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Soapy Social Media Roundup

February 13, 2016 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Happy weekend everyone! Yesterday I had a Pure Soapmaking book signing at Village Books, and it was so fun to meet fellow soapers. Thanks to everybody who came. If you have your copy of the book, there is still time to enter to win one of ten $25 Bramble Berry gift certificates. Simply post a selfie with the book on Twitter or Instagram and use the tag #PureSoapmaking. The contest ends on February 15th, so don’t wait.

It’s kind of hard to believe that tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. Time has been flying this year. The good news is there is still time to bid on the items in the Lovin’ Soap Project Auction. All proceeds go to the Lovin’ Soap Project, which helps improve the lives of women and girls through health, education, soapmaking, etc. This year we donated a signed copy of Pure Soapmaking and the Annatto and Yarrow Cold Process Kit. I highly recommend checking the auction out – it benefits an amazing organization. If you’re looking for some love inspired projects, check out my favorite pins below. There are some great last minute gift ideas.

Pinterest:

Top left to right, clockwise:

These DIY Cement Valentine Hearts are so adorable. I would love to put magnets on the back to stick on the fridge.
If you haven’t picked up a gift for your loved one, this Easy DIY Valentine’s Day Card tutorial shows you how to make an adorable card.
This DIY Lofthouse Sugar Cookie Recipe would be a great gift for anyone with a sweet tooth.
The colors in this Crystal Bar Soap is gorgeous. The gold, orange and red remind me of a sunset.

Instagram:
I will be shooting several Soap Queen TV videos in the beginning of March. To make sure the projects work perfectly, they are tested a few times. Below is a blue ombré cold process project that’s in the works. It’s scented with Bonsai Fragrance Oil for a crisp and unisex scent.

In addition to Soap Queen TV projects, I’ve also started working on projects for spring. Below are cold process sunflowers, made in this cute Sunflower Mold. It’s scented with a new fragrance oil that will be released soon! Hint: it smells sunny. =)

Katch:
Katch is a website that allows you to save Periscope videos. Check out my channel here, and find me on Periscope (username: brambleberry) to see the videos live. Earlier this week, I tested a spin swirl cold process project for Soap Queen TV. The spin swirl is a tricky technique, because the texture of the soap needs to be absolutely perfect. I’m so happy with how it turned out. What do you think, would you like to see this project on Soap Queen TV?

Twitter:

I always thought drivers in Seattle were bad, but now it’s confirmed.
If you love kombucha, I would definitely recommend making your own! It’s way more cost effective and really fun.
Looking for a little inspiration and motivation? This list of 50 Ways Happier, Healthier and More Successful People Live on Their Own Terms is full of awesome advice. I love #49.
Do fruits and vegetables taste better in Europe? I probably need to go to Italy, so I can report back. =)
Leadership takes time and effort. If you’re having a hard time squeezing it in, this article has great tips.

To keep up with the latest soapy social media throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine and YouTube and Snapchat. To watch my ‘stories’, which include sneak peeks into future projects, add me. I’m Bramble-Berry on Snapchat. Don’t forget to tag your soapy projects on Instagram with the hashtag #SoapShare so I can see what you’re making! =)

Facebook and Instagram Photo of the Week (Feb. 6th ~ 12th)

February 12, 2016 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

There are so many ingredients from the cupboard that can be added to cold process soap. This week, there were several posts about those ingredients, including the How to Add Purees to Cold Process Soap post. Every fruit or vegetable adds certain properties to the soap. For instance, avocado puree gives the bars a luxurious feeling. Purees that contain sugar, like strawberry puree, provide great lather. Click through this post to learn how to add fruit and vegetables to your next project.

Photo by Lara Ferroni.

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#PureSoapmaking Inspiration & Contest!

February 10, 2016 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

It has been so exciting to see my new book, Pure Soapmaking, in the hands of the soaping community. I’m blown away with the response and enthusiasm (thank you thank you thank you!). The book is already in its second printing! It’s amazing to think about how much the soaping community has grown since I started soaping over 20 years ago.

