New Year's Resolutions

I can't believe 2012 is almost over! Here are a few resolutions I came up with for 2013:

1) Blog more. Has it really been 8 months since my last post??

2) Eat healthier & exercise more.

3) Save more, spend less.

4) Double my business income.

Anyone else want to share theirs?

Cupcake Evolution

If you've been following my facebook page, you know that I've been redoing my cupcake soaps. Here's a peek at how the journey's been going.

This is what my cupcakes originally looked like.  They're made with melt and pour soap, piping the icing on when it gets cool enough to keep its shape.

Since that method is very time consuming I decided to look into easier methods.  This one was great.  Super easy to work with and I could get about 10 done in the time it took me to do 1 with the other method.  The downside?  The icing doesn't harden very well.  It uses foaming bath whip as the frosting so it doesn't get as hard as melt and pour soap.  I'm afraid these will get beat up during shipping but aren't they pretty?

The next method was using melt and pour soap combined with foaming bath whip.  These dried much harder.  It wasn't quite as easy to work with though.  The consistency was like that of Silly String which made it a bit harder to pipe onto the soaps, but still a lot easier than my original method. (sorry for the bad picture)

Then I decided to try cold process soap cupcakes.  These are made from scratch like my bar soaps.  It took a few attempts to figure out how to do it properly.  I learned that I can't use the oven method with my silicone molds or it gives them a very ugly texture.  I also learned that I have to pour the bases at a very thin trace and then I need to have patience to allow the "icing" to set up a bit before piping onto the bases.  This one turned out nice but I didn't wait quite long enough and couldn't get much height with the icing.

Here's another cold process soap cupcake.  This time I walked away for 15 minutes and when I came back the soap was perfect to work with.  I'm loving these but the bad thing is that I can't make one at a time like I could with the melt and pour soaps.  These need to be done in batches so I can't customize them unless someone wants a whole batch.

I think I'm going to sell both the cold process soap cupcakes and the melt and pour/foaming bath whip cupcakes.  That way I can make the cold process ones in batches but still have the others for the option of customizing.

There's one more method that I haven't tried.  It involves using melt and pour soap along with liquid soap.  I'll post an update if I decide to give that one a try.

Finished Projects

Here's a peek at some of the projects I completed lately.  I've been in the mood to do a lot of knitting and crocheting.  Here's the finished scarf that I was knitting before:

And a cute crocheted baby blanket.  I'm loving these colors.

I have a lot more in the works.  I'll keep you posted when they're finished!

Prize #6: $15 Gift Certificate to Add Some Stitches

Today's prize is a $15 gift certificate from Megan at Add Some Stitches!

This gift certificate can be used towards any of the wonderful items in her Etsy shop.  That includes crochet hats, baskets, headbands and more!

***Rules for entering***
You MUST "like" Megan's Facebook page if you don't already:
www.facebook.com/addsomestitches
and post a comment here telling me that you "liked" it. *You will not be entered unless you do BOTH of these things.* Be sure to leave an email so I have a way to get in touch with you if you win!

Be sure to check out my facebook page for previous prizes, and to stay posted when new ones are listed:
http://facebook.com/AngiesSudsNSuch

Prize #5: Coffee Cozy by Eden's Aprons and Gifts

TGIF!  Today's prize is a coffee cozy from Shyanna of Eden's Aprons and Gifts:

Fleece lined coffee cozy to keep your hands cool and your coffee warm!  (This one is for US residents only)

***Rules for entering***
You MUST "like" Shyanna's Facebook page if you don't already:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Edens-Aprons-Gifts/116943978367572
and post a comment here telling me that you "liked" it. *You will not be entered unless you do BOTH of these things.* Be sure to leave an email so I have a way to get in touch with you if you win!

Be sure to check out my facebook page for previous prizes, and to stay posted when new ones are listed:
http://facebook.com/AngiesSudsNSuch

Prize #4: Key To My Heart Charm Necklace by Something Monumental

Prize #4!  This lovely "Key To My Heart" charm necklace by Mandy at Something Monumental.

This necklace features a silver key charm, a light purple crystal bead, and a dark metal miniature heart locket. The locket opens and closes. Chain is silver-tone and 18 inches (45.75 cm) long.

