The first winner was Brooke with Her Best Apple. Her unique and creative bar is made with Relaxing Fragrance Oil. Read more in the very first Facebook Photo of the Week post.

Since then, there have been more than 215 winners! The talent and creativity of the soapmaking community is amazing. This year we decided to end the four-year-long contest. The blog will focus more on informative posts, tutorials and business posts. We are sad to see it go, but also excited to roll out new content on the blog. We are still planning to share photos on Facebook and Instagram, so keep sharing your creations. We love to see them! Here are some of our favorite Facebook Photo of the Week winners over the years past five years.

Top row, left to right: Alaiyna B. Bath and Body, Amaitha Soap Works (now Modern Soapmaking), Auntie Clara’s Handcrafted Cosmetics
Middle row, left to right: Bathvs Soap, I Saponi di Guisty, Kiku’s Creations
Bottom row, left to right: Kokolele Soaps, La Fille de la Mer, Lathered Pony Soap Company

Top row, left to right: Bellabrice Body Care, Whipped Upp, Soaplico
Middle row, left to right: Sensually Soaps, Sweet Soft Skin Handmade Soap, Ridgeway Soapworks
Bottom row, left to right: Seven Cactus Soapworks, Siennalily Soaps, Shieh Design Studio

In 2015, the posts started including winners from the weekly #SoapShare contest on Instagram. The first winners are Jan with Sunlit Soap and Michelle with Southern Girl Soaps. Read more about their gorgeous bars in the Facebook and Instagram Photo of the Week post.

Left to right: Southern Girl Soaps, Sunlit Soap

The hashtag has more than 108,407 posts now, and there have been more than 90 winners. Like the Facebook photos, there are many beautiful bars. While we are not featuring a #SoapShare “winner” each week, we will still be sharing your gorgeous creations tagged with #SoapShare on the Bramble Berry Instagram account. See some of our favorite #SoapShare winners below.

Top row, left to right: Lillian Violet Handmade Products, Majestic Bliss Soaps, Marie Rayma
Middle row, left to right: Spicy Pinecone, Natural Magic by Olga, Mimi and Boo
Bottom row, left to right: Royalty Soaps, Olga Bashkina, Soap Techiques

These are just a few of the beautiful photos shared over the years. To see all of them, check out the Facebook Photo of the Week archives. The #SoapShare winners are on the Bramble Berry Instagram page. This post has all the #SoapShare winners of 2015. While the contest is over, we will still share some of our favorite photos on Facebook and Instagram, so keep ’em coming! We love to see what you are creating.

Thank you to all the winners for sharing your gorgeous work. Do you have a favorite photo from over the years?

The post The Final Facebook and Instagram Photo of the Week appeared first on Soap Queen.

If you’re in the mood for some sparkle, the Ombre Mermaid Soap is for you. The layers have Iridescent Glitter and smell like Yuzu Cybilla Fragrance Oil. As you pour the layers, you gradually add more Hydrated Chrome Green Color Block until the soap is an aqua blue color. Get all the materials you need to make the soap, along with labels and instructions, in the Mermaid Ombre Soap Kit.

I gave several Mermaid Ombre Bars as Christmas gifts this year. Another one of my favorite gifts to give are books. I’m an avid reader and usually read 5 to 7 books at a time. This year I read some amazing stories, including Mastery by Robert Greene and Soulmates by Jessica Grose. See my favorite books of 2016 here.

The Bramble Berry team was also able to give gifts to families in need. Every year, we get together and shop for Christmas gifts. This year we teamed up with Lydia Place, a local nonprofit organization, and shopped for nine families. We got everything from diapers to candy. See us take over Fred Meyer in the Annual Christmas Charity Shopping Trip post.

For more Christmas cheer, check out the Facebook Photo of the Week by Basil and Paisley Naturals. Their ‘Tis the Season Soap is colored with spirulina powder and scented with rosemary and peppermint essential oils.

The embed in the soap is so festive and beautiful, and I love the green hue from the spirulina powder. The fresh rosemary in the picture is a nice touch as well! If you love the herby smell of rosemary, check out the Minty Clay Melt and Pour Bars. The essential oil is also used in the Annatto-Yarrow Cold Process Soap.

Above (clockwise, top) are Basil and Paisley’s Rose-for-When-You-Rise Soap, Orange Ya’ Glad It’s Soap, Pumpkin Pie Soap and Blueberry Jam Soap. For more pumpkin tutorials, check out the Pumpkin Souffle Cold Process Soap. The Pumpkin Spice Latte Bubble Bath Bombs smell great in the tub.

