It’s amazing what a little mica can do. It adds a beautiful iridescence to handmade bath and beauty products. This Moonstone Cold Process Soap has a layered design, but what makes it special is the glimmer on top.

The recipe is topped with Snowflake Sparkle, Aqua Pearl, Party Pink, and Lavender Micas. You can place the colors on top of the soap easily using the new Powder Sprayer, which is part of our gemstone collection. All you have to do is press the top of the sprayer and the mica is dusted onto your soap. It’s an easy way to work with powders, and also happens to be pretty fun to use.

This recipe is scented with new Moonstone Fragrance Oil, which is a combination of soft floral, light powder, and sweet fruit. It has notes of lavender, bergamot, jasmine, violet, sandalwood, and vanilla. You can sample Moonstone and three other new scents in the Gemstone Fragrance Oil Collection. It includes 2 ounces of each fragrance for just $16.95, and is available until Sept. 3rd. 

The Moonstone Fragrance Oil discolors to a soft brown. To combat the discoloration, this recipe includes plenty of titanium dioxide. An abundance of titanium dioxide can lead to glycerin rivers – learn more about glycerin rivers here. To prevent glycerin rivers this recipe has a 15% water discount, so be ready to move quickly.

What You’ll Need:
5 Pound Mold with Sliding Bottom
Silicone Liner for 5 Pound Wood Mold
54 oz. Basic Quick Mix
7.7 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
15.1 oz. Distilled Water (15% water discount)
3.5 oz. Moonstone Fragrance Oil
Titanium Dioxide
Snowflake Sparkle Mica
Aqua Pearl Mica
Magenta Mica
Lavender Mica
Party Pink Mica
Four Powder Sprayers

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

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. Or if you’d prefer to read, Bramble Berry carries a wide range of books on the topic, including my newest book, Pure Soapmaking. You can also check out 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: To ensure that the titanium dioxide blends smoothly into the soap batter, we recommend micronizing it before dispersing it in oil. Please note this is an optional tip, but it does help with the titanium dioxide clumping in the soap. To micronize colorant, simply use a coffee grinder to break up any clumps of color and prevent streaks of white from showing in the final soap. We like to use a coffee grinder that has a removable stainless steel mixing area for easy cleaning.

Next, disperse 4 teaspoons of the colorant into 4 tablespoons of sunflower or sweet almond oil (or any other liquid oil). In separate containers, disperse 1/2 teaspoon of Aqua Pearl Mica, Lavender Mica, and Magenta Mica into 1/2 tablespoon of liquid oil. Use a mini mixer to work out any clumps. Fill the four powder sprayers separately with Snowflake Sparkle Mica, Lavender Mica, Party Pink Mica, and Aqua Pearl Mica. Set aside.

FRAGRANCE PREP: Measure 3.5 ounces of Moonstone Fragrance Oil into a glass container that is safe for use with 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. If you prefer 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 3.5 tsp. of sodium lactate.

TWO: Fully melt the entire bag of Basic Quick Mix until it’s completely clear and there is no cloudiness. Shake the bag to mix up all the oils. Measure 54 ounces into your soaping bowl. 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 the mixture to a thin trace.

THREE: Add all of the dispersed titanium dioxide and Moonstone Fragrance Oil to the soap. Use a whisk to thoroughly mix in. If the mixture is still very thin, quickly pulse it with the stick blender to thicken the soap to a light medium trace.

FOUR: Pour 17 ounces of soap into each of three separate containers. Add the following dispersed colorants into each container, and use a whisk to fully mix them in.

• Container A (pink): 1 1/4 tsp. dispersed Magenta Mica
• Container B (purple): All dispersed Lavender Mica
• Container C (blue): 1/2 tsp. dispersed Aqua Pearl Mica

FIVE: Pour 1/3 of the white soap into the mold (it’s okay to eyeball it). Use a spoon to evenly spread the soap throughout the mold. Don’t worry about the layer being straight. Tap the mold on the counter to help get rid of bubbles.

SIX: Pour half of the blue soap onto the white. Use a spoon to spread the blue soap throughout the mold. Again, don’t worry about the layer being straight.

SEVEN: Use the powder sprayer filled with Snowflake Sparkle Mica to completely cover the blue layer of soap with mica.
NOTE: We sprayed Snowflake Sparkle Mica in between the layers of this soap. The final effect is not quite as noticeable as we thought it would be. You can skip these steps if you’d like, or follow the instructions as written if you like as much sparkle as possible.

EIGHT: Pour half of the pink soap onto the blue layer. Use a spoon to spread the soap throughout the mold. Then, use the powder sprayer with Snowflake Sparkle Mica to completely cover the pink layer.

NINE: Cover the pink layer with half of the purple soap. Use a spoon to evenly spread the soap. Use the Powder Sprayer filled with Snowflake Sparkle Mica to completely cover the purple layer. Tap the mold firmly on the counter to help get rid of bubbles.

TEN: Repeat this layering process with another 1/3 of the white soap and the remaining blue, pink, and purple soaps. Between the blue, pink, and purple layers, use the powder sprayer again to completely cover the soap with Snowflake Sparkle Mica.

ELEVEN: Tap the mold firmly on the counter to help get rid of bubbles. Cover the purple layer with the remaining white soap and use a spoon to evenly spread the soap throughout the mold. Then, use the spoon to create texture on the top. There is no right or wrong way to create texture, so have fun with it!

