Spoon Swirl Soap Challenge, learning to spoon swirl

The Great Cakes Soapworks Challenge has been a wonderful learning experience. When I first signed up, I had never made the spoon swirl prior to it. I (luckily) had seen the swirl done before on this soaping 101 video. After realizing I needed to not only attempt the spoon swirl for December's challenge, but I indeed needed to practice it, I began brainstorming.

1) I had just received spirulina in an order, and having never used it, I thought it a great time to experiment. I did an alternating pattern of spirulina and titanium dioxide batter, with one layer of aqua mica mixed in sweet almond oil in the middle. I accounted for the extra oil in soap calc. The total layers ended up being 6.

I swirled down both sides of the soap: Down to the bottom in the upper left corner, and up three swirls of the spoon (see the video for better visual of swirling up). I did this 4 times, from top to bottom down the left side. Then I repeated down the right side of the mold, but only did it 3 times instead of 4.

The end result became slightly muddy in the middle. I now had a feel for using the spoon as a tool (and realized too much mica drizzle in a middle layer can create air pockets!).

OOPS!


2) The next attempt was a three layered soap, with the hopes the swirls stayed crisp and separate.

I used activated charcoal for the bottom, titanium dioxide for the middle, and merlot mica on top. I spooned from left to center (down and then winding up three rotations), and I did this 4 times down the left side. I did the same thing again, but this time beginning in the center and going towards the right, and went down the mold 4 times as well. Then I used titanium dioxide and activated charcoal left overs with mica drizzles to decorate the top.

The lye I had was a bottom of the barrel lye. My soap wasn't real happy. It remained so soft, I could barely unmold it 48 hours later. Once it was out, I had to shave quite a bit off of it to clean it up. The good thing was I had a better feel for this swirl. Armed with a little more experience, I set off for soap #3.

3) This next one was a trial run of the final. I used everything I planned on in the final except for the fragrance. I poured activated charcoal soap batter, and began to slowly pour titanium dioxide on top. Lo and behold, I spent too much time pouring the TD on the right side of the soap, and it created a perfect tilt layer! Not my intention, but I had to roll with it. I then sprinkled a heavy amount of merlot mica on top and finished it off with another layer of activated charcoal soap batter. I used the spoon in three "bottom to top" circles, and I worked my way down the mold on both sides (4 times on the left, and 4 on the right). From the outside of the opaque mold, I could see it didn't seem quite swirled enough. I proceeded to do a final left to right large swooping swirl. The final soap was swirled more than I wanted, unfortunately, and it was darker throughout more than I had envisioned. I was ready for my final go at it!

I grabbed my homemade box loaf mold and said a quick prayer it works out (I hadn't used this mold yet!).

For the final soap I submitted for the December Great Cakes Soapworks Challenge, see this post.

Soap Challenge, The Spoon/Chopstick Swirl

So, I decided to enter the Great Cakes Soapworks soap challenge for the first time. This month, it was the spoon/chopstick swirl. I chose fairly quickly on the theme I wanted to portray. 

I call it 

New Year's Eve "Black Tie Event"

~ fragranced with Champagne from Bramble Berry 

Colorants: By Bramble Berry

     Titanium Dioxide, Activated Charcoal, Merlot Mica, and Gold Sparkle Mica

• I added 1 tablespoon sugar per pound of oils to my water to boost bubbles. 
• I began by pouring a large layer of titanium dioxide colored soap batter. 
• I then dusted a hearty amount of merlot mica all across it.
• I poured a very think traced smaller layer of activated charcoal colored soap batter. 
• I dusted, yet again, heavily with merlot mica. 
• I proceeded to pick up my toddler, who was screaming at me, in my soapy area, hanging on my leg (she had been napping up to this point, woke and came straight to me) 
• I held her, moved her away (special thanks to my oldest who kept baby away at this point!) and quickly stick blended a top white layer. 
• I poured it, and slammed the mold down.
• Went over to my toddler, and had to hold her a good 15 minutes to calm her down.

                 ~eh, I wanted to swirl thick anyway!~

• Put her down, and quickly spooned in one swooping circle, left side to middle.. down the mold.
• I repeated middle to right side, down the mold. 
• Slammed it down and topped it off with a thick titanium dioxide layer and decorated the top with gold sparkle mica and white pearls.

I appreciate and fully enjoyed being a part of this months Great Cakes Soapworks spoon swirl challenge and loved seeing all the beautiful soaps from all around the world! Thanks to Amy for hosting the challenges and for giving all us soapers out there a creative outlet to push our talents beyond our comfort zones!

***To see my practice soaps for the challenge, see this post.