Packaging Archives - Page 2 of 9

Interview with Evelyn of EvieSoap

August 14, 2012 Filed Under: Business Musings

I recently bought some amazing soap from EvieSoap’s shop on Etsy. I had a hard time choosing which bar to buy, but ultimately went with Balance, a mixture of Ocean Rain, Vetiver and Bergamot that is wonderfully calming yet fresh. Upon receiving my order, I was delighted to see a few extras tucked in! Lindsay, a mix of Sweet Meyer Lemon and Lemongrass, is earthy and sweet, and Urban Antidote is a refreshing and invigorating blend of Lavender, Rosemary and Peppermint. With such a talent for creating unique and colorful fragrance/essential oil blends and such nice extra touches with my order (including a hand written thank you note), I had to get to know the artisan behind EvieSoap!

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How to Label: Lotion

December 12, 2011 Filed Under: Lotion

Here we are on the final installment of our labeling series. I hope you’ve found these helpful, easy to understand and a good starting point for entering into the world of producing retail-ready products. I’ve already shown you how to label a lip balm and cold process soap.

In this post, I want to talk about how you would label a handmade lotion and some particular things to look out for in regards to labeling lotion.

First thing to know – and this may seem obvious – is that the most dominant part of the label should be what the product is. This should be on the front of the product. So ‘Soap Queen Lotion’ should be written with the largest size font. Also, be sure that it is clear what the product is. For instance, if you want to call your lotion ‘cream’ or ‘body butter’ that is acceptable, but something confusing like ‘Soap Queen Gunkity Gunk’ would not be acceptable.

The ingredients should be listed in the order used, which I explain in more detail in the lip balm labeling post. [Read more…]

How to Label Cold Process Soap

November 30, 2011 Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

This is the second post in my series on how to label your products. In the first post I explained how to label lip balm including how to list your ingredients using the proper terms in the correct order.

As I mentioned in that post, this is just the bare minimum; there are so many little details that I can’t possibly cover in a blog post. Thus, I highly recommend the book Soap & Cosmetic Labeling by Marie Gale. It is a concise and easy-to-read book, full of examples about labeling cosmetics with a special emphasis on soap. Also, the FDA’s website has many interesting articles and bonus, you can read the law as it is actually written. They also have a free Cosmetic Labeling Manual that addresses all of the basics of labeling.

Soap is a special case when it comes to labeling. The FDA does not require ingredient labeling for soap. That’s right! Nothing. [Read more…]

How to Shrink Wrap Soap

November 21, 2011 Filed Under: Tips & Tricks

With simple-to-use shrink wrap soap bands, you can easily provide a professional finish for your soap without investing in a heat tunnel. Our Shrink Wrap bands shrink down with the application of heat from a heat gun. Although a hair dryer will work, it won’t achieve the smooth, fully shrunken wrap results. Best of all, these shrink wrap bands have a perforated easy-open strip for ease of use when your customer gets their soap home.

Directions: Slide the soap into the shrink wrap so the perforated plastic is on the long edge of the soap (the part that you would tear to open). I like to start on on the front side of the soap. Apply the heat until it starts to shrink. It may look funny at first but once you apply heat to all of the sides and ends you’ll see it starting to come together. I like to do the ends last for the finishing touch.

Dimensions: 3 15/16″ x 3 7/16″ (opens on this side). Tear strip runs the 3 15/16″ length.

Tip: If you have small soap, just cut the Shrink Wrap Band in half to fit smaller bars easily. We like to do this for sample soaps.

Voila! Professionally wrapped bar of Rosemary Cold Process Soap. It’s super easy to do and the soap looks super professional to boot.

Wrap It Up

July 26, 2011 Filed Under: Melt & Pour Soap

On our (super active) Facebook Fan Page, Cigar Bands come up in conversation at least once a week – how to create them, how to use them, how to print them etc… and though we’re a little slow, we finally got the hint and created some easy cigar bands that you can customize yourself for your products. This cigar band was designed around the oh so popular 12 Bar Square Silicone Mold

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Soap Favor Boxes by Erin

June 29, 2011 Filed Under: Tips & Tricks

Anne-Marie Note: Like the way guest blogger Erin thinks? She’s teaching Scrubs 101 and 201 at the 2012 Soap Weekend Intensive. The link hasn’t been made public yet so shhhh, you’ve got a head start. Only 19 spots are available – don’t miss out and sign up for Soap Weekend Intensive in June 2012 HERE!

