Spring is here and it's time to get those seedlings ready to go!

I adore spring. The extra sunlight, the warmer weather, the increasingly longer days. But I love to watch things grow too and turn into something fabulous. As I'm currently back home living with some hard core recyclers, I'm especially fond of this great tutorial for recycled newspaper pots!

These pots are a snap to make and a great way to start off your seedlings for the new growing season. Just grab some newspaper and a Campbell's soup can and you're ready to go! Make 'em, then plant 'em, pot and seedling both! You can score the entire step by step photo tutorial for making these functional gems at Cottage Hill blog.

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Getting Crafty for Easter - A DIY Wreath You'll Hop For!

Generally when I think of Easter wreaths, I think of some weird looking straw thing with ribbon wrapped around it and fake eggs glued on. Make an Easter wreath? Heck, I'd never be caught dead even owning one. Until I stumbled on this magnificent and absolutely adorable Easter wreath from A Lemon Squeezy Home.

Now this is an Easter wreath I wouldn't mind making or displaying! It's both beautiful and modern, and you can get the step by step photo tutorial for this lovely design free at A Lemon Squeezy Home!

Also while nosing around the internet I found a fun tutorial for dying Easter eggs naturally that actually produces great results and utilizes fun foods and herbs for color. Be sure to check out this crafty project over at Crunchy Domestic Goddess. And if your DIY skills also spill over into the realm of sewing, you'll definitely want to give this Easter dress tutorial a peek! It's crazy cute and perfect for any wee ones in your life! You can find it over at Running with Scissors.

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Soap Spitters for Soap Fans!

I am super psyched today! Not only am I running a great deal on Heartsy but I also got word of a great review of my handmade soap shop, Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen, on YouTube! Even better? I discovered a fun product for soap lovers called the Soap Spitter! And there's a contest happening right now so you have a chance to win one for free!

This amazing product is available from Close2MyArt and comes in a variety of styles including everything from cats and dogs to birds, frogs, squirrels and even sock monkeys! Each Soap Spitter runs $25 and is designed by Michelle Allen. Fill it with your favorite lotion or liquid soap. Try out your luck through April 2, 2011 for a chance to win a Frog Soap Spitter, A Love First Card, and a Magnet from Close2MyArt by entering the contest posted on That's It Mommy! Blog. Good luck!

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57% off at Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen - One Day Only!

Well faithful followers it looks like Heartsy.me is pushing through a special offer from my shop tomorrow, March 22nd, 2011. This is a one time offer that is only good until it sells out - which I expect to happen quickly. So I recommend heading over to Heartsy.me now and signing up. My deal will be offering a $30 in store credit for Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen online for just $13! I hope you are able to buy in and take advantage of this fabulous offer! Use it on handmade soaps, lotions, scrubs and anything else available for sale in my etsy shop. 

Also, don't forget I am running a contest on my blog Soap Deli News through the end of the month to win a free handmade apron of YOUR choice from Hostess with the Mostest. The contest is open to US and Canadian residents! You can enter that contest here.

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Make Infused Sugars for a Little Spice to Everyday Life

Sweeten up your culinary style by creating your own infused sugars. Sprinkle them on fresh baked cookies and pies or use them in place of plain sugar in coffees and teas!

Here's a recipe for making vanilla infused sugar. Use more or less vanilla to taste. Click here for the recipe. Also give orange and lemon infused sugars a go by adding the dried zest from three fruits to two cups of your sugar of choice, then grind together in a food processor. Get creative with a variety of other herbs and spices as well. Try adding not just vanilla  bean pods but whole cloves,  star anise, cardamon pods, lavender buds, fennel seeds, cinnamon sticks, crystallized ginger, fresh rosemary, fresh mint, and even organic rose buds to create your own unique blends. Layer these tasty options with your sugar and allow to infuse for at least one week before use, shaking jar daily to insure a thorough infusion. Store in pint jars for future use or for gift giving.

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Be the Hostess with the Mostest Contest

The Hostess with the Mostest is giving away a free apron of your choice in the Hostess with the Mostest Contest! These handmade aprons are all lovingly created by Lisa - a crafty gal who's been sewing since she was eleven!  Not only does Lisa love to sew but she also loves to express her creativity through her indie biz, Hostess with the Mostest!

If you're interested in scoring one of these fabulous aprons for yourself so you can look good while expressing your own creativity in the kitchen, then be sure to check out Lisa's shop! Hostess with the Mostest offers both full and half aprons along with aprons for kids!

Can't wait to win and just have to have one of these fabulous handmade aprons for yourself now? If you follow Soap Deli News then you can score 10% off your purchase from Hostess with the Mostest! Just enter coupon code: HWTMTENPERCENT at checkout to save on your purchase through April 15, 2011. Go shopping now!

If you'd like to enter to this contest, you'll just need to visit Hostess with the Mostest and choose the apron you'd like to receive if you win. Then leave a comment with the apron you've chosen. This contest will end on March 31, 2011 at 11:59pm EST. Limit one entry per person per entry method. Open within the United States of America and Canada to those ages 18+. One winner will be chosen at random from among all eligible entries using random.org. Your information will not be shared or sold. One person will win the apron of his or her choice as indicated in the entry. This prize is valued at up to $25.95.

The first method of entry is required to enter this contest. If you'd like additional entries into this contest, you may complete each of the following tasks for one additional entry each.