***Rules for entering***
You MUST "like" Mandy's Facebook page if you don't already: https://www.facebook.com/somethingmonumental
and post a comment here telling me that you "liked" it. *You will not be entered unless you do BOTH of these things.* Be sure to leave an email so I have a way to get in touch with you if you win!

For an extra entry, follow her on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MandyCrandell
and post here letting me know.

More prizes coming throughout the week! Be sure to follow my facebook page if you don't already so you can stay updated on when they're posted:
http://facebook.com/AngiesSudsNSuch

Prize #3: Stunning Necklace by Vixen's Natural Jewelry

Happy Leap Day everyone!  For prize #3 we have this gorgeous necklace from Vixen's Natural Jewelry:

Glimmering Amber Sun/Moon embraced in a sterling silver tree necklace.
Pendant measures 1 1/2 inches long and 1 1/4 wide.
Antiqued frame and matching 18 inch chain finished with a lobster claw clasp.

***Rules for entering***
You MUST "like" Vixen's Facebook page if you don't already: http://facebook.com/TreeandMoonJewelry
and post a comment here telling me that you "liked" it. *You will not be entered unless you do BOTH of these things.* Be sure to leave an email so I have a way to get in touch with you if you win!

More prizes coming throughout the week! Be sure to follow my facebook page if you don't already so you can stay updated on when they're posted:
http://facebook.com/AngiesSudsNSuch

Prize #2: Any Hat, Any Size, By Stitch by Nicki!

Are you ready for prize #2?  It's an adorable hat by Stitch by Nicki!  Nicki has offered up any hat, any size, for our giveaway.  Here are a couple and you can find more on her facebook page:

Isn't this just the cutest?

***Rules for entering***
You MUST "like" Nicki's Facebook page if you don't already: http://facebook.com/StitchbyNicki
and post a comment here telling me that you "liked" it. *You will not be entered unless you do BOTH of these things.* Be sure to leave an email so I have a way to get in touch with you if you win!

More prizes coming throughout the week!  Be sure to follow my facebook page if you don't already so you can stay updated on when they're posted:
http://facebook.com/AngiesSudsNSuch

Let The Games Begin!

We finally hit 1,000 fans on our facebook page so we're having a "1,000 fan giveaway"!!!  Throughout the week I'll be posting new prizes for you to enter to win.  Winners will be announced on March 5th.
Prize #1 is from my own shop, Angie's Suds 'N Such.  A lavender gift set!

This gift set includes:
1 Lavender Bar Soap (4.5+oz)
1 Jar of Lavender Sugar Scrub Cubes (6.75-7oz)
1 Lavender Lotion Stick (1.1oz)
1 Lavender Solid Perfume (.35oz)

***Rules for entering***
You MUST "like" my Facebook page if you don't already: http://facebook.com/AngieSudsNSuch
and post a comment here telling me that you "liked" my page. *You will not be entered unless you do BOTH of these things.* Be sure to leave an email so I have a way to get in touch with you if you win!

Ways to receive more entries (you will receive one more entry for each):
1. Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/SudsNSuch and post here letting me know.
2. Visit my Etsy shop: http://SudsNSuch.etsy.com and comment here telling me your favorite item.

Good luck everyone!

Progress and New Projects

Well, I'm nowhere near as far on this blanket as I hoped to be by now but I keep getting distracted by other projects.  Making this put me in the mood to knit and crochet more.  Here is the blanket so far:

2 rows done!  I need 18 for it to fit our bed.

This is one of my other projects.  A new scarf to sell in my other shop!

This one is my favorite.  A new dress for baby-to-be!  This is what it's going to look like when it's done:

And here's what I have so far:

The pattern starts at the top and works its way down, so that part is the collar.

And last but not least, some new face scrubbies for my Etsy shop!

That's it for now but I have many new ideas floating around in my head.  I'll keep you posted!

New Project

For the first time in ages, I've decided to make something for myself.  I've been eyeing this pattern for awhile now and I finally got up the nerve to go for it.  Isn't it beautiful?

