Hidden Christmas Tree Soap Designs Video
The holiday season is usually the busiest time of year for soapmakers and small business owners. Preparing for markets and dealing with the increase in orders can feel a bit overwhelming. Luckily, the soapmaking community is here to help. We asked how people stayed on track on our Facebook and Instagram pages and got some great tips – thanks to everyone who commented. Find the tips below.
Although I do offer a wide variety of colors, scents and styles of soaps for the holidays, I try to stick with just a couple favorite recipes…instead of many different ones. That way, ingredients are always available, recipes are tried, tested and true and labels are universal. There's plenty of time after the holidays to play with new recipes and techniques. -Karen W.
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Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you are having a terrific holiday with family and friends. Our Christmas was spent with my parents, brother and sister-in-law. It was filled with good food and a few gifts. And because I'm not currently leading a nutrition challenge, I enjoyed my fair share of cookies. =)
Lily and Jamisen are at such fun ages for Christmas; Santa is completely magical and unwrapping presents is a blast. My niece Alise (the additional kiddo in the family photo above) is now over two years old, so all the kiddos share in the Christmas excitement. Kids really make the holidays fun, don't you think?
We also magically kept a light dusting of snow in the neighborhood so were able to sled today too. Lily's Grandma (my Mom) is Norwegian and Lily showed that side of her genetics today, staying outside to sled, bird-watch and play in the snow long after her brother had gone inside to get warm.
It was a wonderful Christmas day that went on all day long. The kids are at the age where they opened one gift and then played with that one gift for a while before opening the next one. Because of this, Christmas morning felt long and drawn out all day … because, it was (!). The big hit gifts were a Lemonade stand for Jamisen and a "Stella" baby and crib for Lily. It was my favorite Christmas yet; the snow was so festive and fun and the kids were super fun to play with. I feel so thankful for all of the blessings in our life: health, our family, good food, meaningful work, friends, and the luxury of spending a day focused on love, laughter and relationship.
A big thank you to all the Bramble Berry customers that made this year such a success. 
❤ PS – Our office is closed today and tomorrow, but will reopen on Tuesday. Our website is open for orders 24/7.
Christmas is just a few weeks away. Hard to believe, I know! If you're making handmade gifts, melt and pour soap is a great option at this stage in the game. It only takes a few hours to harden, and is ready to use as soon as it's fully cooled. These Christmas Star Melt and Pour Soaps are the perfect way to spread the Christmas cheer. They are also a great project for beginners.
First, the soap is colored with Shimmer Gold Color Block for a sparkly gold hue. It's scented with Sleigh Ride Fragrance Oil, one of my all-time favorite holiday scents. It does discolor brown, so don't forget the Vanilla Color Stabilizer! Once the soap is unmolded, a mixture of mica and alcohol is painted on the star details to really make them pop. To help seal the mica, spray the soap lightly with non-scented aerosol hairspray. This creates a seal that makes the mica a little more resistant to rubbing off when handled. That being said, the mica will wash off after one to two uses. I still think it's worth it though. =)
This project is perfect to make with family visiting for the holidays. The hardest part is "painting" the soap once unmolded, and even that is pretty fool-proof. Young kids would have fun adding the colorant, fragrance and stirring the soap! It would be a great project to create a new holiday tradition.
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I don't want to inspire panic…but there are 62 days until Christmas. In other words, Christmas Eve is exactly two months away. If you're the type who runs to the mall the week before for gifts, you have plenty of time. But, if you're planning on giving handmade gifts this year, it's time to start crafting…yay!
Planning on giving cold process soap this year? Soap made by the beginning of November will be fully cured just in time for Christmas or Hanukkah. If the soap has a water discount, you give yourself a bit of wiggle room. =) Below are a few of my favorite holiday-inspired cold process soap tutorials. But of course, keep in mind your soap doesn't have to be holiday themed. Creating soap made with your recipient's favorite scent or color is a great way to make them feel extra special.
Far left, clockwise: Sparkling Snowdrop Cold Process Soap Tutorial, Holiday Candy Rebatch Tutorial, Christmas Tree Swirl Cold Process, CPOP Swirls Tutorial
If you have a lot of gifts to give, the Cold Process Soap Wedding Favor Tutorial shows you how to make 72 guest-sized bars in one batch. Switch out the pink colorant for red or green for a festive look. Bundle several bars in a gift bag, or give each bar individually. These little bars make great stocking stuffers or gifts for a teacher, doctor, or mail carrier.
If you have a lot of gifts to give, this tutorial makes 72 bars in one batch!
