You can use almost any small glass container to make these Beeswax & Honey Candles. That includes food jars, Mason jars, or empty candle containers. Just save any that look like the perfect size and give them a thorough wash. It’s a great way to reuse glass containers and candles are a perfect gift.

All you need from there is beeswax, wicks, and Pure Honey Fragrance Oil. The notes of honey, rose, and peach tea are the perfect complement to the natural smoky smell of beeswax. The wood wicks give the candles a rustic look and a comforting crackling sound as they burn.

Beeswax is a hard, dense wax that has a high melting point. It needs a large flame to create an even burn pool. We recommend making these candles in containers that have a diameter of about 3″ or less. In our tests, the wide wood wicks worked well for containers with a diameter of about 2.5″ and smaller. Other large wicks, like the Wu-250 Brown Cotton Candle Wicks or the Cd-20 Wicks, also work well. 

The amount of beeswax and fragrance you need for this project will depend on the size and quantity of your containers. To estimate how much wax you need, put your containers on a scale and fill them with water. Add up the total weight of the water – that will give you a rough estimate of how much wax to melt. Then, use the Fragrance Calculator to find out how much scent to use. We recommend using the strong recommendation so the scent fills the room.

The hardest part of this project is probably the cleanup. Beeswax can be a pain to clean off bowls, containers, and mixing utensils. If possible, have a bowl and mixing tool that’s just for wax. If that’s not an option, the easiest way to clean bowls is while the wax is still warm – wipe off as much as possible with a paper towel before washing it with very hot water and strong dish soap.

What You Need:
Small Glass Containers
Yellow Beeswax 
Pure Honey Fragrance Oil
Wide Wooden Wicks
NOTE: Other large wicks like the Wu-250 Brown Cotton Candle Wicks or Cd-20 Wicks work as well

NOTE: You can melt beeswax a few different ways – we recommend using a double boiler. It’s possible to melt it in the microwave, but because beeswax has a high melting point it takes a long time to melt. The container needs to be very heat resistant so it won’t break.

PREPARE WICKS: Insert the wood wicks into the metal clip. Place the wick into the containers and cut the wick to the length necessary for each container. If you’re using a traditional wick, cut the wicks to the length necessary for each container.

ONE: Set up your double boiler and bring the water to boil. Place the smaller container over the water.

TWO: Weigh how much beeswax you need to fill your containers. To estimate how much wax you need, put your containers on a scale and fill them with water. Add up the total weight of the water – that will give you a rough estimate of how much wax to melt.

THREE: Melt the wax slowly. Don’t allow it to exceed about 170° F, or it can start to lose its aroma.

FOUR: Once the wax is completely melted, turn off the double boiler and remove the smaller container of wax. Add the Pure Honey Fragrance Oil and stir in thoroughly.
NOTE: Pure Honey Fragrance Oil has a flashpoint of 200° F+. In general, it’s recommended that fragrance is poured into wax that has cooled below the flashpoint of the fragrance oil. We poured in the fragrance when the wax was around 150° F. 

FIVE: Carefully pour the wax into each container. We transferred it to an Easy Pour Mixing and Measuring Container to help.
TIP: Pouring the wax into the container with the wick already placed in the candle helps ensure you don’t pour too much and cover the top of the wick. Once the wax is poured, the wick can be moved and centered.

SIX: Allow the candles to fully cool and harden. If there are a few air bubbles or imperfections on the top of your candle, use a heat gun to carefully melt the top layer and allow it to cool again.
NOTE: We found the wood wicks eventually begin to burn slightly with a lot of high heat from the gun. 

SEVEN: Allow the candles to fully cool and harden. Light the wick and enjoy!

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Beeswax & Honey Candles

You can use almost any small glass container to make these Beeswax & Honey Candles.

Course Candles

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour

Author Bramble Berry

Ingredients

• Small Glass Containers
• Yellow Beeswax
• Pure Honey Fragrance Oil
• Wide Wooden Wicks Wu-250 Brown Cotton Candle Wicks, or Cd-20 Wicks

Instructions

NOTE: You can melt beeswax a few different ways – we recommend using a double boiler. It’s possible to melt it in the microwave, but because beeswax has a high melting point it takes a long time to melt. The container needs to be very heat resistant so it won’t break.

PREPARE WICKS: Insert the wood wicks into the metal clip. Place the wick into the containers and cut the wick to the length necessary for each container. If you’re using a traditional wick, cut the wicks to the length necessary for each container.

• Set up your double boiler and bring the water to boil. Place the smaller container over the water.
• Weigh how much beeswax you need to fill your containers. To estimate how much wax you need, put your containers on a scale and fill them with water. Add up the total weight of the water – that will give you a rough estimate of how much wax to melt.
• Melt the wax slowly. Don’t allow it to exceed about 170° F, or it can start to lose its aroma.
• Once the wax is completely melted, turn off the double boiler and remove the smaller container of wax. Add the Pure Honey Fragrance Oil and stir in thoroughly. NOTE: Pure Honey Fragrance Oil has a flashpoint of 200° F+. In general, it’s recommended that fragrance is poured into wax that has cooled below the flashpoint of the fragrance oil. We poured in the fragrance when the wax was around 150° F.
• Carefully pour the wax into each container. We transferred it to an Easy Pour Mixing and Measuring Container to help. TIP: Pouring the wax into the container with the wick already placed in the candle helps ensure you don’t pour too much and cover the top of the wick. Once the wax is poured, the wick can be moved and centered.
• Allow the candles to fully cool and harden. If there are a few air bubbles or imperfections on the top of your candle, use a heat gun to carefully melt the top layer and allow it to cool again. NOTE: We found the wood wicks eventually begin to burn slightly with a lot of high heat from the gun.
• Allow the candles to fully cool and harden. Light the wick and enjoy!