Find Basil and Paisley Naturals
On Facebook
On Etsy

This week’s Instagram Photo of the Week by Earth Care Soaps features a beautiful swirl with plenty of contrast. I love how each of the Seaweed Charcoal Face and Body bars look different. See more of their work on their 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 be featured on the Bramble Berry Instagram account.

For those of you who have been featured on the blog, we now have an official “Featured on the Soap Queen” badge! You can include that badge on your website, blog, pictures, etc. To save the badge, click here. =)

The post Facebook and Instagram Photo of the Week (Dec. 17th ~ 23rd) appeared first on Soap Queen.

One of the new fragrances is Bramble Berry’s Alien Type Fragrance Oil. It’s based on a popular Thierry Mugler perfume and has notes of jasmine, amber and patchouli. The Midnight Plum Melt and Pour Soap was made with those mysterious and complex fragrance notes in mind. The deep violet hue comes from a mixture of Queen’s Purple Color Block and Black Oxide Color Block.

Another new and unusual fragrance is Green Salsa Fragrance Oil. It has notes of jalapeno, bergamot and sea salt. It’s used in the Zesty Green Cold Process Soap Tutorial, which features a checkerboard pattern. The Green Chrome Oxide Pigment and Green Forest Jojoba Beads complement the scent perfectly.

Whether you’re making melt and pour or cold process, we recommend storing it in the shower on a draining soap dish. If handmade soap sits in water it will turn to mush very quickly. The soap dish will keep it dry, making it last longer. Get more tips in the How to Make Soap Last Longer in the Shower post.

This week’s Facebook Photo of the Week is made with skin-loving ingredients you’ll love to use in the shower. These gorgeous bars by Khadijah with Body by Sugar Bella are made with aloe, honey, goat milk and activated charcoal.

The swirls in Khadijah’s soap are fantastic. It reminds me of storm clouds over the ocean. I love the blue and black together as well. For more swirly bars, check out the Cosmic Cotton Candy Soap Tutorial. The Thai Tea Melt and Pour Bars look just like the sweet drink.

Above (clockwise, top left) are Khadijah’s black soap, blue soap, coffee soap and layered soap. For more layered designs, check out the Red Berry Melt and Pour Soap Tart Tutorial. The Pumice and Poppy Seed Bars feature layers great for exfoliating the skin.

Find Body by Sugar Bella
On Facebook

This week’s Instagram Photo of the Week by Suds Monkey Soap Co. features lovely blue hues as well. Their Blue Raspberry Soap is made with two butters and coconut milk for an extra soft feeling on the skin. I love the blue swirls and raspberry embed. See more of their work on their 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 be featured on the Bramble Berry Instagram account.

For those of you who have been featured on the blog, we now have an official “Featured on the Soap Queen” badge! You can include that badge on your website, blog, pictures, etc. To save the badge, click here. =)

The post Facebook and Instagram Photo of the Week (Dec. 10th ~ 16th) appeared first on Soap Queen.

Pinterest:

Left to right, clockwise:

• These DIY Indigo Marbled Ornaments are gorgeous! I love the icy cool tones. They would look beautiful on a white Christmas tree.
• The textures and swirls in this Fresh Sparkling Snow Soap by Seaside Soap Kitchen are fabulous.
• I love sunbursts mirrors, but they are usually pretty pricey. This DIY version looks awesome.
• The light blue color and gold mica veins in this soap by Seven Cactus are stunning. So sophisticated.

Instagram:
Earlier this week, I made a Column Pour soap on Facebook Live; watch that video below! It’s colored with Queen’s Purple Mica, Buttercup Mica, Titanium Dioxide and Aqua Pearl Mica. I will post a tutorial soon. I think it would make a great Mardi Gras soap.

I love seeing crafters put their own twist on Soap Queen tutorials! Jen of Something Turquoise made the Sparkling Bath Crystals; see her version of the tutorial here. I love the colors Jen used, and how she packaged various shades together.

Facebook:
Want to learn how to make a Column-Pour cold process soap? Check out the video below. It’s easier than you think; the key is a nice thin trace and well-behaving fragrance oil.

YouTube:
Speaking of videos, did you catch the newest Soap Queen TV video? In it, I show you how to create super cute doughnut bath fizzies. They are scented with Strawberry Fragrance Oil.

Twitter:

• Bramble Berry was a part of a customer’s engagement, and the entire office let out a collective “Oh my gosh, that’s the cutest!” Stories like this keep me going everyday.
• This collection of soaps by Emily of Shieh Design Studio is serious #SoapGoals.
• Learn how to make Christmas Bubble Bars! Love the snowman shape.
• Need an easy gift idea? This tutorial for lip balm and solid perfume would be perfect.
• Bigger doesn’t always mean better when it comes to business. This article by Donna Maria explores how to grow your business, without becoming larger.

