clay soap

Orange & Indigo Diagonal Pointy Layers

/ Holly / 24 Comments

072019_38982wpIn this month’s Soap Challenge Club, we learned a new technique called pointy layers. Our guest instructor was Teri Endsley of Tree Marie Soapworks. Teri has a wonderful YouTube channel and makes the most beautiful soaps. The pointy layers technique involves pouring lines of very fluid soap as close as possible to the layer below, while also leaving gaps of color showing (these form the points). Controlling trace and having a nice long spout were essential. In my attempt to get a swept look to my pointy layers, I decided to try a diagonal pour where I tilted my mold.

A big thank you to Teri for sharing this technique with us and to Amy Warden for hosting another fun Soap Challenge Club.  :) Continue reading →

Video: Pour/Pull Through Soap Making Technique in a Log Mold

/ Holly / 4 Comments

052019_37190wpAs I said in my last Soap Challenge Club entry post, I made two attempts at the pour/pull through technique. For this attempt, I used a larger screen from the same storage basket and cut it to fit my log mold. Our guest instructor, Joanne (Nature’s Potion Handmade Soaps), and host, Amy Warden, also used screens, so I wanted to try this size, too. I love the designs this technique produces. However, I definitely should have poured my soap a bit differently, as you’ll see that the end bars look just plain weird. Kind of reminded me of teeth or something. LOL If you’d like to see how I made it, I’ve posted it below along with the recipe and other information. :) Continue reading →

Intaglio Soap Carving

/ Holly / 15 Comments

082017_22348wpThis month’s Great Cakes Soap Challenge involved learning a carving technique called intaglio (pronounced in-tal-yoh). Intaglio is defined as an engraving or incised figure in stone or other hard material. We had to apply this technique to bars of soap, carving a design into each bar. For my design, I decided to create a little landscape using various colors and carving small details into the tree and road. Carving away the top layer of soap to reveal the colors underneath was a lot of fun. :)

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Rainbow Soap – Sculpted Layers Technique

/ Holly / 13 Comments

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I finally finished the video for my Rainbow Soap that I made using the sculpted layers technique. The method of sculpting layers was created by Claudia Carpenter of Om Nom Soaps and was the challenge in Amy Warden’s June 2016 Great Cakes Soap Challenge where Claudia was the guest teacher. I was unable to get my soap done in time to enter, but I wanted to post my video anyway. You can see all the amazing winners here.  Keep reading if you’d like to see my video.  :) Continue reading →