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Home > Archives for bath bombs

Sunday Soap Case: Catch a Pokemon…in Your Tub.

September 25, 2016 Leave a Comment

Greetings and salutations, Sudsers! Hope your weekend was extra-special-awesome, because I have an extra-special-awesome blog post to get you ready for the week ahead.

I’d like to think that my writing skills have the ability to do that. If you disagree, click here.

Anyway, we’re kicking off the Soap Case with a final look at Karter Designs before she leaves the Maker of the Month table. It has been awesome getting to talk to customers about Katy and her business this month. She has a great product line and a refreshing approach to business development, so it’s going to be tough to see her go. After Katy, we’ll finish up with some totes adorb bath bombs that I’ve added to the line. Ready?

Karter Designs

maker of the month

Image courtesy of Karter Designs.

Katy Haymore, owner/creator/designer/financier/CEO of Karter Designs (she wears a lot of hats), is a PNW mom of two young boy-children. So she’s busy. And probably spends more time cleaning than she’d like. She shared a story with me recently about her boys that made me giggle, so I’m going to share it with you. Because giggling is fun. If you disagree, click this link.

BOYS WILL BE BOYS

“Have you ever just looked at your kid and wondered, “How? Just how in the hell did you get into a mess like that?” Well I say that to myself pretty much every day. I am a #boymom through and through, with two littles who always keep me on my toes! My big kid is 2 ½ and let me tell you, the “terrible two’s” are no joke! Although I’ve heard it gets nothing but worse from where were at (#fml). And my 8 month old? He is so wild he literally makes monkeys in the zoo look like relatives. All day long he’s up, he’s crawling into different rooms, he’s climbing, and he’s into something every time I turn around. How do they have all that energy!??

karter designs

So yesterday my big kid asks for a snack and he chooses the little Nutella ready-to-go packs (whoever invented this is AMAZING, btw). Being an awesome mom that cares about balancing nutrition, I ask him to sit on the couch with his snack while I grab him a sippy cup of milk. When I return, he’s not there. Recap: I was gone maybe 10 seconds; just long enough to fill a sippy. I walk into his room, not there. I look in the bathroom, not there. I walk into my bedroom, and THERE. HE IS. Hands covered in Nutella. Face covered in Nutella. How is there this much Nutella in that little to-go pack??? And the piece de resistance? My pillow and comforter (my pillow, btw. Not dad’s), covered in Nutella. W.T.F.”

With rambunctious boys like that, I don’t know how she manages to crank out new designs at a record pace! But she does; she’s a machine. It has been such an honor to work with her this month and I look forward to more business adventures together in the very near future. And while she is leaving our maker table for now (sad face), her pieces are always available at her shop! Check it out!

If you decide to pick up a little something from Karter Designs, send me a screenshot of the confirmation and I will send YOU a coupon code for an additional 20% off of Soap & Clay’s site. Because double deals are cool. If you disagree, click here.

Poke-bombs FTW!

pokebombs bath bomb pokemon collectible insideSo I’m a little late to the party with this post. I actually started making these poke-bombs several months ago and have been selling them at booth events and at the shop in Freighthouse Station. I haven’t put them on the website, though, because I have had a hard time keeping them in stock.  I know, I know – I suck. If you disagree, click the link.

poke-bombs

There are hundreds of Pokemon; no two bombs are the same!

Anyway, Poke-bombs are pretty self explanatory. They’re bath bombs themed around six different Poke Balls from the Pokemon world. They are the same size as the old version of my Mondo Bath Bombs – smaller than the new and improved giant bath bombs but bigger than the kid’s bombs. Lots of fizzy bath time fun.

But wait, there’s more! Tucked inside each Poke-bomb is a collectible Pokemon character! Cool, yeah? I think I’ve finally finished the back orders for these bath bombs, but I still don’t have them on the site. Because I suck. See above. BUT…I have no problem giving them away as a thank you for putting up with my suckiness!

Enter POKEBOMBSFTW in the notes of your next order and I will send you a Poke-bomb on the house! Remember, put it in the order notes; this is not a coupon code. My super helpful web designer informed me that I can’t create a coupon code for something that doesn’t exist, so if I want to use codes I have to stop sucking and catch up with my site maintenance. Noted. I’ll work on it. Maybe.

Happy Sudsing!

