May Challenge (Mica Outline Swirl)

[redhead1226]

Those are really nice @mommycarlson ! A few tips I forgot to mention:

When I place the oil, I can still see my batter through the mica oil. Kind of like when your batter tips up against your bowl and recedes, you can see your bowl through the batter. I think this will help with the air pockets from oil being absorbed (so to speak) in the soap. I've done this technique three times now and haven't gotten those pockets. The one I did in the video had no oozing when I cut it, although the first two that I did had slight traces, but no pockets on the cut surface.

The other tip is to not spread your oil all the way to the edges. I did in the video because I was nervous (my first soap making video ever!) and not really thinking about what I was doing [truthfully, I was focusing on not shaking and watching my "ums"] but the other two I didn't and had very little oil sploosh up through the batter on the sides.

I really wish I had remembered to take the picture of the oil in the mold while I was doing the video, I think that would have helped make it clear. I'm going to be doing the technique again this weekend and will try to remember to get some pictures. I "might" be addicted to the look of the mica outline, and it's a good chance for me to get a good hanger swirling technique.

I think I love this technique too! I made it last night and I think I achieved what I was looking for. I think! lol - I'll see what happens with the next one and submit the one that I think depicts the technique the best.

 

[earlene]

I thought I wasn't going to be making an entry this month because I didn't make one on the day I signed up like I had planned, then started a roadtrip. I left all my soaping supplies at home because I didn't want to leave it all in my car at the airport in Las Vegas while we're in Hawai'i. But what do I know? While driving through Kansas, it occured to me that I could try it with MP and not have to worry about lots of soaping supplies. All I need is some MP base, some colorants, and either AC or mica and a mold, and a small bottle of oil. Our timeshare has all the other stuff I'd need. Well since I didn't bring anything with me, I stopped off at Michael's in Amarillo last night and bought everything except the AC, which I got today at Walmart. I also bought some cheap eye shadow to try as mica (I've done that before, but with CP it didn't work very well. Maybe it will with MP.)

So I plan to give this a try using clear glycerin MP. Hoping to do a first try tomorrow night after I check in at our timeshare. Hubby doesn't arrive until midnight the next day, so I will have a day and a half to try to make this work. I can bring whatever soap I make with me and give it away to friends, etc.

Wish me luck!

 

[redhead1226]

I thought I wasn't going to be making an entry this month because I didn't make one on the day I signed up like I had planned, then started a roadtrip. I left all my soaping supplies at home because I didn't want to leave it all in my car at the airport in Las Vegas while we're in Hawai'i. But what do I know? While driving through Kansas, it occured to me that I could try it with MP and not have to worry about lots of soaping supplies. All I need is some MP base, some colorants, and either AC or mica and a mold, and a small bottle of oil. Our timeshare has all the other stuff I'd need. Well since I didn't bring anything with me, I stopped off at Michael's in Amarillo last night and bought everything except the AC, which I got today at Walmart. I also bought some cheap eye shadow to try as mica (I've done that before, but with CP it didn't work very well. Maybe it will with MP.)

So I plan to give this a try using clear glycerin MP. Hoping to do a first try tomorrow night after I check in at our timeshare. Hubby doesn't arrive until midnight the next day, so I will have a day and a half to try to make this work. I can bring whatever soap I make with me and give it away to friends, etc.

Wish me luck!

Wow! - Your resourceful. lol - I never use MP except one in a while for a drizzle on bath truffles - I never tried to swirl with it. I would love to see how this works out. Good Luck!

 

[Primrose]

I forgot to take a photo of the mica layer, so this will have to be a practise go, not my entry. The outlines weren't quite as clear as I was hoping either

 

[redhead1226]

I forgot to take a photo of the mica layer, so this will have to be a practise go, not my entry. The outlines weren't quite as clear as I was hoping either

I also forgot to take the pic of the mica layer on my first one so I made another one. I'll cut it tomorrow and see if I achieved it or not. But this was a very nice technique. I really get bored with soaping sometimes and lately have had issues with creativity after so many years. So I enjoy doing a new technique and getting inspired. Good luck!