TWELVE: Once you’re happy with the top, use the powder sprayer to completely cover the top with Snowflake Sparkle Mica.

THIRTEEN: Use the powder sprayers filled with Lavender Mica, Aqua Pearl Mica, and Party Pink Mica to spray the colors on the top of the soap in different areas. There is no right or wrong way to layer the colors, so have fun with it! But remember – you can always add more color, so start slow. Adding too much color will take away the soft “pearly” look. Less is more in this case!

FOURTEEN: Once you’re happy with the top, allow the soap to stay in the mold for 2-3 days. Because it has a water discount, you may be able to unmold it faster than a normal recipe. Once it’s ready, unmold and cut into bars. Allow to cure for 4-6 weeks. Because it has a water discount, it will cure slightly faster than a normal recipe. Enjoy!
NOTE: We did not spray the top of the soap with alcohol because it may disrupt the mica dusting. We didn’t notice any soda ash. If you’d like, you can spray the top with 99% isopropyl alcohol. Just make sure the spray is extremely fine, and test a small area first to make sure it doesn’t cause the mica dust to drip.

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Moonstone Cold Process Soap Tutorial

This Moonstone Cold Process Soap has a layered design, but what makes it special is the glimmer on top.

Course Cold process

Author Soap Queen

Ingredients

• 5 Pound Mold with Sliding Bottom
• Silicone Liner for 5 Pound Wood Mold
• 54 oz. Basic Quick Mix
• 7.7 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
• 15.1 oz. Distilled Water 15% water discount
• 3.5 oz. Moonstone Fragrance Oil
• Titanium Dioxide
• Snowflake Sparkle Mica
• Aqua Pearl Mica
• Magenta Mica
• Lavender Mica
• Party Pink Mica
• Four Powder Sprayers

Instructions

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: To ensure that the titanium dioxide blends smoothly into the soap batter, we recommend micronizing it before dispersing it in oil. Please note this is an optional tip, but it does help with the titanium dioxide clumping in the soap. To micronize colorant, simply use a coffee grinder to break up any clumps of color and prevent streaks of white from showing in the final soap. We like to use a coffee grinder that has a removable stainless steel mixing area for easy cleaning. Next, disperse 4 teaspoons of the colorant into 4 tablespoons of sunflower or sweet almond oil (or any other liquid oil). In separate containers, disperse 1/2 teaspoon of Aqua Pearl Mica, Lavender Mica, and Magenta Mica into 1/2 tablespoon of liquid oil. Use a mini mixer to work out any clumps. Fill the four powder sprayers separately with Snowflake Sparkle Mica, Lavender Mica, Party Pink Mica, and Aqua Pearl Mica. Set aside.

FRAGRANCE PREP: Measure 3.5 ounces of Moonstone Fragrance Oil into a glass container that is safe for use with 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. If you prefer 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 3.5 tsp. of sodium lactate.
• Fully melt the entire bag of Basic Quick Mix until it’s completely clear and there is no cloudiness. Shake the bag to mix up all the oils. Measure 54 ounces into your soaping bowl. 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 the mixture to a thin trace.
• Add all of the dispersed titanium dioxide and Moonstone Fragrance Oil to the soap. Use a whisk to thoroughly mix in. If the mixture is still very thin, quickly pulse it with the stick blender to thicken the soap to a light medium trace.
• Pour 17 ounces of soap into each of three separate containers. Add the following dispersed colorants into each container, and use a whisk to fully mix them in.

  Container A (pink): 1 1/4 tsp. dispersed Magenta Mica

  Container B (purple): All dispersed Lavender Mica

  Container C (blue): 1/2 tsp. dispersed Aqua Pearl Mica
• Pour 1/3 of the white soap into the mold (it’s okay to eyeball it). Use a spoon to evenly spread the soap throughout the mold. Don’t worry about the layer being straight. Tap the mold on the counter to help get rid of bubbles.
• Pour half of the blue soap onto the white. Use a spoon to spread the blue soap throughout the mold. Again, don’t worry about the layer being straight.
• Use the powder sprayer filled with Snowflake Sparkle Mica to completely cover the blue layer of soap with mica. NOTE: We sprayed Snowflake Sparkle Mica in between the layers of this soap. The final effect is note quite as noticeable as we thought it would be. You can skip these steps if you’d like, or follow the instructions as written if you like as much sparkle as possible.
• Pour half of the pink soap onto the blue layer. Use a spoon to spread the soap throughout the mold. Then, use the powder sprayer with Snowflake Sparkle Mica to completely cover the pink layer.
• Cover the pink layer with half of the purple soap. Use a spoon to evenly spread the soap. Use the Powder Sprayer filled with Snowflake Sparkle Mica to completely cover the purple layer. Tap the mold firmly on the counter to help get rid of bubbles.
• Repeat this layering process with another 1/3 of the white soap and the remaining blue, pink, and purple soaps. Between the blue, pink, and purple layers, use the powder sprayer again to completely cover the soap with Snowflake Sparkle Mica.
• Tap the mold firmly on the counter to help get rid of bubbles. Cover the purple layer with the remaining white soap and use a spoon to evenly spread the soap throughout the mold. Then, use the spoon to create texture on the top. There is no right or wrong way to create texture, so have fun with it!
• Once you’re happy with the top, use the powder sprayer to completely cover the top with Snowflake Sparkle Mica.
• Use the powder sprayers filled with Lavender Mica, Aqua Pearl Mica, and Party Pink Mica to spray the colors on the top of the soap in different areas. There is no right or wrong way to layer the colors, so have fun with it! But remember – you can always add more color, so start slow. Adding too much color will take away the soft “pearly” look. Less is more in this case!
• Once you’re happy with the top, allow the soap to stay in the mold for 2-3 days. Because it has a water discount, you may be able to unmold it faster than a normal recipe. Once it’s ready, unmold and cut into bars. Allow to cure for 4-6 weeks. Because it has a water discount, it will cure slightly faster than a normal recipe. Enjoy! NOTE: We did not spray the top of the soap with alcohol because it may disrupt the mica dusting. We didn’t notice any soda ash. If you’d like, you can spray the top with 99% isopropyl alcohol. Just make sure the spray is extremely fine, and test a small area first to make sure it doesn’t cause the mica dust to drip.

