Tuesday 10 September 2013

Soap Challenge #4 : Multi-coloured Gradient Soap

Hi everyone.  It's that time of the month again, where we get to show everyone how we have done in the soap challenge from Greatcakes Soapworks and Amy Warden.

This month the challenge was to create a Multi-coloured gradient soap. The easiest way to describe this technique, is taking three colours and creating seven layers of soap, mixing them in between, so that the colours blend into each other. Now this might seem easier then it is!  I can't tell you how many times I watched the video, and read and re-read the notes, trying to get my head around the quantities for each colour!  In the end I winged it!  And I had also decided, that no matter what this soap turned out like, that I was not going to attempt another one!  This was it!!

The first step of this challenge was to pick three colours that are next to each other on the colour wheel....or you could choose the primary colours of yellow, red and blue.


After much deliberation....and trying to decide what colours would go with the fragrances I had in the cupboard, I decided to go with the primary colours.  I also chose a fragrance oil from Bramble Berry called Coconut Citrus Sorbet.  I have previously used this FO to make a soap called "Island Sunset" .  This soap is a white base with blue, yellow and pink swirls in it.  But I thought I could create a "sunset" look with the gradient, soap.....so for a limited number of soaps, "Island Sunset" now has a new look!!

So I got all my equipment together and mixed my soap batter, and divided it into the required quantities needed for the different colours.


Here are my colours....blue, yellow and red.

Then came the confusing layering bit.  Needless to say there are no photos of this stage of the process, as i needed to concentrate too much on what I was doing.  At the end, I thought the top looked a little plain, so I decided to do a gold mica swirl on top!


And after about 24 hours I was able to cut my soap.  I was pleasantly surprised!  It looked OK, a little wonky in places, and the layers are uneven and curved, but all in all I am quite pleased with how it turned out.  So here it is ......"Island Sunset".....the water, the sand and the sunset sky  :)



Until next time......
Bye
Dianne

Monday 9 September 2013

Soap Crafting - My prize

Hi there.  I am a bit excited!  I received my prize for winning the Greatcakes Soapworks Soap Challenge last month.  I would like to thank Amy Warden for putting these challenges on for all of us Soap makers.  For me it is about trying new techniques, and pushing myself out of my comfort zone.  I would also like to thank Anne - Marie Faiola from Bramble Berry for providing the prize.



There are quite a few techniques in the book that I can't wait to try.....and to help me do this I have finally bought myself a slab mold, with dividers!  Can't wait for it to turn up!
Until next time
Bye Bye
Dianne  :)