September Challenge- Ribbon Pour

[newbie]

Which colors did you use that accelerated trace? I had the TD go on me in one batch so I know exactly what you mean. Brown oxides or colorants with brown oxide seem to thicken as well. AC sometimes does if you don't pre-soak it well.

 

[earlene]

Which colors did you use that accelerated trace? I had the TD go on me in one batch so I know exactly what you mean. Brown oxides or colorants with brown oxide seem to thicken as well. AC sometimes does if you don't pre-soak it well.

Besides the straight TD, the other was a green tinted mica that has TD in the mix, so I'm guessing it was the TD in that green. It was pretty light, so probably had more TD in it than a darker green would.

I liked how this batch turned out, especially the two that actually show the ribbony effect. One is an individual mold and it's the 'bottom' of the mold (the top when poured into the mold) that shows the ribboniness of the pour. The top of the soap (a car mold) doesn't look all that ribbony though. The 4 bars I cut from the small DIY cardboard box slab mold came out pretty good, compared to any others so far. I trimmed them up and photographed them for possible entry, in case I can't get something I like better as time goes on.

Thanks for the info about the brown oxides. I guess I will just have to do a lot of small batches testing colorants and make some notes to keep with them for future reference. So much to do, so little time! And I'm retired! You'd think I'd have time to do everything.

 

[dibbles]

Well, after one marginally ok try, and a couple of the ugliest soaps I think I have ever made (really), I decided to just make a batch of soap. Wouldn't you know, I had what I believe would have been perfect trace for a ribbon pour. I almost switched gears, but didn't. At least I have a plan if I decide to try again Which I probably will.

 

[earlene]

My third attempt this time was Soap on Stick. Well, almost. I did manage to save it and turn it into something usable. I loved the colors, too. They came out perfect. I don't know what did it exactly, but it was either the brand new EDTA that I used for the first time ever, &/or the FOs I used. The recipe was the exact same one I used for my last attempt, which turned out decently, so I know it wasn't that. I didn't have enough of Teak Wood & Cardamon, so I added a bit of Mediterranean Fig. I liked the combination together, but then I had to heat up the batter to get it soft enough to work with, so I am hoping it survives.

Tomorrow is our wedding anniversary so unless I soap early while Hubby is still at work, I probably won't be trying again for a few days.

 

[newbie]

Fig FOs tend to be extremely speedy. If I use them alone or in combination, they are whisk only and even then they can make you work fast. On the FO spreadsheet, the reviewer said the Teakwood accelerated mildly as well.

 

[penelopejane]

Attempt one:
I watched Newbies videos again.
I mixed my silk with my water and let it soak and then poured the lye in and stirred. Perfect-no bits!
I mixed all my little micas with a tbs of OO from the mix. Perfect- hope the colours turn out as well.
Poured my oils and remembered the FO!!! Cracklin Birch. Yay!
I SB at this stage and discovered that Newbie's beautiful video on trace doesn't work that way if you SB your oils first but that is ok because I have emulsion and trace down now (I think).
I poured my lye into my oils and straight away I realised the lye was still hot and it was going to set fast. Bugger! Bugger! Bugger! Contemplated throwing it out but grabbed one of the boxes with confetti DH had grated for me and mixed that into the bottom 1/3 of the mix. Threw the rest of the batter on top and it is in the oven.
One day.........but not today. :cry:

Attempt two:
Made another attempt. Pretty good trace. Not sure how it went. Took photos of the mix in the jug. Regardless of how it turns out it was a great batch.

 

[earlene]

Fig FOs tend to be extremely speedy. If I use them alone or in combination, they are whisk only and even then they can make you work fast. On the FO spreadsheet, the reviewer said the Teakwood accelerated mildly as well.

Thank you. I should have checked! That's it then. I only used 8 grams of Mediterranean Fig, but 33 grams of Teakwood & Cardamon, so it was the FOs.

Looks like I need to do an inventory of scents and then research each of them to see which ones are safe for detailed design techniques.

 

[newbie]

This isn't all inclusive but there are quite a lot of FO's reviewed here, earlene. It may help, depending on what you have on hand. Tabs at the bottom for different suppliers.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...c7sNswuh-yaTdRf1M/edit?authkey=CMTEtswL#gid=0

PJ, what do you mean about SB'ing your oils first and trace? It would be more difficult to see if you have something opaque in there but you just have to look harder for the difference between the oils that have mixed with lye water and those that have not. I often SB the oils first by themselves but I haven't noticed it making a different in detecting emulsion but maybe you have something in there that I don't use.

 

[earlene]

Thanks, newbie. I have looked there in the past, but did not this time. I'll use it next time though, at least I hope I remember to do so.

PJ, for me the issue with that was lighting. My soaping area is not below one of the many pot lights in my kitchen, so I need to add another external lighting source to be able to see that fine distinction that newbie shows in her video. Even a handheld flashlight helped, although that is not a permanent solution.

ETA: I cut yesterday's soaps and am happy to report that the white I wanted will be just fine with no added TD. Wish I had done that with the batch where the white accelerated. Live and learn. Anyway I was so happy with the shade of blue I got, that I hope I have enough for another batch. It was a sample packet, so I'll have to order more of it asap. But the base I made out of a rebatch (just so I would not have to pour so deeply into the mold when doing the ribbon pour I did not have a chance to pour) looks like corned beef hash. Corned beef hash is ugly as a soap! Especially in conjunction with these pretty colors layered on top. I'm not sure what to do with this corned beef hash looking soap.

