Soap Challenge Accepted!! (week 6)

So Amy Warden (of Great Cakes Soapworks) has been issuing a weekly challenge to soapers far and wide. Last week's challenge was to create a soap using the Faux Funnel Pour technique. 

You basically divide your soap batch into different colors and then pour one after the other into the same spot in your soap mold, creating a neat pattern. (She has a video on her blog post for the challenge)

I had never done a Funnel Pour before, not to mention a Faux Funnel Pour, so...... Challenge ACCEPTED!!

Since I was new to this technique, and not sure how much time I would need to get all of the colors into the mold.... I decided that I would use a tried and true fragrance oil that I KNEW wasn't going to accelerate on me, or cause me any issues. "Energy" was the perfect choice for this challenge. Because of it's citrus-y notes, I wanted to do bright fun colors. Something with pizzaz!

in the mold

I also wanted to liven things up a bit with more than just color. Let there be GLITTER!!!!!

Now, I've done glitter on the tops of soaps before, but I really wanted to change things up and try something new. So, I added ultrafine iridescent glitter to just the white part of the soap... right IN the soap batter itself.

I have to admit, I wasn't sure what it was going to look like once I unwrapped it...

You just never know what you're going to get until you slice it open and take a look at the inside.

OoOohh!! Glitter!

 I have to admit, I am quite pleased with how these turned out! Though now I'm sure I'll be asked to do them in the team colors of the Universities (since this one has the green and yellow of the Oregon Ducks, it's already become a prized possession of Duck fans that I know)

  Thanks for taking the time to look! Happy soaping!

Be sure to head over to my FB fan page to see more!

Moving... Post-Chaos

Okay, okay... So things haven't gone quite as planned. You know the saying, "Best laid plans...." Anyway, I'm back... and I'm going to try to do better.

We've moved recently, and I've had a heck of a time getting my workspace organized with work, kids, chores, etc... But I've made enough of a dent in the post-move chaos that I can start soaping again! **Insert giddy laughter here**

This move has confirmed for me that I truly am a soap addict. I really hadn't thought about it before, I just knew I loved to make soap... but once my soaping equipment and oils were all packed away and out of reach.... OMG! Panic Attack!!!!!!! I knew that I was too busy to make anything, but I couldn't even if I wanted to!! EEK!! 

I had soaping withdrawals! Where were my spatulas?? Which box were my fragrances in?? WHERE WERE MY SOAPING SUPPLIES!!! ARRRRGHHHHH!! 

Oohhh.. Look!! Glitter!!!!!!!

So now that things have finally calmed down, and I've dug through enough boxes to get my supplies in some sort of relative order... I am back to soaping. (Well, WAS back to soaping, until I realized that I am now at the bottom of my bucket of Shea Butter. *facepalm*)

Lime in the Coconut

Being without Shea Butter is okay, for right now.... I've gotten a few batches under my belt in the new house (a few of which have been milk soaps, YAY!) and fed my addiction for the time being. My only consolation at the moment, and the only thing keeping me from frantically ordering Shea Butter online, is the upcoming Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild Conference. I know that I can hold out on purchasing more oils until after the conference. (I've got to make sure I can pay for my hotel room and buy from some of the vendors while I'm up there!)

Patriotic Pride

Until then, I will play around with taking photos of curing soaps, and try to get them listed for sale on my website.