1. Tweet this contest on Twitter. Include @soapdeli in your tweet so I know you've done so. Leave a comment stated that you've tweeted this contest.

2. Blog about this contest. Leave a comment with the link back to the blog post.

3. Add any product from Hostess with the Mostest to your wishlist on Kaboodle. Leave a comment with the link to your public wishlist.

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Spring Clearance Sale at Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen

A huge selection of handmade soaps have been marked down to just $3.50 at Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen! Save now on a wide selection of shea butter soaps - no coupon code necessary! The following soaps are now on sale: 202 Latin Night, Nanny's Pumpkin Pie, Mill Mountain, Bayberry, Hot Toddy, Vanilla Spice, Orange and Ginger Spice, Red Velvet Cake, and Tequila Sour! Plus, you can save an extra 10% off when you use coupon code VAROCKS at checkout. Shop these sale items now.

If you're local to Roanoke, VA you can also now score some great deals on Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen products from Shades of Color on Market Street in downtown Roanoke. While supplies last select soaps are marked down to just $3 each and all gift baskets, shower gels and butters are 50% off! You'll also receive a FREE foaming salt scrub with any purchase from Shades of Color - no minimum purchase required.

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Handmade Jewelry from Sea Flower Studios

I recently discovered a wonderful new shop called Sea Flower Studios. Based in Toronto, Ontario this shop contains a delightful array of beautiful handmade jewelry. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a gorgeous pair of Pea Green Dangle Earrings from Marissa.

As soon as I opened the package I was impressed. The earrings are beautiful and very well made. And my mom, who happened to be around at the time, immediately piped up about how these would go great with some of her sweaters!

If you're looking for affordable, quality jewelry, then I highly recommend this shop. The seller is sweet, the prices are reasonable and the jewelry is spectacular! And, for a limited time you can receive 25% off when you use coupon code Winterblahs25 at checkout. Shop now.

You can also enter to win a lovely bracelet (Grand Prize) or  earrings (Second Prize) from Sea Flower Studios through March 11th, 2011 if you just help her name her new jewelry collection! You can enter that contest here.

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Orglamix - A Risk Free Way to Love Your Face!

I recently tried several products from Orglamix - and independently owned business that produces high quality, handmade organic, mineral makeup. My intention was initially to purchase some blush to try as I was down to the last bare bits of Revlon blush. But I ended up also trying the foundation and an eyeshadow.

 

Having never tried a powdered mineral makeup blush I wasn't sure what to expect from this product. I tried the blush in Sugar Loaf Sheer Watermelon. The container was smaller than what you receive with traditional pressed powder blushes, but I soon realized why. It took only a tiny bit of this blush to make a big impact on my cheekbones and the color was fabulous on my fair skin. I have a feeling this blush will last quite a while and at a comparable price to big name brands without the excess fillers and chemicals.

The pure organic mineral foundation I tried in Butternut. This color is made for light skin with golden undertones and is comparable to Bare Essentials Light. As with the blush, a very little went a long way and left my skin looking radiant. While the color was a touch too dark for me right now - I'm practically porcelain in the winter - it will be the perfect shade as spring approaches and gives me a few sunshine filled kisses.

Finally I applied the mineral eye color in Cashmere to my eyelids. The result was stunning. The photo of this eye shadow online does not do this color justice. It's very soft and lovely with a perfect amount of shimmer to it. It's perfect for those days you want to for a more natural look as to use as a highlighter on your brow bone. I was additionally impressed by how long this shadow lasted. It's by the far the best mineral eye shadow I have tried. 

With just these three products, a touch of mascara, and hint of tinted lip balm I felt and looked stunning. I would highly recommend Orglamix to anyone who is looking to change their cosmetic line over to something more natural. The prices are extremely reasonable and the quality is exceptional. Additionally, Orglamix offers a 100% money back guarantee. So you can try it risk free. Shop Orglamix online. You can also fan Orglamix on Facebook for giveaways, coupons, free samples, limited editions and new product launches. You won't go back to big brand makeup again.

Looking for a new, handmade makeup bag to house your fabulous new spring makeup finds? Then check out Carissa Black!

This stunning makeup pouch in Wanderlust Strips comes with a wipeable lining and is a steal at just $20. You can view Carissa's entire line of handmade makeup bags in her shop. I had purchased a large bag from this seller some years back and am still thread with the look and construction of her work.

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Scents for Spring - Blue Ridge Rose Shea Butter Soap

New for Spring, a rose and violet scented handmade soap rich with shea and cocoa butters. This handmade cold process soap is aptly named Blue Ridge Rose after the lovely wild roses and violets that grown in this region. The scent is very floral and feminine - a soothing medley of wild rose and sweet violet blossoms with touches of coconut, orange, and musk. If you are a fan of flowery fragrances, you're sure to appreciate the rich, spring scent of this soap.

Made from a combination of olive and rice bran oils, shea butter and cocoa butters, palm and palm kernel oils, this bar is formulated especially for those with normal to dry skin. This beautiful, decorative blue and violet bar with hints of yellow offers a creamy, lotion like lather your skin will love. Natural Calendula petals are present within the top blue portion of this handmade soap for natural exfoliation to aid in sloughing off dead skin cells. The emollient properties of the soapmaking oils used will help to prevent skin from becoming dry and itchy - a problem often cause by traditional, commercial soaps. You can purchase this soap now online from Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen.

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