August Soap Challenge

The August Challenge from Amy at Great Cakes Soapworks is the Mantra Marbles soaping method. This soap is created using a slab mold, special dividers and a homemade comb. I knew this method would be a challenge.... The problem was trying to figure out where to put my dividers for pouring both solid and multi-colored soap batter into the mold yet still be able to cut the soap in the correct fashion to get the full effect of the Mantra Marbles. I know it sounds simple but my brain just did not compute! Plus, I wanted to make two different batches using two different slab molds (one with 12 bars and one with 15) so had to figure out two different systems.

First I made the dividers. I found some stiff cardboard, cut them to fit and put packaging tape on them to keep the soap from sogging them up too much. 

I decided to label the molds so I made sure I poured the soap in the right spots! It's a visual thing.... 

Next was to make a comb with cardboard and bamboo skewers. And the squirt bottles had to be pulled out too. There were three different ways to create this marbled mantra pattern, nonpariel, striped or linear. I did the nonpariel using the comb. 

Since I have started making my holiday soaps I wanted to use a new fragrance called Pine Cone Wreath. I know it is risky using a new fragrance for a challenge but I hadn't come up with anything for this particular fragrance and so .... I decided to go for it and use the top mold. For the mold at the bottom it would be the last fall soap, an apple cinnamon blend. 

Apple Cinnamon- the color have been chosen and put into the squirt bottles.

Apple Cinnamon - the solid getting poured and the marbled colors are squirted in with the bottles

The Apple Cinnamon is poured and the dividers have been pulled out.

Finally got the sections of soap poured (it takes time to squirt all that soap in) and the soap is starting to thicken up. Yikes, no photos of using the comb. The comb is run through from the back to the front of the mold to drag all the colors into a peacock type swirl.

Then using a large chopstick type utensil a mantra swirl is done by working "s" shaped swirls from the marbled side into the solid portion of the soap. 

This is the Pine Cone Wreath fragranced soap. I was hoping the solid would be more coppery but it appears to have more red in it than I thought. These are all mica colorants. Below is the mold with the original dividers in place. You can get a better idea of how the soap bars are supposed to look now! 

The final results are below. I took these photos in a hurry just in case while the sun was creating a bit of glare on them.  You see, my daughter was expecting her third child in a couple weeks. It seems little bitty Ryleigh Camile decided she show up a little earlier than expected. That meant a hasty trip to Wisconsin so its a good thing I took the photos when I did or I may not have had anything to turn in for this challenge!

Thank you again Amy for your great instructional videos and helpful hints for each of the challenges!