The Great Cakes Soap Challenge for January 2016 involved a technique called the Circling Taiwan Swirl that produces a lotus flower when the soap is cut horizontally. I went with natural colorants and tried out a new blend of essential oils. I ended up making 3 attempts at this swirl technique. The best part is cutting the soap and having absolutely no idea what you’re going to see. :) Continue reading
The soap challenge this month involved learning a fun new technique called the Tall & Skinny Shimmy. In my first attempt at this technique, the soap got a bit too thick on me. And thick soap just doesn’t shimmy. In my second attempt, I used natural colorants and essential oils that were more conducive to a slow trace along with a really slow tracing recipe. :) Continue reading
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
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
At last count, I believe I made 6 attempts at the Ebru Soap Challenge this month. Thankfully, I was happy enough with my last batch. Even though I didn’t prove to be very adept at Ebru Soap painting, it really was a lot of fun. :) Continue reading
Kápia Méra 