The post Beeswax & Honey Candles appeared first on Soap Queen.

Wax melts are a great alternative to candles. They fill the room with scent and provide a cozy atmosphere. This “wax bark” style is extremely easy to make. No mold is necessary – all you need is a lined sheet pan.

First, Blushing Orchid Fragrance Oil and Baby’s Breath Fragrance Oil are mixed into melted wax and pink rose petals and jasmine flowers are sprinkled on top. Once the wax is completely cool, it’s broken into shards. The wax pieces look a lot like chocolate bark, so make sure everybody knows they are for burning and not eating.

Blushing Orchid Fragrance Oil and Baby’s Breath Fragrance Oil are part of our Modern Floral Collection, which includes four new scents, extracts, dried botanicals, and more. Click here to see all the new products.

In our tests, we found the combination of Blushing Orchid Fragrance Oil and Baby’s Breath Fragrance Oil had a subtle but noticeable scent throw that worked well for a small room. Because Bramble Berry’s fragrance oils are not tested in candles and wax melts, we recommend making a small test batch with any scent you use to make sure you like the scent when burned. For example, we tried this recipe with Wild Rose Fragrance Oil, but found the smell wasn’t very strong when warmed.

In our tests, the rose petals and jasmine flowers did not cause any problems in our wax warmer. They don’t come in direct contact with a flame, and the wax doesn’t get hot enough for them to burn. They petals will eventually turn brown.

What You Need:
15″ Sheet Pan
Freezer Paper or Parchment Paper
10 oz. Ecosoya Q230 Wax
0.4 Blushing Orchid Fragrance Oil
0.3 oz. Baby’s Breath Fragrance Oil
Pink Rose Petals
Jasmine Flowers
Optional: White Leaves Tealight Warmer

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

ONE: Weigh out 10 ounces of wax in a heat-safe container. You can microwave the wax in 30 second bursts or place the container on a burner and melt over medium heat. The wax has a melting point of 120° F. Once melted, take the container off the heat source and set aside.
TIP: You may consider designating a special container for wax, as it can be tricky to clean.

TWO: Cover the sheet pan with freezer paper or parchment paper.
NOTE: We found both parchment paper and freezer paper were suitable for this project. We don’t recommend wax paper because it can melt and stick to the wax pieces.

THREE: In a small glass container, mix together 0.4 ounces of Blushing Orchid Fragrance Oil and 0.3 ounces of Baby’s Breath Fragrance Oil.

FOUR: When the wax has cooled to 150° F or below, pour in the fragrance blend and stir thoroughly.

FIVE: Carefully pour the wax onto the lined sheet pan.

SIX: While the wax is still liquid, sprinkle pink rose petals and jasmine flowers on top. Try to sprinkle them as evenly as possible, so each piece of wax melt has petals.

SEVEN: Allow the wax to fully cool and harden for several hours.

EIGHT: Once the wax has completely cooled, remove the paper from the wax and begin breaking it into pieces. Don’t worry about making the pieces uniform – the unique shapes are part of the appeal. Break the wax into small enough pieces so it fits your wax warmer without melting over the sides.

Once you’re ready to use, light the tealight in your wax warmer and place several small pieces of the wax bark on top. It will take a few minutes for the wax to melt and for the scent to become noticeable. Enjoy.

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DIY Floral Wax Bark Melts

These wax melts will fill your home with a fresh combination of Blushing Orchid and Baby's Breath fragrance oils.

Course Wax Melts

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour

Servings 10 ounces

Author Soap Queen

Ingredients

• 15 ″ Sheet Pan
• Freezer Paper or Parchment Paper
• 10 oz. Ecosoya Q230 Wax
• 0.4 Blushing Orchid Fragrance Oil
• 0.3 oz. Baby’s Breath Fragrance Oil
• Pink Rose Petals
• Jasmine Flowers
• Optional: White Leaves Tealight Warmer

Instructions

• Weigh out 10 ounces of wax in a heat-safe container. You can microwave the wax in 30 second bursts or place the container on a burner and melt over medium heat. The wax has a melting point of 120° F. Once melted, take the container off the heat source and set aside. TIP: You may consider designating a special container for wax, as it can be tricky to clean.
• Cover the sheet pan with freezer paper or parchment paper. NOTE: We found both parchment paper and freezer paper were suitable for this project. We don’t recommend wax paper because it can melt and stick to the wax pieces.
• In a small glass container, mix together 0.4 ounces of Blushing Orchid Fragrance Oil and 0.3 ounces of Baby’s Breath Fragrance Oil.
• When the wax has cooled to 150° F or below, pour in the fragrance blend and stir thoroughly.
• Carefully pour the wax onto the lined sheet pan.
• While the wax is still liquid, sprinkle pink rose petals and jasmine flowers on top. Try to sprinkle them as evenly as possible, so each piece of wax melt has petals.
• Allow the wax to fully cool and harden for several hours.
• Once the wax has completely cooled, remove the paper from the wax and begin breaking it into pieces. Don’t worry about making the pieces uniform – the unique shapes are part of the appeal. Break the wax into small enough pieces so it fits your wax warmer without melting over the sides. Once you’re ready to use, light the tealight in your wax warmer and place several small pieces of the wax bark on top. It will take a few minutes for the wax to melt and for the scent to become noticeable. Enjoy.