 

[penelopejane]

PJ, what do you mean about SB'ing your oils first and trace? It would be more difficult to see if you have something opaque in there but you just have to look harder for the difference between the oils that have mixed with lye water and those that have not. I often SB the oils first by themselves but I haven't noticed it making a different in detecting emulsion but maybe you have something in there that I don't use.

I have Shea butter, citric acid and (usually but not these two for slow trace) salt. Not sure but i think it's the Shea butter that makes it opaque as soon as I SB. I still managed a good emulsion point but it started to setup quickly and I realised the lye was too hot for a slow recipe.

The second batch I hand stirred first and it didn't go opaque until I added the lye and I SB'd and followed your technique for trace perfectly. Not sure all my bars poured without melding together so I didn't wait for perfect trace when pouring. I shouldn't have used Shea at all for a slower mix.

Earlene I soap in my laundry and luckily have good light over the benches.

 

[lisajudy2009]

I made a red and white one but the red completely faded out.

 

[newbie]

Slice the very top off after it's unmolded. Sometimes the last of the batter gets blended or if you poured too much white at the bottom, it all came out at the end. If you take the top 1/8-1/4 inch off, you may find it looks just fine. It you had plenty of red to start, slice the bottom 1/8 inch off. The soap in contact with the mold will have a blurred look because of the soap dragging on the surface, but just underneath that, you will see your pattern.

 

[crispysoap]

1. AMD - I miss doing challenges
2. penelopejane - I'll give it a whirl
3. Rusti - I should have time this month
4. dibbles - I've been wanting to try this
5. TeresaT - I'll make time for it this month (if it's not hot & humid again ).
6. IrishLass - I'll give it a swirl.
7. Guspuppy - School is in, vacations are over, work is slow. Time to soap!
8. BattleGnome - many ideas, so little time
9. carlyjones - see if I can't make some time for this one!! IrisLass you beat me to that one...
10. Mx6inpenn - yay! I finally can do a challenge!
11. Misschief - let's try this again
12. TheDragonGirl - I dont think I understand how to take the pictures though
13. Brewer George - I'll give it a shot
14. kchaystack - All my supplies are still packed. Maybe this will give me motivation to tackle that chore.
15. earlene - I will be home in a few days to give this a try; my first attempt a couple months ago was just practice.
16. Judiraz- Love this look. Can't wait to try. Three day weekend!!!
17. doriettefarm - So many possibilities with this technique . . . off to pick a striking color combo and well-behaved FO!
18. SunWolf - Hmmm...hopefully I have some well behaved FO to use.
19. Sonya-m - I WILL soap this month!! It's been 8 weeks since I last soaped!!!
20. Snappyllama - This will be the inaugural soap of my new soaping room! I'm with Sonya in soaping withdrawal!
21. CTAnton....the heat and humidity has abated..time to get soaping!
22. TeriDk - I tried it when I first saw the video so will give this another try.
23. Lisajudy2009 excited to try
24. Crispysoap - like I needed an excuse to make more soap

 

[Sonya-m]

Tomorrow is our wedding anniversary so unless I soap early while Hubby is still at work, I probably won't be trying again for a few days.

It's our wedding anniversary on the 12th too!

 

[earlene]

It's our wedding anniversary on the 12th too!

I hope you had a happy anniversary! I made some chocolate covered nut clusters as an anniversary treat. Our trip to Alaska was our anniversary trip, so other than going out to dinner that's the extent of our celebrations this year.

I did manage to do a little soaping. I cut & trimmed the almost-soap-on-a-stick. Some of them turned out pretty nice. My save was to turn it into a semi-fluid HP by adding some SL & diluted sugar & yogurt (not all at the same time) and got my 'Montana Sky' and my 'Alaska Glacier' which looks good on top, but not on the bottom. So I turned the Glacier part into guest soaps and chopped up the ugly 'canned hash' parts for rebatch.

Yesterday I rebatched the ugly parts with some black oxide and turned it into something that looks like black granite. I cut it this morning & sprayed it with alcohol to give it a nice sheen. I'll photograph when it is dry. I am much happier with the result.

And happily the fragrance that cause all the problems still comes through the soaps, and I love it. But I won't be using again for a challenge recipe.

 

[Sonya-m]

I hope you had a happy anniversary! I made some chocolate covered nut clusters as an anniversary treat. Our trip to Alaska was our anniversary trip, so other than going out to dinner that's the extent of our celebrations this year.

Choc nut clusters sound lovely! As does Alaska! Unfortunately hubby was working away so I was on my own - we went out for dinner on Friday though. We're off to Thailand in 4 weeks time though so we'll celebrate there!

 

[dibbles]

I have brains, worms, a hot mess, ash covered baby poop and one I think I might get a ribbon-ish looking bar or two out of in the mold. Soap: 4/dibbles: .2 - I think I surrender.

 

[Guspuppy]

Made my second try last night - it's pretty bad when even the soap utensils have thick ash the next morning. I hope washing the soap for pictures is ok!

 

[newbie]

Pre-wash is fine!

 

[earlene]

I have concluded that my 2nd or 3rd batch last month was my best, but they don't count. Besides, I cut that one wrong anyway.

I made more today, but this time I did them in layers like newbie mentioned doing for some of hers. They should make for some pretty interesting soap, or at least I hope so. I'm pretty sure I poured at the right trace and all, and I could definitely see the ribbony look as the lines built up in the molds. But I don't much like the color combo as it appears in the molds. It was good in my head, but once in the molds, disappointing. Maybe they will look better after gel.

I think I'll go back to brighter colors for the next one.