Welcome to this installment of the Soap Making Forum's Challenges. This month, we are doing a Spin Swirl Soap!
PLEASE BE SURE TO READ THIS FIRST (and ALL Rules)-
General Rules:
1. To be eligible to vote, members must add their names on the sign up list - regardless of whether or not an entry is submitted, although full participation in the Challenge is highly encouraged for all who sign up (see General Rules below).
2. This month’s voting will be password locked. Passwords will be sent (via SMF Conversations) to all registered participants ONLY. So please check your messages 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)
· In the spirit of advancing our soapmaking skills, all members who sign-up for an SMF Challenge, do so with the expectation that they will make every attempt to make the Challenge soap, as well as post their experience in the Challenge. By doing so, each participate has a better knowledge of the process when voting. We do understand that sometimes things come up in our lives and throw our plans out of whack, however signing up with no intent to participate and only to vote is discouraged.
· 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), but please do post your experiences in the main Challenge thread and be prepared to be encouraged to continue trying.
· 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, and provide helpful hints you learned along the way.
· 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 Entry thread will open on November 21, 2019 (Please follow the challenge specific rules as to what you need to enter)
· After the closing date November 27, 2019 at 11:59 pm CST the winning entry will be chosen using survey monkey (Voting will be open from November 28, 2019 through November 30, 2019) and the winner announced on December 1, 2019. There is no prize attached to this challenge.
· 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 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 then 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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The November 2019 SMF Challenge is Spin Swirl Soap.
Rules for this month’s challenge:
Create Spin Swirl Soap using the Cold Process method, as it does not lend itself well to HP or MP. You may use a slab mold or any mold that will produce a spin swirl, however the cut must be that of a slab cut. In other words, if you use a loaf mold, cut the soap as if it was a slab mold so the spin design is viewed from the top downward. (Exception: If any of you HP or MP soapmakers desire to give it a go and can create a true spin swirl (not a faux spin swirl), the by all means show off your mad skills and give us all a lesson in how it's done!)
See examples below.
You may enter a group of soaps in one photo, or choose a minimum of two soaps for your entry photo, but choose one entry photo, please.
When you enter your soap on the entry thread (which will be posted on November 21st) please feel free to include a description of your creative process.
INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS and TUTORIALS
The Spin Swirl is an advanced technique, so if you have never done it before, be prepared to do a couple of practice runs. You will have to use the Cold Process method, as it does not lend itself well to HP or MP, however, if any of you HP or MP soapmakers desire to give it a go and can create a true spin swirl (not a faux spin swirl), the by all means show off your mad skills and give us all a lesson in how it's done!
Tools will will need (in addition to the usual soapmaking tools):
Goal: A slow-moving soap batter that will remain liquid throughout the pour and the spin.
Recipe notes:
Pouring the design:
Using a double-handed pouring technique is one way to do the pour, pouring simultaneously from opposite corners of the mold. Another way is to alternate multiple spots within the mold (particular useful if it is a very large slab mold.) With either option, pour alternating colors into the last spot poured, creating expanding concentric circles, which will expand toward the other rings of color, the more you pour. (See the videos for a clearer picture.) Repeat this pouring process until there is no more batter, or until you have reached a level that will be safe to spin with this technique.
Spinning the Swirl:
Using a Lazy Susan or simply place the mold on a table or counter-top, spin the mold from side to side, stopping abruptly in each direction. The sudden interruptions in the spin create the spin swirl design. (See the videos for a clearer picture.)
The cut: Looking straight down on the soap while in the slab mold, cut the bars so the spin swirl design shows in the same way you see it from the top looking down. If you choose to use a slab mold, the cut is obvious. But if you choose to use a loaf mold, the cut also has to be the same as if you were cutting from a slab mold, otherwise the design will look different than if cut in the usual way for a loaf mold.
Entry photo:
Multiple bars: 2 or more bars of your Spin Swirl soap
I ran into some technical difficulties with my video editing and have to get some help from my DIL, who is a video editor by trade. So instead of making you all wait, I will link other videos and tutorials below to get you all started. If I can get my technical difficulties sorted in then next couple of days, I will link you my video. But in the meantime, Enjoy the others linked below.
(Insert my video here if able to edit in future)
Additional tutorials & videos:
Kenna at Modern Soapmaking:
https://www.modernsoapmaking.com/tutorial-rainbow-spin-swirl-soap/
Amanda Gail at Lovin’ Soap Soapmaking Studio:
https://www.lovinsoap.com/2016/08/wood-grain-cold-process-soap-design-spin-swirl-technique/
Anne-Marie at Bramble Berry:
Holly at Kapia Mera Soap:
Thank you for participating and please sign up using the sign-up sheet below.
Enjoy!
Next post is Sign up post:
PLEASE BE SURE TO READ THIS FIRST (and ALL Rules)-
General Rules:
1. To be eligible to vote, members must add their names on the sign up list - regardless of whether or not an entry is submitted, although full participation in the Challenge is highly encouraged for all who sign up (see General Rules below).