If you make melt and pour soap, time is on your side because melt and pour doesn't require any cure time. And with so many design possibilities, you're sure to find the perfect melt and pour project. For the person who appreciates sparkle and shine, melt and pour soap gems would be right up their alley. Learn how to make emerald and amethyst soap in this Soap Queen TV video, then check out the Sparkly Garnet Soap Gems Tutorial. If you're looking for an easier project, the DIY Sparkling Bath Crystals would make a great gift as well.
If you prefer something more natural, the Star Anise Melt & Pour Soaps are made with natural colorants and essential oils. Anise stars and cinnamon sticks are placed on top for a finishing touch. The Minty Clay Melt & Pour Bars contain poppy seeds for exfoliation, along with activated charcoal, green zeolite clay and spirulina powder for color. The Lavender & Clay Mondo Bath Fizzies are made with clays and Lavender 40/42 Essential Oil for a calming scent in the tub.
Left to right, clockwise: Lavender & Clay Mondo Bath Fizzies, Minty Clay Melt & Pour Bars, Star Anise Melt & Pour Soaps
Not quite ready to think about making Christmas presents yet? Get in the spirit with DIY Scented Pine Cones. They are super easy to make and fill your house with your favorite scent. This year, I'm going to use Cedar and Amber Fragrance Oil for a woodsy scent. I can't wait to start decorating the rest of my house for the holidays. My advent calendar is ready and waiting to be hung up! =)
Looking for more holiday inspiration? The #SoapShare tag on Instagram is full of amazing holiday soapy projects. I've put together just a few of my favorites below. Keep tagging your photos with #SoapShare, I love to see them! If you're not a crafter but want to support those who are, many of these talented soapers are selling their creations. Click on their name below to be directed to their Instagram page and learn more. =)
Top row, left to right: marissac, youniquely_sophahontas, yanashlegel
Middle row, left to right: ooflowerbudoo, artistandchemist, madalmysoap
Bottom row, left to right: ketoretsoaps, sheaxeensoaps, siennalily_soaps
Top row, left to right: walkingtreesoaps, wildpoppysoapco, carolovesoaps
Middle row, left to right: sorcerysoap, wanderingoaksoap, suminspiration
Bottom row, left to right: earthsrawbeauty, blissfullyyourssoap, laughingdoglather
Top row, left to right: soapgallery, walnutgrovesoaps, crickettsoaps
Middle row, left to right: smoochies.id, simplicitysoaps, marierayma
Bottom row, left to right: bluevioletsoaps, mimi_and_boo, whitetaillanefarm
Have you started making soap for the holidays yet? I feel like a broken record when I say "start early!" every year, but planning ahead really is key. Nobody needs added stress during the holidays! =)
During the holidays, I love to fill my home with a warm and comforting scent. Pre-children, you could always find several candles and wax tarts in my living room. =) But toddlers + open flames = nothing good. So this year, I found myself reaching for scented pine cones at a local craft store. Then it hit me…why not create scented pine cones with my own custom scent?
As it turns out, scented pine cones are extremely easy to make. All you need are pine cones, fragrance, droppers and gloves. Scented pine cones at the craft store are usually scented with cinnamon. I love making them myself because I can customize with my favorite fragrance. I scented half of these pine cones with Cinnamon Sticks Fragrance Oil for a spicy and sweet scent, and half of the pine cones with Christmas Tree Cybilla Fragrance Oil for a classic Christmas scent. They smell absolutely amazing together! Half of the pine cones are in a bowl as a centerpiece in my living room, and the other half are nestled into my tree for extra scent.
In my tests, the scent was the strongest for the first 2 weeks. After two weeks they still smelled amazing, but were not as strong. I found my pine cones during a weekend stroll, but if you live in an area where pine cones are hard to come by, you can find them online. I'm so excited that this project turned out so well. Next year, I plan on making my scented pine cones into a wreath like this one. How cute would that be? Not to mention it would smell amazing! =)
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Have you started crafting for the holidays? They will be here before you know it, so now is the time! In particular, if you're planning on making soap for holiday gifts…start soaping! =) Today I'm switching gears from soap to a fun DIY project that will fill your house with Christmas cheer. If you've never counted down the days until Christmas with an advent calendar, they are a fun way to build excitement and anticipation! In particular, kiddos love opening a small surprise everyday.
The great thing about this DIY is that it's surprisingly easy to make. I bought a corkboard from the craft store, along with some simple red ribbon and push pins. Each muslin bag is stamped with a number to represent the days until Christmas. Then, you can fill each bag with whatever small goodies you'd like! For the kids, small candies and dollar store items are fun and cost effective. You could also give the advent calendar as a gift itself, and fill each bag with small gifts. They are so easy to customize depending on the person and their interests. =)
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The winter months are notorious for dry and cold air, which can cause extreme skin dryness and flakiness. During this time, skin needs extra moisture to stay comfortable and hydrated. If your skin needs additional TLC during winter, these Gingerbread Lotion Bars are made with a combination of extremely skin-loving oils and butters. Cocoa butter and coffee butter in particular are excellent for creating a barrier that helps your skin retain moisture. They also smell amazing! Combined with Cinnamon Sugar Fragrance Oil, these bars leave a sweet and spicy smell on the skin.
