Pages

Friday, October 26, 2012

Free shipping within the USA on DeShawn Marie Handmade Soap


This weekend buy any 3 or more soaps in my Etsy shop and receive FREE SHIPPING within the USA when you enter coupon code 3FREESHIP in the coupon code box during checkout. This can not be combined with other discounted listings. Soaps must be added to cart individually as the free shipping does not apply to the sets or gift packs.  Thank you!
HAPPY SHOPPING!
http://deshawnmarie.etsy.com/



Bookmark and Share

  • DeShawnMarie.com
  • DeShawn Marie Etsy Shop
  • Thursday, September 06, 2012

    Green Tea Health Benefits


    There are many health benefits to green tea.  Drinking just a cup a day can benefit your health in more ways than one.  Please share this with friends, family and co-workers.

    Bookmark and Share

  • DeShawnMarie.com
  • DeShawn Marie Etsy Shop
  • Wednesday, August 22, 2012

    DeShawn Marie Handmade Soap "A day in the life"


    "A day in the life" series post 4
    I started these posts for people who would maybe like to have a soap business like mine or any type of craft business some day to give people an idea of things I do year round.

    Currently I'm preparing for
    the busy fall and holiday season and as I've mentioned before this is the time of year that small businesses like mine either make it or break it. Crafters like me can make as much as 70% of their yearly income during the last few months of the year.

    Today I am measuring out ingredients in advance to prepare for making lots of batches of soap. It's something that I've started doing in the last couple of years as when it gets hectic here I can just pull the pre-measured ingredients off the shelf and make the soap. It makes things quicker, cleaner and easier during the busy season.

    Today I am also making a batch of the Cedarwood Sage soap as even though it is one of my new soaps I predict it will be a big seller this fall due to it's colors and earthy fall scent. https://www.etsy.com/listing/95793260/soap-sale-1-dollar-off-cedarwood-sage

    Bookmark and Share


  • DeShawnMarie.com
  • DeShawn Marie Etsy Shop
  • SALE! $1 OFF all listings in my ETSY shop now!

    Organic Cold Processed Cinnamon Bark Soap
    Have you visited my Etsy shop lately? DeShawn Marie's Etsy Shop
    Stop by now and stock up on your favorite soaps while they are on SALE!
    All of my listings are marked $1 OFF through the end of the week.
    So now is the time to try one you haven't tried or stock up on that special 
    soap you just can't get enough of.

    While you are at it be sure to "like" my facebook page as I will be posting
    all sales, promotions, tips, etc. there before any where else.  Get the
    soap scoop first and be in the know. DeShawn Marie Facebook



    Bookmark and Share


  • DeShawnMarie.com
  • DeShawn Marie Etsy Shop
  • Wednesday, August 08, 2012

    Freezing herbs and saving their flavor.


    A very cool way to save herbs for later use:

    Freezing this way they do not darken or lose flavor and aroma:
    Steps to freeze the herbs in olive oil or unsalted butter (melted)

    1.Start with fresh herbs, preferably from the market or your own garden.

    2.Be sure to chop them well, or leave them on branches and larger leaves. In the photo, the herbs are finely chopped.

    3.Place in ice cube trays (about 2/3 full of herbs).

    4.You can mix herbs (sage, thyme, rosemary).

    5.Fill with extra virgin olive oil or unsalted melted butter over the herbs.

    6.Cover with plastic wrap and freeze.

    7.Remove frozen cubes and store in small containers or bags to freeze.

    8.Make sure to label each container or bag with the type of herbs (and oil) inside!

    9. Use in baked goods, baked potatoes, etc.

    A great way to save them and use them for just about anything at a later date.

    Bookmark and Share

  • DeShawnMarie.com
  • DeShawn Marie Etsy Shop
  • Tuesday, August 07, 2012

    "A day in the life" series post 3 Ordering ahead of time.



    "A day in the life" series post 3 : I've always said that soap and candle making is like "Art, cooking and science class all in one" You have a recipe you follow, you have to weigh and measure oils, plus manage temperatures like chemistry and you need to have some artistic ability to get it to look pretty.