The post DIY Floral Wax Bark Melts appeared first on Soap Queen.

Candles are particularly comforting during the fall and winter. This Bourbon & Beeswax Candle is the perfect addition to your home for autumn and beyond. It’s made with the new Kentucky Bourbon Fragrance Oil, which features notes of spicy clove, leather and oak cask.

This candle is made with yellow beeswax, which has its own natural scent. The yellow beeswax and Kentucky Bourbon Fragrance Oil smell amazing together. The end result is a rich, warm and inviting scent. If you prefer the fragrance oil on its own you can use white beeswax, which does not have a strong scent.

Because beeswax has such a high melting point, you’ll have some extra considerations when working with it. It can be melted in a double boiler or in a microwave. Just make sure your container is suitable for such high heat.

What You Need:
Five Candle Tins
Five Wu-150 White Cotton Candle Wicks
16 oz. Yellow Beeswax
1.3 oz. Kentucky Bourbon Fragrance Oil
Five Plastic Straws

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

WICK PREP: There are several methods for steadying the wick in your candle tin. One of the easiest involves a plastic straw. Cut the straw lengthwise to the middle and slide the wick into this slit. Place the straw across the top of the candle tin and adjust the wick so it touches the bottom of the candle tin. Repeat this process for each wick and set the wicks and tins aside.

ONE: Melt the beeswax in a double boiler. You can turn any pot into a double boiler with the Double Boiler Maker. Alternatively, you can melt the beeswax in the microwave. Be careful – because of beeswax’s high melting point, even a heat-safe container can melt or explode in the microwave if it gets too hot. If you do use a microwave, melt the beeswax in 1-minute bursts and stir frequently.

TWO: Add the Kentucky Bourbon Fragrance Oil and stir into the wax. It’s normal for some of the beeswax to solidify when it comes in contact with the oil. Stir until the solid beeswax melts.

THREE: Pour the wax into each candle tin. Then, place each wick in the center of the candle. Make sure the wick touches the bottom of the candle tin.

CLEAN UP TIP: Beeswax is tricky to clean because it has such a high melting point. Immediately after pouring the candles, use a paper towel to wipe any excess hot wax from the bowl and stirring utensils. The more wax you can wipe out, the better. Then if necessary, clean with extremely hot water and dish soap. Another option is to use the technique shown in this video. 

FIVE: Allow the wax to fully cool and harden. This will take several hours. Once the candles are completely firm, light and enjoy. Of course, never leave your candle unattended.

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DIY Bourbon & Beeswax Candles

This beeswax candle is scented with Kentucky Bourbon Fragrance Oil. It is the perfect scent for fall.

Servings 5 candles

Author Soap Queen

Ingredients

• Five Candle Tins
• Five Wu-150 White Cotton Candle Wicks
• 16 oz. Yellow Beeswax
• 1.3 oz. Kentucky Bourbon Fragrance Oil
• Five Plastic Straws

Instructions

WICK PREP: There are several methods for steadying the wick in your candle tin. One of the easiest involves a plastic straw. Cut the straw lengthwise to the middle and slide the wick into this slit. Place the straw across the top of the candle tin and adjust the wick so it touches the bottom of the candle tin. Repeat this process for each wick and set the wicks and tins aside.

• Melt the beeswax in a double boiler. You can turn any pot into a double boiler with the Double Boiler Maker. Alternatively, you can melt the beeswax in the microwave. Be careful – because of beeswax’s high melting point, even a heat-safe container can melt or explode in the microwave if it gets too hot. If you do use a microwave, melt the beeswax in 1-minute bursts and stir frequently.
• Add the Kentucky Bourbon Fragrance Oil and stir into the wax. It’s normal for some of the beeswax to solidify when it comes in contact with the oil. Stir until the solid beeswax melts.
• Pour the wax into each candle tin. Then, place each wick in the center of the candle. Make sure the wick touches the bottom of the candle tin.

CLEAN UP TIP: Beeswax is tricky to clean because it has such a high melting point. Immediately after pouring the candles, use a paper towel to wipe any excess hot wax from the bowl and stirring utensils. The more wax you can wipe out, the better. Then if necessary, clean with extremely hot water and dish soap.

• Allow the wax to fully cool and harden. This will take several hours. Once the candles are completely firm, light and enjoy. Of course, never leave your candle unattended.

The post DIY Bourbon & Beeswax Candles appeared first on Soap Queen.

Lavender is a fantastic scent for the home because it’s calming and relaxing. If you can’t get enough, this Lavender Linen Spray is a simple way to spread the scent throughout your home.