To keep up with soapy social media throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube. Don’t forget to tag your soapy projects on Instagram with the hashtag #SoapShare so I can see your projects!

The post Soapy Social Media Roundup appeared first on Soap Queen.

The Rose Quartz Cold Process Soap is colored with Electric Bubble Gum and pink sea salt, giving it a romantic look. It’s scented with the new Rose Quartz Fragrance Oil, which has notes of orange zest, jasmine and sandalwood. The swirls and rosy scent make the soap perfect for Valentine’s Day.

Tania with Soapish is an expert at romantic and creative soap designs. She started making soap in 2013. After her first batch, she was totally addicted. She started making more and posting gorgeous pictures on her Instagram page. Tania also shares her designs on her YouTube channel. Learn more about her in the Talking with Tania of Soapish post.

For intricate cold process soap techniques like Tania’s, recipes with a lot of soft oils work best. Soft oils like olive, sweet almond and canola give you more time to work with your design. However, too many soft oils can make your batch too soft, which means it takes longer to unmold. Using a high superfat can cause soft soap as well. Learn more in the Why is My Cold Process Soap Soft? post.

Pink is a great choice for bath bombs, as demonstrated by this week’s Facebook Photo of the Week winner, Amanda with The Virtuous Wife. How adorable is her collection of colorful bath bombs?

Amanda paints on her bath bombs with mica to give them color and flair. I love the detail work, especially the unicorn and mermaid tail! For more painted bath fizzy tutorials, check out the Blooms and Berries Bath Bombs. The Peppermint Candy Bath Bombs are a great stocking stuffer.

Above (clockwise, top left) is Amanda’s heart soap, Rainbow Unicorn Bubble Bath, heart bath bomb and rainbow soap. For more heart designs, check out the Queen of Hearts Cold Process Soap. The Rose Gold and Charcoal Heart Soap is features beautiful color contrast.

Find The Virtuous Wife
On Facebook
On the web
On Etsy

This week’s Instagram Photo of the Week by Patrice with Melange Jolie LLC are these adorable succulent soaps. Patrice really nailed the piping – the details on each bar is so fun. For more of her work, check out her 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 be featured on the Bramble Berry Instagram account.

For those of you who have been featured on the blog, we now have an official “Featured on the Soap Queen” badge! You can include that badge on your website, blog, pictures, etc. To save the badge, click here. =)

The post Facebook and Instagram Photo of the Week (Dec. 3rd ~ 9th) appeared first on Soap Queen.

Be on the lookout next week for a new Soap Queen TV video! I’ve also got a sparkly cold process project scheduled, along with a live soaping session on the Bramble Berry Facebook page tomorrow.

Pinterest:

Left to right, clockwise:

• Homemade ornaments are so fun to make this time of year. I really like the simplicity of this Gold Leaf DIY Ornament.
• I think at one point, we have all probably struggled with being ourselves. It can be difficult! I love this quote, it’s a great reminder.
• These DIY Concrete Gemstone Magnets would make a great gift. They would look so cute hanging on the fridge.
• This Love Spell Soap by Soap Techniques is stunning. The colors are so pretty together, and the swirl is awesome!

Instagram:
I have been working with a lot of pink lately; I must be ready for Valentine’s Day already! Next week, we will be introducing several new fragrance oils, including one called Rose Quartz. That fragrance inspired the soap below, made with pink sea salt. I will be sharing the tutorial soon.

Speaking of pink sea salt, I added some to bath bombs made in the Stainless Steel Bath Bomb Mold. This project won’t be on the blog, but will be in an upcoming newsletter. Sign up if you’d like to learn how to make them! =) They’re a generous size and are perfect for a nourishing bath. I know because I tested one Friday night as I got caught up on my reading. Wondering what I’m reading? Here’s my GoodReads list.

Twitter:

• Need some stocking stuffers? These Best Day Ever Everyday Cards make great thank you notes.
• Somebody pinch me; I’m a ForbesBooks Author! My new book is due early 2017 and is in editing phase now.
• Need effective PR, but working on a limited budget? These tips are great.
• Jump start your day with these Eucalyptus Shower Fizzies. They are especially awesome if you’re feeling congested!
• If you’re trying to lose weight, I’ve got bad news. You have to cut out wine. Sad, I know.
• Jen of Something Turquoise created the Sparkly Bath Crystals, and they turned out beautiful. The color combinations look beautiful.