    Today in preparation for the busy fall and holiday season I am starting to order more oils, ingredients and supplies so that I will be able to make enough inventory for the season. This is something that every crafter struggles with prior to the busy time of year. It takes an investment to have all of that inventory built up in time for the busy season. Soaps require a curing time too so you have to make them way ahead of time to be ready.

    In the photo here I am heating up oils to begin a batch of my Organic Spearmint Eucalyptus soap, due to it's green color it sells quite well during the holiday season. https://www.etsy.com/listing/94795977/organic-spearmint-eucalyptus-soap-cold I have started making lots of batches of it in the last week. These are the kind of things I have to think about way ahead of time every year. So this is just another tip for any one who would want to start a business like mine or who would like to know what it takes to run a handcrafted soap business.


    Bookmark and Share

  • DeShawnMarie.com
  • DeShawn Marie Etsy Shop
  • Friday, August 03, 2012

    "A day in the life" series post 2. Craftopolis edit express.


     
    "A day in the life" series post 2
    Not everyone knows all that goes in to a small handcrafted business such as mine so I started this series of Blog and FB posts to give people an idea of my day to day life and all that it takes to run a business like mine. I'll have tips for online businesses in these posts as well.

    Today in preparation for the busy fall and holiday
    season I am starting to go thr
    ough all of my listings and double check them for accuracy. Something that most people don't think about when starting an online business is how much work goes in to keeping your shops, websites, listings, etc. up to date. You have to be detail oriented for this job. Postal prices are constantly changing and every time those rates change you have to change your pricing. It's a lot of work when you have many online shops and 100's of listings in each shop.

    For all of you Etsy shop owners if you don't use the Craftopolis Edit Express http://www.craftopolis.com/#com=ee you should check it out. It is a great way to edit all of your Etsy listings quickly (well as quickly as you can LOL) Just enter your shop name and all of your listings will show up on the page. Then you can edit all of your prices, descriptions, titles and quantity in one location. To me it is a must have tool and is what I am using to update all of my listings today. It's going to be a long day.

    Thursday, August 02, 2012

    My new blog and FB series "A Day in the Life"


    Today I am preparing shipping boxes for the busy Fall and Holiday season. Not everyone realizes what goes in to a small handcrafted business like mine so I've decided to start a new series of Blog and FB posts called "A Day in the Life"


    Yesterday I started making soaps for the season and today I've started assembling boxes for the season. It takes months of preparation to be ready for the busy season. Some crafters including myself make as much as 70% of their yearly income in the last several months of the year.

    This series of posts will feature pictures of soap making, gift wrapping, packaging, shipping and more. I hope you all enjoy a peek into my world over the next few months.

    Thursday, July 12, 2012

    Uses for used coffee grounds and tea

    A friend of mine posted this great list of 20 things to do with used coffee grounds and tea on Facebook.  I thought it was so great I just had to share it.  Hope you all enjoy it.


    Uses for coffee grounds:

    1. Soften Skin
    Exfoliate with a body scrub made of coffee grounds, coconut oil, and a little brown sugar. Gently massage it on in the shower, rinse, be soft. (I've tried this one and it's great, leaves your skin feeling amazing!)
    2. Please the Flowers
    Use coffee grounds as mulch for acid-loving plants – like roses, azaleas, rhododendrons, evergreens, hydrangea, and camellias – they like coffee grounds for the natural acidity and nutrients they add to the soil.
    3. Sadden the Ants
    Sprinkle coffee grounds around areas of ant infestation to deter them.
    4. Deter Gastropods
    Used grounds are said to repel snails and slugs, sprinkle in problem areas.
    5. Simplify Fireplace Cleaning
    Before cleaning the fireplace, sprinkle with dampened used coffee grounds -- which weigh down the ash and thus eliminate clouds of smoke-flavored dust.
    6. Make a Sepia Dye
    Soak used grounds in hot water and use as a dye bath for Easter eggs, fabric, and paper for a lovely, soft brown tinge.
    7. Keep Cats at Bay
    Keep kitties out of the garden with a mixture of orange peel and used coffee grounds distributed around plants.
    8. Encourage the Carrots
    To boost a carrot harvest, mix seeds with dried coffee grounds before sowing. The extra bulk makes the wee seeds easier to sow, as well, the coffee aroma can nourish the soil and help repel pests.