With only three ingredients, this is a very quick recipe. The base is 99% isopropyl alcohol to help it evaporate quickly. Lavender Essential Water adds more lavender scent. The star of this recipe is the new Lavender Fine Essential Oil, which gives the spray its relaxing scent.

This spray is not emulsified, so the Lavender Fine Essential Oil will separate out from the essential water and alcohol. Give the bottle a good shake before each use to distribute the spray. You can add Polysorbate 20 if you’d like to emulsify the oil and water. See how in the Springtime Room Spray Tutorial.

This spray can be used on linens, towels, and fabric furniture. In our tests we did not experience any staining, but if you’re worried about using this spray on expensive furniture or clothing, you may want to test it in a small area or skip it. It’s not worth ruining your couch or silk shirt.

What You Need:
Four 2 oz. Brushed Aluminum Bottles
4 oz. Lavender Essential Water
5 oz. 99% Isopropyl Alcohol
2 mL (about 40 drops) Lavender Fine Essential Oil
Free Downloadable Labels

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

ONE: In a small container, mix together the Lavender Essential Water and 99% isopropyl alcohol.

TWO: Add the Lavender Fine Essential Oil to the container. Use a spoon to mix in the essential oil.

THREE: Carefully pour the mixture into the bottles. Stir the mixture after each pour to keep the essential oil dispersed evenly. Place the cap on the bottle. To use, give the bottle a good shake and spray onto linens. Enjoy!

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DIY Lavender Linen Spray

This Lavender Linen Spray leaves fabric with a faint lavender scent.

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Author Soap Queen

Ingredients

• Four 2 oz. Brushed Aluminum Bottles
• 4 oz. Lavender Essential Water
• 5 oz. 99% Isopropyl Alcohol
• 2 mL about 40 drops Lavender Fine Essential Oil

Instructions

• In a small container, mix together the Lavender Essential Water and 99% isopropyl alcohol.
• Add the Lavender Fine Essential Oil to the container. Use a spoon to mix in the essential oil.
• Carefully pour the mixture into the bottles. Stir the mixture after each pour to keep the essential oil dispersed evenly. Place the cap on the bottle. To use, give the bottle a good shake and spray onto linens. Enjoy!

The post DIY Lavender Linen Spray appeared first on Soap Queen.

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Hello! My name is Shana and I am the owner and creator of BΛTHVS. I started with cold process soapmaking and now make a bit of everything. I enjoy the packaging process almost as much as the making process. I typically favor clear packaging so that my customers know exactly what they are getting, but the gift boxes I make are the exception. Since the customer can’t see or smell the products within, I have to make sure that every detail is visually appealing and well put together. I’m here to show you how I put together a professional, creatively curated Valentine’s Day gift box! Perhaps you can take a few of my tricks and apply them to your products for your favorite gift-giving holidays or put a spin on your general everyday packaging!

Curating the Gift Assortment

Proper curation is key when putting together anything that has a particular theme. Try to have a good idea of what you want to put together and the audience you want to please. For this Be My Valentine Gift Box, I am assuming that most recipients are going to be women and that this box would either be given to them by a partner, or by family and friends. Maybe someone would also purchase it for themselves in an act of self-pampering.

Above on the left is a photo of the final selection and packaging of products for the gift box. On the right is each product and their individual product shots – they don’t necessarily look like they should go together on their own. I chose the more romantic of the pink, passionfruit scented Candy Heart Bubble Bars and set them aside for the boxes, and I also packaged the Cacao Lip Balm in a small glassine bag with XOXO themed washi tape to tie into the theme. To me, the Cacao Lip Balm sort of represents the classic Valentine’s Day box of chocolates, so it had to be included! I packaged the Passion Rose soap like my usual soaps, and I put some shrink wrap around the Wife of Bath Bomb so it would not leave any crumbs in the gift box!

Picking the Perfect Paper

The gift wrap you choose is important, since it will be the first thing someone notices when they look at the box! I like to buy my paper from designers on Spoonflower.com. You can always find a design to fit your theme, and it is easy to reorder it when you run out! This is very important if you sell an item – if you buy your paper from a retail store, it’s unlikely that you will find it again! Shoutout to Caja Wong-Chung from caja_design on Spoonflower for her beautiful design!

Putting it All Together

We got some pink and red crinkle paper to fill in the gaps and coordinate with our Valentine’s Day theme. It also helps keep everything nice and snug so that each product is protected – if you’ve ever worked with bubble bars, you know they can be a fragile craft, and we don’t want any broken hearts, both literally and figuratively!

For the inside of the box I also throw in a business card and a detailed card stock list of what is inside with descriptions of each item. I like to also add pictures of our most photogenic items on this list. When selling in person it is useful to tuck a matching list under the ribbon on the outside of the box so that your gifter knows exactly what is in the box!

Wrap up that box and put a ribbon on it! Don’t tie it yet though, because we need to make hang tags.

I like hang tags that are nice and sturdy, so I chose heavyweight stock paper and print my label onto a sticker. I can just put the sticker directly onto the paper and cut it out. One side has the name of the box and my brand, the other side will be a nice pearlescent pink that can be written on!

Instead of just punching a hole into the tag to run the ribbon through, I like to fasten metal eyelets into the tag—it just looks nicer and has a more professional look. Tie that tag into the ribbon on your box, make a pretty bow, and you’re done!

