How to Make Gemstone Soap Rocks

I have seen a commercial version of soap rocks and they do look like the real thing.  I have never made them myself since I am not comfortable making them look so realistic.  I did manage to find instructions on How to Make Gemstone Soap Rocks from Rustic Escentuals Crafting Library. These soaps are make with clear and white glycerin melt and pour soap base.

Blue Rain Drop Swirl Cold Process

Raindrops keep fallin' on my head...that it what the weather has been like in California for a couple of days.  To celebrate a wet October, I decided to post this cold process soap recipe from The Soap Queen called Blue Rain Drop Swirl.  This is an intermediate level project that takes 1-2 hours to make.  And it results in three pound of soap.

How to Make Soap with an Impression Mat

I worked at Michaels for a year and I always saw the mats in the Wilton baking aisle.  Since I do not bake, I was thinking what else they could be used for.  Here is a great idea using it as an impression for soap.  The Soap Queen recent post called How to Make Soap with an Impression Mat.

Do I Need a Business License and a Trademark?

Starting a business can be scary and daunting if you are not sure how to go about legally.  There is so much to do from crunching the numbers to whatever. It can be very tricky unless you are an attorney.  If you are a soap maker wanting to your hobby to a business, how do you make it official? Do you need to register or get a license?     Do I need a trademark?  If need answers to those questions and more, then I would suggest reading The Soap Queen's recent post called Do I Need a Business License and a Trademark? 

Product Photography Tips for Soap Makers

Are you looking to start selling your products online?  Wonder how to take pictures to make your products look really good?  It can be tricky but Lovin' Soap has some really good tips in a recent blog post called Product Photography Tips for Soapmakers.

Shave Soap Recipe – How to Make Dual Lye Tallow Shave Soap

According to Lovin' Soap, the men's grooming industry is booming.  Men are starting to spend some serious car on skincare products and they are going back to wet shaving using shave soap and a brush! So Lovin' Soap has created this great shave soap recipe.

RECIPE: Vanilla Bubble Bath Scoops

Soak your worries away with these bubble bath scoops.  Making these Vanilla Bubble Bath Scoops from Wholesale Supplies Plus are luxurious to use in the bath and are very easy to make.  The fresh vanilla scent will remind you of vanilla ice cream.

Vanilla Fig Drop Swirl CP Loaf

Here is a really nice Autumn cold process soap recipe from Wholesale Supplies Plus called Vanilla Fig Drop Swirl.  It has a beautiful combination of red, deep purple and darkened vanilla colors which is complemented by the sweet vanilla musk and ripe fig fragrance.  The fig powder contains Vitamins A, B1, and K and it thought to help fresh, brighten and protect your skin.

Chamomile & Coconut Oil Body Balm DIY

If you love to use a body balm on your rough dry skin, I found this chamomile infused body balm recipe from The Soap Queen called Chamomile & Coconut Oil Body Balm.  This a very simple recipe that made quickly and can be multiplied so that you can make gifts for the upcoming holiday season.

100% Coconut Oil & Annatto Soap Tutorial

Most cold process soap recipes have some coconut oil in them, but have you ever made a recipe with 100% coconut oil?  I have not, but I found this recipe from The Soap Queen called 100% Coconut Oil & Annatto Soap.  According to The Soap Queen, coconut oil is extremely hydrating when applied directly to the skin, when it is combined with sodium hydroxide, it adds cleansing properties to cold process soap.

Infused Bath Melts Tutorial

Have you ever made bath melts?  Here is a recipe from Rustic Escentuals Crafting Library that has a slightly different twist.  In this recipe for Infused Bath Melts has the addition of Dead Sea Salts and herbs that make a wonderful gift.

How to Make Lotion Chips

I was searching for some interesting recipes to share and I found this recipe from Rustic Escentuals Crafting Library on How to Make Lotion Chips. I have heard of and made lotion sticks but I have never heard of lotion chips.  I think it is really cool idea. According to the site, they are small moisture rich chips of solid lotion that are easy to make.  You can store them in any container like a portable lip balm tin or cosmetic jar and apply whenever needed.

How to Calculate Candle Burn Time

Do you make candles and wonder what the burn is?  This is information is good to know if you ever decide to sell them.  If you are interested in calculating your candle's burn time, then I would recommend reading the post from Rustic Escentuals Crafting Library called How to Calculate Candle Burn Time.

Parsley and Rosemary Gel Face Mask

It has been a very long time since Walmart has sold my favorite mud mask.  And I have been looking far and wide for something I liked.  I found this recipe from Wholesale Supplies Plus called Parsley and Rosemary Gel Face Mask.  This recipe is a perfect for any skin type.  The aloe vera gel is cooling ans soothing to the skin and works as a perfect basis for the kaolin clay, parsley powder and rosemary powder ingredients.  This is an easy product to make....taking only a half hour  Once completing the recipe, you should get six 5.25 jars by weight.

Felted Christmas Sweater Ball Ornament Soaps by Holly Port

I have heard of felted soap and I always wanted to try it.  But I found this really cute Christmas felted soap that can be used as an ornament....Felted Christmas Sweater Ornament Soap. This project was written by Holly Port and can be seen on the Lovin' Soap's website.  Have you ever heard of Holly Port?  I was lucky enough to purchase her book titled Make it Fizz...A Guide to Making Bath Treats when The Nova Studio was located in Point Richmond.  She did teach a class at the studio, but I did not get a chance to meet her in person.  You may find other projects by Holly on You Tube, The Soap Queen and on her own site titled Lotion Bar Cafe.