The post Moonstone Cold Process Soap Tutorial appeared first on Soap Queen.

Rose quartz is such a lovely stone. It’s sometimes referred to as the heart stone, love stone, and the “Crystal of Unconditional Love.” With its beautiful rose pink color, it’s easy to see why it has garnered such adored titles. Rose quartz was the inspiration for this rosy and sparkly soap.

This project is scented with the new Rose Quartz Fragrance Oil, which is a fresh take on a rose scent. Notes of orange zest, jasmine and soft sandalwood make the Rose Quartz Fragrance Oil a modern spin on traditional rose fragrances. An In-The-Pot Swirl technique using shades of white and light pink emulate the natural pattern in the gem. Snowflake Sparkle Mica is dusted on top for a pearl effect, and pink sea salt gives texture. This project is perfect for the crystal lover in your life, or for a Valentine’s Day gift.

What You’ll Need:
5 Pound Mold with Sliding Bottom
Silicone Liner for 5 lb. Wood Mold
13.5 oz. Coconut Oil (25%)
14.6 oz. Palm Oil (27%)
18.9 oz. Olive Oil (35%)
5.4 oz. Green Tea Seed Oil (10%)
1.6 oz. Castor Oil (3%)
7.6 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
17.8 oz. Distilled Water
3.5 oz. Rose Quartz Fragrance Oil
Titanium Dioxide
Electric Bubble Gum
Snowflake Sparkle Mica
Pink Sea Salt, Medium
Optional: Powder Duster

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

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: To ensure that the Titanium Dioxide blends smoothly into the soap batter, we recommend micronizing it before dispersing it in oil. Please note this is an optional tip but it does help with the titanium dioxide clumping in the soap. To micronize colorant, simply use a coffee grinder to blend the colorant to break up any clumps of color and prevent streaks of white from showing in the final soap. We like to use a coffee grinder that has a removable, stainless steel mixing area for easy cleaning. Then, disperse 3 teaspoons of the colorant into 3 tablespoons of sunflower or sweet almond oil (or any other liquid oil). Then in a separate container, disperse 1/2 teaspoon Electric Bubble Gum Colorant into 1/2 tablespoon lightweight liquid oil. Finally, disperse 2 teaspoons Snowflake Sparkle Mica into 2 tablespoons lightweight liquid oil. Use a mini mixer to help get rid of any clumps. Have extra Snowflake Sparkle Mica nearby to dust on top.

FRAGRANCE PREP: Measure 3.5 ounces of Rose Quartz Fragrance Oil into a glass, fragrance oil safe container. 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, palm oil, olive oil, green tea seed oil and castor oil (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 3.5 teaspoons sodium lactate. Stick blend the soap until it’s at a thin trace.

THREE: Add all the titanium dioxide to the soap and whisk to fully incorporate.

FOUR: Split off half the soap into a separate container.

FIVE: To the white soap, add all of the dispersed Snowflake Sparkle Mica and use a whisk to mix in fully.

SIX: To the other container, add a heaping teaspoon of Electric Bubble Gum and stir in with a whisk or spoon.

SEVEN: Add half the fragrance to each container. It’s okay to eyeball it. Use a whisk to incorporate the fragrance.

EIGHT: Now it’s time to make an in-the-pot swirl! Pour the pink soap in various areas of the pot. Pour steadily from a high point to get the color all the way to the bottom of the container.

NINE: Use a chopstick or dowel twice through the soap, hitting each entry point. Only run the chopstick through twice! Too many swirls in the pot can muddle the colors.

TEN: Slowly and carefully pour the soap into one side of the mold. This will allow the soap to swirl as it pours.

ELEVEN: When the soap is thick enough, 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. We found our soap was still fairly thin when poured, so we waited about 30 minutes for it to thicken enough to hold the shape.

TWELVE: Once you’re happy with the texture, pour Snowflake Sparkle Mica into a powder duster and sprinkle on a thin layer.

THIRTEEN: Sprinkle on the pink sea salt, concentrating it toward the center. Gently press the salt into the soap with gloves hands to help it stick to the soap a little better. Add a little more than you want, as some will fall off when cut.

FOURTEEN: Spritz the soap with 99% isopropyl alcohol to help avoid soda ash. Allow the soap to stay in the mold for 3-5 days. Unmold and cut into bars. Allow the bars to cure for 4-6 weeks. Enjoy!

