on? Keep your eyes on the blog for a tutorial tomorrow! Hint: it involves pumpkins, and some rope! =)

The post Halloween Project Roundup appeared first on Soap Queen.

The pumpkins that the team carved were as unique and creative as their personalities. You could tell who carved which pumpkin and I just loved seeing the team spirit that everyone put into their pumpkins. I was totally going to submit a pumpkin, but I ended up with a droopy face pumpkin because my husband thought our pumpkin “seemed wet” so he baked it. Oops!

Top Row: Austin (Warehouse), Becky (Social Media Assistant), Miles (Warehouse), Ari (Warehouse), Nikki (Warehouse), Kevin (Customer Service Manager)

Bottom Row: Oryx (Warehouse), Norm (Chief Operating Officer), Carla (Order Manager), Tina (Customer Service), Kari (Live Help)

Check out how spooky these pumpkin look once lit! If you are looking for a good candle recipe this Halloween, you can check out our Whipped Candle Frosting recipe here. In that tutorial we used our sample of the month,  Chai Tea Cybilla, but you can also use our skin-safe Pumpkin Pie (Candle & Soap) Fragrance Oil with a hint of Halloween color from the Orange Wax Dye Block.

And in true Bramble Berry fashion, after the prizes were handed out, we all headed outside while Chief Operating Officer Norm used our forklift to crush some pumpkins that had started rotting.

If you are looking for some fun Halloween projects, check this Monster Mash-Up of tutorials from a few years ago (including one on making your very own face paint with Bramble Berry’s pigments and oxides!). Happy Halloween!

The post Happy Brambleween! appeared first on Soap Queen.

What You’ll Need:

 2.2 oz. Avocado Oil

1.1 oz. Castor Oil

5.5 oz. Coconut Oil

5.5 oz. Palm Oil

7.7 oz. Rice Bran Oil

3 oz. Sodium Hydroxide

7.2 oz. distilled water

1.4 oz. Tart Apple Fragrance Oil

Brown Oxide Pigment

Black Oxide

Green Chrome Oxide

Titanium Dioxide

2 lb. Wood Log Mold with Silicone Liner

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

Extra equipment that you need: empty (clean!) condiment bottles plus all the normal things like bowls, spoons, spatulas, stick blenders and a whisk.

If you’ve never made Cold Process soap before, stop here! I highly recommend checking out our FREE four part SoapQueen.tv series on Cold Process Soapmaking, especially the episode on lye safety. And if you’d rather do some reading, Bramble Berry carries a wide range of books on the topic, including my newest book, Soap Crafting. You can also checkout the digital downloads for that instant gratification factor.

COLOR PREP: Disperse 1 teaspoon of Brown Oxide into 1 tablespoon of Sunflower or Sweet Almond Oil (or any other liquid oil), 1 teaspoon Black Oxide into 1 tablespoon of liquid oil, 1 teaspoon Titanium Dioxide into 1 tablespoon of liquid oil and 1 teaspoon Green Chrome Oxide in 1 tablespoon of liquid oil. Use a mini mixer to get clumps worked out smoothly.

SAFETY FIRST: Suit up for safe handling practices! That means goggles, gloves and long sleeves. Make sure kids, pets, and other distractions and tripping hazards are out of the house or don’t have access to your soaping space. Always soap in a well-ventilated area.

ONE: Slowly and carefully add the lye to the water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set aside to cool.

TWO: Combine the Avocado, Castor, Coconut, Rice Bran and Palm Oils (remember to fully melt then mix your entire container of Palm Oil before portioning). Once the lye water and the oils have cooled to 130 degrees or below (and are ideally within 10 degrees of each other), add the lye water to the oils and stick blend until thin trace. If you’d like a harder bar of soap that lasts longer in the shower and releases faster from the mold, you can add Sodium Lactate to the cooled lye water. Use 1 teaspoon of Sodium Lactate per pound of oils in the recipe.

THREE: Reserve some soap to make the “eyes” by pouring off about 1 oz. of batter each into three condiment containers.

FOUR: Add 1/4 teaspoon of dispersed colorant to a single bottle. Only add one colorant per bottle. With gloved hands, screw the cap on and plug the hole with your finger and shake the bottle to fully disperse the colorant into the batter. Release your finger with the tip **pointing away from your face.** Set the bottles aside for now.

FIVE: Pour off about 1 cup of batter from the main batch.

SIX: In your newly poured container, whisk in 1 teaspoon of dispersed green colorant. In the original container, whisk in 2 teaspoons of dispersed white colorant. The white helps to provide fantastic contrast to the deep green.

SEVEN: Add roughly half the fragrance oil (.7 oz.) to the green batter and the remaining fragrance oil to the white batter. To avoid accelerating trace, use a whisk or a spoon to combine the fragrance oil and batter. Do NOT fragrance the condiment bottle soap. You want this soap to be as fluid as long as possible.

EIGHT: Pour roughly 3/4 of the white soap into the mold. Tamp the mold on the table several times to disperse air bubbles. 

NINE: From a high point, pour about 1/3 of the green soap into the center of the  mold. Pouring from high up will create the streaks of green color you see in the final soap.

TEN: Use a spatula to scrape the last remaining white soap from the container into the mold. (Bonus tip: We’re using one of our brand new Bramble Berry exclusive silicone tools. Pick one up for yourself here.)

ELEVEN: Pour the remaining green soap over a spatula (or the nifty amazing square spoon spatula thing pictured below) so as not to disturb the white soap below. Smooth the green soap in the mold to get a nice, even layer.

TWELVE: Take your colored condiment bottles and make small, dime-sized dots of color on the surface of the soap. We layered the colors on top of each other in a random order to get a fun assortment of “eyes.”

THIRTEEN: Spray the entire top with 91% Isopropyl Alcohol to reduce soda ash. Cover and insulate for 24 hours and unmold after 3-4 days. Allow to cure for 4-6 weeks and enjoy this spooky soapy delight.

The post Spooky Eyeball Cold Process Soap Tutorial appeared first on Soap Queen.

What is everyone dressed up like today? I’m dressed up as a soapmaker and have been testing recipes like a mad scientist all morning. Jamisen’s outfit is way cuter than Mom’s. He’s going to be a dinosaur, which is the cutest thing you’ve ever seen. Babies + Halloween costumes = cute overload. Stand by for pictures!

And now for the main event: Halloween-themed fun on the Bramble Berry’s Facebook page. We have Jack-o-Lantern’s, eyeball cupcakes, mummies, candy corn and fingers (’tis the season for soapy severed fingers). Thanks for going the extra mile in the creativity department! Now, please give a hauntingly happy drum roll for the winners of our Make it Monday: #Halloween Challenge…

Top Row: 

Miranda from Wildflower Avenue Bath and Body – Pumpkin Babies

Kymberlee Ricke – Eyeball Bath Bombs

Sayab Soaps – Melt and Pour Mummy Bears

Middle Row:

Sherry from Sherry’s Suds & “Scent”sationals

Alissa from Just Bath & Body Stuff

Lori from Nemesis Productions/Spooky Grrrl Bath and Body – Undead Pumpkin

Bottom Row:

Dawn Moore – Single Use Soaps using Water Soluble Paper

Char from Little Body Treats – Zombies Loves Brains

Suzanne from Suzy’s Soaps

Thank you to everyone who entered this spooky contest and for more eerily fun inspiration, check out our #Halloween Album on our Facebook page. And look forward to next week when we resume our Make It Monday challenges.

The post #Halloween Winners appeared first on Soap Queen.