Shampoo Bars Now Available!

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Amy Warden

Beer & Seaweed Shampoo Bars by Great Cakes Soapworks

The Beer & Seaweed Shampoo Bars are finally available! According to testers, these just might be the best shampoo bars around for normal to dry hair. It’s definitely my own personal favorite right now. If you’ve been following this blog for awhile, you know I started my quest to create a shampoo bar last May, and have been trying out different recipes ever since. I had 13 gals test the Beer & Seaweed formula last November and got a very nice report including this before and after photo:

Linda's hair before and after using the Beer & Seaweed Shampoo Bar

After seeing these photos, I knew it was time to start producing. But it had to be the right size and shape, and it had to have the right scent(s). Having a nice, round bar that not only fits your hand, but also your head was important. So I invested in a custom-sized 2.5″ PVC pipe that had to be ordered from the plumbing store to use as my mold.

For the fragrances, I chose to keep the Deep Patchouli blend of patchouli, cedarwood, and lemongrass essential oils that I sent to the testers. The scent lingers in your hair, so if you like deep, earthy fragrances, you will love this scent! But I also added Lemongrass Herbal Mint, which is a super refreshing blend of lemongrass, lavender, rosemary and peppermint. You won’t smell it after your hair dries, but it will definitely invigorate the senses during the wash, which is sometimes all we need in the morning. Am I right?

So if you’re ready to give it a try, you can get your shampoo bars HERE.

Valentines Soaps and Bubble Bath Now Available!

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Amy Warden

With Valentines Day just two weeks away, I am very happy to announce that the pirate-themed Valentine soaps are now available:

For the girls:

girls val soap 2011c1 Valentines Soaps and Bubble Bath Now Available!

South Seas Siren

South Seas Siren is a combination of a Michael Kors type fragrance which is comprised of white florals, warmed with delicate top notes of bergamot, apricot, peach, and plum, finished with a touch of exotic spice, velvety woods, and sensual skin musks with a tropical plumeria fragrance. Just like a siren – it’s completely irresistible! With just 11 of these available, you’ll want to get your hands on these as fast as possible!

For the guys:

guys val soap 2011b1 Valentines Soaps and Bubble Bath Now Available!

Brazen Buccaneer

Brazen Buccaneer is a woodsy blend of bamboo, teak, rainforest, sandalwood and cedarwood. The depth of this fragrance is amazing! Completely earthy, very masculine and sexy. Even the pattern of colors will remind you of wood grain. Only 10 available – check ‘em out here!

After receiving a tip from Holly at Missouri River Soap that Target had heart-shaped silicone molds available in their dollar section (which really cost me $2.50!), I knew I had to make some bubble bath to match the South Seas Siren soap. Here’s a little video on how I made them (and the problems I encountered!):

South Seas Siren Bubble Bath Confections are available HERE. Only 6 available!

Hopefully these will help make your Valentines Day special!

All-Natural Oatmeal, Milk and Honey Soap

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Amy Warden

Oatmeal, Milk & Honey Soap by Great Cakes Soapworks

I’ve been making Oatmeal, Milk & Honey soap since 2004. It’s a staple in the handmade soap line as far as I’m concerned. Loaded with pulverized oats, fresh goat’s milk, and real honey; I would consider it the most moisturizing soap that I make. Not only does the honey act as a humectant, holding moisture to the skin, but the fresh goat’s milk makes the creamiest, moisturizing lather. The oatmeal serves two purposes: to soothe and exfoliate.

What I love about this latest batch though, is the all-natural essential oil blend. Previously, this soap has been scented with a synthetic fragrance which smelled pretty wonderful, but I am determined to start using more natural fragrances in my soaps whenever possible. The blend smells like honey and almonds, and has already been approved by one of my customers who loved the previous Oatmeal, Milk & Honey soap.

Click the photo to purchase.

Valentines Soap Naming Contest

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Amy Warden

I hope you all had a nice holiday – I know I sure did! I’m feeling revived and refreshed, and ready for a new year! I will have lots of re-stocking to do this month, but I thought I better get started on the Valentines soaps first. Besides, it’s way more fun to be creative and make something new, right?