Filed Under: Sunday Soap Case Tagged With: bath bombs, freighthouse, Karter Designs, Maker of the Month, poke ball, poke bombs, pokeball, pokemon

Sunday Soap Case: Sweet Eats and Sweet Treats

August 23, 2016 1 Comment

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice…

Well, Sunday came and went. I cleaned my house, designed 8 new bars (squeeeeeee!) for the fall and winter lines, folded my laundry, hung out with my kids, worked on the shop, and arranged the Soap & Clay schedule for the week. But I missed one thing. Sunday Soap Case! In my defense, I didn’t really miss it; my computer decided to go on strike last week so I’ve been limping along on my phone. So you’re getting Sunday Soap Case on Monday. Night. If I remember to publish it.

This week’s Soap Case features two very talented bakers and includes a sweet offer from Mrs. Soap & Clay. Read on, follow pages, help small business owners, and take advantage of Mrs. Soap & Clay’s love of freebies. Ready? Let’s get to it!

LA Waffletz

best macarons in seattle

Photo Courtesy of Adorned Abode. Another amazing small business. More on her later.

The food service at Freighthouse Station is nothing short of amazing. I have been spending more time at Freighthouse than at home of late, so I’ve had an opportunity to sample it all. One of my personal favorites has to be the delicious bakes they serve up at La Waffletz. While their menu includes an admirable selection of waffles topped with all manner of yummy goodness, the best part of their offerings is by far their macarons. Having spent the entirety of 2012 obsessed with macarons (the making of them, the finding of them, the eating of them), I consider myself a bit of a connoisseur. And the macarons at La Waffletz do not disappoint! Their delicate outer shell has a slight crunch, the middle is the perfect level of chewy, and the fillings are creamy and sweet – these macarons are perfectly balanced and simply delightful. The Soap & Clay kidlets and I stop by every week for a little almond cookie indulgence, and I suggest you do the same. Order one. Dozen. And then another few. Dozen. To take home. For your Netflix night. Because they’re that good.

lawaffletz

Chocolate Covered Raindrops

I first met Lindsey, the owner of Chocolate Covered Raindrops, at a Momtrepreneur event earlier this year. I believe it was her first show, and she definitely brought her A-game. Her display was totes adorb and her bakes were beautiful. From the billowy frosting and moist sponge to the thoughtful flavor combinations, Lindsey makes a damn good cupcake. So good, in fact, that I asked her to make me some for Soap & Clay’s soft open last week. I have no picture of those (because they were devoured immediately and I failed to plan for that), so instead I stole some pictures from Chocolate Covered Raindrops’ Facebook page for you to admire.

how to make cupcakes

I have no idea what this is. But I want it.

chocolate covered raindrops

THIS. Just, THIS.

As if her bakes didn’t win me over, Lindsey is a fellow lover of DEALS. Her September specials are as follows:

  • 8 scones (a full 10 inch round) for $25
  • Cupcake Flavors of the Month: pumpkin with cinnamon cream cheese frosting and apple pie, one dozen standard $35.

Now that’s a lot of deliciousness for a teeny tiny price. Follow the link, like her page, and keep her in mind for your next birthday, anniversary, bachelorette party, or for your next Tuesday at home.

Bath Bomb Cupcakes – Fancy Bath Plus

cupcake bath bomb tutorialI’m sure you can tell by now that I am in love with all baked goods. It’s one of my very favorite addictions. I am not so much with the baking of said baked goods, though (thankfully businesses like La Waffletz and Chocolate Covered Raindrops exist), so I have to stick to what I know, and I know soap. My bath bomb cupcakes came to life one evening after seeing the look of disappointment on the Soap & Clay kidlets’ faces when I presented them with yet another batch of dry cupcakes and weepy frosting.

Now I see the looks of disappointment, but mostly because I made them – yet again – something they can’t eat.

The bath bomb cupcakes have gone through a number of iterations over the past few months. While the bottom bit has always been a bath bomb, the tops have changed. They started out with an actual royal frosting. Which was pretty, but not exactly useful in the tub. I then moved to a whipped soap frosting made from the same cream base I use for my whipped sugar soaps. These have done very well, but I am currently playing with a bubble bath frosting for the holiday line.

cupcake bath bombs

Personally, I love bubble bath, so I’m thinking I may be on to something, here. Send me a message and let me know if you agree. Or disagree, really. But either way, use this week’s Soap Case coupon code and you can get a cupcake (of the bath bomb variety) on me!

Use coupon code NOBAKECUPCAKES for a free bath bomb cupcake. Offer expires 8/29/2016. Which is a Monday. Since I’m lame and didn’t get the Soap Case out on time.