 

[earlene]

Well that didn't work out at all. I think I used too much oil to mix the AC/mica. The mixture beaded up and pooled like globules of mercury on the surface of the first layer. It was interesting looking, and I, too did not photograph that. I wasn't expecting the first try to be successful anyway. I photographed the micas in the cups, not on the layers of soap. Anyway, when I put the second layer on top of the mica/AC pools (really, a lot like ink spots), I can't even describe what happened. I am too tired and my back hurts like the dickens. I worked through the pain and added another layer of inkspots, another layer of soap, and did my swirl. Since it's a clear glycerin base, I was hoping to see something lovely. Too much oil is the problem, I think. But it may also be that MP doesn't like this method of layering and then swirling.

After I get some sleep (I just took a muscle relaxant, so that should be pretty quick now), I'll try again with less oil. Maybe I will have better luck the second time around.

As for the pain, Hubby is bringing my TENS unit, as I left it behind. I pick him up at the airport at midnight

 

[dibbles]

Ciao from Venice! Still hoping I will have time to try this, but I won't be feeling too bad if I don't. Looks like you are having fun with this.

 

[DeeAnna]

...The mixture beaded up and pooled like globules of mercury on the surface of the first layer....

I didn't think about this until you described your trouble -- it may be that your M&P is more hydrophilic (water loving) than hydrophobic (oil loving). If so, the soap will repel oil. That would explain why you saw the AC/mica bead up rather than spread out in a layer.

It might be that mixing the colorant with glycerin might work better with M&P. Just a guess -- I haven't tried it to know for sure.

I hope your back feels better today, Earlene! I've been having shoulder problems of late, and it's no fun so I can sympathize with your pain.

 

[scard]

Ciao from Venice! Still hoping I will have time to try this, but I won't be feeling too bad if I don't. Looks like you are having fun with this.View attachment 30264

I wouldn't be feeling too bad about it either! I'm jealous!

 

[amd]

Filing a complaint with @dibbles for not taking her with me!

Just a thought @earlene - keep in mind I don't have a lot of experience with M&P, but as I was reading your post, my first thought was temperature difference. If the m&p and the mica oil aren't the same temp (mp warmer and oil cooler) maybe the oil is causing the mp to cool so that the oil tries to "move" rather than become part of the mp. If that makes sense. Maybe warm up the oil a bit in a microwave and see if it helps.

Meant to post this the other day, this is the outcome of the brown oil I posted for an example of how much oil to use. I did have some areas that were too thick with oil, so one of my bars did have a little pocket where the oil either seeped out or was absorbed.

 

[earlene]

I didn't think about this until you described your trouble -- it may be that your M&P is more hydrophilic (water loving) than hydrophobic (oil loving). If so, the soap will repel oil. That would explain why you saw the AC/mica bead up rather than spread out in a layer.

It might be that mixing the colorant with glycerin might work better with M&P. Just a guess -- I haven't tried it to know for sure.

That's worth experimenting with, but I don't have any glycerin with me. Unfortunately I have only one more day here, and since I p/u Hubby at the airport soon, and we fly out at 6 am day after tomorrow, I am done with making this soap for the next 2 weeks. But when I get back I might give this a try to see if it helps.

keep in mind I don't have a lot of experience with M&P, but as I was reading your post, my first thought was temperature difference. If the m&p and the mica oil aren't the same temp (mp warmer and oil cooler) maybe the oil is causing the mp to cool so that the oil tries to "move" rather than become part of the mp. If that makes sense. Maybe warm up the oil a bit in a microwave and see if it helps.

I suspect temperature difference may have something to do with it. Today I tried doing it again and kept two pots of hot water on the stove to keep 3 containers of differently colored MP soap up to temp (after doing the initial melting in the microwave.) But I also used less oil, and did add a bit of warm clear MP to the mica/oil mixture and it poured without pooling this time. Not sure if that fits into the technique. I haven't cut the soap yet. This time I did not use the individual molds, because I wanted to see how it looks cut.

Ciao from Venice! Still hoping I will have time to try this, but I won't be feeling too bad if I don't. Looks like you are having fun with this.View attachment 30264

What a gorgeous scene! I hope you are having a wonderful time!

Meant to post this the other day, this is the outcome of the brown oil I posted for an example of how much oil to use. I did have some areas that were too thick with oil, so one of my bars did have a little pocket where the oil either seeped out or was absorbed.View attachment 30265

I ended up with some of those pockets of oil in my soap yesterday. It happened when I pulled the swirl tool upward and the oil apparently followed the tool to the top and pooled there. When I unmolded them today, I noticed the pockets on the surface (bottom of the soap, once they are turned over.)