If you have received your book, there is still time to enter the #PureSoapmaking contest on Instagram and Twitter to win one of ten $25 Bramble Berry gift certificates! Simply post a selfie with the book and use the hashtag #PureSoapmaking. Contest ends Wednesday, February 15th. If you’re feeling shy, feel free to post a photo of the book in a creative way. Check out some of the adorable selfies below; even furry friends are getting in on the fun. =)

Top row: wildgardencreations, kennacote, ashley_thomas
Middle row: kritterinc, sudzylove, sweetsophiallc
Bottom row: winn_martinez, avitals_aspiaries, sevenseassoap

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Soapy Social Media Roundup

February 6, 2016 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Happy, happy Saturday! I hope February is treating you well so far. Last weekend the family and I spent some time on the coast. It was a great time to relax, unwind and enjoy the beach. Below, you can see that Lily clearly enjoyed building sandcastles. That little girl is such a hoot. =)

Today I’m spending a little time at home to get ready for a Super Bowl party tomorrow. Last year I made these Buffalo Cauliflower “wings” and they were a big hit. Such a big hit, that I’m making them again this year. Look for that recipe tomorrow. Below are my favorite pins, grams and tweets for the week. Also, be sure to check out my upcoming live videos on Periscope below! I’ll have two this week, including a Handmade Beauty Box project and a peek into my author talk at Village Books.

Pinterest:

Left to right, clockwise:

This Honeysuckle Soap by Sorcery Soap Company is absolutely gorgeous. I love the rainbow effect created with the small flowers. So elegant!
I have never tried making marshmallows before, but I love how cute these Fluffy Homemade Vanilla Marshmallows look.
This roundup of different cold process design techniques from Kenna of Modern Soapmaking is a great resource. Would you find it helpful to roundup SoapQueen tutorials by technique type?
Hearts make everything look cute. Case in point? This DIY Valentine’s Day Heart Tree.

Instagram:
I’m so happy with how this Avocado and Spearmint Soap turned out. If you missed the tutorial, check it out here. The post also includes a photo of my first attempt, which didn’t turn out quite as planned. Soap mishaps happen to us all. In fact, you can watch me make this batch on the archived live Periscope here.

Along with the Bramble Berry website, our labels have received a redesign! I’m especially excited about the fragrance oil bottles that now include information about discoloration and performance in cold process.

Periscope Schedule and Katch:
Are you familiar with Periscope? If not, it’s a fun app that allows you to broadcast live video to the world. You can find me on Periscope @Brambleberry. I have been Persicoping when I make cold process soap, or when I make the monthly project for Handmade Beauty Box. The trick is that the livestreams are only available for 24 hours. That’s where Katch comes in! Katch allows me to save the live streams, so you can watch them again and again. Check out my Katch channel here.

Do you want to watch me live on Periscope? I’ve got a few live videos next week, including a look into my book signing and talk at Village Books on Friday. If you can’t be there in person, you can still be part of the fun. =)

Wednesday, February 10th @ 2 p.m., PST: Handmade Beauty Box Virtual Craft Party Live!
Tune in to watch me create this months Handmade Beauty Box Project. The project for February is this sparkly Mermaid Ombré Melt and Pour Soap. It features lots of layers to create a beautiful aqua ombré design.

Friday, February 12th @ 7 p.m., PST: Pure Soapmaking Signing and Author Talk at Village Books
Tune in to watch my author talk at Village Books in Bellingham, WA. I will be talking about the process of writing Pure Soapmaking and taking questions from the audience.

Twitter:

Fair Trade started with a coffee concept, and grew into so much more. Read about the creation of Fair Trade certified products in this article.
It can be hard to talk to teenagers. The 2014 Michigan Teacher of the Year explains what they really need to hear.
Somebody pinch me…Pure Soapmaking made the Editor’s Top Pick for the Best Books of the Month on Amazon.
What does it take for teams to be successful? Google found their most successful teams have these five traits in common.
You know soda is bad for your body, but did you know it’s also bad for your teeth? Sparkling mineral water may not be any better.

I hope you’re having a great weekend. To keep up with the latest soapy social media throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine and YouTube and Snapchat. To watch my ‘stories’, which include sneak peeks into future projects, add me. I’m Bramble-Berry on Snapchat. Don’t forget to tag your soapy projects on Instagram with the hashtag #SoapShare so I can see what you’re making! =)

Facebook and Instagram Photo of the Week (Jan. 30th ~ Feb. 5th)

February 5, 2016 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

It was a busy week here at Bramble Berry. I recently returned from a trip to Mexico, where I attended the Indie Business Cruise. It is hosted by Donna Maria Coles Johnson and involves sun, relaxation and informative workshops. This year I gave a talk about how to set value-driven goals. There were also talks on how to connect with customers through video and the importance of building a community for your brand. Read more about my trip in the What I Learned At (on) Indie Business Cruise post.