    Uses for used tea bags or leaves:
    9. Tame Stings and Burns
    Cool tea bags can bring relief when applied to bug bites and minor burns, including sunburn. For overall skin irritation, put spent tea leaves in a bath and soak.
    10. Soothe Your Eyes
    The tannins in tea have anti-inflammatory effects, which is why cool ones are often employed on puffy eyes. (The chill also helps with swelling.)
    11. Feed the Garden
    Use tea leaves as food for garden plants – green tea is high in nitrogen, and as a bonus, the leaves can ward off pests and insects. Also good for houseplants, add old tea leaves to their water.
    12. Boost Potted Plants
    When potting plants, place a few used tea bags on top of the drainage layer at the bottom of the planter before adding soil. The tea bags will help to retain water and will also leach some nutrients into the potting medium.
    13. Quell the Cat Box Smell
    Sprinkle used, dried tea leaves in litter boxes to help reduce the smell.
    14. Eliminate Pet Odors
    Sprinkle dried, used green tea leaves on your pet’s pillow, bed, in the doghouse, or other smelly spots to eliminate odor.
    15. Freshen the Carpet
    Sprinkle dry tea leaves onto the carpet, crush them lightly and let sit for 10 minutes, then vacuum. This will refresh the carpet and deodorize your vacuum cleaner and bag. (Especially helpful if you have pets.)
    16. Treat the Dog
    As an extravagance, loose leaf gunpowder tea is a treat for dogs to roll around in. It’s great for the aroma and luster it adds to the coat.
    17. Freshen Mats and Beds 
    It is common in Southeast Asia to wash straw sleeping mats in tubs of water to which tea has been added. The tea works as a deodorizer, you can apply this method to yoga mats and air mattresses.
    18. Save the Fridge
    If you’re out of baking soda, place dried, used green tea bags or leaves in a small open bowl in your refrigerator to help absorb odors.
    19. Wash Your Hands
    Rid your hands of food odors (garlic, onions, etc) by rubbing them with wet green tea leaves, an instant deodorizer.
    20. Deodorize Kitchen Surfaces
    Rub wet tea leaves on cutting boards and counters to remove food odors.




    Bookmark and Share

  • DeShawnMarie.com
  • DeShawn Marie Etsy Shop
  • Sunday, March 11, 2012

    The time has come! NEW Soaps coming soon.

    Introducing the first 2 NEW soaps that will be coming to my Etsy shop very soon.



    First the VANILLA MINT, now I can not tell you how in love I am with the scent of this soap, it is by far my all time favorite.  When creating this one I had no idea how much I was going to love it.  I thought to myself oh this will be a nice scent and I always love the minty colors, but WOW, WOW is all I can say.  I can't get enough of this one...I keep racing to my bathroom just to smell it.  This one will be listed in my Etsy shop starting tomorrow.


    Following the VANILLA MINT will be the CEDARWOOD SAGE.  I have wanted to make this one for a very long time and am so excited to finally be introducing it.  The CEDARWOOD SAGE will be ready in 2 to 3 weeks and let me tell you for you earthy girls and guys this one is just right!  Earthy colors, all natural and a nice light woodsy smell.  You'll feel like you just came back from a nice hike in the woods when using this soap.


    Yes this means that as new soaps come out there will also be some old favs that will be discontinued so if the Jasmine Jubilee, Sandalwood Forest or the Ginger Snap soaps are your favs you should probably head to my Etsy shop and stock up as those will be discontinued as soon as I'm sold out of them.  Only a few bars left of each.

    I'm still working on a few new ones so keep your eyes peeled on my Etsy shop over the next few weeks and be sure to like my Facebook page so you'll see them unveiled as they are made.


    Bookmark and Share

  • DeShawnMarie.com
  • DeShawn Marie Etsy Shop
  • Tuesday, February 28, 2012

    10% off your order, just use coupon code FEB10





    For all my blog followers stop by my Etsy shop now and use Coupon Code FEB10 to receive 10% off your entire order.  This can be used on anything in my shop, including soap of the month.

    Much Love,
    DeShawn


    Bookmark and Share

  • DeShawnMarie.com
  • DeShawn Marie Etsy Shop
  •