2. This month’s voting will be password locked. Passwords will be sent (via SMF Conversations) to all registered participants ONLY. So please check your messages 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)
· In the spirit of advancing our soapmaking skills, all members who sign-up for an SMF Challenge, do so with the expectation that they will make every attempt to make the Challenge soap, as well as post their experience in the Challenge. By doing so, each participate has a better knowledge of the process when voting. We do understand that sometimes things come up in our lives and throw our plans out of whack, however signing up with no intent to participate and only to vote is discouraged.
· 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), but please do post your experiences in the main Challenge thread and be prepared to be encouraged to continue trying.
· 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, and provide helpful hints you learned along the way.
· 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 Entry thread will open on November 21, 2019 (Please follow the challenge specific rules as to what you need to enter)
· After the closing date November 27, 2019 at 11:59 pm CST the winning entry will be chosen using survey monkey (Voting will be open from November 28, 2019 through November 30, 2019) and the winner announced on December 1, 2019. There is no prize attached to this challenge.
· 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 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 then 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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The November 2019 SMF Challenge is Spin Swirl Soap.
Rules for this month’s challenge:
Create Spin Swirl Soap using the Cold Process method, as it does not lend itself well to HP or MP. You may use a slab mold or any mold that will produce a spin swirl, however the cut must be that of a slab cut. In other words, if you use a loaf mold, cut the soap as if it was a slab mold so the spin design is viewed from the top downward. (Exception: If any of you HP or MP soapmakers desire to give it a go and can create a true spin swirl (not a faux spin swirl), the by all means show off your mad skills and give us all a lesson in how it's done!)
See examples below.
You may enter a group of soaps in one photo, or choose a minimum of two soaps for your entry photo, but choose one entry photo, please.
When you enter your soap on the entry thread (which will be posted on November 21st) please feel free to include a description of your creative process.
INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS and TUTORIALS
The Spin Swirl is an advanced technique, so if you have never done it before, be prepared to do a couple of practice runs. You will have to use the Cold Process method, as it does not lend itself well to HP or MP, however, if any of you HP or MP soapmakers desire to give it a go and can create a true spin swirl (not a faux spin swirl), the by all means show off your mad skills and give us all a lesson in how it's done!
Tools will will need (in addition to the usual soapmaking tools):
- Slab mold or any mold that will work to create a spin swirl, but be sure to cut the soap as if it was created in a slab mold (so the design looks like it does when you look straight down on it while still in the mold)
- 2 or more colorants
- 2 or more pouring vessels
- Lazy Susan (optional) - you can spin with or without a Lazy Susan
Goal: A slow-moving soap batter that will remain liquid throughout the pour and the spin.
Recipe notes:
- Although some recommend at least 58% liquid oils, that did not work for me, but my Lye Concentration was 33%, so that may have contributed to the thickness.
- I found that 70% liquid oils & 30% Lye Concentration worked better for me.
- Longer setting up time can be shortened with CPOP
Pouring the design:
Using a double-handed pouring technique is one way to do the pour, pouring simultaneously from opposite corners of the mold. Another way is to alternate multiple spots within the mold (particular useful if it is a very large slab mold.) With either option, pour alternating colors into the last spot poured, creating expanding concentric circles, which will expand toward the other rings of color, the more you pour. (See the videos for a clearer picture.) Repeat this pouring process until there is no more batter, or until you have reached a level that will be safe to spin with this technique.
Spinning the Swirl:
Using a Lazy Susan or simply place the mold on a table or counter-top, spin the mold from side to side, stopping abruptly in each direction. The sudden interruptions in the spin create the spin swirl design. (See the videos for a clearer picture.)
The cut: Looking straight down on the soap while in the slab mold, cut the bars so the spin swirl design shows in the same way you see it from the top looking down. If you choose to use a slab mold, the cut is obvious. But if you choose to use a loaf mold, the cut also has to be the same as if you were cutting from a slab mold, otherwise the design will look different than if cut in the usual way for a loaf mold.
Entry photo:
Multiple bars: 2 or more bars of your Spin Swirl soap
I ran into some technical difficulties with my video editing and have to get some help from my DIL, who is a video editor by trade. So instead of making you all wait, I will link other videos and tutorials below to get you all started. If I can get my technical difficulties sorted in then next couple of days, I will link you my video. But in the meantime, Enjoy the others linked below.
(Insert my video here if able to edit in future)
Additional tutorials & videos:
Kenna at Modern Soapmaking:
https://www.modernsoapmaking.com/tutorial-rainbow-spin-swirl-soap/
Amanda Gail at Lovin’ Soap Soapmaking Studio:
https://www.lovinsoap.com/2016/08/wood-grain-cold-process-soap-design-spin-swirl-technique/
Anne-Marie at Bramble Berry:
Holly at Kapia Mera Soap:
Thank you for participating and please sign up using the sign-up sheet below.
Enjoy!
Next post is Sign up post:
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