How'd You Get That Color?

That's the question being emailed to me over the last few weeks. When we first posted this Mold Market ice cream cone, many wanted to know how to duplicate the cone color pictured. Well.... we're gonna share! This is how is was done and it's easy, easy, easy.

To make two 3-D cones (pictured top):

• Melt 12.7 ounces clear soap base
• 1.9 ounces white soap base
• Gently stir the two soap bases together once they have melted.
• Add 1 drop of yellow oxide liquid gel color and 1 drop orange oxide liquid gel color
• Add fragrance; we added 2 teapoons
• Pour into the cone halves and allow to set up
• Once firm, release soap from the mold
• Melt a small amount of clear glycerine OR if you have any of the cone color soap left, us that.
• Carefully spoon the melted soap onto one half of the cone. Line up the other cone half and press the two halves together firmly. Hold in place until the two pieces adhere to . Be sure to use enough soap between the two halfs so they stay intact.

In the near future, I'll be showing you how to put an ice cream scoop on top of the 3-D cone.

Announcing Facebook Sunday Special

Announcing our new Facebook "Sunday Special". Just visit our Facebook page and "Like" our site. Then check out the Sunday Special listed. Add the posted item or items to your shopping cart and we'll apply the discount once the order is received. It's that simple.

Our Facebook page will keep you up-to-date about any changes to our site, new products, product information, special offers, and promotional offers you won't find on our web site. You'll want to visit our Facebook page regularly so you don't miss out on valuable savings.

Sunday: A Time of Worship & Reflection

I always look forward to my Sunday mornings. It's my personal time to regroup from a hectic work week and enjoy time with family. It's also a day of worship and self-reflection. Each of us refeul differently and attending my local church is the best refueling station for me. It feeds my spiritual side, encourages, inspires, and allows me to focus on life's greater picture. It's a day to look back on the successes and shortcomings of the past week. For me, self reflection empowers me and allows me to gain a sense of responsibility about my own life. It shapes my behavior. So clearly making time to evaluate who we are and where we are going is the path to take to move us forward.



This morning I refelected on how an event can forever change our life. This hit home yesterday as I was packing a very large order requiring special attention. As I pulled a sheet of packing paper from the roll dispenser, one end of the dispensing stand dislodged and the entire stand, including 20# of paper, went gliding off the counter. As my hands reached to catch it, the paper cutting blade sliced one of my fingers and a bloodbath ensued. The initial pain was excruciating and I wasn't able to determine the degree of the injury due to the bleeding.

The Paper Dispenser

Once I got the bleeding under control and had a look-see, I breathed a sigh of relief. The cut was deep, but if I could keep the wound closed, stitches may not be necessary. I was reminded how life can change in a split second. A serious injury, a terminal health diagnosis, the death of a loved one, a lost job, a failed business, or even something as joyful as winning the lottery can change our life forever. What if I had lost my finger by the paper cutting blade? Certainly that would have change my life and how I work.

The Cutting Blade

I can prepare, plan, forecast and make wise choices but still be caught off guard when that "one little event" changes everything. When it comes right down to it, I have very little control over much of what happens in my life. I can't control the outcome of certain events or those unforeseen events that will happen (like the dispensing roll slicing my finger). Bottom line: I can't control everything. As the Scripture says, "Be anxious for nothing". This Sunday's self-reflection brought this to the forefront. This week, I will try to be anxious for nothing. I hope you can, too.

PostScript: If you see a bandaged finger in one of my tutorial videos, you will know why.

And Why Did I Take a Vacation??

My honey-man and I took an extended weekend vacation to the Florida last week. We left on Wednesay afternoon and returned Sunday. The weather was sunny, warm and the blue skies and ocean made me forget about work. It was a much earned and deserved retreat.

AND THEN comes Monday. As I walked into the office my first words were, "Why did I take a vacation?". I spent the entire 2 1/2 hour return flight responding to emails, yet I was still buried alive in work on Monday morning. It was easily a 16 hour day. Today wasn't any better. I started the day on 5 hours of sleep, and it was evident from the get-go that this was going to be a day that Murphy's law reigned. Our server went down, UPS software went on it's own vacation and crashed, a warehouse shelf lost a wheel and sent hundreds of molds flying from here to kingdom come (oh, and the list could go on!) and here it is after 11 PM and I'm still at it. There's definitely something wrong with this scenario.