 

[SoapAddict415]

Updated list to add SunRiseArts and Primrose

1. KristaY-Fun with mica! I'm excited to see what kind of mess I can make
2. Lenarenee - Haven't done this in a long time! ( I used to do this back in my newbie days, just not as well as hers!) Dark/bright mica on white base works best. Reduces lather unless you use oils from your recipe. (one caveat is that I'm on call for jury duty and I'm nursing a knee with tendonitis - that's actually 2 caveats isn't it?)
3. BattleGnome - hopefully I have time, vacation in two weeks
4. scard- I'm in!
5. dibbles - shimmery swirls - ooh la la!
6. Artemis - will I have time? Will I have supplies? Stay tuned!
7.Serene - Will ship supplies to Artemis. Let me know what you need!
8. Mx6inpenn - I'm in! I've been wanting to try this ever since Steph posted it.
9. Cellador- First challenge! I promised myself I would branch out this year and try a couple new techniques.
10. earlene - I plan to start on this one today!
11. Mommycarlson - I'll give it a swirl!
12. Cerelife - Count me in!
13. Redhead1226 - Let's see if I can submit an entry this time! lol
14. Misschief - wasn't going to but I think I'll make time to try this.
15. SunRiseArts - me just want to vote.
16. Primrose - YES!! I've been wanting to try this for ages
17. SoapAddict415- I need a positive challenge right now. Count me in!

 

[earlene]

Well, I am beginning to think the solution, if there is one, is to use DeeAnna's suggestion and mix the mica with glycerin (for my MP attempts with this technique) and maintain a consistent temperature AND swirl quickly. It is a glycerin MP base after all. I say, 'if there is one' because maybe this kind of swirl is just not easy to obtain in MP because it cools so fast. Also, adding two colors together while both are still melted enough to swirl, muddies the colors in MP. I went back and searched for you tube videos on swirling MP, as I did not remember any that included a hanger swirl. Well, I couldn't remember any such videos because there don't seem to be any. But there was one using a spoon swirl, which I had thought of doing as a next attempt, but I have run out of time.

The soap I made yesterday doesn't look particularly swirly. It looks more like globs of color suspended in clear glycerin soap. Only one bar even slightly resembled what I was going for, and it wasn't very pretty either. I didn't cut them until long after picking Hubby up at the airport and having dinner and he went to bed, so I forgot to get a picture. Well, maybe I took one, and don't remember doing it because it was so late. I need to check my camera to be sure. I hate to even post a picture of these past two fails, but I don't see any reason not to post them.

 

[SoapAddict415]

I just made mine [emoji16]. I'm not sure how it'll turn out. I haven't made soap since the soap dough challenge. I felt so rusty and I'm wondering about my color choices but it was fun. I'll submit pics after I unmold.
Update: the next time I try this technique, I'll be sure to keep the mica in the middle. I did 2 mica outlines, green and orange but the orange seems to be all over the outside of my loaf.

 

[Roselyne]

1. KristaY-Fun with mica! I'm excited to see what kind of mess I can make
2. Lenarenee - Haven't done this in a long time! ( I used to do this back in my newbie days, just not as well as hers!) Dark/bright mica on white base works best. Reduces lather unless you use oils from your recipe. (one caveat is that I'm on call for jury duty and I'm nursing a knee with tendonitis - that's actually 2 caveats isn't it?)
3. BattleGnome - hopefully I have time, vacation in two weeks
4. scard- I'm in!
5. dibbles - shimmery swirls - ooh la la!
6. Artemis - will I have time? Will I have supplies? Stay tuned!
7.Serene - Will ship supplies to Artemis. Let me know what you need!
8. Mx6inpenn - I'm in! I've been wanting to try this ever since Steph posted it.
9. Cellador- First challenge! I promised myself I would branch out this year and try a couple new techniques.
10. earlene - I plan to start on this one today!
11. Mommycarlson - I'll give it a swirl!
12. Cerelife - Count me in!
13. Redhead1226 - Let's see if I can submit an entry this time! lol
14. Misschief - wasn't going to but I think I'll make time to try this.
15. SunRiseArts - me just want to vote.
16. Primrose - YES!! I've been wanting to try this for ages
17. Roselyne - if it's not too late

 

[Kim Pyrros]

Challenge – Mica Outline Swirl Technique

Hi everyone and welcome to this month's soap challenge ... Mica Outline Swirl Technique.

