1st SMF Soap Challenge- July

[TVivian]

I have ridiculous lust for that violet and even more for the magenta. Whose colors are they? Oh that magenta is to die for.



Great video! It was a good idea to show how little you have to SB to get a thin trace because I think it's very easy to blend too much.

Newbie, I made that magenta out of neon pink, ultramarine blue and a tiny bit of red oxide. The violet is the same but with more blue. I wish I had a huge collection of micas and oxides, but I pretty much make all of my colors out of the same 7 or 8 colorants from WSP and BB. I did order a few micas from mad oils, but I haven't used them yet. Creature of habit I guess.

 

[not_ally]

Dunzo! Not the most amazing swirl ever, and pics will be crappy as the light in my kitchen is not great and I just snapped one of each step as quickly as I could. But it was not cement or muck, it did swirl, and I learned quite a bit in the process, so I'm glad that we did this challenge, and look forward to more. Will post pics tomorrow.

 

[Sonya-m]

Well that's it, after seeing Viv's I'm out!! It's gorgeous!!

 

[Saponista]

I had two more attempts. Will uploads pics later. I kept swirling past the point that I wanted to and on and on until I had over swirled. The first one you can see I went too far after the seventh pass and the second one was ruined after the eighth. It's interesting to see how it progresses though.

 

[Saponista]

 

[Saponista]

 

[galaxyMLP]

Saponista, that red is soooo red! where did you get it from. Btw, I love it at step 5/6.

 

[not_ally]

The soaper's bane, the "one last swirl" temptation! But I still think it looks great, and I bet the cut bars are going to be awesome. Those crazy swirls in a smaller space will just look dramatic and intense, I think, like your close-ups do.

 

[Saponista]

It's from a British supplier called the soap kitchen, it's a liquid colourant. I had a look on their website to find it but I can't find the link any more so it may be discontinued sadly there is no product code on the bottle for me to look up either!



I used tons of it as I am trying to get rid of them really. Mica is easier to blend and handle but I had them from when I first started soaping. I bet the lather will make it look like I've been stabbed.

 

[galaxyMLP]

I bet the lather will make it look like I've been stabbed.

Oh man, ok then. I'll just stick to my mixes of micas then!

 

[TVivian]

Well that's it, after seeing Viv's I'm out!! It's gorgeous!!

Nope! Not allowed, you're staying in!


Saponista you made me laugh! That is a beautiful red tho.

So I'm confirming what I thought I'd noticed when watching endless Soapmaking videos on you tube.... I like the swirls best after just one or two passes with the swirling tool. After that I find myself watching or looking at pictures saying "no!" "Stop!" There's definitely a point where it's good, and then one more pass can take it to ultimate perfection or ruin. It's such a gamble when you're standing in front of a wet slab of soap.

 

[TeresaT]

I cut my soap and cleaned the pound of ash off. I'm actually quite proud of how they turned out. The bottom of the bars do not look all that great, but the tops and the sides look pretty good. I didn't get any side shots since they were still slippery from their bath. Gotta go edit the photos on the computer. I can't post them from the iPad.

TVivian, I have no idea the secret of cutting slab molds. You should see how much soap is in my trash can. I think I'm going to go to the piano store at some point and get a wire, then attach it to a couple of thick wooden dowels. Kind of make a soap garrote. (I did close ups of the better looking soaps.)

 

[TVivian]

Oh that's the other thing about this whole slab mold thing.. How in the world do you cut them nicely? I used a knife and ruler, but they're still pretty wonky.

 

[Seawolfe]

Cutting is tricky - I measure and put marks on the butcher paper its still stuck to on the bottom, but they still arent perfect.

Saponista - that looks like Murano glass - SO pretty!!

 

[Saponomancer]

I got frustrated trying to find an impromptu mold and ordered a silicone one specifically for this, so I should have another attempt as soon as it gets here!

 

[Sonya-m]

Well here's attempt 3, still not 100% happy but getting there. Too much teal I think

I did zig zag, then zig zag after a 90 degree turn then pull down, pull down after 180 degree turn then a row of 3 loops then 2 rows of loops the other way in between the first lot








I'll post another pic in the morning when I have natural light

 

[soapswirl]

So many nice soaps on this thread already - well done everyone!

Some pictures of my attempt so far (although I don't know if I will have time to try again so may end up being my entry!)
I poured in thin stripes using a squirt bottle, then used pattern E - the leap frog - across the mould in the same directions as the stripes. Then I used pattern B - the diagonal loop, going down the mould.
The colours are made using micas and black oxide. The scent is grapefruit and mandarin (essential oils).
My swirl tool is a glass stirring rod (typical of a science lab!).
Apologies for the terrible light in the photos and my flash reflecting in the soap!

 

[Saponomancer]

everyone's soaps are so pretty!

 

[TeresaT]

Remember when I said my power went out and I was soaping in the dark? The colors never mixed into the batter and here's my result. It looks kind of peachy. There is no color definition at all. The saving grace is, it will get me clean!

 

[TeresaT]

Well here's attempt 3, still not 100% happy but getting there. Too much teal I think

I did zig zag, then zig zag after a 90 degree turn then pull down, pull down after 180 degree turn then a row of 3 loops then 2 rows of loops the other way in between the first lot

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I'll post another pic in the morning when I have natural light

You have amazing colors. I really like your soaps.