Mine is going to be a blanket for our queen size bed.  This will be the biggest crochet project I've ever done.  I love the bright colors in this one but it doesn't match our room.  So I got yarn that does:

Here is what I've accomplished so far today:

(It looks a lot better in person than it does in this picture)  I calculated that I'll need about 288 hexagons to make a blanket large enough for our bed.  6 down, 282 to go!

My First Book Feature!

Awhile back I was interviewed by a local author about my Etsy shop.  He said he was writing a book about selling on Etsy and wanted to feature a few successful sellers.  A few weeks later he emailed me a draft copy of the book and then I forgot all about it.  Saturday I was shocked when I opened my mailbox and found this waiting for me:

Here's my feature!!

Sorry about the shadows on the pages.  I didn't want to smash the book in the scanner so I took pictures of the pages instead.

This is a great book for those wanting to start selling, or just starting out, on Etsy.  I just checked to see if it's been released yet and it looks like it came out on January 16th.  It's available at most book sites for about $9.  Tell me if you get a copy!

Discontinuing the Sugar Scrub Cubes

After 2 years of making the Sugar Scrub Cubes I think it's time to put them to rest.  I get a lot of great reviews on them at craft shows but they're just not selling well online.  I need to focus my time and money on something that's more popular, so as of today they've all been marked down 25% to clear them out of my shop.  Once they're gone, they're gone.  (Unless I get a wholesale request that I just can't refuse)

This brings up a question though.  I was using these in my gift sets along with a bar of soap, perfume, and lotion stick.  What would you like to see take their place?  I was thinking maybe a candle.  Any thoughts?

Fotofuze is My New Best Friend!

Somebody in the Etsy forum yesterday was raving about a new photo editing website.  It makes all those grayish white background a nice, crisp white.  I just had to give it a try.

Here's my pic before Fotofuze:

And here's the after:

What a difference!  Now I'm hooked and I'm editing all my photos.  It's so simple.  You just highlight the image and Fotofuze does the rest.  Just make sure you turn off the autocropping option if your pics are already cropped.  That part gets a bit annoying because I keep forgetting and have to go back and redo each pic.  Other than that, I love it!

The Great Perfume Debate

As most of you know, I currently make solid perfumes in little pots:

I started making these because they're easy to carry around in a bag since they're small and they don't spill.  Well, I started wondering if maybe I should sell other types of perfume as well.  I was going through some options and here's what I came up with:

Solid Perfume in a Pot
I like these because, as I said, they're small and spill proof.  The bad thing about them is having to rub your finger into it to apply it.

Solid Perfume in a Stick
These are also nice and portable.  With this option you can rub it directly onto your skin.

Roll-On
These are one of my favorites although I'm afraid to carry it in my purse for fear of spilling.

Spray
Also not one that I would carry around, just in case it spilled. 

Cost Issue:
Then there's the price factor on each.  The solid ones aren't as costly to make.  The plastic pots/tubes are inexpensive.  The roll-ons and sprays cost a bit more.  I'd prefer to use glass for those which off course makes the bottle more expensive.  From what I've been researching, the glass containers cost almost 4-5 times as much as the tubes/pots.  This would, of course, mean that 1/3oz of liquid perfume would cost a lot more than 1/3oz of solid perfume.  Is it worth it?

I would love to hear opinions on this!  Please comment below and take the poll to the right to help me decide what to do!

Spring Soaps are Back in Stock!

I know it's still winter but I'm so ready for the warm weather that I decided to get a head start on some spring soaps. The Taffy Soaps are my favorite!  They remind me of warm, sunny days on the beach.

For Easter, I have the Jelly Beans ready! These adorable soaps come in a set of 20 and are perfect for little hands.

Book Review: Departures by Robin Jones Gunn

Departures is a book containing two separate stories.  Both are about teenage girls on summer vacation.  They talk about friendships, love and feelings.

The book was a quick and easy read.  I'd recommend it for a teenage girl but it wasn't really for me.  It held my interest enough to get through it quickly but I didn't find it very captivating.

An excerpt from the book can be found HERE.

As a reminder, I was given this book for free from the WaterBrook Multnomah "Blogging for Books" program. All opinions are my own.