Nail polish is a fun and easy way to change up your look. If you love decorating your nails, creating your own nail polish allows you to create custom shades. The new Nail Polish Kit includes four colorful micas for creating one-of-a-kind colors, as well as Fine Silver Rainbow EcoGlitter for sparkle. The kit ships free to the lower 48 United States.

Creating nail polish is a fun group activity and is great for parties. Jen of Something Turquoise created a DIY nail polish bar and it couldn’t have turned out cuter — see it here. A nail polish station makes a perfect addition to a birthday party or a bridal or baby shower. See our tips for throwing your own Nail Polish Party here.

If you’ve never made nail polish before, it couldn’t be easier. Simply add your choice of colorants into the nail polish bottle. Pour in Suspending Nail Polish Base, and mix the base and colorants together. Add more colorant until you have the perfect hue. Once you’re happy with the color, it’s ready to use!

The Nail Polish Kit Includes:
Suspending Nail Polish Base
8 Nail Polish Bottles
16 Nail Polish Mixing Beads
0.2 oz. Mermaid Mica
0.2 oz. Raspberry Mica
0.2 oz. Buttercup Mica
0.2 oz. Super Pearly White Mica
0.2 oz. Fine Silver Rainbow EcoGlitter
4 Mini Scoops
Printed Instructions & Labels

ONE: Drop one or two mixing beads into each nail polish bottle. Using a Mini Scoop, add about 10 scoops of colorant to the nail polish bottle. You can use one colorant or mix colorants to create your own custom shade. If using more than one, cover the top of the bottle with your finger and shake to mix the colorants together.

TWO: In a well-ventilated space, away from any open flame, pour the Suspending Nail Polish Base slowly into the bottle. Fill until just below the shoulder to allow for mixing room. If you spill, use a rag to wipe the neck of the bottle before it dries. If you forget to do this, your life may glue itself to the bottle.

THREE: Insert the brushes into the bottles and twist the black cap on. Once the cap is securely on, shake the bottle to mix the base and colorant. Shake for 3-5 minutes to fully dispense the colorant. When the colorant is fully dispersed, you’re finished. Test the polish on a piece of white paper or your fingernail and add more color if desired. Apply a label to the bottle if desired.

FOUR: Paint 2-3 coats of nail polish on your fingernails and let dry. Finish with a clear top coat to extend the wear of the polish.

Print

Nail Polish Kit & Tutorial

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 8 Nail Polishes

Author Soap Queen

Ingredients

• Suspending Nail Polish Base
• 8 Nail Polish Bottles
• 16 Nail Polish Mixing Beads
• 0.2 oz. Mermaid Mica
• 0.2 oz. Raspberry Mica
• 0.2 oz. Buttercup Mica
• 0.2 oz. Super Pearly White Mica
• 0.2 oz. Fine Silver Rainbow EcoGlitter
• 4 Mini Scoops
• Printed Instructions & Labels

Instructions

• Drop one or two mixing beads into each nail polish bottle. Then, using a Mini Scoop, add about 10 scoops of colorant to the nail polish bottle. You can use one colorant or mix colors to create your own custom shade. If using more than one, cover the top of the bottle with your finger and shake to mix the colorants together.
• In a well-ventilated space, pour the Suspending Nail Polish Base slowly into the bottle. Fill until just below the shoulder to allow for mixing room. If you spill, use a rag to wipe the neck of the bottle before it dries. If you forget to do this, your life may glue itself to the bottle.
• Insert the brushes into the bottles and twist the black cap on. Once the cap is securely on, shake the bottle to mix the base and colorant. Shake for 3-5 minutes to fully dispense the colorant. When the colorant is fully dispersed, you’re finished. Test the polish on a piece of white paper or your fingernail and add more color if desired. Apply a label to the bottle if desired.
• Paint 2-3 coats of nail polish on your fingernails and let dry. Finish with a clear top coat to extend the wear of the polish. Enjoy!

The post Nail Polish Kit & Tutorial appeared first on Soap Queen.

The holidays are a great reason to get together with friends and family. With all the stress the holidays can bring, a party is the perfect way to unwind. I try to host one get together every holiday season, even if it’s just a small wine night with a couple close girlfriends. If you’re hosting a holiday party this year, including a craft component is a great way to bring some creativity to the occasion. Want some quick tips for throwing a craft party? Scroll to the bottom of the post to learn my tips for throwing a smooth and fun party.