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The post Creating the Perfect Gift Set with Shana of BΛTHVS appeared first on Soap Queen.

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Hi, I’m Linda, the soapmaker behind the Linda O’Sullivan website and the Instagram account mimi_and_boo. Today I am going to show you how to embellish muslin bags with fabric paint using a DIY custom-made stencil.

I tend to use two types of packaging for my soaps. Mostly I wrap them with pretty paper dressed with colorful ribbons. However, if I am selling at a market, I like to keep things simple by popping each soap into a muslin bag. I like the muslin bag solution for various reasons. The soap is totally protected, the packaging is minimal and re-usable – so no plastic, no wastage. And last but not least, it’s a very easy option because all you have to do is pop your soap in the bag, attach a label and you’re done!

Muslin bags are very versatile. They are like a blank canvas – you can keep things simple by just stamping them with your logo or design or you can decorate them in various other ways. I like stamping them but sometimes I prefer the brighter, more vibrant colors you can get with fabric paint. As Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, it seemed fitting to choose a Valentine’s Day theme for this project, so let’s get started.

Supplies:
Muslin Bags
Freezer paper
Heart paper punches (I have 3 different sizes)
Pieces of scrap cardstock cut to fit inside your bag
Fabric paint (pink and gold)
Artist paint brush (or a sponge dauber)
Iron

For this design, we are going to paint random little hearts all over the bag. To start, insert a piece of card in your muslin bag. This is so the paint does not bleed through to the back of the bag. Next, we are going to make our own ‘stencils’ using freezer paper. If you are good at drawing and using a craft knife, you could do it that way. I’m not, so I tend to stick to simple, easy designs!

I cut up a few small rectangular bits of freezer paper and used a heart paper puncher to punch a little heart in each bit of paper.  You want your bits of paper to be big enough so that there is some space left around the punched out heart. That blank space is important because it is the bit that will stick to the bag, thus creating your stencil.

Place your heart ‘stencils’ shiny side down all over the muslin bag, making sure that the heart shapes do not overlap. Next switch your iron to medium and carefully but gently press over the freezer paper until the heat of the iron makes the shiny side of the freezer paper stick to the muslin bag.  You may find it easier to do a couple first, iron over them, then do the next couple and so on.

When your stencils are fixed to the bag, use a small brush to dab fabric paint onto your heart stencils.

When you’re done, slowly remove the stencil and allow the paint to dry. Once the paint is dry, you can remove the scrap of cardboard from the bag.

Below are further examples of how I decorated my muslin bags.

Tip: If you want to do a simpler design, such as just one big heart in the middle, you can make several stencils in one go by placing several pieces of freezer on top of each other.  I was able to do 5 in one go with no trouble at all.

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The post How to Make Custom Stenciled Bags with Linda O’Sullivan appeared first on Soap Queen.

Making your own wedding favors can seem a little daunting, especially if you’re having a large wedding. My biggest piece of advice is to give yourself plenty of time. Crafting at the last second can be stressful. I also recommend choosing a project that suits your skill level. Wedding favors may not be the best time to try an advanced project if you’re a beginner. =)

Candles are a great favor option. They are relatively quick and easy to make, and who doesn’t love a candle? For this tutorial, I made five candles featuring two different color and scent combinations. One candle is scented with Sweet Pea Fragrance Oil and colored a light pink for a feminine option. The other is uncolored and scented with Tobacco and Bay Leaf Fragrance Oil.

The recipe and tutorial below makes ten candles total. If you need to make a lot more, you may consider melting your wax in a large sauce pot over medium-low heat. This way, you can use a larger container than what may fit in your microwave. Then, use a ladle or smaller container to pour the hot wax into each candle container to cool and harden. I recommend pouring the wax on a counter space where the candles can cool and harden without moving them. Once the hot wax is in the container, moving the candles can be tricky!

What You’ll Need:
10 Candle Tins
40 oz. EcoSoya Advanced Soy Wax
10 WU-250 Brown Cotton Candle Wicks
1.6 oz. Tobacco and Bay Leaf Fragrance Oil
1.6 oz. Sweet Pea Fragrance Oil
Red Wax Dye Block 
Optional: Wedding Favor Label PDF

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

ONE: Melt down 40 oz. of EcoSoya Advanced Soy Wax in the microwave using a heat safe container. You can also melt the wax in a saucepan on the stove over medium-low heat. Once melted, add a few drops of wax into the bottom of each candle tin, and place the wick into the center of the candle. Cover the top of the wick with more wax to steady the wick to the bottom of the container.

TWO: Split the wax into two containers, each will weigh about 20 ounces. To one batch, add 1.6 ounces of the Tobacco and Bay Leaf Fragrance Oil. Stir thoroughly.

THREE: To the other container, add 1.6 ounces of Sweet Pea Fragrance Oil and use a spoon to thoroughly mix in. Then, shave a very small amount of the Red Wax Dye Block using a cheese grater. Add the shavings to the melted wax and stir. The heat from the melted wax will melt and Red Wax Dye Block and give the wax a light red color. As the wax cools and hardens, it will lighten to pink. You can test the color by dropping the wax on a white piece of paper and allowing it to cool. Add more dye block shavings if you’d like a richer color.

