The brush embroidery technique was the focus of this month’s Soap Challenge Club. Brush embroidery is actually a cake decorating technique that has been adapted for soap making. I watched a lot of videos by cookie and cake decorators. It’s amazing what they can do with icing. After finding some inspiration, I decided that I really wanted to use 2 colors to decorate the soap like a cake – on 5 sides – allowing my design to flow around the soap. Well, I didn’t quite get all 5 sides done, but I was able to do at least 3 sides and managed 4 sides on one soap. I colored the soap using an oil replacement of woad infused olive oil and used titanium dioxide and indigo root for my two brush embroidery colors. :)
homemade soap
Orange & Indigo Diagonal Pointy Layers
In 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
Mango Banana Smoothie Soap | June 2019 Soap Challenge Club
This month’s Soap Challenge Club involved incorporating food and drink into our soap recipe. Our soaps could be entered into either the regular category (partial liquid replaced with a drink, some food used in the recipe) or the advanced category (100% of the liquid replaced with a drink, use 1 part food per 8 parts base oil, and use natural colorants, etc). I decided to try the advanced category and see what I could come up with. :) Continue reading
Video: Pour/Pull Through Soap Making Technique in a Log Mold
As 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
Soap Making Video: Pull Through Technique
Just a quick post to let you guys know that my pour/pull through soap making video is now up on my YouTube channel. I’m including it here (below), as well. This soap was my entry for the May 2019 Soap Challenge Club. I’m so honored that it actually won the Regular Category grand prize! Thank you so much for stopping by and watching the video! :)
Kápia Méra 