Crafts are a fun way to help people interact with each other at parties. Sure, standing around eating and drinking is fun…but it’s nice to give your guests something to do! A couple years ago I hosted a holiday craft party that included a nail polish and sugar scrub station. Easy projects like these are great for parties, because guests don’t need much assistance making them.

It’s important to keep in mind that what you consider easy might be a little intimating for a beginner. To give them a little extra help, I print “How-To Sheets” that include step-by-step instructions for each attendee. You can find the free printables below! In addition, I recommend giving your guests a little demo at the beginning of the night. That way they will feel more confident with the project.

• Nail Polish Party How-To
• Sugar Scrub How-To & Labels

Thinking about throwing a party this year? Click here to see my ideas for a sugar scrub party, along with an easy recipe. The scrub recipe includes meadowfoam oil, potassium cocoate, jojoba beads and granulated sugar. It’s easy to customize by replacing the fragrance, fixed oil or jojoba beads of your choice. You can also simplify it by only using sugar (although the jojoba beads give a lovely color!) The DIY Party Winter Gardenia Sugar Scrub Kit includes everything you need to make ten sugar scrubs.

Nail polish was the other “station” at the party. It’s particularly well suited for a party because exact amounts of ingredients are not necessary, and just about everybody can use more nail polish! When making nail polish, I recommend placing the colors in individual containers to allow for easy access. I used little plastic sampler cups from the grocery store (shown below). I also recommend covering your counter with craft paper, newspaper, parchment paper, or another protective surface. That way if a little nail polish spills, it will be easier to clean up. Definitely have some nail polish remover on hand as well!

Just like the sugar scrub, I had instructions on the counter for guests to refer back to. On the sheet is also a nail graphic where guests can “test” their color while creating. The free template also includes nail polish labels, so you can name your polish once you’re done. This is one of the best parts of the process; my guests had a blast coming up with silly names for their polish.

Once guests are done making nail polish, keep the crafting going and use the polish to paint glassware! The Bramble Berry team had a mini painting party with nail polish and champagne flutes earlier this year. Learn more about the process here. It’s an easy project that any skill level can do. All you need to provide is the glassware (I recommend checking out the dollar store!), Q-tips, and a sealing spray if you’d like to make the glasses a little more durable. You could also tell your guests to bring their favorite polish color to decorate their glass.

A glassware nail polish painting party is a fun way to make nail polish, and use it too!

Jen of Something Turquoise also created a DIY Nail Polish Bar, complete with mimosas and plenty of shimmer. Jen did an amazing job of setting everything up with thoughtful labels for each nail polish bottle and printed instructions. She also included a tray for guests to pour over to catch any drips of polish or spills of color – so genius! Doesn’t it look beautiful? In particular, Jen’s party was for a bridal shower or bachelorette party, which is such a great idea.

Jen of Something Turquoise threw a beautiful, sparkly Nail Polish Party, complete with mimosas. 

After hosting a few of these parties for family and friends, of course I had to host a party for the kiddos. We kept things mess-free by making DIY Ornaments with the Bath Bomb Mold and Package; click here to see all the details and instructions. The project really couldn’t be easier. Lay out an array of craft materials (with a protective cover for your table for easy cleanup), and let the kids fill their mold with glitter, ribbons, pom-poms, pipe cleaners, and little toys like the Black and White Penguin Erasers. I found that the kids did need some help putting the mold together, but were able to do just about everything else by themselves. Of course this will vary depending on the age range. =)

Ready to party? I’ve compiled some of my “go-to” tips below. Throwing a craft party isn’t hard, but it’s important to do some thorough prepping! You’ll thank yourself later. After all, you want to be able to enjoy the party too!

