SMF Soapmaking Challenge November: Drop and Skewer

[snappyllama]

Judiraz & Rowan, those are both really pretty!

 

[Rowan]

Thanks Saponista and Snappyllama. Can't wait to give it another go. Hopefully at the weekend.

 

[amd]

Oh, man, Rowan, that was about the same color scheme I attempted for try #2! If mine looks that good cut, I'll be happy.

 

[Sonya-m]

Judiraz, I love the colours. Fingers crossed with the ROE.

Sonya - good luck with your move. Don't forget soapy boxes go on the van last and come off first!!!

Too right!!!

 

[DeeAnna]

I now understand what Newbie means about not getting enough "drop" in the colors. From what y'all are talking about here and from looking at my soaps, it's pretty obvious I'm not pouring high enough above the mold to get the colors deeper. Even my most fluid batch didn't have enough drop. Does anyone put their mold on the floor, stand on a chair, and pour their colors from that height? :Kitten Love: I'm beginning to think that's what I'm going to have to do!

Three batchlets down, and I am thinking about making yet more soap for this challenge. I'm gonna figure this out, dagnabbit! A huge thanks to all of you for sharing your critiques of your soaps -- I'm learning a lot.

 

[Rowan]

Oh, man, Rowan, that was about the same color scheme I attempted for try #2! If mine looks that good cut, I'll be happy.

Thanks so much AMD. If it helps, I'll probably change the colour combination next time because I have some new mica's to play with and I can't resist trying them out!

I really look forward to seeing your soap too.

 

[Rowan]

I now understand what Newbie means about not getting enough "drop" in the colors. Even my most fluid batch didn't have enough drop. Does anyone put their mold on the floor, stand on a chair, and pour their colors from that height? :Kitten Love: I'm beginning to think that's what I'm going to have to do!

I was so tempted to stand on a chair!! I poured mine about 3/4 of a metre above my mould, but only because it was quite thick when I poured. It was a tall and skinny mould and was just over half full of white batter when I started pouring. I miscalculated though and had too much white batter left over to go on top!

 

[DeeAnna]

Hey, Rowan -- that gives me some perspective! I'm definitely going to have to do something to get the mold a bit lower so I can do this better. Or <...scratching chin...> maybe get my little stepstool out and stand on that. Hmmm.....

 

[kchaystack]

Actually what I do if I want color deep into the bar is to stop pouring my base when the mold is about 1/3 full, then do a couple of passes with my drop colors. I then follow it up with the rest of the base and finish off my drop colors.

I am not sure that will be the way to do this challenge. I will be doing a few tries this weekend.

Here is a pic of a soap using that technique.

 

[snappyllama]

Kchaystack, Oooo... pretty!

 

[doriettefarm]

Actually what I do if I want color deep into the bar is to stop pouring my base when the mold is about 1/3 full, then do a couple of passes with my drop colors. I then follow it up with the rest of the base and finish off my drop colors.

I am not sure that will be the way to do this challenge. I will be doing a few tries this weekend.

Here is a pic of a soap using that technique.

High-five, that's a gorgeous drop swirl for sure! I would also second your advice about not pouring too much base color before 'dropping'. You really shouldn't have to drop from an extreme height unless your base is too thick (either poured too deep or too thick in texture).

Also wanted you to know I'm inspired to do an attempt #3 for the challenge after watching your video of the black & white tiger stripe soap. I would like to riff off the b&w for my ITP swirl base and use 2 eye-popping accent colors for the drop. Stay tuned folks, it could be a spectacular fail because I'm likely to use an untested FO and hope for the best!

 

[DeeAnna]

I think the layered drop swirl is really pretty. I have gotten the strong impression, however, that the challenge soap is supposed to be a drop pour into the entire amount of base, not layers of base-color-base-etc. At least that's what LionPrincess did in her demo video, and that's how the rules read to me:

...
You must pour a solid single colored base...
You must then use a drop swirl, with a minimum of two colors, dropped into the mold
...

I'm not the boss of the challenge, however, so don't take this as any kind of final word on the matter. Just how I've understood things to be. Perhaps LP can clarify?

