Sunday 24 November 2013

If It's Tuesday, it must be…Beijing?


You'll have to pardon the absence of blog posting and reading all your wonderful blog posts, but we've been away.

Three weeks in China and Hong Kong with the family, what a whirlwind trip that was. It was fun, interesting, informative and exhausting. During that trip, I tried to follow Silvia of Soapjam's lead of looking for food stuffs to put into/onto my soaps. Unfortunately, I wasn't very successful. I kept getting distracted by things like this,



this

and of course this.


The only thing I managed to pick up soaping related, and it's only because I'm making it so, are some red packets. These days, red packets aren't necessarily just red anymore which makes them, as far as I'm concerned, more versatile. I think they make a very elegant sort of packaging for individual soaps.

I like this one for my dragon soaps



This is my surname, so people will know who made the soap. 

I know you all think outside the box, so what works for you when it comes to packaging your soaps?

Have a great rest of the week!


17 comments:

  1. Welcome back, Monica! I missed reading your funny posts.
    How exciting that you went to Hong Kong and Beijing! It looks like you ate to your heart's content - all part of the fun of traveling!
    Brilliant idea on using the ang pao or red envelope for soap packaging! I really like the square gold envelope. It looks different and modern.
    I use simple Kraft paper, folded Burt's Bees style, to wrap my soaps. I will post about it soon. :-)

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    1. Thanks Silvia! It's been a long time since we've been back, so it was neat to see those places with fresh eyes. We did eat lots, although there was a lot more we didn't have time to try, so I'm looking forward to going back again some day.

      Ang pao, I didn't know that was the name for it. I'm not sure people will understand the relevance of the symbols on the envelopes, but that makes it part of the fun right?

      Can't wait to see your post!

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    2. Ang pao is red envelope in Fookien. I think in Mandarin it would be hong bao?

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  2. Sounds like you had a wonderful trip, Monica! The food looks yummy. And the packets will make wonderful packaging for your soaps! I usually wrap a cigar band around my soaps. I like to use coffee filters to wrap round soaps. For Christmas this year, I plan to use take-out and gable boxes to package my soaps and candles for gifts.

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    1. It was an adventure and a half Jenny. :D I think your trip looked like great fun. The food there was really good, lots of fresh seafood and things we don't normally find here.

      That's one thing I really envy about CP soapers is that you can just do the cigar band and it looks elegant but functional. Coffee filters is a great idea! And I love the idea of takeout boxes, those are adorable and really the perfect holder for soaps and candles.

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  3. I'm happy you had a wonderful trip! Those foods make me want to go to China. I would love to sample foods from around the world. The packing is so beautiful, that second one is just too pretty to use. Customers will be very lucky to have their soap arrive in such gorgeous wrapping.

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    1. Thanks Michelle! It was crazy but fun. You might like some of the foods, others, not so much, like the scorpions on a stick.

      I hope people will like the envelopes, they are shiny after all. :)

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  4. That food looks really good!!! and the packaging is beautiful!

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    1. It was very tasty Roxana. I don't miss the crowdedness and pollution of China, but we had some fantastic meals there.

      The envelopes are very pretty just on their own. I hope other people will like them too.

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  5. Ah ha, so that's where you disappeared to...welcome back! Glad you had a wonderful trip, how awesome would that be!

    I love that packaging, it's perfect! I'm still trying to find a good way to package my soaps. I really like using boxes, but they are pricey. I'm still experimenting, so I love to hear everyone else's ideas! :)

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    1. Thanks Cee! Yes, it was quite the adventure, taking our 76 year old father along on long walks. But we all survived. :)

      Finding the ideal packaging is so difficult, isn't it? I got an email from an asian company that sell some very lovely boxes. It's sooo tempting.

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  6. OMG, what a delicious looking food! I love Chinese (that just reminded that I haven't had any recently) and I understand you just had to eat! I noticed your absence, so glad that you had enjoyed this wonderful trip!
    Your packets are beautiful, I can't wait to see your soaps packed!
    And, as for me, don't ask me, I've been swamped with packaging these days, I think I'm gonna dream all those bags, ribbons, boxes etc.
    (Will be posting my packed/wrapped soaps soon, before they leave me)!

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    1. The food was definitely wonderful Maja, almost made up for the overcrowding and pollution. :) It's wonderful to be back though and seeing what you've all been up to.

      I can't wait to see what you do with your packaging, although it almost seems a shame to wrap up your lovely soaps.

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  7. Nice to see you back, Monica! Glad you had a lovely trip, what a tempting destination!
    That food looks good, OMG! and the packaging is so original,can't wait to see your soaps packed!

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    1. Thanks Nat, it's great to be back. Now to catch up on everyone's blog posts.

      The food was delicious & the envelopes are a nice touch for this time of year. That way people don't have to worry about wrapping their soapy Christmas presents.

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  8. I'm late to the party…did anyone save me a piece of dessert?

    Your photos are beautiful! Makes me hungry all over again for that food. :) And I love those envelopes you bought. Don't you wish we had a few more days in HK versus Shanghai?

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    1. Actually Teresa, we were waiting for you to bring the cake. :)

      The photos don't do the food justice, but they do bring back some tasty memories. I do wish we had more time in HK, I could've done a lot more shopping.

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