This is a new-to-me swirl technique that I found in Stephanie Graham’s Micas & More group on FB. Her video is found here:
I am not sure that she is the creator of this idea, merely the source that I found for the technique.
The video I made can be found here:
Written instructions are included in this post.

The May challenge is to make a soap in at least two colors and at least one contrasting colored mica outline swirl. Some of us may find that choosing the right colors to make the swirl stand out to be the bigger challenge than the actual making of the soap! (This girl, right here )

You may swirl with any hanger, chopstick, or spoon swirl technique that you like.

You may use more than one color for the mica outline, in different locations.

You must have at least two soap colors.

How to create the mica outline swirl: Mix mica with any liquid oil of your choice. A recommended ratio is 1 tsp mica to 1 TBSP oil, but you may adjust as needed. Mix your batter (separate, color, and fragrance as normal). Place your main batter color in the mold, spread the mica oil mixture over the entire batter surface. Note: you do not need to use all of the oil. Cover the mica oil with accent color soap batter. Repeat spreading mica oil line - You may use a second mica oil color or repeat the first color. Cover with your main batter color. .Swirl using a hanger, chopstick, or spoon, making sure you go through both mica oil lines.

For the entry thread you will need a photo(s) of the mica oil(s) placed in your batter and a photo of your finished soap.

The Entry Thread will open on May 20th and close on the 26th. Voting will start on the 27th and close on May 31st. *ETA to correct dates from April to May*

PLEASE BE SURE TO READ THIS FIRST (and ALL Rules)-

General Rules:
1. 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.

2. This month’s voting will be password locked. Passwords will be PM'ed to registered participants ONLY. So please check your PM's when the voting begins.

3. No posting your entry photos until the entry thread is made. Non entry photos are very welcome!

4. You are allowed to change your entry photo up until the entry thread closes. So if you decide after you post your entry you want another try, and you like the second better, you can change it up until the deadline.

SMF Challenge General Rules
· To enter you must have a minimum of 50 posts and been a member for a month (sorry but no exceptions on this)

· Please add your name to the sign up list if you wish to participate (however, you don’t have to enter a soap at the end if you don’t feel happy with what you have produced)

· The challenge thread should be used to upload pictures of any of your challenge attempts where you can ask for advice and discuss the technique with other members.

· Constructive criticism is welcomed, but please try to keep your comments polite.

· Competition entries must be uploaded to the separate entry thread before the closing date. The thread will open on May 20, 2018 (Please follow the challenge specific rules as to what you need to enter)

· After the closing date May 31, 2018 the winning entry will be chosen using survey monkey and the winner announced on June 1st or 2nd, 2018. There is no prize attached to this challenge. *ETA: corrected the closing date. Man, I really suck at dates!*

· If you fail to make the challenge deadline, you are still welcome to upload your soap onto the thread, but your entry will not be eligible for voting. We still love to see anything you have produced.

· Even though there is no prize, this is still a competition. If your entry is deemed not to fulfil 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 then your entry will not be included in the voting.

· The challenge team reserves the right to have the final say on whether a soap is eligible for voting.

Very nice, love the neon brightness

 

[redhead1226]

OK! After 3 tries I think Im good! lol - I like them all but I loved the technique so much that I couldnt stop. Trying different colors. Ill tell you I think it works best with lighter colors.

 

[amd]

I really like it in a single color bar too! I did the snake skin soap for my friend using a black soap batter and silver mica oil. You can see post #37 here: https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/snake-skin-soap.68917/page-2
Unfortunately, my photo skills don't always do the soap justice, it's a bit blurry, but you get the idea.

Just for fun I did an all darker colored soap using burgandy and purple, and then mixing a touch of oxide with the mica oil mix to see if I could get the outline to "pop" on darker colors. It does, but only because my burgandy faded during saponification. I haven't photographed it yet because I haven't been home to do more than sleep and shower in 3 days.

 

[SummerBeezLady]

Well, I have to start posting so I will be eligible to join the next challenge. Only 49 more posts to go!

 

[SoapAddict415]

Is this the entry thread? If it is, I can't access it.