RECIPE: Pumpkin Mocha Latte CP Soap

It is that time of year when Starbuck's offers their famous Pumpkin Mocha Latte.  If you are one of those that love this particular drink at this time of year and crave it for the other time of the year when it is not offered, I may have found a way to enjoy it.  Wholesale Supplies Plus has a cold process soap recipe on their website called Pumpkin Mocha Latte CP Soap. The warm colors of this soap will definitely think of fall and pumpkin pie while the scent is comforting and will make you yearn for your favorite once-a-year drink.

DIY Cucumber Lavender Face Spritzer

The Soap Queen has been posting a series of recipes on her site that have been either Cucumber or  Lavender related. Here is a recipe for a Cucumber Lavender Face Spritzer for those who love to use a spritzer on their face.

Lavender Lotion Bar Tutorial

Does your skin need some serious moisture?  Lotion bars are a way to go. You do not know what a location bar is? According to The Soap Queen, lotion bars typically refers to a combination of butters, wax, and oil that creates a firm yet spreadable product when combined.  Since they are made solely of oils, they are great for extremely dry areas like elbows, knees and cuticles.  If you are interested in using a lotion bar, The Soap Queen recently posted a recipe for a Lavender Lotion Bar.  I particularly like the packaging used for this product...a deodorant stick.  What do you think?

Hydrating Lavender Hair Oil Tutorial

Is your hair dry because of using hot styling tools or coloring your hair?  According to The Soap Queen, hair oil can be used in a variety of ways on your hair texture and severity of dryness.  You may want to try The Soap Queen's Hydrating Lavender Hair Oil recipe.  It was specifically formulated to be easy to make and used in a variety of ways, depending on your preference.

Coconut Pumpkin MP Soap Bars

Doesn't this melt and pour soap bar look good enough to eat?  This Coconut Pumpkin MP Soap Bar recipe from Wholesale Supplies Plus looks great as it smells.  It is very simple to make and takes only about a half hour to make.  When finished you should get approximately six bars weighing about six ounces. If you make soap to sell, this would be a nice one to add to your product line.

Vanilla Bean with Cocoa Swirl CP Soap

When I saw this cold process recipe from Wholesale Supplies Plus called Vanilla Bean with Cocoa Swirl, I made me think of the the commercial from the 70's for Reese's Peanut Butter - You got chocolate in my peanut butter.  No!  You got peanut butter in my chocolate. But this case it is vanilla.  In this recipe, a fragrance oil called Vanilla Bean Noel is a favorite and it is so easy to blend with many other fragrances.  But adding it to cocoa power makes a yummy swirls of creamy brown when using white pigment powder for contrast.

Cucumber Melon Sea Salt Scrub DIY

Yesterday I posted a recipe from The Soap Queen for a Cucumber Lavender Bath bomb.  She also did a post for a salt sea scrub called Cucumber Melon.  The base of the scrub is a foaming bath butter.  It is a pre-made base that when it is whipped with a hand or stand mixer it is transformed into a light and fluffy consistency.

Cucumber & Lavender Bath Bomb DIY

I have never thought of the combination of cucumber and lavender scented products but I found this recipe from The Soap Queen called Cucumber & Lavender Bath Bomb. This will surely be a treat for your bath.  Be on the look out for the next two weeks because The Soap Queen will be posting a collection of tutorials that would be great  get together for crafting with friends.

Vanilla Bean Sparkling Snowflake MP Soap

It is time to think ahead to when Winter will be upon pretty soon.  I found this really neat melt and pour soap project that would be perfect for the winter season.  It is Vanilla Bean Sparkling Snowflake from Wholesale Supplies Plus. This bar of soap contains lotion which not only cleanse your skin but leave it feeling soft and moisturized.

Gel Phase in Soap Making – Preventing and Forcing Gel Phase

Are you new to cold process soap making?  You are hearing about the gel phase and wondering what it is all about.  In a recent post from Lovin' Soap called Gel Phase in Soap Making - Prevent and Forcing Gel Phase talks about what the gel phase is, preventing and forcing the phase.  There are some really nice pictures showing the differences.

Crescent Moon Cold Process Soap Tutorial

Awhile back I took a class at The Nova Studio on how to embed shapes into cold process soap.  I have not tried it yet since I am still getting my barrings on creating a nice bar of cold process soap.  But I saw this really cool embedded soap project from The Soap Queen called Crescent Moon Cold Process Soap.  I was amazed on how a deep black that they got the soap. DId not think they would get it that deep and that it may be alot lighter.  I was thinking that they might have used charcoal or something.  But I am not going to spoil it for you on how they got that rich deep black color.

Real Pumpkin Cold Process Soap Recipe – Pumpkin Pie Soap

If you love pumpkin pie and love making colkd process soap, I found this recipe from Lovin' Soap called Real Pumpkin Cold Process Soap Recipe - Pumpkin Pie Soap.  It is the perfect cold process soap recipe for this time of the year.

Orange Poppy Seed Salt Scrub DIY

Whether you use a salt or sugar scrub, either one is great to exfoliate your skin while you are showering.  If you prefer a salt scrub over a sugar scrub, I found a recipe from The Soap Queen called Orange Poppy Seed Salt Scrub.  Learn how to make this simple scrub with just a few ingredients.  The base is fine grade Dead Sea Salt, Poppy Seeds (for extra scrub), Orange Peel (for color), Essential Oil for scenting and some other ingredients.

Peppermint Candy Soap Loaf

It is not too early to start thinking of the holiday season.  My favorite candy for Christmas is from Brach's Peppermint Christmas Tree Nougats.  So when I saw this melt and pour project from Rustic Escentuals called Peppermint Candy Soap Loaf. The embedded peppermint candy soap has red and white soap pieces that makes this soap have a fun holiday twist.  By using mica to color the soap pieces, you will not have to worry about the colors bleeding into the clear soap base.  Plus the soap looks great and be enjoyed through the holiday season.