To keep up with soapy social media throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and Snapchat.  I’m Bramble-Berry on Snapchat. Don’t forget to tag your soapy projects on Instagram with the hashtag #SoapShare so I can see your projects!

The post Soapy Social Media Roundup appeared first on Soap Queen.

Melt and pour is another quick and easy gift. The Christmas Star Melt and Pour Bars are great for beginners. They are colored with the Shimmer Sparkle Gold Color Block and scented with Sleigh Ride Fragrance Oil. Once the soap is unmolded, Merlot Sparkle Mica and Shamrock Green Mica is painted on top. It’s a fun and festive project you can make with others.

If you want to recreate a cold process design using melt and pour soap to have your gifts ready by Christmas, there are a few things to consider. While you can create swirls and layers with melt and pour, the consistency is too thin to create textured tops. Learn more in the Recreating Cold Process and Melt and Pour Soap Designs post.

The Energizing Orange Cold Process Soap Recipe calls for a thick trace, which allows for texture and marigold petals on top. It’s scented with bright and fresh 10X Orange Essential Oil. The recipe is made with the Natural Kit for Beginners, which is an ideal gift for anyone who wants to give soapmaking a try.

This week’s Facebook Photo of the Week by Flora & Pomona features gorgeous natural colors as well. Their Blueberries n’ Cream Miniature Soap is made with coconut milk, blueberry juice and seeds, cocoa butter, alkanet root, madder root and activated charcoal.

The bars are absolutely beautiful. I love the wispy swirls and specks of blueberry seeds throughout. Their bars are unscented, making them perfect for babies or those with sensitive skin. For more gentle soap, check out the Oatmeal Baby Soap. The Baby Buttermilk Bars feel amazing on sensitive skin.

Above (clockwise, top left) are Flora & Pomona’s red and white bars, felted soap, Almond Latte soap and cornflower soap. If you love the look of flowers on soap, check out the Kombucha SCOBY Cold Process Soap. The Relaxing Lavender Soap is topped with lavender buds.

Find Flora & Pomona
On Facebook
On the web

This week’s Instagram Photo of the Week by Soap Wonderful features bath bombs topped with a variety of ingredients, including calendula petals. They’re all so adorable. I think my favorite are the watermelon bath bombs. See more of their work on their 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 be featured on the Bramble Berry Instagram account.

For those of you who have been featured on the blog, we now have an official “Featured on the Soap Queen” badge! You can include that badge on your website, blog, pictures, etc. To save the badge, click here. =)

The post Facebook and Instagram Photo of the Week (Nov. 26 ~ Dec. 2nd) appeared first on Soap Queen.

Now that Thanksgiving is over, it’s time to start thinking about Christmas gifts. If you have a soapmaker in your life, there are plenty of options. Tools make a great gift for beginners and advanced crafters alike. Click through the Must-Have Cold Process Soap Tools (And Best Splurges!) post for ideas.

Fragrance oils are another great gift for soapmakers. There are a variety to choose from. However, not all of them are created equal. Some can cause cold process soap to accelerate. The good news is there are ways to work with that acceleration. Learn more in the How to Soap with Accelerating Fragrance Oils post.

You can also leave your soap unscented. That’s a great option for babies or those with sensitive skin. The Gentle Oatmeal and Chamomile Cold Process Soap is unscented and feels great on the skin. It contains skin-loving chamomile herb, bentonite clay and colloidal oatmeal. As a finishing touch, the bars are stamped with the Stork & Baby Acrylic Stamp.

Embeds are another great finishing touch. This week’s Facebook Photo of the Week by Jessica with Moose Country Designs features an adorable champagne bottle embed.

Her Sweet Bath Treats are made with SLSA, which creates big fluffy bubbles in the tub. They are also topped with fluffy frosting and shimmer. The details really add a special touch to the treats! If you love all things bubbly, check out the LoveSpell Solid Bubble Bath recipe. The Aloe Bubble Bath Bombs are another great option.

Above (clockwise, top) are Jessica’s red and white soap, Mango Cilantro Soap Pops, bubble bath scoops and soap cake. For more soapy desserts, check out the Berry Rhubarb Crumble Soap Tutorial. The Lemon Cold Process Soap Cupcakes smell bright and fresh.

Find Moose Country Designs
On Facebook
On the web

This week’s Instagram Photo of the Week by Creative Soap by Steso features a gorgeous rainbow design. She always makes the most amazing soap, and these bars are no exception. For more of her work, check out her 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 be featured on the Bramble Berry Instagram account.