Happy Sudsing!

Filed Under: Sunday Soap Case Tagged With: bath bombs, catering, chocolate covered raindrops, cupcakes, dessert, freighthouse, freighthouse station, la waffletz

Sunday Soap Case: Bath Bombs

May 29, 2016 Leave a Comment

Bath Bombs for DAYS!!!

Sunday Soap Case: Bath Bombs.soap case: bath bombs

Greetings and Salutations! I hope everyone’s May has been amazing. Here at Soap & Clay, we have hit the busy season for vendor events and booth exhibits (and by we, I mean myself and my super helpful booth designer, Mr. Soap & Clay). I’ve done a number of shows over the past few weeks, and I have noticed a new trend in visitor questions. Customers have been asking me about my soaping process; what I put into soap recipes and why, the color and design selection, and the overall inspiration behind my product lines. While this may have something to do with my newly released Game of Soaps line, answering questions about the method to my madness (there is one, I promise) has been so much fun! So, I decided to start a new weekly series, showcasing products and/or lines and my creation process. The idea to make this a weekly series comes from one of my favorite entrepreneur/blogger/soaper/kick-ass women on the planet, Anne Marie Faiola. Do check her out, she has a wealth of knowledge. But then make sure to come right back and read Sunday Soap Case: Bath Bombs to learn some cool things about my fizzy favorite!

Bath Bombs – A Basic Primersoap case: bath bombs

I may have exaggerated a bit when I said “favorite.” Bath bombs and I have a dysfunctional relationship. I love using them, I love smelling them, I love designing them. When it comes to making them? We tend to butt heads. There are too many uncontrollable variables in a bath bomb recipe. With a soap recipe, I know that if I use the proper percentage of certain oils, soap at a certain temperature, and use the proper amount of scents and additives it will yield a successful batch of soap with exceptional lathering, cleansing, and moisturizing properties. It’s not so with bath bombs; they are finicky.

This may have something to do with the extras I put into my bath bombs, however. A basic bath bomb can be made with baking soda and citric acid. But I’ve never been one for “basic” anything. So I try to throw a ton of skin loving ingredients into each bomb so they’ll be both fun AND beneficial. Some of the extras I put in my bath bombs include:

Cornstarch juicebomb

From balancing skin’s pH, soothing red, inflamed, or sunburned skin to treating diaper rash, cornstarch is pretty amazing stuff. It’s a natural cleansing agent, helps with conditions such as athlete’s foot, and is an excellent odor eliminator – cornstarch does it all. As such, I throw some into every batch of bombs I make.

Epsom Salt

Epsom salts soothe sore muscles, help detoxify the body, and can ease the pain of arthritis and fibromyalgia! Pretty cool, right? I thought so, too. So Epsom salts also find their way into my bombs.

beachbombswirlExtracts

Avocado, chamomile, primrose, carrot, buckthorn (an actual thing) – there are loads of extracts available that help with a slew of skin ailments. When used topically (like in a bath) some soften skin, others help with the pains of eczema, psoriasis, PMS, and others tone the skin and assist in achieving a healthy glow. While I don’t use these in my kid’s bombs, I do add extracts to my adult bath bombs quite regularly.

Oils

With all of these dry ingredients, it makes sense to add a skin loving oil to the mix. I tend to favor sunflower oil for its high content of linoleic fatty acid chains. This means sunflower oil is lightweight, ultra-hydrating and anti-inflammatory, all good things when dealing with the skin.

Melts & Botanicals, Soap & Sparklesberrybomb

Making all of the above ingredients play nice is difficult enough, so of COURSE I have to play with inserting bath melts and botanicals into my bombs. Bath melts are great as they add a bit of cocoa or mango butter to the bath, thus extending your tub time. Botanicals such as rose petals or lavender buds are said to have therapeutic properties, but I add them because they’re pretty and make me feel like royalty as I’m lounging in the tub with my candles and book of the week.

Whipped soap tops and sparkly surprises are just the epitome of bathtime fun. I often experiment with both to add a little something special to my bombs. Necessary? No. Fun? You bet your booty.

Soap & Clay’s Bath Bomb Line

Outside of holiday specific gift sets and custom orders, I have been dragging my feet in regards to putting bath bombs on the site. I’ve had a tough time deciding which bombs should make the lineup. I finally decided that the best way to solve this dilemma is to change the line when the mood strikes. As such, the new line will basically always be a new line, so make sure to check back regularly!