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Soapy Social Media Roundup

January 30, 2016 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Happy weekend everybody! To those of you still battling the blizzard, I hope you’re all staying warm. Here in the Pacific Northwest, the weather has been stereotypically rainy and grey. Although I really can’t complain at all, as I recently got back from a week in Cancun for the Indie Business Cruise hosted by Donna Maria of Indie Business Network. It was so fun to spend time with fellow entrepreneurs in a beautiful place. Cancun was actually quite rainy as well…but hey, it was the beach! Be on the lookout tomorrow for a post all about my experience.

Today I’m spending time with the kiddos on the Washington coast. Above, Lily attempts to master her tricycle. Don’t worry, her helmet was nearby. She managed to get it off for a few minutes while I grabbed the camera. Of course! =) If you’re spending the day crafting and surfin’ the web, check out my favorite pins, tweets and ‘grams from the week.

Pinterest:

Left to right, clockwise:

These Conversation Heart Cookies are so cute! The colors for the frosting are spot on.
I love the beautiful marble pattern on these Clay & Wood Bracelet Jewelry Boxes.
Holy bath bomb, Batman! These Lady Large Multicolored Bath Bombs are huge, and look amazing!
The spin swirl technique is tricky. Soap Techniques really nailed it with their Mirage Spin Swirl Soap.

Instagram:
I can’t believe my new book, Pure Soapmaking is here, yay! If you received your book, post a selfie with it on Instagram or Twitter and use the hashtag #PureSoapMaking for a chance to win one of ten $25 Bramble Berry gift certificates. Post by February 15th to enter.

I’m so excited about how this natural colorant rainbow soap turned out. To get these colors, I used madder root powder, an annatto seed infusion, spirulina powder, indigo powder and alkanet root powder. All these colorants will be available in a sampler pack soon =)

Twitter:

I’m currently doing this 21-Day Superhero Challenge, and I’m really loving it! What are you doing to reach your fitness goals this year?
If you’re looking to make your weekends more productive and meaningful, this list of 5 Ways Remarkably Successful People Spend the Weekend has some great ideas.
About to send a snarky message? Use this Politeness Checker to see if it can be toned down.
I recently updated my Goodreads list; check it out if you’re looking for some book suggestions!
Speaking of books, check out this list of the Top 12 Books for Makers and Handmade Entrepreneurs. It’s full of great reads.

Facebook and Instagram Photo of the Week (Jan. 23rd ~ 29th)

January 29, 2016 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

This week continued our streak on natural cleaning (get it, streak? Punny!) including the Natural Soap Scum Cleaner. It is made with baking soda, pumice and Epsom salt. They scrub away tough grime in the bathtub. The baking soda and salt also absorb any unpleasant smells. The lemongrass essential oil and fir needle essential oil added to the recipe will make your bathroom smell crisp and clean.

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Facebook and Instagram Photo of the Week (Jan. 16th ~ 22nd)

January 22, 2016 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

This week was all about natural cleaning ingredients, like baking soda. Baking soda works on everything from shower scum to scuff marks on shoes. White vinegar is another multipurpose cleaning option. It helps remove grease from ovens and rain spots on the windows. Learn more about natural cleaning options in the Top DIY Cleaning Ingredients post.

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Soapy Social Media Roundup

January 16, 2016 Filed Under: Bath & Body Tutorials

Happy weekend everybody! Tomorrow I’m boarding a plane and heading to Mexico for #IndieCruise Mastermind 2016! The theme of the cruise is to highlight the progression from making things to making money. I can’t wait to meet all the fellow attendees, soak up some sun and swap business ideas. If you’d like to see peeks into the trip, follow me on Snapchat! My username is “Bramble-Berry.”

Here on the blog, get ready for a fresh start for the new year! I will be sharing a collection of natural cleaning recipes made with essential oils, baking soda, salts and more. In the meantime, check out my favorite pins, tweets and ‘grams from this week.

Pinterest:

Left to right, clockwise:

Valentine’s Day is a great reason to spread the love with random acts of kindness. These DIY Random Acts of Kindness Hearts are adorable.
I love the cheery colors in this Pick Me Up Goat Milk Soap by Earth’s Raw Beauty. It reminds me of sunshine!
These Lemon Raspberry Cupcakes look delicious. The raspberry on top is the perfect finishing touch.
The swirls in this Sweet Pea Handmade Soap by Soap Fixations are gorgeous.

Instagram:
I made these soap spheres with the leftover soap from the Rainbow Heart Swirl Cold Process Soap. I squirted the soap into the Large 9 Ball Silicone Mold. I’m not quite sure what I want to do with them yet. According to your answers on Instagram, I’m considering just leaving them as is!

