Before I became a hobby soap maker, I would buy handmade soaps from anywhere and everywhere. My favorite bars always seemed to contain silk. So, when I started making soap, silk was one of the first “extra” ingredients I knew I wanted to use. I thought I’d do a post to explain how I add it to my non-vegan recipes. :) Continue reading
Elderberry Spice – Soap Challenge Entry for October 2015
In order to make soap, you need three ingredients: oil, sodium hydroxide (lye), and a liquid (water, milk, etc). A lot of soap makers use milk, beer, coffee, and teas instead of just plain water. Each of these various liquids can lend different properties to soap, like a boost in lather or actual skin care benefits. The soap challenge this month focused on the liquid we use. The challenge was to use an alternative to water and discuss the benefits, if any, to the skin. We had to use all natural colorants and only essential oils for fragrance, too. This was a very interesting challenge and a lot of fun to research.
The very first idea that popped into my mind – Elderberry :) Continue reading
Moringa & Indigo Clyde Slide – Soap Challenge Club September 2015
The soap challenge this month involved learning a technique created by Clyde Yoshida of VibrantSoap called the Clyde Slide. I think this is probably my favorite challenge so far, mainly because it introduced me to Clyde’s YouTube channel. From the color tutorials he provides to the various pouring and swirling techniques he uses and the wonderful way he explains everything, I just couldn’t stop watching his videos. I tend to have a hard time with the creative part of soap making, because I’m so left-brained. But after watching Clyde’s videos, I bought myself a color wheel and even got a water color set to help me coordinate colors in the future. My entry doesn’t have all of the beautiful feathering like Clyde’s soaps, but it was a lot of fun trying the Clyde Slide technique. :) Continue reading
Mantra Marble – Soap Challenge Club Entry
Hands down, this was one of the most accident prone weeks I’ve ever had in the history of me making soap. Man. Alive. Knocking over whole tiny cups of colors was one thing, but then I dropped 2 squeeze bottles of soap as I was about to screw on the tops. Who knew soap could flow out of a squeeze bottle that fast. But I still had a lot of fun learning this technique. :) Continue reading
Soap Challenge Club Submission – Embracing Opposites
With this month’s Soap Challenge, I decided to stick to a simple idea using opposite colors on the color wheel. I even kept my batch attempts down to 4 this month. I think that’s a new record for me. : ) Continue reading
Kápia Méra 