To help the adorable features on the gingerbread man pop, the bars are "painted" with Copper Sparkle Mica mixed with 99% isopropyl alcohol. The alcohol dries, leaving behind lines of sparkly mica. For the first few uses, the bars will give your skin a light sparkle. If you love the Gingerbread Man Mold as much as I do (it's so cute!), check out the Cheery & Bright Gingerbread Man Melt and Pour Tutorial. If you prefer classic holiday colors, the video below shows you how to make adorable gingerbread man soaps. They make perfect gifts for friends and family.
Packaging and shipping lotion bars can be a little tricky because they are extremely heat sensitive. I recommend keeping these bars in a dry, cool place. If the bars come in contact with heat, they can melt. For tips on shipping during warm weather, check out this post. This box template is the perfect size for the adorable Gingerbread Man Mold. Simply print out the template on plain paper and use the template to trace onto cardstock. You can also print the template directly on cardstock if your printer will allow. Then, fold up the cardstock to create a perfect box for showcasing your gingerbread man creation! You'll want to line the bottom of the cardstock box with freezer paper to prevent the gingerbread lotion bar man from getting the box all oily. Also, this box won't hold oil, in the event you ship to someplace extra hot that melts your little gingerbread man lotion bars in transit.
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With Thanksgiving behind us, the countdown to Christmas has officially begun. If you're feeling a little behind in holiday gift preparation, don't fret. There is still some time to create unique, handmade gifts for your family and friends. But don't wait, it's time to get crafting!
The 12 Days of Christmas series featured twelve easy to make projects that would make fantastic gifts. From melt and pour and wax tarts to lip scrub and nail polish, you are sure to find a gift option for everybody on your list. Looking for packaging inspiration? Check out the Packaging Inspiration video on Soap Queen TV, along with the #Make it Monday: Packaging photo gallery on Facebook.
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The holiday season will soon be upon us. With only 44 days until Christmas, now is the perfect time to start creating homemade gifts. Starting today, keep your eyes on the blog for 12 days of consecutive holiday inspired tutorials. All the projects are easy to make and even easier to give!
To kick things off, these Scented Beeswax Ornaments are the perfect addition to your Christmas tree. Scented with Woodland Elves Fragrance Oil, these ornaments smell like a fresh pine, clove and juniper. If you have a fake tree this year, these ornaments are a great way to bring the fresh Christmas tree scent inside!
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Soapy inspiration can come from a variety of different sources. From places and design to scents and colors, possible influence is everywhere! For this adorable gingerbread man project, inspiration came from a colorful yet slightly festive color palette via Design Seeds. With a deep burgundy, bright green and icy blues, this color combination is a fresh take on the holidays!
If you'd like to create a more traditional gingerbread man soap, check out this Soap Queen TV video. You can also download this free box template to package up your cute creation for the holiday season.
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Handmade cold process soap makes a fantastic gift. Everybody loves the beautiful designs, fun colors and skin loving properties. Because many people have never experienced handmade soap before, it's extra fun to give! This festive Christmas Tree Swirl Cold Process features a reverse hidden feather swirl, made popular by Handmade in Florida. Topped with Sparkle Gold Mica, this cold process project would be perfect under the tree.
Cold process soap requires a four to six week cure time, making now the optimal time to create soap for the holidays. If you are looking for more holiday project ideas, check out the Handmade Holiday Gift Inspiration post. From lip balm to melt and pour, there is a gift for everybody on your list.
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Preparing handmade holiday gifts requires a little bit of planning. That's why Soap Queen holiday projects have come early this year! This modern holiday melt and pour project features festive layers and embeds to create a snowy forest landscape. With glitter and the piney Christmas Forest Fragrance Oil, this soap is the perfect holiday gift.
When making melt and pour soap in advance, it's important to store and wrap it properly in order to keep it in tip-top shape. This Packaging Soap Queen Tv Episode shows you how to protect your melt and pour from glycerin dew (aka: sweating) and fading. Storing your melt and pour in a dry, cool place also helps extend the life of your creations.
Ready to kick off your holiday crafting? Now until September 18th at noon, PST, all fragrance oils are 20% off! Use the code: SAVESCENTS during checkout.
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Hidden Christmas Tree Soap Designs Video
Source: https://www.soapqueen.com/tag/christmas/
Posted by: jonesprich1962.blogspot.com
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