Oh, and one last thing for those diligent Sudsers that have managed to make it this far. A coupon code. For a free bath bomb. Consider it a reward for reading (hooray, literacy!). Enter coupon code BOMBSFORDAYS to get a bath bomb on the house. Offer is good on all orders placed between today and June 5th (next Sunday).

 

Filed Under: Soap Science, Sunday Soap Case Tagged With: bath bombs, detoxifying, dry skin, fancy bath, relaxation nation, sensitive skin, skin ailments, skin care, sunday soap case, take a bath

Artisan Soap: Cruelty Free, Vegan Friendly, Gluten Free…?

December 10, 2015 Leave a Comment

Soap Science: Gluten in Skincare

Good morning, Sudsers! This week has zoomed by, right? I’ve been busy with holiday orders, activities with the Soap & Clay kidlets, and booth events. I’ve spent the past few weeks at vendor events around the greater Seattle area, and I loved mingling with members of the community, chatting about soap and skincare needs. I tend to field a set of basic questions regarding my soaps multiple times throughout any event, questions I can readily answer and provide takeaway literature for, but the lovely community members in Bellevue, WA threw me a curveball on Saturday. I still got the basics: are your products responsibly sourced and cruelty free, do you have any vegan offerings, do you stock anything for sensitive skin, but there was one question I wasn’t prepared for. Are your soaps gluten free? 

Gluten free? Hunh. Admittedly, my first thought in response to this question was, you don’t EAT soap. Please don’t eat my soap.

gluten free

Don’t be like this kid.
Who also happens to be my kid.

Gluten free?

I answered as best I could, which was basically an inelegant stammering consisting of “I don’t use flour in my soap recipes, so I think I’m gluten free…wait, is oatmeal gluten? No? well it’s likely that I don’t…I want to say yes, but I’m really not sure.” Surprisingly, in spite of my less than stellar speaking skills, this customer still purchased some items and I sent them on their way, but not before collecting their email address to get them a definitive answer on the gluten question. A few minutes later, another patron asked the same thing: are your soaps gluten free? Four other customers asked about gluten over the course of this event, so the moment I got home, the research began.

What is Gluten?

First off, I obviously needed a better understanding of gluten and what those with gluten sensitivities actually need to avoid. My belief was that gluten sensitivity was a food concern; anything that a person ingests that contains gluten can have a negative impact on their body’s overall health. And while this seems to be the general consensus in the medical world, there is also a case to be made for removing gluten from skincare products as well. Which makes sense; every soap in my line has been designed to produce specific, topical results as the skin readily absorbs many things. In this day and age, there are even drugs that are administered topically because certain components can and do enter the system through the skin. So gluten in skincare products? Could be a concern.

So what is gluten? According to celiac.org, gluten is the name given to the elastic proteins found in wheat, barley, rye, and various other grains to a lesser degree. For those with Celiac disease (about 1% of the population), this protein can cause a number of health problems if ingested. Through further sleuthing, however, I came across a number of articles discussing potential problems with Celiac patients and gluten found in topical products. The Mayo Clinic has some interesting information regarding topical gluten, which you can find here.

So is there gluten in soap? How about other cosmetic products? Yes, in large part. Turns out it’s pretty difficult to find commercial products that don’t contain gluten (another way of adding insult to injury for the gluten sensitive among us).

How about Soap & Clay products?

Well, that depends. Soap & Clay soaps contain no gluten. My basic soap recipe contains olive oil, coconut oil, responsibly sourced palm oil, canola oil, and sweet almond oil. I then add extra goodies, mostly in the form of oils, butters, and exfoliants. So according to this list of safe vs unsafe products for those with Celiac/gluten intolerance, Soap & Clay does not use any ingredients that contain gluten in the soaps themselves (**see below for a note about bath bombs). However, a number of Soap & Clay soaps contain oatmeal, an item that is listed on both sides of the safe/unsafe list. The reason for this is cross-contamination; any oatmeal that has been processed in a facility that also processes wheat, barley, or rye can come into contact with gluten. I use gluten-free oatmeal in my soap recipes, so by happy accident I can say that we are gluten free!

**A note about bath bombs: I’ve been unable to find definitive information regarding corn products and Celiac, so in the spirit of full disclosure and transparency, a word of caution for those concerned with gluten: all of my bath bombs contain cornstarch. If you have been told by your medical professional to avoid cornstarch, either topically or internally, please avoid Soap & Clay’s bath bombs.