Part of my graphic design training was creating package design, and making custom box dies was always one of my favorite tasks! It requires you to see a three dimensional object deconstructed into two dimensions and I think it is a fun brain exercise. I bought an eyelet setter a while ago and one of my first thoughts was how to make a soap box that could be tied together without the use of glue. This is one of my simple designs for a 2 inch by 3 inch by 1 inch bar of soap. The eyelets make clean holes to lace ribbon, and add a nice finished design element to the box. You can download the template for this box here and follow the simple instructions to put it together! ~Erin Pikor

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So You Want to Sell Your Soap? (Part One)

June 15, 2011 Filed Under: Business Musings

This is the first of a three part series on selling soap. Part One will discuss general topics like packaging and labeling, where to sell, licenses, taxes, etc. Part Two will discuss issues specific to cold process soap and Part Three will discuss issues specific to melt and pour soap.

You’re excited! You love soap and you want to sell yours. You love your product, you love making it, your friends love it! Now what?

There are several considerations:

How will you package it?
Where will you sell it?
What does the government want from you or require of you?
Where can you get insurance?

We’ll take one at a time.

Packaging: If you’re selling your soap, people will be picking it up, smelling it, passing it to friends and family, dropping it and so forth. If you’re doing markets and fairs, you’ll be packing and packing, transporting and displaying your product. In a nutshell: It’s going to get battered. When you package your soap, you should think about how you can best protect it and how you can best get information to the buyers on your package. One of the cheapest ways to wrap your soap is with what’s called a cigar band. It’s just a strip of paper that goes around the bar. You can use plain or fancy paper, you can print them yourself or have them printed. In the photo below, you can see my soap with cigar band wrapping. The logo and soap scent are listed on the front; ingredients, etc., are on the back.

Cigar band-style labels indicate brand and scent

You can wrap vertically or horizontally. The bands on my soap are quite narrow, but most people still place their fingers on the paper when they pick up the bar.

Obviously, you can go beyond the cigar band. You can use paper or fabric to wrap the whole bar, you can shrink wrap the bars, use boxes, fabric bags…. The list goes on. Bottom line: Protect the bars.

[Read more…]

Pack It Up!

April 28, 2011 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Exciting news from the Bramble Berry warehouse!

Bramble Berry just installed TWO new packing machines that will help increase our shipping efficiency AND decrease our shipping damages (which are never fun to deal with). We’re so excited to be able to better serve our customers (that’s YOU)!

As a result, we weren’t able to ship out orders for nearly an entire day and are running a little behind our usual 24 hour turnaround. We plan on making up the time very quickly so we’ll be back to our regular schedule soon!

On your next order you can look forward to a peanut free package from Bramble Berry!

The Crate - no there were no velociraptors within.

So complicated!

Zoe-Life Shout Out

April 12, 2011 Filed Under: Business Musings

Loving my order from, Zoe-Life! When I saw these happy and foody soaps I couldn’t resist the splurge!

Pictured above are the Dead Sea Salt Bar, Cupcake and Kisses (my favorite) and Butt Naked Felted Soap.

Below are some pictures from Erika, owner of Zoe-Life.

Naturally I loved her sweet cupcakes and kisses soap so Erica (Zoe-Life creator)was kind enough to share her technique so the Soap Queen readers could have their hand at making their own. Here’s a brief description of her process.

“Ok, this was my first attempt, but I adore these little cupcakes I found. I have a soft spot for all things sweet. I made this Cupcake ‘n Kisses soap using melt n pour for the cupcakes and chocolate kisses. I used the basic soap recipe but replaced the water with Aloe Vera juice and used three oxide colors, pink, turquoise and titanium dioxide. I used Bramble Berry lcp melt n pour for the cupcakes and the kisses. I used glitter and some sugar sprinkles to cover the top (next time I will use jojoba beads for the sprinkles.) Then I used a yummy peppermint patty fragrance. It smells so sweet and good. Anyway, you were an inspiration for me to do something with cupcakes. It was lots of fun!”

Want more of Zoe-Life? Check out her website, Etsy shop and Facebook!

Zoe Life Website

Zoe Life on Etsy

Zoe Life on Facebook

Lux Naturals Shout Out

March 22, 2011 Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

Lux Naturals Handcrafted Soap and Candles

[Read more…]

Will You Be My (Etsy) Valentine?

February 5, 2011 Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

Enjoy some Valentine eye candy (errr, eye soap!) from the creative crafters of Etsy.