I love the colors in this Taiwan circling swirl made with Energy Fragrance Oil. If you’re a fan of these hues, they can be made with Super Pearly White Mica, Fired Up Fuchsia, Fizzy Lemonade and Black Oxide.

Twitter:

If you’ve been in an exercise lull recently, this article on What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Exercising might motivate you to start!
You don’t need to win the Powerball to be the luckiest person alive (although it might help). Becoming the luckiest person on the planet only requires 4 steps!
Smoking hookah has become more popular as cigarette smoking declines. But, it’s not a healthier option. Not by a long shot.
If you have celiac disease, should you be concerned about gluten bath and beauty products? Find out here.
I love sriracha. So much so that I put it on donuts in 2014. See more delicious sriracha recipes here.

Facebook and Instagram Photo of the Week (Jan. 9th ~ 15th)

January 15, 2016 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

There are so many oils to choose from when making soap. This week featured several oils that feel great in handmade recipes, including avocado oil. Avocado oil is extracted from the pulp of the avocado. It’s rich in vitamins A, B, D and E. It adds moisturizing properties to a variety of products, including soap, balms and lotion. Click through the Sunday Night Spotlight: Avocado Oil to learn more.

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Soapy Social Media Roundup

January 9, 2016 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

I hope you’re all great weekend so far. Last weekend, the family and I celebrated the New Year at a nearby beach. It was a blast, but now we are “back to reality” with chores and projects around the house. In soapy business news, I have been working with a designer to come up with cute soapy logos. Below is one of my favorites. =) We are currently working on putting them on various items, such as totes, mugs and aprons. Thanks for voting on Instagram!

Are you making any fun projects today? If you need some inspiration, check out my favorite pins, tweets and ‘grams from last week. =)

Pinterest:

Top left to right, clockwise:

Made by Mineral Mud Soap, this Vanilla Bean Soap looks like creamy liquid gold!
I have recently fallen in love with decorating china and glasses. This Dishwasher Safe Painted Teacups Dishes DIY is adorable, and I like that the designs are durable.
The rich color of this Hefewizen Handmade Artisan Beer Soap by Sagegold Soaps is beautiful. The “foam” on top is a nice touch.
Figs are so delicious, and they look amazing on top of this Fresh Fig and Lemon Cream Tart. Now I just need to buy a tart pan. =)

Instagram:
Below are just some (!!) of the soapy projects from 2015. It was a good year for soap here at Bramble Berry! If you missed my favorite tutorials from last year, check out the list here. Can you pick a favorite from the photo below? I think I have to go with the Mermaid Tail Cold Process. =)

Below on the left is an eclipse inspired cold process soap. The embeds were made with the Mini Moon Silicone Column Mold and Mini Round Silicone Column Mold. On the right is the spin swirl soap shown in this video. The colors were inspired by the Pantone colors of the year for 2016, rose quartz and serenity.
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Twitter:

We’ve all had moments when we wish we could take back what we said. These 9 Phrases Smart People Never Use in Conversation are things that should never be said.
What does it take to write a hit song? This article looks at how formulaic the process has become. It’s no wonder so many pop songs sound the same!
If you made a humble New Years resolution, you will get a kick out of Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s resolution.
I have been creating and testing a series of natural cleaning products. This startup on Shark Tank has some great ideas, and the results are impressive.
Images are so important for quality websites. Here are some useful tips for optimizing images for search engine rankings.

I hope you’re having a great Saturday. To keep up with the latest soapy social media throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine and YouTube and Snapchat. To watch my ‘stories’, which include sneak peeks into future projects, add me. I’m Bramble-Berry on Snapchat. Don’t forget to tag your soapy projects on Instagram with the hashtag #SoapShare so I can see what you’re making! =)

Facebook and Instagram Photo of the Week (Jan. 2nd ~ 8th)

January 8, 2016 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

This week was all about Valentine’s Day gifts and inspiration. The Rose Gold and Charcoal Heart Melt and Pour Bars are perfect for the occasion. They have a heart-shaped embed and a light floral scent from White Magnolia Fragrance Oil. Instead of traditional colors, the bars feature black and pink hues from Rose Gold Mica and activated charcoal. Most importantly, they’re fun to make.

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SoapShare Winners of 2015!