So there you have it, Sudsers – all of the information you never knew you needed about soap. Remember – check your labels, know your labels, and if you have any questions, please contact me! Don’t forget – we have FREE SHIPPING through December 16th and gift boxes are still on sale. I’m hearing “craft time” turning into “mess time” in the kitchen, so I’m off to wrestle a glue stick away from a Soap & Clay kidlet. Enjoy the rest of your day!

gluten

Glue stick. Not gluten free.

Filed Under: Know Your Labels, Soap Science, Uncategorized Tagged With: artisan, bath bombs, celiac, commercial, gluten, gluten free, oatmeal, soap, Soap & Clay Kids, vegan

FAQ Friday: Activated Charcoal, Bath Bombs, and Holiday Gift Boxes

November 20, 2015 Leave a Comment

Bath Bombs, Activated Charcoal, and Holiday Gift Sets

It’s Friday! Cheers to the freakin’ weekend! We’ve been busy getting ready for holiday booth events this week, which has meant very limited sleep and lots of coffee. Mmmm, coffee. Before getting to this week’s most frequently asked questions, I have a few housekeeping items. After that, we will talk about bath bombs, activated charcoal, and holiday gift sets. Excited? I am!

Whipped Soap Minis

  1. Whipped Soap Minis are back in stock!
    Whipped Soap Minis have been wildly popular lately, and I’ve had a tough time keeping them in stock. They’re back and ready to be shipped. First priority goes to all of the Sudsers that sent me a preorder message (thanks for doing that!), though, so quantities are limited. Head over the the site and claim yours today.
  2. Final Days for Buy 3 Get 1 Free and No Shave November
    Our Buy 3 Get 1 Free sale ends on November 30th, as does our Movember Foundation promotional event. Buy 3 Get 1 Free is a stellar deal that you don’t want to miss, and the Movember Foundation event supports a great cause (men’s health research and education). I’m looking forward to writing them a big fat check, so don’t miss out! For more information on the Movember Foundation and what they do, click here.

Now that we’ve handled that, on to the questions!

What are bath bombs?

I’ve seen pictures you’ve been posting on your Instagram and Facebook pages of bath bombs. What are they??
Answer: Bath bombs are amazing. The end. 

bath bombs

Simply amazing.

Ok, so maybe a bit more explanation is needed. Bath bombs are tightly packed balls of dry ingredients (mostly baking soda, citric acid, and epsom salts) that do some pretty fun stuff when they come in contact with water. When plopped into bath water, these porous balls (my favorite Sudser description of bath bombs to date) fizz, they float, they zoom and twirl before your very eyes. Amazing! As an added bonus, they also scent, soften and sometimes color the water, resulting in a fun bathtub experience that’s also pretty great for your skin. They basically take tub time to the next level.

What’s the deal with activated charcoal?

I recently received an order. One of the bars of soap had a tag that talked about the activated charcoal in the soap. What does activated charcoal DO?
Answer: Activated charcoal is pretty powerful, and one of my favorite ingredients. It’s long been used as a detox aid, to treat bug bites, as well as to whiten teeth! In soap, it acts as a magnet, pulling toxins, dirt, and contaminated oils from your skin. It’s great for detoxifying the skin and works wonders on acne. Be aware, however, that soaps containing activated charcoal will have grey lather. This is totally normal and the suds will become bubbly and white once the activated charcoal has done its job. Enjoy your newly detoxed skin!

Holiday Gift Sets

bath bomb

Not knowing what’s inside is killing you, isn’t it? I know.

I saw your post about holiday gift boxes! They aren’t online, though. What’s inside and how do I purchase them?
Answer: First off, thanks for following my posts! That makes me smile. Now, our holiday gift boxes are selling like hot cakes at local gift bazaars, so thanks to my local Sudsers! I will have the gift boxes up next week for the online crowd, just in time for Small Business Saturday. More information on the boxes in the days to come, but we do have a Man-scape Box, a Bomb Box, a Spa Box, and a Hello Lovely Box (for the lovely ladies) that will hit the site soon. SPOILER ALERT: They will be on sale AND part of November’s Buy 3 Get 1 Free deal, so it’s an excellent opportunity to get some unique, thoughtful and fun gifts for your nearest and dearest. And also for yourself.

Filed Under: FAQ Friday Tagged With: Activated charcoal, bath, bath bombs, detox, dry skin, faq friday, gift box, gift sets, holiday

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