I have incredible staff who took charge while I was away, but there are many things requiring my attention; they can't be delegated. Sadly, there were no little fairies or elves that worked through the night taking care of business. So, the infamous words we all seem to speak after taking time off from work

"And, why did I take a vacation?"

Wine Cork Bath Mat~ I've Got Corks Up the Wazoo

My husband, Chris, is in the wine biz and has a disposition that compels him to collect all things wine related. It drives me insane. In our second garage attic are two gigantic boxes filled to the brim with wine corks. In one of the closets in our house is a box filled with cork pulls from various suppliers around the world. Why? That's a question only my man can answer. In my mind none of these objects serve any useful purpose. He insists that the wine corks will be extinct in the next decade as wineries move to screw top caps. As for the corkpulls... if wine corks become extinct, why do you need a corkpull?

In an effort to rid my attic of his cork collection, I emailed my honey the above picture on how to make this wine cork bath mat. I believe he needs a distraction from the "RED TABLE" ordeal and this just might appeal to his geeky wine persona and set his mind on a new path. Sadly, his return email stated that he had enough wine corks to make a house mat. Now, that is scarin' me! Does this mean we might have a gigantic wine cork floor rug in front of our new sofa sectional? Will he be making these "corky" things for future Christmas gifts? This could prove to be my worst nightmare. When he comes home with 400 bags of glue sticks and an automatic glue gun I will know I'm in serious trouble.

NEW Mold Market Soap Molds Have Arrived

Mold Market just released 8 new soap mold designs and GoPlanetEarth is stocking them all. Way cool stuff! Once I return from a short Southern trip (yes, even I need to take extended weekends now and then!!), I will be working with these new molds to see what fun things can be done with them.


This two-piece doughnut mold has great potential. The options for decorating the finished soap are endless.

Can't wait to see what we can do with this soft serve ice cream cone.... hmmmm... I'm thinking about a scoop of soap frosting. It comes 4 cones to a sheet so you can easily make a full size 3-D cone.

This tiled square mold will easily accept dual color pours. Think Rubik's cube! To veiw all the new molds click here.

Personal Life: The "RED" Table Ordeal

My honey-man and I recently purchased a new sectional sofa and Bistro Pub table/bar stools for our great room. I have been trying to add accent pieces as I find them. The main color palette in the room is chocolate brown, deep red, beige/cream colors. Here is the ordeal....

I purchased this red sofa console table which I love! My honey man thinks it's the ugliest thing he has ever seen. He has spared no words in expressing how hideous it looks. The table has a few distressed areas on the tabletop which, again, I like. What to do? That's my dilemma. Do I return the table or not?

I so wanted to have a red table to provide a nice accent color to the room. As you will see from the photos, the color compliments the wall decor and pillows.



Because my honey dislikes the red table so much, I will be returning it. I have to live with my husband way longer than the red table. In our personal life, just like our business life, we often have to pick and choose our battles. There are those times we need to take a backseat to what WE like, what WE believe is best, what WE want... and listen to the other person's opinion and view. In many ways, I am married to my customers. Sounds strange, but it's so true. Customer's opinions count and listening and being attentive to them is what forges an ongoing relationship and secures repeat business.



So, in the end, the "RED TABLE" is history in our household. It will be returned and my honey and I will jointly shop for a new sofa table.

Before & After Cancer Surgery Pics

For those of you who follow my blog on a regular basis, you will remember the post about my Mom's cancer surgery. Below is a photo of my Mom the day after the surgery.

Here is a follow up photo 2 months later. AMAZING!!! My Mom is still somewhat dismayed that her nose is now a different shape. Other than that, she's happy to HAVE a nose. It will be several more months before the nose is totally healed. Eectrolysis will be necessary to remove stray hairs that keep popping up on the nose. This is because the flap of skin used for reconstruction was close to the hairline and some hair follicles have transplanted themselves onto the tip of the nose.

My 79-year young mom.