 

[kchaystack]

I think the layered drop swirl is really pretty. I have gotten the strong impression, however, that the challenge soap is supposed to be a drop pour into the entire amount of base, not layers of base-color-base-etc. At least that's what LionPrincess did in her demo video, and that's how the rules read to me:

...
You must pour a solid single colored base...
You must then use a drop swirl, with a minimum of two colors, dropped into the mold
...

I'm not the boss of the challenge, however, so don't take this as any kind of final word on the matter. Just how I've understood things to be. Perhaps LP can clarify?

Right, my take away from the instructions was that the drop portion was not supposed to go really deep into the bar, which is why how I do drop swirls might not work for this challenge. I was just was letting people know how I get drop swirls to go all the way thru a bar.

 

[DeeAnna]

And they're lovely, KC! I'm filing that away for future batches. You do nice work.

 

[kchaystack]

And they're lovely, KC! I'm filing that away for future batches. You do nice work.

You and doriettefarm are making me blush! LOL

 

[lenarenee]

I think we're allowed to have two added colors in the base. I did an itp swirl base with two drop swirl colors.....all shades of pink with white contrast for a floral fo. I love how it turned out, but it's probably too subtle for the expectations of the challenge.

Btw, a high lard soap is the perfect recipe for this challenge!! Back when I used palm and oo, swirls were unpredictable. Lard (especially at emulsion) gives you time to sit and twiddle your thumbs, make coffee and eat breakfast before swirling!

 

[lionprincess00]

I think the layered drop swirl is really pretty. I have gotten the strong impression, however, that the challenge soap is supposed to be a drop pour into the entire amount of base, not layers of base-color-base-etc. At least that's what LionPrincess did in her demo video, and that's how the rules read to me:

...
You must pour a solid single colored base...
You must then use a drop swirl, with a minimum of two colors, dropped into the mold
...

I'm not the boss of the challenge, however, so don't take this as any kind of final word on the matter. Just how I've understood things to be. Perhaps LP can clarify?

Sorry, I'm here!! My original intent was precisely what you stated Deeanna, however, another participant asked exactly what is in question. If they could pour 1/3 their base, drop swirl, the remaining base, drops swirl then skewer. Unsure I consulted the other contest mods and the decision was reached that, for the sake of creativity in this challenge, it would be allowed (and since it technically isn't stated not to in the rules). I hope this clears it up, and if anyone has any questions feel free to ask!

Edit: so for the itp option
Itp pour, drop swirl, itp pour, drop swirl, skewer will be accepted
Or
Solid base, drop swirl, solid base, drop swirl, skewer will be accepted

 

[commoncenz]

I have not been able to soap for about two weeks and it's ticking me off. I ordered Shea Butter from an Etsy Supplier before the beginning of this month. Sixteen days ago to be exact. They generated a shipping label with tracking number and then just went on vacation without actually shipping the order. It just arrived today.

Now I'm behind on my X-mas gift soaps and I'm not sure that I will be able to participate in this month's challenge as I absolutely have to get these done.

 

[BlackDog]

Sorry, I'm here!! My original intent was precisely what you stated Deeanna, however, another participant asked exactly what is in question. If they could pour 1/3 their base, drop swirl, the remaining base, drops swirl then skewer. Unsure I consulted the other contest mods and the decision was reached that, for the sake of creativity in this challenge, it would be allowed (and since it technically isn't stated not to in the rules). I hope this clears it up, and if anyone has any questions feel free to ask!

Oh good because that's how I did it! Lol I misunderstood the original post and just assumed I could until I read the later posts in this thread and was like "Oh no!" Buy glad to know I'm still in the rules.

 

[doriettefarm]

Whew! I'm relieved to see lp's clarification because if pouring the entire base color all at once was a requirement my attempt #2 would be disqualified. I poured about 2/3 of the base color then dropped/skewered and poured the remaining base over the top so I could do some surface swirls with my leftover drop colors. I'm still likely to try a 3rd time just to see how the ITP base turns out.