The way to a girl's heart.......samples!

It's no secret that I LOVE SOAP. When I buy soap I have a routine:

1) close eyes... feel, smell, feel, smell
2) open eyes ...feel, smell, feel, smell

I'm sure you're thinking....weirdo! Think of picking out soap as a wine tasting. While descriptions and recommendations are helpful, they don't always hit the nail on the head. Soap smells and feels different to each individual user. Since it plays an intimate roll in our lives, let's get to know it a little better first! This can be hard when buying online. Until your PC can provide smellinet, try one of these sample packs now offered at PeaPod Crafts!

• Classy Clean Collection: ($12) - 12 mini sized soaps (approx. 1oz each)
• Sudsy Sampler Pack: ($6) - 6 mini sized soaps (approx. 1oz each)
• Bubbly Box Set: ($20) - 4 full sized soaps (approx. 4oz each) plus 4 mini sized soaps (**shipping on BBS is a flat rate of $4.95)

Visit http://www.peapodcrafts.etsy.com/ (or see side panel) to order.

Time to Make the Donuts...er Soap! How to Make Swirled Soap

This weekend I was knee deep in olive oil. My etsy site has been getting a bit dry in the last few months and needs to be replinished!!! My goal: add 12 more batches of soap before March 15th. This weekend I was able to whip out 6 batches. Stay tuned on my etsy site as i'll be unveiling the new scents in the next few days!

To make things easier, i've recently purchase some new molds. Previously I used the homemade wooden style and they work wonderfully, but the new ones are awesome! I've been using them for six months now and absolutely love them! They're made from the same material that your everday kitchen cutting board is made from. Because there's no need to line them, unmolding and cleaning them are SUPER easy. (One little FYI: I do spread a thin coat of petroleum jelly on the molds to help with unmolding).

I'm so excited to show off my first successful swirl! I've attempted to swirl a few times in the past and the results were always the same....boring! I'm a habitual stirrer and when you overstir a swirl you get something far less intersting.

Here's how you do an IN THE POT swirl: (My recipe uses 36oz of oil.)

1. During the mixing process let soap/lye solution come to a light trace.
2. Separate 1 cup of newly created soap mixture into a small mixing bowl or container.
3. Add colorant to the small amount of soap and mix well.
4. Hold the container of colored soap high over the pot of soap (approx. 2ft) and slowly drizzle into the pot. This enables the color to dispense to throughout the pot and all the way to the bottom of the pot.
5. OPTIONAL **Stir pot once with a skinny stick (I use a shishkabob stick). Do not overstir or you will loose a crisp swirl.
6. Pour into the log mold- this is where the swirling effect occurs.

LUGGAGE SALE!!!

Have you joined my facebook fanpage?

BIG SALE ON LUGGAGE through March 1st. BUT you have to be a fan to find out the details:)


Join here: www.facebook.com/peapodcrafts

NEW Year's Resolutions

1) Create more
2) Post more
3) Sell more

Being as it's already February 1st, I am NOT doing so well in the post more department. Here are a few things that are in fact in the works for 2010.

----new soap scents (just received a batch of peak fragrances)
----new prints/colors for make up rolls and vendor aprons
----matching make up bag/roll sets
----Weekly featured EZ-Peazy Etsian.

Stay tuned. 2010 is going to be a wonderful year!

I HAVE to share this wonderful recipe and great gift idea!

My good friend Erin, has a fantastic blog called One Particular Kitchen.
Not only is she a great author, she's a fabulous cook too. Take a look at her recipes and kitchen ideas- you won't be disappointed.

Spice Craisin Nuts is one of my favorite recipes she's shared to date (and there are a LOT of great ones to pick from, trust me!)

I whipped up a batch of these nuts on Thanksgiving to eat and made FOUR batches for Christmas gifts. I packaged them in little celophane cones and gave them to friends and family. Only snafoo- I couldn't keep my son and husband out of them while I was trying to pack them away!

It's a quick, easy way to spread some nutty, holiday cheer!

And the winner is.................

Carapace!! Congratulations!

Check out Carapace's etsy site at www.carapace.etsy.com. She offers beautiful jewelry and bright illustrations. Take a second to visit her etsy store or read more about her on www.caramakes.blogspot.com.

Thanks to all who entered!

December Giveaway - The Three Wise Women

I'm partnering up with my favorite gals (my mom and my mother-in-law) this month to bring you an awesome holiday giveaway! We have lots in common and all three of us are crafters at heart. Take a look at a quick description of their shops below:

BasketBeeDesigns: My mom (Marlene) offers some beautifully quilted Christmas Stockings and Christmas Tree Skirts, as well as adorable chipboard scrapbooks...and of course baskets (her true talent).

FinnsPrettyThings: My mother-in-law (Nancy) offers beautiful jewelry in her shop. She has a flair for combining natural stones and beautiful pendants to create a one of a kind art piece. She also loves crystals and looks for special beads that accent her workings. Her work is truely artful.

Here's what the winner will receive:

1-Peppermint Heart Basket Tie-On from Basket Bee Designs

Tie this on to your favorite basket to give it some holiday umph!

1- Holiday Bracelet - from Finns Pretty Things A beautiful Christmas colored bracelet with heart shaped turquoise and coral beads. Perfect for the holidays or year round!

1- Christmas Past Soap Trio - from Pea Pod Crafts

You'll get three small crinkle cut soaps tucked in an old fashioned, circular box. Soaps are scented with a fresh Christmas scent of balsam and cinnamon. So cozy and fresh!

To enter:

- heart the following stores BasketBeeDesigns, FinnsPrettyThings and PeaPodCrafts.

Extra Credit- how to earn extra entries:

- heart one item from each of the above stores (1 entry- each store)

- add an item from our stores to your Etsy Treasury (1 entry per item added)

- blog about this giveaway (1 entry)

- twitter about this giveaway (1 entry)

- join PeaPodCrafts fanpage on Facebook (1 entry)

- become a follower of this blog (1 entry)

- refer a friend to this giveaway (1 entry- have friend mention you in comment)

Drawing will occur on December 18th at noon CST, so don't wait to enter!!