• Choose an “easy” project. Everybody has a different idea of easy, but I think it’s safe to say cold process soap would be intimidating for more guests.
• The fewer guests you have, the more difficult the project can be. If you’re only having over a few friends, cold process soap might actually be doable! It all depends on what they are comfortable with, and how much attention you’d like to commit to giving each guest. Cold process soap, for example, would require lots of hand-holding if it’s their first time making it.
• If your project of choice requires heat (like melt and pour or lip balm) consider the logistics carefully. Most likely, you only have one microwave. If you have a lot of guests, that area will get pretty crowded, and people will be waiting to use it.
• If you are loving the idea of melt and pour, melting all the base ahead of time in a large double-boiler or crock pot is a great way to avoid microwave backup. That way, guests can ladle out the melted soap into their bowl to customize further. You can also use this method for lip balm base.
• Have plenty of clean-up materials. Crafting can get a little bit messy! This means have paper towels and wet wipes on standby.
• If you’re hosting a nail polish party, I recommend stocking up on a bottle or two of nail polish remover. You may also consider covering the crafting surface with a tablecloth that you don’t mind if it gets ruined (the dollar store/Goodwill will have one!) or crafting paper.
• At the beginning of the party, give a mini demo of how to do the project. This will help guests feel more confident when making their project.
• Have a few printed instructions sheets nearby for guests to look at. Even with a demo, guests may a little lost during the process. Having step-by-step instructions to refer to is helpful.
• If the project requires mixing together specific amounts of individual ingredients (like a scrub), make sure to also have a printed recipe nearby for guests to refer to.
• Once you figure out how many “tools” you need to create the project (spoons, spatulas, droppers, mini scoops, etc.), get extra. Doubling the amount of tools may be a little extreme, but you’ll probably need more than you think. Having extra on standby means you won’t have to worry about it during the party.
• If you provide labels for the projects, don’t forget scissors and pens for guests to cut out the labels and create a name for their project. You could always cut them out ahead of time, but I recommend letting your guests do it. Cutting out tons of labels can be time consuming, and it just gives your guests another way to put their finishing touch on the final product.

Have you thrown a holiday craft party? I would love to hear about what you made, and if you have any tips! 

The post How to Throw a Holiday Craft Party appeared first on Soap Queen.

Pure Honey Fragrance Oil is also used in the Honey Bee Funnel Pour Cold Process Soap. The soap gets its unique black, white and yellow stripes from the funnel pour technique. It is then topped with cold process frosting, a bee embed and a golden Honey Melt and Pour Base honey drizzle. This project is a great opportunity to try some advanced soaping techniques.

If you want to teach some new techniques to your friends, you can host a DIY craft party. Making nail polish is one of the projects you can make. Because it is ready to use once the color is mixed in, your friends can take it home with them. Get tips for your next get together in the Nail Polish Party + Nail Polish Colors and Free Templates post.

Providing snacks is another option for the DIY party. These Honey Roasted Peaches would be a sweet and healthy thing to snack on during crafting. The peaches are easy to make – all you have to do is mix them with butter and honey and roast for 15-20 minutes. The result is sweet, soft peaches that go on everything from ice cream to granola.

Soap inspiration can come from anywhere, whether it’s butterflies or pottery. Tammi with Lux & Lather Handmade Artisan Soaps & Candles was inspired by ancient Greek pottery to create her stunning soap. This week’s Facebook Photo of the Week was colored with Brick Red Oxide and Black Oxide.

The warm base color of the soap is complemented by the deep red and black. The pattern on the bottom is beautiful, and the interesting swirl reminds me of a running horse. If you love the red and black color palette in Tammi’s soap, check out the Dragon’s Breath Cold Process Soap. The Movember Mustache Melt and Pour Tutorial has more red and black inspiration.

Above (clockwise, top left) are Tammi’s Rosemary and Peppermint Soap, Great Outdoors Soap, Warm Winter Fig Soap and 7 Soap. If you’d like a soap scented with Peppermint Essential Oil, 1st Distill and Rosemary Essential Oil, click through the Minty Clay Melt and Pour Tutorial. Rosemary also smells great in the Indigo Spoon Plop Soap Cold Process Tutorial.

Find Lux & Lather Handmade Artisan Soaps & Candles
On Facebook

For more beautiful soapy inspiration, check out this week’s Instagram Photo of the Week by Melanie. Her Coconut Mango Violet soap is made with yogurt and coconut milk for an extra creamy feel. The hanger swirl technique is used to swirl the vibrant purple, orange and green soap. See more of her gorgeous work on her Instagram page.

Post pictures of your crafty creations on the Facebook page each week for a chance to be featured on the Soap Queen blog and receive a sweet soapy package from Bramble Berry. Photos are chosen based on consensus from the Bramble Berry staff, so the best way to increase your chances of winning is to show us lots of photos!

To participate in the Instagram contest, hashtag your pictures with #soapshare. Each Friday, I will pick a photo on Instagram to be featured on the Bramble Berry Instagram account. 

