katshe

I tried the NG's natural soy body butter and added water and then some more water ...tacky ,sticky ...not liking it at all.

Is the salt and sugar per pound of soap or per pound of oils?

Say you figure your recipe at the soapcal for 3 lbs then use for that recipe...I suppose that is 3 lbs of oils

3 tablespoons sugar

3 teaspoons salt...again these are dissolved in water for lye..before lye is added

Salt and sugar is optional... but I find the bars are bubblier and harder when these are added.

Icecold...shea butter could be used instead of cocoa butter but again go to soapcalc and plug that in to re figure recipe.

let me say this about lining mold...Iccook my soap in the soap pot in the oven then leave it sit there over night ..then reheat it take it out and whip it with scent and pour into log mold lined with white trash bag

i have also used freezer paper and those foam pieces too but i find that trash bag is so quick to do.

i really cant remember what i used when i had been doing cook in the mold but it was one of the ones I mentioned.

hth

When you go through the ordering process it says that the labels are paper stock. There is an option for glossy, but that still doesn't make them waterproof.

I've sprayed mine with acrylic or put some clear packing tape over the label.

This is what it says and how its printed in specs... I took this to mean that stock is the description below the words Paper stock: Not really saying it is paper stock so I called to ask...i was told two dif things.

first they were vinyl/waterproof for up to a year...next cal...paper stock.

Paper Stock:

Self-sticking; printed and delivered in sheets. Also available in glossy.

Thanks for the help ...I will check out the link today.

passionsunkiss...might i ask what printer u have and does it have single cartridges that you can replace like one color at a time?

Are we all getting this tested since there is water in the recipe?

when making the recipe with aloe juice are you heating the juice before adding to heated oils??

Looks lovely...gonna give it a go this week...thanks for the recipe

Personally I would add equal amounts of oatmeal, honey powder (soy and yougurt milk powder?) and clay like a tablespoon of each...I am pretty sure those ingredients you can have as much as you like depending on cost too. then figure .5 % for your strawberry powder.

ok I suppose I will have to go that route with the front label then

I am going for the kraft paper look and i will have to print that color /texture if I can and then i can tape the front label

I will still keep the top label as a removabele sort of band i came up with (pic in gallery)

I am going with the kraft paper look if it kills me ,,,somehow.

Ok just want to clear this up VISTA PRINT PRODUCT LABELS are paper stock NOT weatherproof/waterproof. long story....

what are you all using for body scrub labels and products that will get wet?

Only thing I can find is white vinyl weatherproof from online labels and do not prove to be smear proof with body scrub.

do I need to get a laser printer? I have seen suggestions to put clear label over it and or spray label or even strapping tap or laminate it.

What works for you

Please help!

Vista Print has given me FALSE INFORMATION...I called vista print again today and they informed me that none of their product labels are waterproof...they are paper stock

I just called Vistaprint and she told me they do NOT have any waterproof labels except for a vinyl label that is 4" x 4". That size is to big for my products....Are you ordering that one, or did you find another size that is waterproof? Thanks!

Guess Im gonna have to call again...They told me that their Product labels are weatherproof and vinyl. not address labels. I did not see any 4'x4' product labels only circle in two sizes oval two sizes and rectangle two sizes.....I will update in a few

here is the link to what im talking about http://www.vistaprint.com/product-labels.aspx?xnav=LeftItem&xnid=AdvertisingMarketing_ProductLabels&dng=1986090

I will double check right now Calling Vista

Wow I am so pissed right now ..... I just called VISTA PRINT and she told me that their product labels are paper stock...nothing weatherproof as far as labels

AnaNavan, I'm with you on having them done for you ...i am convinced that it is the only way to ensure that the labels hold up in the shower etc. I just designed a few labels at vista print and i think they look very nice ...the did tell me they are vinyl and weatherproof so i will be ordering them this week

I also think they will look more professional and hope that sales will increase.

Now for the soap labels.

very pretty soaps ...love them

vista print update...i called today and they told me their PRODUCT labels are vinyl and weatherproof and that they will stand up to the shower and should last a year.

I presume that these labels will stand up better than the ones I used to use because they are not inkjet ink

Im gonna give them a go...i spent the day today designing ...they look almost identical to the pic i posted of course without the side strap I am hoping they will be good.

gonna order small first time to test.

thanks for all your advise and great comments...you are all the greatest...

I won't take all the credit for the labels...my business cards are where I got the idea and just tried to get it to match and They look soo close. I am changing all my labels to the kraft paper sort of rustic, handmade, with a touch of richness look.

But thanks so much... and I will call vista print and see if they can help me out. I would love it if the labels would be good for my bath and body products ...and someone else is doing the work ..

Oh and I did notice the brochures too...