Cherry Cheesecake Shea Butter Soap– Batty’s Bath

Hugs and Kisses Soap Set– So Appealing Bath, Body and Home

Candy Hearts Felted Soap– Engelfelt Designs

Sweetheart Cupcake Soap– Sunbasilgarden Soaps

Rose and Yogurt Soap– Bathhouse

Black Raspberry and Vanilla– A Slice of Delight

Lilac Rose Vegan Soap– De Shawn Marie

Valentine Soap-Circular Heart– Joan’s Gardens

Purple Valentine’s Heart Felted Lavender Soap– So Fino

Interested in making your own Valentine themed soaps?

Check out the Soap Queen V-Day mash up HERE.

Magical Soap Swap Express (Photos)

December 18, 2010 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

We’re done with the Magical Soap Swap Express and judging from our Facebook page, lots of our fun swappers are getting their boxes as well. It was EPIC! Thank you to all who sent in beautiful soaps (cold process and melt and pour) using Bramble Berry fragrances! It was a smashing success, entirely thanks to Amber’s help and organization (judging from the gifts that were sent in for Amber, I’m sure many you swappers talked to Amber and loved her just like we do).

Our Cold Process entries: Oatmeal Stout and Cranberry Fig.

Click the links for the recipes.

On a whim one day (in October, right before our ‘busy season’) I thought it would be fun to have a soap swap with the Bramble Berry fans on Facebook…so I posted the idea (without talking to my team first) to see if anyone would be interested. To my surprise there were 100+ people who loved the idea. Thankfully, my team forgave me for not asking them. I realllllly didn’t expect 100+ swappers or else I swear, I would have asked! The soaps started rolling in like thunder and we opened each box with Christmas morning excitement. It was so much fun to see soaps made by Bramble Berry’s fabulous customers. Hundreds of jaw dropping soaps scented with BB fragrances and essential oils filled our soaping studio – I was in heaven! Check out just a fraction of the swappy, soapy eye candy…

Cold process category

A few melt and pour entries

Though Amber did (not kidding) 90% of the work, I did manage to swoop in for the last 10% of the individual soap wrapping, boxing up and final shipping labels. Amber and all of the amazing swappers deserve all the praise for the successful swap. Thanks again for everyone’s participation. I feel so lucky to be involved in such a close-knit and talented soaping community. Looking forward to the next magical soap swap! And yes, this time, I’ll ask my team before I schedule it.

Dirty Laundry or Awfully Sweet Cupcakes?

December 11, 2010 Filed Under: Business Musings

Jeanee, from Dirty Laundry, is such a dear. She was part Bramble Berry’s first SOAP testing panel and tested a bunch of potential new fragrances in her adorable line of cupcake bath fizzies. She was kind enough to send us some some of her samples. And I’m so thankful she saved them for us – they flew off the shelf at her last craft show. Of course, having seen them, we’re not surprised. They’re so cute that they rival puppy dogs and unicorns.

Pink Bubblegum, Spanish Moss, Lemon Meringue, Alpine Meadows, Rum Raisin, Citrus Blossom, Spiced Cider, Dulce De Leche and Powder Room

And definitely check out Jeanee’s blog: Dirty Laundry . I read it every day!

Thanks again, Jeanee! You ROCK!

The Soap is Rolling in!

November 16, 2010 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

The swap entries are rolling in! And we couldn’t be more excited. The soaps are beautiful and some of the packaging is just amazing. Here’s a photo of just a few of the bars we have received – more to come!

In addition to the beautiful soap, this is a great photo showing all the different ways you can label your soap if that part of the swap is confusing for you.

On the far left, Jennifer printed out the type of soap she made and the ingredients in card stock, punched a hole in it and then tied it around a cellophane bag with raffia.

Next, Traci used standard address labels to seal the tissue paper she wrapped around each bar and list the ingredients and name of her soap company.

In the center, Emma printed out her info on paper, trimmed it down and then attached it to some really cute card stock – like the type you can find in the scrap booking section of the craft store – and tied it on with a pretty ribbon.

Next, David made a label that is almost exactly the same size as a business card. He attached it to one side of the bar of soap so you can still admire the lovely swirl on the other side.

And finally, on the far right, Ann from Pitter Patter did a classic cigar wrap style and made it extra cute by attaching a ribbon to the top. So cute!

For more info about our soap swap check out this post. Remember, Dec. 3rd is the deadline to get your soap to us. Be sure to ship early and avoid any holiday shipping delays!

Thanks so much everyone, I can’t wait to see more.