The post Facebook and Instagram Photo of the Week (May 23rd ~ 29th) appeared first on Soap Queen.

I recommend planning on each person making about three bottles of nail polish. To give your guests plenty of color options, colorant sampler packs are a great way to go. For this party, I used the Brights and Pastel Micas Sampler Pack. I also brought along some glitter to add plenty of sparkle.

First, I showed everybody how to create a bottle of nail polish. Then, I gave them each printed instructions along with a template to test their nail polish color throughout the mixing process. I also had labels printed out, so my friends could write the name of their custom shade on the bottle. Coming up with fun polish names is one of my favorite parts!

To help keep any spills or messes off the counter, I placed all the ingredients on plastic mats. I also had a few bottles of nail polish remover nearby just in case! I place each mica into small sample cups to make the colors easier to scoop. The Nail Polish Mixing Balls, caps and brushes were also on the counter for easy access. I brought two 4 oz. bottles of Suspending Nail Polish Base. This way, more than one guest can pour the base into their bottle at a time. I ended up with plenty of extra 8 mL Nail Polish Bottles. I recommend planning on each 4 oz. bottle of nail polish base making about 16 of the small nail polish bottles.

To make the nail polish, gently pour the Suspending Nail Polish Base into the nail polish bottle. Add a Nail Polish Mixing Ball into the nail polish bottle. The Nail Polish Mixing Balls really help disperse the colorants into the nail polish base.

Then it’s time to get mixing! Have plenty of .15 CC Scoops on hand to help your guests place the micas and glitter into their bottles. This is were things get really fun! The more color options available, the more mixing and customization options your guests have.

Then, put the brush in, screw on the lid and shake, shake, shake the bottles until the color is fully incorporated into the base. For more information on how to make nail polish, check out the How to Make Nail Polish video on Soap Queen TV.

The printed instructions include a nail graphic to test the color as you continue to add color to your nail polish. This way, you don’t need to test the polish directly on your finger nails.

Once you’re happy with your nail polish color, cut out a label and place the label on the bottle. I used the waterproof label paper to print the labels. Click here to download the free label template.

Here are a few of my favorite nail polish colors created at the party, including my “Perfect Purple,” color shown above.

Color Mixtures Shown Above:

• Sparkle Blue: Five CC scoops Cellini Blue Mica + four CC scoops Silver Nail Polish Glitter (The Silver Nail Polish Glitter has been replaced with the Silver Rainbow EcoGlitter).
• Bright Green: Four CC scoops Shamrock Green Mica + six CC scoops Yellow Mica
• Perfect Purple: Seven CC scoops Lavender Mica (The Violaceous Violet Mica previously used will be discontinued when supplies run out. It has been replaced with Lavender Mica).
• Bright Pink: Five CC scoops Coral Mica + five CC scoops Rose Pearl Mica
• Super Gold: 12 CC scoops Gold Nail Polish Glitter (The Gold Nail Polish Glitter has been replaced with the Silver Rainbow EcoGlitter).
  

If you want to recreate this nail polish party, here is the complete list of items used:

• Two bottles 4 oz. Suspending Nail Polish Base
  
• Small Nail Polish Bottle, 8 mL
• Nail Polish Mixing Balls
• Gold Nail Polish Glitter (The Gold Nail Polish Glitter has been replaced with the Silver Rainbow EcoGlitter)
• Silver Nail Polish Glitter (The Silver Nail Polish Glitter has been replaced with the Silver Rainbow EcoGlitter)
• Brights and Pastel Micas Sampler Pack
• Nail Polish Instruction Template
• Nail Polish Label Template

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

Have you ever thrown a DIY party before? I love having an activity during my celebrations. I find that it helps foster conversation, and guests love leaving with their creations. If you have any tips or tricks for throwing a DIY party, I would love to her them! If you’re interested in learning more about making your own nail polish, check out the tutorials below.

• How to Make Nail Polish Video
• Sunday Night Spotlight: Suspending Nail Polish Base
• Guest Post: Trends in Nail Polish
• Peacock Glitter Nail Polish
• Matte Finish Nail Polish Tutorial
• Nourishing Nail Polish Formula
• Anti-Pinch Nail Polish

The post Nail Polish Party + Nail Polish Colors and Free Templates appeared first on Soap Queen.