For those of you who have been featured on the blog, we now have an official “Featured on the Soap Queen” badge! You can include that badge on your website, blog, pictures, etc. To save the badge, click here. =)

The post Facebook and Instagram Photo of the Week (Nov. 19th ~ 25th) appeared first on Soap Queen.

On Friday, I answered some questions on Instagram stories. If you missed the Q&A, make sure to follow Bramble Berry on Instagram so you can catch the next one! Thanks to everybody that asked a question, it was really fun answering them. =) Below are some of my favorite pins, tweets and ‘grams from the week.

Pinterest:

Top right, clockwise:

• The swirl in this cold process soap by mee_hue is so beautiful! It’s perfect for Christmas without being too “Christmas-y.”
• These Meringue Fruit Baskets are almost too pretty too eat.
• I love making ornaments with the kids for the holidays. This DIY Snow Globe Christmas Ornament Tutorial looks perfect.
• The year is almost over, and I’m ready for a fresh new year. I can’t wait to see what 2017 brings! I’ve got some exciting things planned and the future feels bright. =)

Instagram:
Last week, the team and I shot three full length Soap Queen TV videos. We are working hard to create and post videos more often. =) In one video, I showed my friend Courtney how to make facial soap with activated charcoal. She is such a hoot, it’s always fun filming with her!

Did you catch the Cosmic Cotton Candy Melt and Pour Soap? I love the way it turned out! It takes a little bit of patience because it involves layers, but the results are worth it.

Twitter:

• I love the simplicity and elegance of these Eucalyptus Bars from Bathhouse Soapery & Caldarium.
• Looking for a cute bath bomb tutorial for the holidays? These Shimmery Snowball Bath Bombs are perfect!
• A class action lawsuit was filed against Tom’s of Maine deodorant over its claim that the product is all-natural.
• If you’re a history buff, you’ll love the Hardcore History podcast. The episodes are three hours long and full of interesting info.
• If you’re trying to squeeze in more physical activity into your routine, it doesn’t need to be complicated. Walking does the trick!
• Busy is not the same as productive. In order to be productive, you have to practice being your future self.

To keep up with soapy social media throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and Snapchat.  I’m Bramble-Berry on Snapchat. Don’t forget to tag your soapy projects on Instagram with the hashtag #SoapShare so I can see your projects!

The post Soapy Social Media Roundup appeared first on Soap Queen.

The Cosmic Melt and Pour Soap is scented with Cotton Candy Fragrance Oil. The soap is colored with Neon Blue Raspberry and Electric Bubble Gum Color Blocks to complement the sweet scent. It is then swirled and layered in the 10″ Silicone Loaf Mold. It gives the bars an out of this world look.

The blog is full of projects to satisfy your sweet tooth. Cupcakes are one of my favorite desserts, so I’ve made them with just about everything – soap, bath bombs and more. The Sparkling Champagne Soap Cupcakes feature a cute embed and plenty of shimmer on top. Find more in the Dessert Inspired Bath DIY Projects post.

The cupcakes are scented with Champagne Fragrance Oil. It gives the bars a sweet and bubbly smell and doesn’t accelerate. If you’re planning on an intricate cold process soap design, you’ll want to use a well-behaved fragrance for the best results. Find a Complete List of Non-Accelerating Fragrance Oils here.

Cold process soap swirls require a well-behaved fragrance oil. This week’s Facebook Photo of the Week by Cindy with Luxinda Swirl Soap features an amazing swirled design. It’s colored with Zippy Blue Pigment.

The blue color in Cindy’s bars is absolutely stunning. It is a perfect contrast to the wispy purple and black swirls. For more blue hues, check out the Mermaid Tail Cold Process Tutorial. The Snowdrop Hot Process Soap is colored with Caribbean Blue Mica.

Above (clockwise, left) are Cindy’s Vibrant Kaleidosoap, Bamboozled Soap, Angry Owl Soap and Kaleidosoap Series. If you love the rainbow color palette in the Vibrant Kaleidosoap, check out the Rainbow Heart Swirl Cold Process Soap. The Natural Colorant Rainbow Cold Process Soap features a layered design.

Find Luxinda Swirl Soap
On Facebook
On Etsy

This week’s Instagram Photo of the Week is a lovely Christmas collection from Affinity Soapery. The soaps feature gorgeous texture, swirls and plenty of sparkle. I love the photo as well. See more of their work on their 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 be featured on the Bramble Berry Instagram account.

For those of you who have been featured on the blog, we now have an official “Featured on the Soap Queen” badge! You can include that badge on your website, blog, pictures, etc. To save the badge, click here. =)

The post Facebook and Instagram Photo of the Week (Nov. 12th ~ 18th) appeared first on Soap Queen.