FOUR: Allow the wax containers to cool slightly. Cut 10 straws in half and slide the wicks into the straws. This will help steady the wicks in the center of the jar after the wax is poured. 

FIVE: Allow the melted wax to cool to about 110 ° F or cooler. The cooler the wax is, the less likely it will be to melt the wax holding the wick in place. Then, pour the red wax into half of the candle tins, and the uncolored wax into the other half. Allow to thoroughly cool and harden. 

When the candle is cool, trim the wicks and allow the candle to cure for 48 hours. This allows the fragrance to set up properly. Enjoy!

Do you have any tips for making projects in large batches? 

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DIY Wedding Favor Candles

These candles are scented with Sweet Pea and Tobacco and Bay Leaf Fragrance Oils for a feminine and unisex candle option.

Course Home Crafts

Servings 10 candles

Author Soap Queen

Ingredients

• 10 Candle Tins
• 40 oz. EcoSoya Advanced Soy Wax
• 10 WU-250 Brown Cotton Candle Wicks
• 1.6 oz. Tobacco and Bay Leaf Fragrance Oil
• 1.6 oz. Sweet Pea Fragrance Oil
• Red Wax Dye Block
• Optional: Wedding Favor Label PDF

Instructions

• Melt down 40 oz. of EcoSoya Advanced Soy Wax in the microwave using a heat safe container. You can also melt and wax in a saucepan on the stove over medium-low heat. Once melted, add a few drops of wax into the bottom of each candle tin, and place the wick into the center of the candle. Cover the bottom of the wick with more wax to steady the wick to the bottom of the container.
• Split the wax into two containers, each will weigh about 20 ounces. To one batch, add 1.6 ounces of the Tobacco and Bay Leaf Fragrance Oil. Stir thoroughly.
• To the other container, add 1.6 ounces of Sweet Pea Fragrance Oil and use a spoon to thoroughly mix in. Then, shave a very small amount of the Red Wax Dye Block using a cheese grater. Add the shavings to the melted wax and stir. The heat from the melted wax will melt and Red Wax Dye Block and give the wax a light red color. As the wax cools and hardens, it will lighten in color. You can test the color by dropping the wax on a white piece of paper and allowing it to cool. Add more dye block shavings if you’d like a richer color.
• Allow the wax containers to cool slightly. While they cool down, cut 10 straws in half and slide the wicks into the straws. This will help steady the wicks in the center of the jar after the wax is poured.
• Allow the melted wax to cool to about 110 ° F or cooler. The cooler the wax is, the less likely it will be to melt the wax holding the wick in place. Then, pour the red wax into half of the candle tins, and the uncolored wax into the other half. Allow to thoroughly cool and harden.
• When the candle is cool, trim the wicks and allow the candle to cure for 48 hours. This allows the fragrance to set up properly. Enjoy!

The post DIY Wedding Favor Candles appeared first on Soap Queen.

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Hi there soapy mavens! My name is Jen and I write a wedding blog called Something Turquoise, the only wedding blog that truly embraces the DIY bride. That is why I have the pleasure of being here on Soap Queen during DIY wedding week!

I would personally call myself a hardcore DIY-er, but I completely understand if you are not. So let’s say you are a creative bride who wants to make a few special things to give that unique touch to your wedding day, but without burning your fingers on a hot glue gun or breaking the bank on crafting tools you might not use again. Well you are in luck, because today I’m breaking down the 5 easiest projects to DIY for your wedding!

In discussing these 5 projects, I want you to keep in mind that I’m not telling you to arrange your own flowers, make your own invitations or sew your own dress, because those details are large scale projects that will take specialized expertise and lots of time. The ideas below are easy because they are not only quick, but you also don’t have to make a ton of them (like favors). Many brides think making favors is easy – and although the favor itself might be easy to create, you’ll still have to make anywhere from 100-200 of them. The details I’m showcasing pack a special punch and will make your day ultra personal without making you go DIY crazy. How detailed you get with these items is up to you and your skill level, but any type of crafty bride will be able to execute these ideas with ease!

1. WILL YOU BE MY BRIDESMAID GIFTS
This is an absolute must now a days, so you might as well get creative with it! Take a little extra time to handcraft something special for your besties because you know they’ll truly appreciate it. Whether assembling a large gift box packed full of fun items or just a special handmade card, your love will shine through this project. You can easily search Pinterest or Google for great ideas that will fit your theme and style. Many sites, like mine, even offer free printable designs!

Make your own “Will You Be My Bridesmaid Coloring Cards.” Image + project courtesy of: Something Turquoise

Make your own “Will You Be My Bridesmaid Tin Boxes” plus ideas for the Groomsmen too! Image + project courtesy of: Something Turquoise

2. MR. & MRS. RECEPTION CHAIR SIGNS
This is such a sweet new trend! Making your own “Mr. & Mrs.” or “Bride + Groom” or “His and Hers” reception chair signs can be SO easy! They could be made of anything from recycled wood to craft paper and ribbon. It’s easy to take ideas that you find online and morph them into something that will perfectly match your theme and the chairs they will be hanging on. I love this project because it’s a quick one since you only have to make two and it will make for the most darling pictures!

