Welcome to the August 2022 SMF Soap Challenge! For this month’s challenge, you will make soaps by combining two different swirl techniques of your choice. You may choose how to combine the two, by either first doing one swirl and after completing that, doing a second swirl technique, or you may choose to simultaneously combine two different swirl techniques at the same time.
Please read the general rules and the challenge specific rules below and let’s have some soapy fun!
SMF Challenge General Rules
1. To enter you must have been a SMF member for at least one month and have a minimum of 50 posts at the time the Challenge is posted (sorry but no exceptions on this). Supporting Members can enter immediately, the time and post requirements are removed.
2. The only members eligible to vote are those with their names on the sign-up list - regardless of whether or not you have submitted an entry. The sign-up list will be posted in this thread.
3. This month’s voting will be password locked. Passwords will be sent by private message (via SMF conversations) to registered participants ONLY, so please check your messages when the voting begins.
4. A separate entry thread will be created and this is where you will post photos of your entry soap. Please do not post photos of your entry until the entry thread is opened. Post pictures of your entry soap only in the challenge entry thread.
Non-entry photos are always welcome and may be posted in the general challenge thread. The challenge thread should be used to upload pictures of any of your challenge attempts (other than your entry) where you can ask for advice and discuss the technique with other members, and provide helpful hints you learned along the way.
5. Your soap must be made after the monthly challenge has been announced.
6. In the spirit of advancing our soap making skills, all members who sign-up for a SMF Challenge do so with the expectation that they will make every attempt to make a soap for the challenge. Writing about your experience in the challenge is encouraged. By doing so, each participant has a better knowledge of your process when voting. We do understand that sometimes things come up in our lives and interrupt our plans, however, signing up with no intent to participate and only to vote is not in the spirit of the challenges and is not allowed.
7. Please add your name to the sign-up list if you wish to participate (you don’t have to enter a soap at the end if you don’t feel happy with what you have made), but please do post your experiences in the main Challenge thread and be prepared to be encouraged to continue trying.
8. Constructive criticism is welcomed, but please keep your comments polite.
* * * *
Specific Rules for this Challenge
1. The challenge this month is to make soap using the TWO different Soap Swirl Techniques in the same soap. The swirl techniques used are your choice and must be indicated when submitting your entry.
2. You may use any method you choose to make your soap, but cold process (CP) or cold process-oven process (CPOP) may be the easiest method for this challenge.
3. You may use any mold you choose that is appropriate for your design choice.
4. You may use as many colors in your design as you wish, but there must be a minimum of two colors, where uncolored batter can count as one color.
5. No added embellishments, such as embeds or piping are allowed on this Challenge soap. The purpose is to create soap with only two different swirl techniques.
6. Qualifying photos will be required for your entry on the separate entry thread, which will include the following components:
7. In your description of your entry on the separate Entry Thread, you must indicate which two swirl techniques you used to create your soap, and if a particular cut was required to show off the design in a specific way, include information as to the cut required to obtain your result when you submit your entry. (See example shown in photos below of different results with horizontal versus vertical cut.)
8. Clarifying definition for the purpose of this challenge: Any technique or method of pouring soap whether it be called a 'pour' or a 'swirl' or a 'technique' that creates a design swirl within the soap will fit the definition of a 'swirl' as used in this challenge. An example of a technique that would not qualify as a swirl would be a layering technique where the purpose is to be straight without design swirls. However, the pointy layers technique would qualify as a swirl because the goal is to purposely create little pointy 'swirls' within the design of the soap.
Tips:
1. I suggest you use a slow moving recipe and a non-accelerating fragrance (or no fragrance) in order to complete both swirl techniques without your soap batter getting too thick to complete the second swirl to your satisfaction.
2. Choosing a simpler technique for your second swirl may make it easier if your batter thickens up more quickly as you get toward the end of the process.
Below are two soaps I made using two swirls techniques for each of the two soaps. Both started out with the Kiss Pour because I had not joined the July Challenge hosted by @dibbles, but had wanted to try it out using segmented cups delivered the day before we started on our current roadtrip. The second swirl for each of these soaps was a different swirl for each. But I did use the same color scheme because I wanted to create these soaps in the same soaping session. I had planned to do three different soaps that session, but realized I did not bring a large enough mixing vessel to create a slab soap in addition to the smaller molds used for the two shown below. I have to admit that I cut both too soon, even though I gave an extra day for the second one below. I was in too much of a hurry and you can see that by the smearing of the colors. And even though I used less Titanium Dioxide than I have probably ever used, the TD smears are quite obvious as well. So I hope you all have more patience than I when it comes to cutting your entries.
Example #1 of Dual Swirl Techniques in One soap: Kiss Pour + Spoon Swirl (click on photo for larger view)
Example #2 of Dual Swirl Techniques in One soap: Kiss Pour + Hanger Swirl (click on photo for larger view)
Preparation collage thumbnail image: (click for larger view)
Additional collage images for Kiss and Spoon (click to enlarge):
Additional collage for Kiss and Hanger (click to enlarge):
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The above are only two examples, I planned to make more and hope to do so soon, but any photos will have to appear later in the thread due to editing timeframe limitations.
ETA:
Column Pour + Drop Swirl
To see more detail about this example, see post #21 here
Please sign up below if you are planning to participate in this month's Challenge. (Next Post)
Please read the general rules and the challenge specific rules below and let’s have some soapy fun!
SMF Challenge General Rules
1. To enter you must have been a SMF member for at least one month and have a minimum of 50 posts at the time the Challenge is posted (sorry but no exceptions on this). Supporting Members can enter immediately, the time and post requirements are removed.
2. The only members eligible to vote are those with their names on the sign-up list - regardless of whether or not you have submitted an entry. The sign-up list will be posted in this thread.