January 4, 2016 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Instagram has quickly become one of my favorite social media platforms. It’s the perfect way for crafters and artists to share inspiring photos of their creations. It’s also a great platform to get to know users on a personal level, with photos from their everyday lives. On my Instagram account, I like to share a little bit of both. If you’re looking for some tips on using Instagram, check out this blog post.

Earlier this year, I created the #SoapShare hashtag as a way to help bath and body crafters share their creations. Each week, I feature one “winner” on my account. I am constantly blown away with all the beautiful soapy pictures that get posted everyday. Seriously, you guys are amazingly talented. Below are the gorgeous photos that have been featured this year. I can’t wait to see what you all make in 2016!

Left to right: sunlit_soap, earthsrawbeauty

The very first #SoapShare winner was sunlit_soap (shown above, left) for this amazing mermaid-inspired soap. The moment the team and I saw it, we just knew it was the winner. The swirls are stunning, and the mermaid embeds are so unique! On the left is the very last featured soap of 2015 by earthsrawbeauty. I’m a sucker for rainbow soap, and that rainbow dandelion zebra swirl is amazing! Below, are all the winners from the rest of the year. Can you believe how gorgeous each and every project is?

I’m thrilled the hashtag has taken off (more than 26,000 posts to date!) and that it has helped crafters connect with each other. I love seeing all the supportive and encouraging comments. I try my best to comment on each and every picture, but I gotta admit…it’s getting hard to keep up! With so many photos posted everyday (sometimes hundreds, which is so awesome!), you may notice fewer comments from me this year. Believe me, I’m still “oohing” and “ahhing” over each photo. But, Instagram’s spam filters make it impossible to leave lots of comments at one time. This is smart way to avoid spammers, but also a bummer when you’re trying to comment on more than 100 super awesome soap photos! Keep sharing your photos with me, and I will comment on as many as I can. =)

Top row, left to right: veronicafoale, positiveattractionsoaps, soapwithhope
Middle row, left to right: mimi_and_boo, cleanlinessoapcompany, hallowellsoapworks
Bottom row, left to right: whiteapartmentstudios, spicypinecone, hands_kw

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Soapy Social Media Roundup

January 3, 2016 Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

Happy first Sunday of 2016! Today the kiddos and I are celebrating the birthday of one of their friends. Little kid birthday parties are the best; so much excitement and fun! Yesterday, we did a Builder’s Workshop at Home Depot and went on a day trip to Vancouver, BC with the kiddos. How are you spending your first weekend of 2016?

If you’re thinking about how to make 2016 the best year yet, there is still time to enter to win a set of planners. Just share your goals with me on this blog post by tomorrow to enter to win. I will be choosing a winner by the end of the day tomorrow. Next week, get ready for lots of love inspired tutorials for Valentine’s Day. In the meantime, check out my favorite pins, tweets and ‘grams for more Valentine inspiration.

Pinterest:
Left to right, clockwise:

These Linzer Cookies are so incredibly beautiful! They would make wonderful Valentine’s Day gifts.
New Year’s Eve might be over, but these DIY party crackers would be great for any celebration.
I love these DIY Gold Dot Champagne Flutes look so sophisticated. I’m going to try these with a Valentine’s Day spin!
This Dark Knight Handmade Soap by Earth’s Raw Beauty is lovely. Be on the lookout for a rainbow heart swirled soap tutorial soon =)

Instagram:
I can’t wait to share this swirled hearts cold process tutorial with you. I scented this soap with Beach Breezes Fragrance Oil which has a lovely tropical scent.

I’ve been making lots of melt and pour this week. On the left is a melt and pour truffle project scented with Butter Mints Fragrance Oil. These soaps smell as delicious as they look! On the right is a Valentine’s Day inspired project made with activated charcoal and Rose Gold Mica.
Twitter:

Do you write handwritten cards or notes? I love that the “old fashion” tradition is still alive and well.
It may be too late to be productive in 2015, but it’s the perfect time to start new habits. This article has some great tips.
How much money do you need to be happy? Depends on how you define happiness. This 5-step formula will tell you how much money you need to make to do the things you want.
Sure, friends are fun and important. But according to studies, they can actually improve your health and even help you live longer.
A “cash free” future may be closer than you think. According to this article, bills and coins now represent only 7% of the US economy.

I hope 2016 is off to a great start for you! To keep up with the latest soapy social media throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine and YouTube and Snapchat. To watch my ‘stories’, which include sneak peeks into future projects, add me. I’m Bramble-Berryon Snapchat. Don’t forget to tag your soapy projects on Instagram with the hashtag #SoapShare so I can see what you’re making! =)