Make your own “Wire Wrapped Reception Chair Signs.” Image + project courtesy of: Something Turquoise

Make your own “Painted Mr. + Mrs. Chair Signs.” Image + project courtesy of: Something Turquoise

3. YOUR “SOMETHING BLUE”
The “Something old, new, borrowed and blue” tradition is my favorite; hence my blog name “something turquoise“. This is a little detail that you can really have some fun with! Again, super simple because it’s just one little thing – and super sweet for pictures. From blue embroidery, blue nails, a blue heart sewn inside your dress, a sweet DIY keepsake charm, or maybe even painting the bottom of your shoes blue (my fav!!!) – craft something special for your something blue that speaks to you and your personality.

Learn how to paint the bottom of your wedding shoes “blue.” Image + project courtesy of: Something Turquoise

Create your own “Something Old, New, Borrowed, Blue Pin.” Image + project courtesy of: Something Turquoise

4. GUEST BOOK!
Yes – the guest book! No longer do we need to have the old-school book that our parents did, where their guests just wrote their names on the first few pages which is now in a box in the attic somewhere with cobwebs. No offense to them. Your guest book is the perfect opportunity to create a super special, unique keepsake. Again, you only have to create one – and because all your guests will see and touch it – it’s the perfect item to DIY. Get creative and brainstorm with your groom about what interactive idea best represents you as a couple and what item you will actually enjoy after your wedding!

Make this adorable “Message In A Bottle Guest Book.” Image + project courtesy of: Something Turquoise

Have your guests “paint your new family tree” for your guest book! Image + project courtesy of: Something Turquoise

5. TABLE NUMBERS
To me, this is the best project to DIY hands down. In thinking of items that will make an impact on your guests – table numbers are a big one! Table numbers after all are how your guests find their seat for the night. There are loads of amazing options out there for creative table numbers but you have to look at your wedding theme, personality and relationship to see what will work best. This last idea happens to be the largest project on the list (but is so totally doable) since you will be making 10-20ish numbers. Send your guests to their seats in crafty DIY bride style!

Make “yarn wrapped table numbers” easy and cute! Image + project courtesy of: Something Turquoise

Make “wine bottle hang tags” for your table numbers! Image + project courtesy of: Something Turquoise

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About: Jen Carreiro is the turquoise crazed, master crafter and editor behind SomethingTurquoise.com, a creative wedding blog that truly embraces the DIY bride. Known for her detailed wedding DIY tutorials, Jen is hoping to rid the wedding crafting world of the term ‘craft fail’, and hopes to share techniques that will ensure ‘craft wins’ for you every single time. Follow her and her trail of turquoise into wedding crafting heaven. You can find her on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

The post Five Easiest Projects to DIY for Your Wedding appeared first on Soap Queen.

One of the best things about a clean home is a crisp, fresh scent. It’s so nice to walk into a room and smell lavender, lemon and fir. This is especially true in areas where people spend a lot of time, like the living room. Natural ingredients are perfect for freshening a room.

The Natural Carpet Refresher is made with baking soda and cornstarch, which absorb odors. The recipe also contains washing soda, which can help get rid of carpet stains. A mixture of lavender 40/42 essential oil and lemon essential oil add a relaxing citrus scent. To use, lightly sprinkle the powder on a carpet or rug, let sit for 5-10 minutes, vacuum and enjoy the pleasant aroma!

Like any cleaning product, make sure to keep it away from children and pets. You don’t want anybody walking on the rug or carpet after the product has been sprinkled on. Make sure to vacuum the powder up thoroughly – in our tests we went over the carpet twice to be extra careful. In addition, you should test a small area of your rug or carpet with the powder before covering the entire surface. The amount of essential oil in this recipe is quite small, but you want to make sure it will not leave any oil marks on your floor before using. In addition, you can download and print these free Natural Cleaning Labels to give your products a professional look.

What You’ll Need:
2 Tall 8 oz. Plastic Bail Jars
2 cups Baking Soda
1/4 cup Washing Soda
1/4 cup Cornstarch
3 mL Lavender 40/42 Essential Oil
3 mL Lemon Essential Oil 
Droppers

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

ONE: In a mixing bowl, add the baking soda and washing soda. Washing soda can cause skin irritation, so we recommend wearing gloves and long sleeves when working with it. It can also irritate the nose and throat, so you can wear a mask if you like. If necessary, sift the baking soda through a fine mesh strainer to remove any clumps.

TWO: Add the cornstarch and mix the powders together. 


THREE: Add the lemon and lavender essential oils and use a whisk or your hands to thoroughly mix the oils into the dry powders. Make sure to blend well! You don’t want any oil chunks in the mixture that could transfer to your carpet.

FOUR: Place the mixture into jars to store. When you’re ready to use, sprinkle a small amount of the powder onto your carpet or rug. Allow the mixture to sit for 5-10 minutes to help absorb odors. Make sure children and pets are nowhere near the area, as the mixture could be irritating if it comes in contact with the skin or if it’s ingested. Then, thoroughly vacuum the carpet to suck up the powder.

NOTE: You should test the mixture on a small area of the rug or carpet to be sure you are happy with the results. In our tests, the essential oils did not stain rugs or carpet, but I suggest a small test to ensure you’re happy with the results on your floor.