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Rose Quartz Cold Process Soap Tutorial

This Rose Quartz Cold Process Soap features a soft pink swirl and a fresh and floral fragrance!

Course Cold process soap

Cook Time 2 hours hours

Total Time 2 hours hours

Author Soap Queen

Ingredients

• 5 Pound Mold with Sliding Bottom
• Silicone Liner for 5 lb. Wood Mold
• 13.5 oz. Coconut Oil 25%
• 14.6 oz. Palm Oil 27%
• 18.9 oz. Olive Oil 35%
• 5.4 oz. Green Tea Seed Oil 10%
• 1.6 oz. Castor Oil 3%
• 7.6 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
• 17.8 oz. Distilled Water
• 3.5 oz. Rose Quartz Fragrance Oil
• Titanium Dioxide
• Electric Bubble Gum
• Sparkle Snowflake Mica
• Pink Sea Salt Medium

Instructions

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.

To ensure that the Titanium Dioxide blends smoothly into the soap batter, we recommend micronizing it before dispersing it in oil. Please note this is an optional tip but it does help with the titanium dioxide clumping in the soap. To micronize colorant, simply use a coffee grinder to blend the colorant to break up any clumps of color and prevent streaks of white from showing in the final soap. We like to use a coffee grinder that has a removable, stainless steel mixing area for easy cleaning. Then, disperse 3 teaspoons of the colorant into 3 tablespoons of sunflower or sweet almond oil (or any other liquid oil). Then in a separate container, disperse 1/2 teaspoon Electric Bubble Gum Colorant into 1/2 tablespoon lightweight liquid oil. Finally, disperse 2 teaspoons Snowflake Sparkle Mica into 2 tablespoons lightweight liquid oil. Use a mini mixer to help get rid of any clumps. Have Snowflake Sparkle Mica nearby to dust on top.

Measure 3.5 ounces of Rose Quartz Fragrance Oil into a glass, fragrance oil safe container. 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, palm oil, olive oil, green tea seed oil and castor oil (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 3.5 teaspoons sodium lactate. Stick blend the soap until it’s at a thin trace.
• Add all the titanium dioxide to the soap and whisk to fully incorporate.
• Split off half the soap into a separate container.
• To the white soap, add all of the dispersed Snowflake Sparkle Mica and use a whisk to mix in fully.
• To the other container, add a heaping teaspoon of Electric Bubble Gum and stir in with a whisk or spoon.
• Add half the fragrance to each container. It’s okay to eyeball it. Use a whisk to incorporate the fragrance.
• Now it’s time to make an in-the-pot swirl! Pour the pink soap in various areas of the pot. Pour steadily from a high point to get the color all the way to the bottom of the container.
• Use a chopstick or dowel twice through the soap, hitting each entry point. Only run the chopstick through twice! Too many swirls in the pot can muddle the colors.
• Slowly and carefully pour the soap into one side of the mold. This will allow the soap to swirl as it pours.
• When the soap is thick enough, 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. We found our soap was still fairly thin, so we waited about 30 minutes for it to thicken enough to hold the shape.
• Once you’re happy with the texture, pour Snowflake Sparkle Mica into a powder duster and sprinkle on a thin layer.
• Sprinkle on the pink sea salt, concentrating it toward the center. Gently press the salt into the soap with gloves hands to help it stick to the soap a little better. Add a little more than you want, as some will fall off when cut.
• Spritz the soap with 99% isopropyl alcohol to help avoid soda ash. Allow the soap to stay in the mold for 3-5 days. Unmold and cut into bars. Allow the bars to cure for 4-6 weeks. Enjoy!

The post Rose Quartz Cold Process Soap Tutorial appeared first on Soap Queen.

Hot process is a great soapmaking method when you want to enjoy your soap quickly. The main difference between hot process and cold process soap is that hot process soap is “cooked,” which speeds up the saponification process. This results in a loaf of soap that can be cut and enjoyed the same day. That being said, I always recommend a couple weeks of cure time to help water excess water evaporate and create an even firmer and longer lasting bar.

Hot process is usually made in a slow cooker, but can also be done in a double boiler. For this small recipe, I used a two quart Crock-Pot. Your recipe should only fill the cooking vessel halfway or less, because the soap will expand as it cooks. If you’re using a larger recipe, be sure to use a larger pot. If you have a larger sized slow cooker you can still make a smaller batch of soap. Just keep in mind that it may cook faster because it comes in contact with more surface area of the pot.

This recipe took about 12-15 minutes total cook time. Once the soap is done cooking, it will have a thick, fluid Vaseline-type texture. If you want to see hot process in action to get a better idea of the texture, check out this video. It can be tricky to know for sure when it’s done. One way is to place a small amount of the soap (just a small spoonful does the trick) into a cup of distilled water. Stir the soap in the water, and dip a pH strip into the water. If the pH is less than 10, it’s done cooking! If not, it’s still a little lye heavy. Cover and let it cook for a few more minutes.

This soap was inspired by icy winters. Caribbean Blue Mica is added once the soap is done cooking. A bit of Snowflake Sparkle Mica is also added. Because the Snowflake Sparkle Mica is a larger particle mica, you can actually see the sparkles in the final bar. I didn’t disperse the Snowflake Sparkle Mica in this tutorial because the original plan was to create “sparkle veins.” However, I ended up stirring a bit too much, then decided to nix that idea. It mixes in well without dispersing, but you can disperse it in a small amount of liquid oil if you’d like. =) The mica on top will wash away after a use or two, but gives a lovely finishing touch.