My hubby collaborated with me on this project, starting with the scent blends. For the first time ever, we have a girls Valentines soap and a guys Valentines soap. The girls Valentines soap is scented with a blend of plumeria and Michael Kors type perfume. Plumeria (common name Frangipani) grows in the tropics and is known as Hawaii’s most popular lei flower with a rich, sweet fragrance. The Michael Kors type fragrance blends beautifully as it is also comprised of white florals, warmed with delicate top notes of bergamot, apricot, peach, and plum, finished with a touch of exotic spice, velvety woods, and sensual skin musks.

For colors, I went with white, shimmery silver, and two tones of pink.

girls val soap 2011 Valentines Soap Naming Contest

Girls Valentines Soap by Great Cakes Soapworks

After I mixed and poured the light pink layer, hubby sprinkled on the thin line of fuchsia pink mica. Then I poured a light layer of white, and alternately poured the dark pink, silver, and more white. Once it was all poured, I used a bamboo skewer to swirl the top just a bit more. I was afraid that using two floral fragrances might be sort of tricky, but they were very workable!

Here are a couple more photos:

girls val soap 2011b Valentines Soap Naming Contest

Close-up of the Girls Valentines Soap

girls val soap 2011c Valentines Soap Naming Contest

Girls Valentines Soaps - more tops

The guys Valentines soap is a very woodsy blend of bamboo, teak, rainforest, sandalwood and cedarwood. I combined several fragrance oils, as well as an essential oil blend and cedarwood essential oil. The depth of this fragrance is amazing! Completely earthy, very masculine and sexy.

The colors for the guys Valentines soap are dark brown, reddish gold, silver (to match the girls soap), and natural. I used the faux funnel pour technique – partly because it almost looks like wood grain, and partly because I just love the way it turns out!

No two bars are alike:

guys val soap 2011b Valentines Soap Naming Contest

Guys Valentines Soaps by Great Cakes Soapworks

It seemed like the soap was a little too thin as I got started pouring. Like the layers were mixing together. There are only a couple places where you can see how they mixed, and I think it actually adds to the character of the bar:

guys val soap 2011c Valentines Soap Naming Contest

Blended colors on the Guys Valentines Soap

Here’s another one of my favorites:

guys val soap 2011 Valentines Soap Naming Contest

Close-up of Guys Valentines Soap

About the Contest:

Here’s where I need your help. These soaps need names! Hubby and I tossed around a few ideas, but couldn’t settle on anything. We did like the idea of a PIRATE THEME though. Here are the guidelines:

1. Use a pirate theme if possible, however other names will also be considered.
2. Please submit names for both soaps that fit together.
3. Keep it tasteful, people!
4. Submit your entry(ies) in the comments section below. (Yes, you can submit multiple entries. It’s not necessary to use a separate comment for each entry.)
5. Please do NOT submit entries via Facebook or email – it’s too difficult to keep track of them.
6. Comments will close this Saturday, January 7 at 10pm CST

After that I will pick some of my favorites and create a poll so that everyone can vote for the winners! Winner will receive a free set of Valentines soaps as soon as they are cured and ready. (I’m hoping for January 31, but could be later. These are huge bars!)

UPDATE: COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED.

Soap Grab Bags are Back!

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Amy Warden

Here’s a great way to get a deal on handmade soaps! Each grab bag has at least 8 ounces of soap – they could be end pieces or round mini-soaps that I pour from the bottom of my soap pot, or even just full-sized dented soaps. Grab bags sell for nearly 50% off retail! This time, in addition to the soap, I had some bubble bath confections from previous test batches that have finally hardened, as well as some leftover pieces from current batches to add to each grab bag (enough for one bath)!

Previous grab bag contents - example only

Click photo to purchase – limit one per customer!

By the way, if you were hoping to purchase some Candy Cane or Sweet Dreams Bubble Bath Confections and missed out the first time around, these are now back in stock! Sugar Cookie Bubble Bath Confections are also available.

3Bubble Bath in bag1 Soap Grab Bags are Back!

Bubble Bath Confections

Click photo to purchase (no limits!)

And finally, here are the Christmas soaps that are still available, and you guessed it – click the photo to purchase:

Peppermint Soap

brown sugar pecan soap Soap Grab Bags are Back!