Wax tarts are another great way to make your home smell fresh in between cleanings. These melts are scented with lavender 40/42 essential oil and fir needle essential oil. The lavender has a light floral, earthy scent and the fir is a traditional pine scent. You can use the tarts one at a time, or pop both in the warmer for a fresh blend. Best of all, wax tarts are easy to create and make great gifts.

What You’ll Need:
Lotus Blossom Wax Tart Mold
Pine Cone Wax Tart Mold
Spiral Flowers Tealight Warmer
10.4 oz. EcoSoya Advanced Soy Wax
.7 oz. Lavender 40/42 Essential Oil
.7 oz. Fir Needle Essential Oil, Siberian 
Purple Wax Dye Block
Hunter Green Wax Dye Block

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

ONE: In a heat-safe container, melt 10.4 ounces of EcoSoya Advanced Soy Wax in the microwave on 30 second bursts until completely liquid. Split the wax evenly between two containers. To one container, add shavings of the Purple Wax Dye Block and stir with a spoon to fully incorporate.

TWO: To test the color, dip a cold spoon into the wax. This allows you to see what the wax will look like after it cools and hardens. Read more about the spoon trick here. If necessary, add more Purple Wax Dye Block until a purple hue is achieved.

THREE: To the other container, add shavings of the Hunter Green Wax Dye Block and stir with a spoon to fully incorporate. Test the color with another cold spoon. If necessary, add more shavings until a green color is achieved.
FOUR: To the green container, add the fir needle essential oil. To the purple container, add the lavender 40/42 essential oil. Stir both containers to fully combine the essential oil.

FIVE: Let the wax cool to around 140 ° F so it doesn’t warp the plastic mold. Pour the purple wax into the Lotus Blossom Mold.

SIX: Pour the green wax into the Pine Cone Wax Tart Mold. Set both molds aside and let fully cool and harden. This will take several hours.

SEVEN: Once the wax has hardened, remove them from the mold. Place them in a tealight warmer and enjoy!

What’s your favorite way to freshen up your living space?

Print

Natural Carpet Refresher

This Natural Carpe Refresher will clean and deodorize your carpet!

Author Soap Queen

Ingredients

• 2 Tall 8 oz. Plastic Bail Jars
• 2 cups Baking Soda
• 1/4 cup Washing Soda
• 1/4 cup Cornstarch
• 3 mL Lavender 40/42 Essential Oil
• 3 mL Lemon Essential Oil
• Droppers

Instructions

• In a mixing bowl, add the baking soda and washing soda. Washing soda can cause skin irritation, so we recommend wearing gloves and long sleeves when working with it. It can also irritate the nose and throat, so you can wear a mask if you like. If necessary, sift the baking soda through a fine mesh strainer to remove any clumps.
• Add the cornstarch and mix the powders together.
• Add the lemon and lavender essential oils and use a whisk or your hands to thoroughly mix the oils into the dry powders. Place the mixture into jars to store. When you’re ready to use, sprinkle a small amount of the powder onto your carpet or rug. Allow the mixture to sit for 5-10 minutes to help absorb odors. Make sure children and pets are nowhere near the area, as the mixture could be irritating if it comes in contact with the skin or if it’s ingested. Then, thoroughly vacuum the carpet to suck up the powder.

You may want to test the mixture on a small area of the rug or carpet to be sure you are happy with the results. In our tests, the essential oils did not stain rugs or carpet, but I suggest a small test to ensure you’re happy with the results on your flooring.

Print

Lavender and Fir Wax Tarts

The Lavender + Fir Wax Tarts will make your home smell fresh and clean.

Author Soap Queen

Ingredients

• Lotus Blossom Wax Tart Mold
• Pine Cone Wax Tart Mold
• Spiral Flowers Tealight Warmer
• 10.4 oz. EcoSoya Advanced Soy Wax
• .7 oz. Lavender 40/42 Essential Oil
• .7 oz. Fir Needle Essential Oil Siberian
• Purple Wax Dye Block
• Hunter Green Wax Dye Block

Instructions

• In a heat-safe container, melt 10.4 ounces of EcoSoya Advanced Soy Wax in the microwave on 20 second bursts until completely liquid. Split the wax evenly between two containers. To one container, add shavings of the Purple Wax Dye Block and stir with a spoon to fully incorporate.
• To test the color, dip a cold spoon into the wax. This allows you to see what the wax will look like after it cools and hardens. If necessary, add more Purple Wax Dye Block until a purple hue is achieved.
• To the other container, add shavings of the Hunter Green Wax Dye Block and stir with a spoon to fully incorporate. Test the color with another cold spoon. If necessary, add more shavings until a green color is achieved.
• To the green container, add the fir needle essential oil. To the purple container, add the lavender 40/42 essential oil. Stir both containers to fully combine the essential oil.
• Let the wax cool to around 140 ° F so it doesn’t warp the plastic mold. Pour the purple wax into the Lotus Blossom Mold.
• Pour the green wax into the Pine Cone Wax Tart Mold. Set both molds aside and let fully cool and harden. This will take several hours.
• Once the wax has hardened, place them in a tealight warmer and enjoy!

The post Lavender and Fir Wax Tarts + Carpet Freshener Tutorial appeared first on Soap Queen.