What You’ll Need:
2 lb. Wood Loaf Mold
Silicone Liner for 2 lb. Wood Mold
22 oz. Basic Quick Mix
3.1 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
7.3 oz. Distilled Water
.7 oz. Sodium Lactate
1 oz. Sparkling Snowdrop Fragrance Oil
0.2 oz. Peppermint Essential Oil, 2nd Distill
Caribbean Blue Mica
Snowflake Sparkle Mica
Optional: Crinkle Cutter

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

SAFETY FIRST: Suit up for safe handling practices! Goggles, gloves, and long sleeves are your soap making uniform. Be sure that kids and pets are out of the house or unable to access your soaping space, and always soap in a well-ventilated area. Make sure the soap volume will not fill up more than half of your Crock-Pot. If you have never made cold process soap before, I highly recommend you get a couple of basic recipes under your belt before trying out this tutorial. Check out this 4-part series on cold process soap making, especially the episode on lye safety.

COLOR PREP: Disperse 1/2 teaspoon Caribbean Blue Mica in 1/2 tablespoon of sunflower or sweet almond oil (or any other liquid oil). Have the Snowflake Sparkle Mica close by.

FRAGRANCE PREP: Measure 1 ounce of Sparkling Snowdrop Fragrance Oil and 0.2 ounce of Peppermint Essential Oil 2nd Distill into a glass, fragrance oil safe container. 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. Once cooled to about 130 °F , add the sodium lactate. Sodium lactate is used in hot process at 3% of the oil weight to help produce a smoother bar.

TWO: Fully melt the entire bag of Basic Recipe Quick mix until completely clear and there is no cloudiness. Shake the bag to mix up all the oils. Measure 22 oz. into your Crock-Pot and turn it on low. Slowly add the lye water to the oils. Make sure the mixture does not fill up more than half of the pot or cooking vessel. Burp the stick blender, and begin to blend.

THREE: Mix with a stick blender until a thick trace is achieved.

FOUR: Put the lid on the Crock-Pot. After about 10 minutes, check the soap to see the progress made. Starting from the outside, the texture and color of the soap will start to change into a glossy, slightly Vaseline-like texture. If the middle does not appear to be changing, stir the batch to ensure even cooking. Don’t be surprised if the soap starts to grow in volume. Check out how much this soap expanded! Do not leave your soap unattended in the first 30 minutes of cook time for this reason. If the soap gets too high in the pot, wearing gloves, take the pot off heat and stir like crazy.

FIVE: The batch will be ready when it’s the texture of glossy, thin mashed potatoes. This may take another 5-10 minute session or even two or three more stir’n’waits. When you think it’s ready, use a pH strip to test the levels. Place a small amount of the soap into a cup of water and stir. Dip the pH strip into the water. It should be below 10. Be sure not to overcook the soap; you don’t want too dry a texture for the next steps!

NOTE: The amount of time that the soap takes in the Crock-Pot phase can depend on the size and shape of your Crock-Pot. The larger, flatter cooking vessels meant for roasts may go a bit quicker because the soap will be spread out thinner on the heated surface. 

SIX: Add 1 teaspoon of dispersed Caribbean Blue Mica and use a spoon to thoroughly mix in. Add 1/2 tablespoon of Snowflake Sparkle Mica and mix in.

SEVEN: Slowly add the fragrance and essential oil mixture, and stir in.

EIGHT: Working quickly, spoon the soap into the mold. Tap the mold on the counter firmly to help it settle. Once all the soap is in the mold use a spoon or gloved hands to smooth the top.

NINE: Sprinkle the top with Sparkle Snowflake Mica until fully covered. Use gloved hands to gently press the mica into the top; this helps the mica stick a little bit better to the soap. Just be careful, the soap will be hot to the touch.

TEN: Allow the soap to cool and harden in the mold for 1-2 days. Remove from the mold and use the Crinkle Cutter or a sharp non-serrated knife to cut into bars. This soap is ready to use right away, but will last longer in the shower after at least a 2 week cure time.

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Snowdrop Hot Process Soap Tutorial

This hot process recipe is inspired by icy winters, and features plenty of sparkle and a refreshing scent blend.

Course Hot Process Soap

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 50 minutes minutes

Author Soap Queen

Ingredients

• 2 lb. Wood Loaf Mold
• Silicone Liner for 2 lb. Wood Mold
• 22 oz. Basic Quick Mix
• 3.1 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
• 7.3 oz. Distilled Water
• .7 oz. Sodium Lactate
• 1 oz. Sparkling Snowdrop Fragrance Oil
• 0.2 oz. Peppermint Essential Oil 2nd Distill
• Caribbean Blue Mica
• Snowflake Sparkle Mica
• Optional: Crinkle Cutter

Instructions

• SAFETY FIRST: Suit up for safe handling practices! Goggles, gloves, and long sleeves are your soap making uniform. Be sure that kids and pets are out of the house or unable to access your soaping space, and always soap in a well-ventilated area. Make sure the soap volume will not fill up more than half of your crock pot. If you have never made cold process soap before, I highly recommend you get a couple of basic recipes under your belt before trying out this tutorial. Check out this 4-part series on cold process soap making, especially the episode on lye safety.

