soap challenge club

Skinny Shimmy 2020

/ Holly / 11 Comments

042020_44536-4entrywp For this month’s Soap Challenge Club, we revisited a technique from 2015 called the tall and skinny shimmy. Our guest instructor was Tatiana Serko of Creative Soaps by Steso. Tatiana provided us with a wonderful tutorial for the regular category by creating a gorgeous 7 color shimmy soap. For the advanced category instruction, our host, Amy Warden, created a beautiful ombre shimmy and provided us with so many helpful details, as always. If you’re interested in this or past techniques, be sure to check out the Soap Challenge Club tutorials page.

This is my tall and shimmy entry for the advanced category. I created a video of my process but won’t have that posted for a few days or so. Continue reading →

Clamshell Swirl Soap | Soap Challenge Club

/ Holly / 7 Comments

032020_43755entry For this month’s Soap Challenge Club, we learned a fun technique called the clamshell swirl.  The Challenge Club is hosted by Amy Warden, and our guest instructor was Teri of Tree Marie Soapworks.  Teri makes really beautiful soaps and also has a YouTube channel where she uploads amazing videos. She did such a wonderful job teaching us the clamshell technique that I couldn’t seem to stop trying it.  I’ll talk about some of those attempts here, and I also made a video about my entry soap (linked at the very bottom of the post), in case you’d like to see that, too.  :) Continue reading →

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 →

Mango Banana Smoothie Soap | June 2019 Soap Challenge Club

/ Holly / 15 Comments

062019_37995wpThis 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

/ 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 →