SMF Soap Making Challenge: September Discoloring FO

[lionprincess00]

My gosh 1.3% vanillin looks more like 12%! It's discolored deep dark chocolate blurring out the Brown I used. Can't even see I used a brown in there! I'm on the fence with making another...the gel cpop may have helped it reach complete color change I'm thinking. I've used a pinkish discoloring fo in the past that turned tan when gelled cpop....I do think heat can affect the discoloring process.

 

[galaxyMLP]

Yet another question. My first soap is developing some ash. Is it okay to remove it, or do you want to see the cut bars exactly as they are as they cure?

Its fine to take the ash off! Don't worry about that. You can clean them up however you want.

 

[TVivian]

I did my first try yesterday, scented with Black Amber & Lavender and used some leftover bars I made from my polka dot soap experiment.. Plus a couple of the polka dot bars. We'll see how it looks after the brown kicks in!

 

[jules92207]

My first attempt so far. Its kinda strange. The fragrance looks to have migrated into some of my unscented white and "Barbie" pink leaving darker streaks than the rest of the fragranced soap.

Sorry - I don't know why it linked the one picture twice.

 

[CaraBou]

Ooh! You two are on the right track! Thanks for the peek!

 

[gigisiguenza]

I'm debating making another challenge batch. I'm not at all sure my first batch is up to snuff LOL. It's a boring lot of so so looking soaps and the DFO is not changing enough for me. Hmmmm.

 

[skayc1]

Is there a different thread for our challenge results? I just made my challenge, it will have to be a hit or a fail lol as I have no more eggnog FO (from Aztec 10% Vanillan). I've never worked with such a high percentage of Vanillan before, so i poured a little bit of my 32 oz oil batch into a separate container before adding 1 oz of the FO (at 5% -.50 ppo) . I used the color of Fanta Soda in both the non scented batter & the scented batter as well as TD in both. I also left a little of the non scented to add in on top of the scented. to show the discoloration. I hanger swirled before adding the remaining TD of both. i also drizzled some of the Fanta Soda color, then dropped bubble embeds, let it sit & added embeds of cups of eggnog made with the Fanta Soda color (slightly darker) I hand made the cups. I'll get another picture of in the mold before I cut it, to show any discoloration that is happening. Oh and I did have enough to fill 3 small molds as well.

 

[not_ally]

Tried two times, both swirls are hideous b/c I suck at this (new to me) technique, mantra marbles. I am going to try one more time. With the same technique, damn it! Then I will never do it again

I just went to the Great Cakes Soap Challenge page, this technique was their challenge last month. Almost none of the links work, I am wondering if you have to register (and pay) to get any information on them. I understand charging a small registration fee, these things must be a pain to run, and take quite a bit of time (thanks to the folks that have done/are doing that here for being willing to do so.) But why not make the information available afterwards?

I have to say that that is one of the reasons I love the challenges here, they are all about open information/learning from each other, which is one of the great things about soapmaking generally, people are inclined to that. I mostly don't visit sites which are primarily "look at this pretty soap! Pay me "x" and I will tell you how to make it!"

 

[CaraBou]

My gosh 1.3% vanillin looks more like 12%! It's discolored deep dark chocolate blurring out the Brown I used.

If you don't mind saying, lp, what was the FO?

I used BBs Oatmeal Stout (7.7%) with a splash of Vanilla Select (10-14%) and it's not dark enough for me. Well, maybe if it was blended together better and all was the color of the spots. But I didn't want to risk acceleration, nor split off my oils before adding lye so that I could add the DFO to just a portion of it.

Mine def gelled. I popped it into a preheated oven, then just used the oven light for additional energy input.

 

[newbie]

You have to pay to see any of her tutorials, either be registering for the challenge or buying the tutorial afterward. They will never be posted for free. You should be able to see all the soaps that were entered thought, which might give you some ideas, or go to peoples blogs where they explain what they did. I know some people used squirt bottles to lay down their various colors on the marble part, before doing the mantra.

Maybe I can dig something up.

They don't start pouring until about 6 minutes in on this one, if you would prefer to skip watching people SB:[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUOkR9s-49Q[/ame]

And this one they start pouring at 7 min, same people. This one is interesting in that the batter is at super heavy trace when they swirl but they still make it work. Good to see how people manage a situation they don't expect:
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3E0wg2ASDM[/ame]

Here is Teresa Mahoney's blog complete with videos of all her tries (4, I think):
https://nourishinghandmadebodycare.wordpress.com/2015/08/14/mantra-marbles-soap-challenge/

 

[not_ally]

The "entered soaps" link doesn't work either. I did go to people's blogs and also googled/YouTubed, so don't spend time doing that for me, Newb, I think (cross-eyed from watching videos I am good there.

I don't even want to see *her* tutorials that much, more the ones that the winners made, and those you generally can find on the net. The fact that I couldn't get any of the links to work just made me think about soapy information sharing, I guess. Some sites are really good about combining the two - ie; lots of information about how things are done, as well as being effective about selling their own stuff. It must take a lot of time, and it is rare, but I think it is worth it in terms of good-will and return visits, though.

ETA: I don't want to slam on Amy Warden too hard, either, even though it seems as if I am. I have seen some posts/video tutes from her that were interesting and shared good information. I just don't think that the challenges fall into the sharing category, so much.

 

[newbie]

First, second and third place winners, just so you can see them. I don't know why the link doesn't work but one month, she was using her new platform and there were some glitches:

 

[Saponista]

What part are you struggling with on the mantra marbles not_ally? Can we see a pic of your attempts? Someone may be able to offer some suggestions to help you improve it.

 

[lionprincess00]

If you don't mind saying, lp, what was the FO?

I used BBs Oatmeal Stout (7.7%) with a splash of Vanilla Select (10-14%) and it's not dark enough for me. Well, maybe if it was blended together better and all was the color of the spots. But I didn't want to risk acceleration, nor split off my oils before adding lye so that I could add the DFO to just a portion of it.

Mine def gelled. I popped it into a preheated oven, then just used the oven light for additional energy input.

Vanilla milk from mad oils. When I post my entry I'll explain how I split it up and the specifics of it all.

 

[CaraBou]

That #1 is just my style. Something about black, white and gray that grabs and holds on. And the black dots - they give me hope for the dfo challenge!

 

[TwystedPryncess]

I have anniversary this weekend. I forgot. Oops. So, Sunday or Monday.

 

[galaxyMLP]

So would you guys prefer I stick w/the original timeline and post the official thread the 18th or should I post it today? Seems some people want it up early but others later (I'm sorry I've caused confusion!)

 

[traderbren]

I'm happy with whatever date to open, as long as the closing date stays the same. I want my Baby Poop colored soap to discolor as long as possible!

 

[galaxyMLP]

Oh yeah, closing date won't change.

 

[dibbles]

Either way is fine with me.