COLOR PREP: Disperse 1/2 teaspoon Caribbean Blue Mica in 1/2 tablespoon of sunflower or sweet almond oil (or any other liquid oil). Have the Snowflake Sparkle Mica close by.

FRAGRANCE PREP: Measure 1 ounce of Sparkling Snowdrop Fragrance Oil and 0.2 ounce of Peppermint Essential Oil, 2nd Distill into a glass, fragrance oil safe container. 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. Once cooled to about 130 °F , add sodium lactate. Sodium lactate is used in hot process at 3% of the oil weight to help produce a smoother bar.
• Fully melt the entire bag of Basic Recipe Quick mix until completely clear and there is no cloudiness. Shake the bag to mix up all the oils. Measure 22 oz. into your Crock-Pot and turn it on low. Slowly add the lye water to the oils. Make sure the mixture does not fill up more than half of the pot or cooking vessel. Burp the stick blender, and begin to blend.
• Mix with a stick blender until a thick trace is achieved.
• Put the lid on the Crock-Pot. After about 10 minutes, check the soap to see the progress made. Starting from the outside, the texture and color of the soap will start to change into a glossy, slightly Vaseline-like texture. If the middle does not appear to be changing, stir the batch to ensure even cooking. Don’t be surprised if the soap starts to grow in volume. Check out how much this soap expanded! Do not leave your soap unattended in the first 30 minutes of cook time for this reason. If the soap gets too high in the pot, wearing gloves, take the pot off heat and stir like crazy.
• The batch will be ready when it’s the texture of glossy, thin mashed potatoes. This may take another 5-10 minute session or even two or three more stir’n’waits. When you think it’s ready, use a pH strip to test the levels. Place a small amount of the soap into a cup of water and stir. Dip the pH strip into the water. It should be below a 10. Be sure not to overcook the soap; you don’t want too dry a texture for the next steps! NOTE: The amount of time that the soap takes in the Crock-Pot phase can depend on the size and shape of your Crock-Pot. The larger, flatter cooking vessels meant for roasts may go a bit quicker because the soap will be spread out thinner on the heated surface.
• Add 1 teaspoon of dispersed Caribbean Blue Mica and use a spoon to thoroughly mix in. Add 1/2 tablespoon of Snowflake Sparkle Mica and mix in.
• Slowly add the fragrance and essential oil mixture, and stir in.
• Working quickly, spoon the soap into the mold. Tap the mold on the counter firmly to help it settle. Once all the soap is in the mold use a spoon to smooth the top.
• Sprinkle the top with Sparkle Snowflake Mica until fully covered. Use gloved hands to gently press the mica into the top; this helps the mica stick a little bit better to the soap.
• Allow the soap to cool and harden in the mold for 1-2 days. Remove from the mold, and use the Crinkle Cutter or a sharp non-serrated knife to cut into bars. This soap is ready to use right away, but will last longer in the shower after at least a 2 week cure time.

The post Snowdrop Hot Process Soap Tutorial appeared first on Soap Queen.

Here on the western side of Washington state, we don’t get a lot of snow. Luckily, the mountains are nearby when we want to enjoy skiing, snowboarding, sledding, or just building a snowman. Personally, I have my fingers crossed for a little snow below the mountains this year; our yard has a little hill that would be perfect for sledding!

The thought of fresh snow led me to create these super sparkly snowflake melt and pour soaps. They would make a great holiday gift. It’s also a fun project to do with family and friends who are staying during the holidays. If it doesn’t snow, I’ll probably whip up another batch with my mom to make our own white Christmas! =)

These soaps are scented with Fresh Snow Fragrance Oil, which is a clean, ozone-y fragrance. It reminds me a bit of clean laundry. A small amount of soap is colored with Slushy Blue Mica and placed in the snowflake details with an Injector Tool. This does take require a steady hand and a little patience. Having a spray bottle full of rubbing alcohol helps the soap “spread” into the details more easily, and a Clean Up Tool is great for fixing any mistakes.

What You’ll Need:
Two Snowflake 2 Molds
27 oz. Clear Melt and Pour Base
0.4 oz. Fresh Snow Fragrance Oil
Slushy Blue Mica
Super Pearly White Mica
Snowflake Sparkle Mica
Fine Iridescent Glitter
Injector Tool
99% Isopropyl Alcohol in Spray Bottle
Optional: Clean Up Tool & Infrared Thermometer

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

PREP COLORANTS: Dispersing powdered colorants in 99% isopropyl alcohol makes them easier to incorporate into melt and pour. It also helps prevent clumps. In a small container, mix together 1/2 teaspoon Slushy Blue Mica into 1/2 tablespoon alcohol. In a separate container, mix together 1 teaspoon Snowflake Sparkle Mica and 1/4 teaspoon Super Pearly White Mica into 1 tablespoon alcohol. Set colorants aside.

ONE: Chop and melt 3 ounces of Clear Melt and Pour Soap in the microwave using 5-7 second bursts. Because you’re melting such a small amount of soap it can be easy to burn, so use short bursts. Once melted, stir in the Slushy Blue Mica mixture.

TWO: Spray the mold cavities lightly with alcohol. This helps the soap spread into the details. Use scissors to cut a small section off the end of the Injector Tool to make the hole slightly larger. Use the Injector Tool to fill in the snowflake details with blue soap. Work carefully but quickly as the soap will begin to cool and harden in the Injector Tool. Throughout the process, spray the soap with alcohol to get rid of any bubbles. If necessary, reheat the blue soap in the microwave using 3-5 second bursts. If you make any mistakes, allow the soap to harden and use the Clean Up Tool to fix any mistakes.
TIP: Have a cup of hot water nearby to clear out the Injector Tool while filling in the details. This helps prevent the soap from hardening in the tool, which is hard to remove.