3. This month’s voting will be password locked. Passwords will be sent by private message (via SMF conversations) to registered participants ONLY, so please check your messages when the voting begins.
4. A separate entry thread will be created and this is where you will post photos of your entry soap. Please do not post photos of your entry until the entry thread is opened. Post pictures of your entry soap only in the challenge entry thread.
Non-entry photos are always welcome and may be posted in the general challenge thread. The challenge thread should be used to upload pictures of any of your challenge attempts (other than your entry) where you can ask for advice and discuss the technique with other members, and provide helpful hints you learned along the way.
5. Your soap must be made after the monthly challenge has been announced.
6. In the spirit of advancing our soap making skills, all members who sign-up for a SMF Challenge do so with the expectation that they will make every attempt to make a soap for the challenge. Writing about your experience in the challenge is encouraged. By doing so, each participant has a better knowledge of your process when voting. We do understand that sometimes things come up in our lives and interrupt our plans, however, signing up with no intent to participate and only to vote is not in the spirit of the challenges and is not allowed.
7. Please add your name to the sign-up list if you wish to participate (you don’t have to enter a soap at the end if you don’t feel happy with what you have made), but please do post your experiences in the main Challenge thread and be prepared to be encouraged to continue trying.
8. Constructive criticism is welcomed, but please keep your comments polite.
* * * *
- Competition entries must be uploaded to the separate entry thread before the closing date.
- Note all times listed are Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and it is your responsibility to convert times to your own time zone.
- The entry thread will open on August 23 by 11:45pm GMT (Please follow the challenge specific rules as to what you need to enter).
- After the closing date on August 28 at 11:45pm GMT the winning entry will be chosen by a voting survey. Voting will be open until August 30 at 11:45pm GMT and the winner will be announced on August 31. There is no prize attached to this challenge.
- If you fail to make the challenge deadline, you are still welcome to upload pictures of your soap to the general challenge thread, but your entry will not be eligible for voting. We always love to see anything you have created.
- Even though there is no prize, this is still a competition. If your entry is deemed not to fulfill the general rules or the rules specific to the challenge in any way, then you will be given the opportunity to amend your entry. If this is not possible, your entry will not be included in the voting.
- All the challenge mods reserve the right to have the final say on whether a soap is eligible for voting.
Specific Rules for this Challenge
1. The challenge this month is to make soap using the TWO different Soap Swirl Techniques in the same soap. The swirl techniques used are your choice and must be indicated when submitting your entry.
2. You may use any method you choose to make your soap, but cold process (CP) or cold process-oven process (CPOP) may be the easiest method for this challenge.
3. You may use any mold you choose that is appropriate for your design choice.
4. You may use as many colors in your design as you wish, but there must be a minimum of two colors, where uncolored batter can count as one color.
5. No added embellishments, such as embeds or piping are allowed on this Challenge soap. The purpose is to create soap with only two different swirl techniques.
6. Qualifying photos will be required for your entry on the separate entry thread, which will include the following components:
a. an image of the tools used for each of the two swirl techniques
b. an image of the soap after the first swirl is completed
c. an image of the soap after the second swirl is completed (components a, b, & c may be in separate photos, or may be included in a collage image)
d. an image of two bars of your Challenge entry soap
7. In your description of your entry on the separate Entry Thread, you must indicate which two swirl techniques you used to create your soap, and if a particular cut was required to show off the design in a specific way, include information as to the cut required to obtain your result when you submit your entry. (See example shown in photos below of different results with horizontal versus vertical cut.)
8. Clarifying definition for the purpose of this challenge: Any technique or method of pouring soap whether it be called a 'pour' or a 'swirl' or a 'technique' that creates a design swirl within the soap will fit the definition of a 'swirl' as used in this challenge. An example of a technique that would not qualify as a swirl would be a layering technique where the purpose is to be straight without design swirls. However, the pointy layers technique would qualify as a swirl because the goal is to purposely create little pointy 'swirls' within the design of the soap.
Tips:
1. I suggest you use a slow moving recipe and a non-accelerating fragrance (or no fragrance) in order to complete both swirl techniques without your soap batter getting too thick to complete the second swirl to your satisfaction.
2. Choosing a simpler technique for your second swirl may make it easier if your batter thickens up more quickly as you get toward the end of the process.
Below are two soaps I made using two swirls techniques for each of the two soaps. Both started out with the Kiss Pour because I had not joined the July Challenge hosted by @dibbles, but had wanted to try it out using segmented cups delivered the day before we started on our current roadtrip. The second swirl for each of these soaps was a different swirl for each. But I did use the same color scheme because I wanted to create these soaps in the same soaping session. I had planned to do three different soaps that session, but realized I did not bring a large enough mixing vessel to create a slab soap in addition to the smaller molds used for the two shown below. I have to admit that I cut both too soon, even though I gave an extra day for the second one below. I was in too much of a hurry and you can see that by the smearing of the colors. And even though I used less Titanium Dioxide than I have probably ever used, the TD smears are quite obvious as well. So I hope you all have more patience than I when it comes to cutting your entries.
Example #1 of Dual Swirl Techniques in One soap: Kiss Pour + Spoon Swirl (click on photo for larger view)
Example #2 of Dual Swirl Techniques in One soap: Kiss Pour + Hanger Swirl (click on photo for larger view)
Preparation collage thumbnail image: (click for larger view)
Additional collage images for Kiss and Spoon (click to enlarge):
Additional collage for Kiss and Hanger (click to enlarge):
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The above are only two examples, I planned to make more and hope to do so soon, but any photos will have to appear later in the thread due to editing timeframe limitations.
ETA:
Column Pour + Drop Swirl
To see more detail about this example, see post #21 here
Please sign up below if you are planning to participate in this month's Challenge. (Next Post)
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