Ravens...I just got my business cards from vista print and I did consider getting labels from them ...I also went as far as to design them but the cost is about .50 per label but it may be worth it in the end. ...for now I have a bazillion 3.33 in circle labels to use up so lets see if i can sell a few body scrubs )) and like I said before I can use them to label other stuff.

I am not sure if vista prints labels will hold up in the shower though.

I have considered adding a clear label to the top but after my experiment with tape and the water seeped in there somehow I am not wanting to spend the extra $$ to find out that wont wor either.

ok tried a few diff things and still the original is the one that is the least trouble and looks the best.

I did contact a company and see what it would cost to have them made...i haven't hear back yet..

this label cost about 20 cents plus ink

I have a labeled container in the shower taped and water has gotten under it...ugh.

so that means that the label on the front has the potential to smear and get water behind the tape and being that these labels are paper they absorb water unlike the vinyl weatherproof ones.

Now I wish I would have just gotten weatherproof labels,,, I do have a few that I used to use but they would have to be printed to match the kraft paper look ...and taped.

Looks like I will be doing the front label in the vinyl weatherproof so cost is a bit more..

Abbie what labels do you use or are they made for you??

Kyme1911, nice...just what I was thinking...I am gonna first see if Michaels has something like that then give it a trial run.

scrochet...thanks for the suggestion. the lids are black so clear wont work and water is the main reason i cant label the top...using my inkjet to print the labels, even weatherproof labels smear in the shower especially when using with a body scrub that has oil in it.

Oh yeah, I have a hundred sheets of circle labels to use...I do have another use for them ...I think I can use them to label my votive boxes and tile coaster boxes soo all wont be lost if I change my mind and use the cardstock.

Maybe i cut a strip of cardstock like a band like 3" wide and wrap round jar then place label on that.

Here is one more Idea I had.

wrap the jar in kraft paper then use the label on top to hold paper on ...you know like how you could wrap soap in tissue with a label on top. Ok, now im thinkin...brown tissue paper?

I'll see what i can muster up here today and shoot some pics of the other ideas and see what you all think.

Thanks you all!!!

Scented,

ultimately I would love it if the wrap around part was one piece of card stock or lightweight cardboard. Then it would look sort of like a semi boxing idea...if that makes sense.

Im not sure if they make kraft paper like card stock but before I settle on this idea im gonna check around first.

Thanks LuminousBotique, Rae and Jokerjen.

I like them too and they match my business cards...

I just wan't sure about the fact that the round label is like packaging you remove to use.... but that's that...my other product ...face scrub and other items wont have this issue as i can use the tape to cover them cause they are not round labels.

Wonder If they make matte finish strapping tape?

I havent seen the weatherproof in kraft paper look and they arent water proof enough...I have white ones but they smear if using oily body scrub and the spray doesn't work ...I sprayed one and it is a mess after being wet for a few days and the sides all curl up.

Jokerjen , do you not like these labels? and what do you not like about them that I could improve on? any suggestions are welcome

thanks

Cuttest thing I ever saw...how much do you sell those for...just love how cute they are.

Ok, I 've been trying to figure out how to do this label so that the ink wont run in the shower...

What I've done is use two 3.33' circle labels back to back(one on back is blank)...and in the middle of them is a strip of kraft paper folded and then wrapped around the jar. This will be removed to use the scrub.

I then labeled the jar and taped it with strapping tape so that when the circle label is removed my customers will still know what is in the jar and who to call to get more.

I still think there may be room for improvement on this idea...I did try taping the top circle label but I do not like the look of it on top the jar as you need two pieces of tape and then have to trim it just so.

Comments and advise welcome!

ooh sorry that second pic came out blurry

that seems like alot to melt at once...maybe a big melter like these??

http://www.soapmelters.com/

Anyone have a good way to melt the 24 lb bulk blocks of M&P easily? I had to cut up 2 boxes of this (48lb) into chunks last night to make soap. My hand is NOT happy today. I usually make about 20lbs of each at a time so it would make my life significantly easier.

I am not the expert... but how much are you wanting to MELT? 24 pounds at a time?

I don't understand your coment....I usually make 20lbs of each...of each what? at a time.

Sorry no t understanding the question ...having a slow day ,.forgive me.

I have only sold to family and friends all this time through my experimenting etc and the recipe I use for hp is the only one i was happy with. Thank you for considering me when using my recipe.

I am now after 6 years or more can't remember...going to start selling outside my family friends and feeling confident.

I think maybe I could have started about 2 years ago selling to others i mean but it has been too crazy here ...I have time now and am going to start having home parties to get my products seen and used and hopefully well received.

I am just about ready with all my samples...so sxciting to see what you"ve accomplished and then to be able to have others like it too...

Keep me posted on how the scenting goes and I can help you with any questions you may have ...you can pm me...i would be more than happy to help.