THREE: Chop and melt 24 ounces of Clear Melt and Pour Soap base in the microwave using 30-45 second bursts. Add the Snowflake Sparkle Mica and Super Pearly White Mica mixture to the soap and stir in with a spoon. Add 1/2 teaspoon of Fine Iridescent Glitter to the soap and stir in.

FOUR: Add the Fresh Snow Fragrance Oil and use a spoon to fully mix in.

FIVE: Check the temperature of the white soap. If it’s above 130 ° F, allow it to cool until it’s about 120-125 ° F. If it’s too hot, it will melt the blue details below. Once it’s the appropriate temperature, spritz each cavity with alcohol to help the layers stick and pour the white soap into each cavity. Spritz the soap with alcohol to help get rid of any bubbles. Allow the soap to fully cool and harden overnight. Release the soap from the mold, and wrap in plastic wrap to help avoid glycerin dew.

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Shimmering Snowflake Melt & Pour Tutorial

These sparkly snowflake soaps are perfect for the holidays!

Course Melt and Pour Soap

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 35 minutes minutes

Servings 6 soaps

Author Soap Queen

Ingredients

• Two Snowflake 2 Mold
• 27 oz. Clear Melt and Pour Base
• 0.4 oz. Fresh Snow Fragrance Oil
• Slushy Blue Mica
• Super Pearly White Mica
• Snowflake Sparkle Mica
• Injector Tool
• 99 % Isopropyl Alcohol in Spray Bottle
• Optional: Clean Up Tool

Instructions

PREP COLORANTS: Dispersing powdered colorants in 99% isopropyl alcohol makes them easier to incorporate into melt and pour. It also helps prevent clumps. In a small container, mix together 1/2 teaspoon Slushy Blue Mica into 1/2 tablespoon alcohol. In a separate container, mix together 1 teaspoon Snowflake Sparkle Mica and 1/4 teaspoon Super Pearly White Mica into 1 tablespoon alcohol. Set colorants aside.

• Chop and melt 3 ounces of Clear Melt and Pour Soap in the microwave using 5-7 second bursts. Because you’re melting such a small amount of soap it can be easy to burn, so use short bursts. Once melted, stir in the Slushy Blue Mica mixture.
• Spray the mold cavities lightly with alcohol. This helps the soap spread into the details. Use scissors to cut a small section off the end of the Injector Tool to make the hole slightly larger. Use the Injector Tool to fill in the snowflake details with blue soap. Work carefully but quickly as the soap will begin to cool and harden in the Injector Tool. Throughout the process, spray the soap with alcohol to get rid of any bubbles. If necessary, reheat the blue soap in the microwave using 3-5 second bursts. If you make any mistakes, allow the soap to harden and use the Clean Up Tool to fix any mistakes. TIP: Have a cup of hot water nearby to clear out the Injector Tool while filling in the details. This helps prevent the soap from hardening in the tool, which is hard to remove.
• Chop and melt 24 ounces of Clear Melt and Pour Soap base in the microwave using 30-45 second bursts. Add the Snowflake Sparkle Mica and Super Pearly White Mica mixture to the soap and stir in with a spoon.
• Add the Fresh Snow Fragrance Oil and use a spoon to fully mix in.
• Check the temperature of the white soap. If it’s above 130 ° F, allow it to cool until it’s about 120-125 ° F. If it’s too hot, it will melt the blue details below. Once it’s the appropriate temperature, spritz each cavity with alcohol to help the layers stick and pour the white soap into each cavity. Spritz the soap with alcohol to help get rid of any bubbles. Allow the soap to fully cool and harden overnight. Release the soap from the mold, and wrap in plastic wrap to help avoid glycerin dew.

The post Shimmering Snowflake Melt & Pour Tutorial appeared first on Soap Queen.

What could be better than a cupcake? A calorie-free, non-fat soap cupcake of course! =) These Sparkling Champagne Cold Process Soap Cupcakes feature a romantic blend of Champagne and White Rose Fragrance Oil. The frosting is covered in Snowflake Sparkle Mica and Fine Iridescent Glitter, and topped with a pink melt and pour embed. Soap cupcakes always bring the “wow” factor and make terrific gifts. Just make sure the recipients know these cupcakes are for washing and not eating! Can’t get enough soapy cupcakes? Check out the How to Make Bath Bomb Cupcakes video for more project ideas.

This recipe contains several advanced cold process techniques, including cold process soap frosting. If you have never made cold process soap before, please get a few cold process recipes under your belt and really understand the science and safety of soapmaking before attempting this project. If you have never made cold process soap before, check out the Basics of Cold Process Soapmaking video series on Soap Queen TV.  In particular, be sure to watch the video on lye safety.