Brown Sugar & Pecan Soap - only 6 left

figgy pudding soap2 Soap Grab Bags are Back!

Figgy Pudding Soap - only 6 available

frank myrrh soap2011 Soap Grab Bags are Back!

Frankincense & Myrrh Soap (goat's milk) - only 13 available

Pepper-Nut Soap - only 9 available

pumpkin lager soap Soap Grab Bags are Back!

Pumpkin Lager Soap - only 4 available

I have one last Holiday Mart this Saturday at a local elementary school, and Santa is going to arrive on a fire truck! That should be fun! After that, I will still be offering the online Christmas sale until December 22nd; however, December 19th is the last day I will guarantee arrival by Christmas. Only 17 days until Christmas – woo hoo!

New! Winter Rose Soap

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Amy Warden

Winter Rose Soap

The Winter Rose soap is finally ready!! This beautiful soap is made with the most true-to-life rose fragrance and just a hint of resinous frankincense & myrrh. Flecked with vanilla bean specks as well. If you love the smell of roses in full bloom, you will love this soap!

Click the photo to purchase. Just $6.50 each, or buy any 4 or more soaps for just $22 (that’s just $5.50 each!).

This week I plan to start experimenting with some solid bubble bars – the kind you crumble into your tub for a luxurious bubble bath! Hoping I’ll have something to show you soon!

Soap of the Week: Sunflower (in the Kansas Wind)

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Amy Warden

Sunflower in the Kansas Wind by Great Cakes Soapworks

I was born and raised in Kansas, and apart from my four years of college and a year and a half in Knoxville, Tennessee, this is where I’ve lived most of my life! I hear lots of jokes about the Wizard of Oz, and it’s funny to hear people’s perspectives of Kansas who have never been here. Yes, we have tornadoes nearly every year, but fortunately, most of them aren’t destructive. You can tell the folks who’ve lived here a long time because when the tornado sirens go off, they are the ones on their front porch looking at the sky (that’s what my grandpa used to do!). I’ve gotten a little bit more sensible now that I have a family. That is, we usually go to the basement now.

Fortunately, this isn’t tornado season, but we still get some gusty winds. Thus, this soap is aptly named for the Sunflowers that are losing their petals in the Kansas Wind. The fragrance is a really nice blend of lemongrass, patchouli, cedarwood, and a bit of sage. It has that nice earthy smell that reminds me of actual sunflowers.

I started with eight of these, but took them to the farmer’s market over the weekend and even with the smaller crowds, now I’m down to just three. Only $5.95 each for a hefty 5-ounce soap. Click the photo to order!

Soap of the Week: Cranberry Yuzu

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Amy Warden

Cranberry Yuzu Soap by Great Cakes Soapworks

It’s finally available! This Cranberry Yuzu soap created quite a stir when I first posted about how my older daughter and I made it. The fragrance is a very lovely combination of tart cranberries and the tangy citrus scent of Japanese yuzu fruit. It’s positively mouthwatering!

Click the photo to purchase – just six available at $5.95 each!

Two New Soaps Available

Posted on September 1, 2011 by Amy Warden

Cinnamon Apple Peach Soap by Great Cakes Soapworks

Warm, spicy apples with a hint of juicy peach. So yummy!! Click the photo to order – just $5.95 each. Also qualifies for the Soap Combo Deal – order any four or more qualifying soaps and the price drops to $5.00 each!

Red Rock Canyon Soap3 Two New Soaps Available

Red Rock Canyon Soap by Great Cakes Soapworks

Smells of lavender and oakmoss aftershave with a hint of lime. Made with fresh goat’s milk for a super creamy lather! Click the photo to order – extra large bars are just $5.95 each (no quantity discounts).

Soap of the Week: Candied Currants Now Available

Posted on August 29, 2011 by Amy Warden

Candied Currants is the soap that my younger daughter helped design and create, using the faux funnel pour method. You can read more about how we did it here. After bringing it to the farmer’s market on Saturday, there are now only three left! Smells very fruity, of course, and the design came out perfectly.

Candied Currants soap1 Soap of the Week: Candied Currants Now Available

Candied Currants Soap by Great Cakes Soapworks and Daughter

Just click on the photo to purchase – but don’t wait too long! Just $5.95 each.

Great Cakes Soapworks

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