What You’ll Need:
Soap Cupcakes Base:
Round Cupcake Silicone Mold
2.4 oz. Sweet Almond Oil
4 oz. Coconut Oil
4 oz. Olive Oil
4.8 oz. Palm Oil
.8 oz. Shea Butter
2.3 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
5.3 oz. Distilled Water
1.5 oz. Champagne Fragrance Oil
1 oz. White Rose Fragrance Oil
Hydrated Chrome Green Oxide
Neon Blue Raspberry Colorant
Titanium Dioxide

Soap Frosting:
3.8 oz. Cocoa Butter
7.6 oz. Coconut Oil
3.8 oz Olive Oil
3.8 oz. Shea Butter
2.8 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
6.3 oz. Distilled Water
Snowflake Sparkle Mica
Fine Iridescent Glitter
Disposable Frosting Bag
1M Frosting Tip

Soap Embeds:
Small 9 Ball Silicone Mold
2 oz. LCP Clear MP Base
Party Pink Mica
Snowflake Sparkle Mica
Optional: 99% Isopropyl Alcohol

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

Have you tried making soap cupcakes before? They are one of my all time favorite projects!

The post Sparkling Champagne Soap Cupcakes on Soap Queen TV appeared first on Soap Queen.

It doesn’t snow a lot here in Bellingham, WA. I always get a little excited when does, even with the dicey driving conditions that follow. The snow falling is peaceful and beautiful. And when the sun comes out and shines on the fresh snow, it looks like it’s sparkling. That was the inspiration for this Sparkling Snow Sugar Scrub.

The scrub is perfect for those who prefer a lightweight product. The Foaming Bath Butter is light and fluffy. The sugar exfoliates while shea butter and shea oil moisturize the skin. As you scrub, a fresh and outdoorsy combination of Fresh Snow and Spring Meadow fragrance oils hit your nose. The Snowflake Sparkle Mica and Super Pearly White Mica leave a bit of shimmer on your skin. It’s like a mini Swiss Alps vacation each time you exfoliate!

Because the sugar is a gentle exfoliant, the scrub can be used on both the face and body. Keep in mind the micas do leave a shimmer on the skin, so you may want to leave them out if you’re using the product on your face.

What You’ll Need:
Two Tall 8 oz. Plastic Bail Jar
14 oz. Foaming Bath Butter
1.5 oz. Shea Butter
1 oz. Shea Oil, Liquid
6 oz. Sugar
5 mL Fresh Snow Fragrance Oil
3 mL Spring Meadow Fragrance Oil
4 tsp. Snowflake Sparkle Mica
1 tsp. Super Pearly White Mica
Optional: Disposable Frosting Bag

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

ONE: In a large mixing bowl, add the Foaming Bath Butter and whip with a handheld mixer until smooth. You can also use a stand mixer if you prefer.

TWO: Add the shea butter and shea oil, and use the mixer to whip until the mixture is completely blended.

THREE: Add the Snowflake Sparkle Mica, Super Pearly White Mica, Fresh Snow Fragrance Oil and Spring Meadow Fragrance Oil. Use the mixer to blend until smooth. Be sure to start on a low speed so the mica does not “poof!” everywhere.

FOUR: Add sugar to the mixture, and blend until smooth.

FIVE: Transfer the scrub into the plastic bail jars, or another container. For this scrub, I chose to place the scrub into a frosting bag, and pipe the scrub into the jar for a smoother look. This step is optional, but it really makes the scrub look polished and professional.

SIX: To help make the scrub “pop,” sprinkle a small amount of the Snowflake Sparkle Mica on top of the scrub. Store the scrub in a dry, cool place.
A note about preservatives: Because the Foaming Bath Butter already contains a preservative, an additional preservative was not used in this recipe. If you would like to add a preservative, a .5% usage rate is recommended so as to not over preserve the product. Read more in the Talk It Out Tuesday: Preservatives post.

Have you ever been inspired to by a movie to create bath and beauty products?

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Whipped Sparkling Snow Sugar Scrub

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Author Soap Queen

Ingredients

• Two Tall 8 oz. Plastic Bail Jar
• 14 oz. Foaming Bath Butter
• 1.5 oz. Shea Butter
• 1 oz. Shea Oil Liquid
• 6 oz. Sugar
• 5 mL Fresh Snow Fragrance Oil
• 3 mL Spring Meadow Fragrance Oil
• 4 tsp. Snowflake Sparkle Mica
• 1 tsp. Super Pearly White Mica
• Optional: Disposable Frosting Bag

Instructions

• In a large mixing bowl, add the Foaming Bath Butter and whip with a handheld mixer until smooth. You can also use a stand mixer if you prefer.
• Add the shea butter and shea oil, and use the mixer to whip until the mixture is completely blended.
• Add the Snowflake Sparkle Mica, Super Pearly White Mica, Fresh Snow Fragrance Oil and Spring Meadow Fragrance Oil. Use the mixer to blend until smooth. Be sure to start on a low speed so the mica does not “poof!” everywhere.
• Add sugar to the mixture, and blend until smooth.
• Transfer the scrub into the plastic bail jars, or another container. For this scrub, I chose to place the scrub into a frosting bag, and pipe the scrub into the jar for a smoother look. This step is optional, but it really makes the scrub look polished and professional.
• To help make the scrub “pop” sprinkle a small amount of the Snowflake Sparkle Mica on top of the scrub. Store the scrub in a dry, cool place.
• A note about preservatives: Because the Foaming Bath Butter already contains a preservative, an additional preservative was not used in this recipe. If you would like to add a preservative, a .5% usage rate is recommended so as to not over preserve the product.

The post Sparkling Snow Sugar Scrub appeared first on Soap Queen.