Great Cakes Soap Works January's challenge is the Butterfly Swirl. This time we learned to swirl our soaps so that a butterfly would appear when two bars are put side by side. I had planned on taking January off from all things soap, but when I saw this months challenge I had to join in!. Thank you Amy for this fun challenge!
Each batch turned out different even though the process was basically the same. Cutting into the soap loaves was an adventure and full of surprises. As part of the fun I posted photos of the completed soaps on the Facebook page with numbers so others could vote for their favorite butterfly. Results below!
Each batch turned out different even though the process was basically the same. Cutting into the soap loaves was an adventure and full of surprises. As part of the fun I posted photos of the completed soaps on the Facebook page with numbers so others could vote for their favorite butterfly. Results below!
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Preparing for the soap batches... colorants are mixed, fragrance oils sitting
on the counter so I don't forget to add them in and the mold is handy. The
swirling tool is that bright orange gear tie! They bend to fit each mold and are thick enough to pull the swirls.
on the counter so I don't forget to add them in and the mold is handy. The
swirling tool is that bright orange gear tie! They bend to fit each mold and are thick enough to pull the swirls.
Time to mix the oils with the lye using my super special mixing bowl. These ice cream buckets work great. I use a stick blender to do the mixing. I poured about 3/4 cup of the soap to each of the chosen colors then pour the soap into the mold, layer the colors and create the swirls. Unfortunately, at this point I need to concentrate on the job and haven't quite figured out how to take photos at the same time!
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Lilac in the mold. The remaining colors are drizzled on the top then a
chopstick is used to make the swirls. A bit of glitter is added to the top.
Lilac is one of my favorite fragrances.
chopstick is used to make the swirls. A bit of glitter is added to the top.
Lilac is one of my favorite fragrances.
Lilac soap paired up to show the butterfly effect. Which is your favorite?
Winner is #2!
Winner is #2!
Lemon Verbena in the mold. I never know what I am going to do to finish the tops until I get to the end. You can see the mica colorants that I used to get the yellow, orange, blue and green. This was the first time I used this fragrance oil and was pleasantly surprised with the result, a very clean lemony scent.
The Lemon Verbena bars cut and arranged into butterflies.
Which would you choose to put into the challenge?
Winner is #3!
Which would you choose to put into the challenge?
Winner is #3!
Pink Sugar - brought back by popular demand!
With notes of pink cotton candy, lemon, raspberries, fig leaves, caramel, orange, Lily of the Valley, and vanilla musk
With notes of pink cotton candy, lemon, raspberries, fig leaves, caramel, orange, Lily of the Valley, and vanilla musk
As you can see each batch turns out a little different!
Winner is #10!
Winner is #10!
I still had time to complete a couple more batches for this challenge before the entry date. This time I chose a new fragrance oil called Exotic Twilight, described as a tropical floral but without a perfumey scent. Next was a restock of a lovely essential oil combination of Rosemary and Peppermint.
Exotic Twilight cut... What do you think? Do you see butterflies?
Here we have micas in clementine orange, lemonade,
blackstar blue, and a copper sparkle mica.
A tie! Winner is #1 & #2
Here we have micas in clementine orange, lemonade,
blackstar blue, and a copper sparkle mica.
A tie! Winner is #1 & #2
Rosemary and Mint... cut with some rather interesting pairings. Butterflies or flowers? I love working with mica colorants! I find most of the colors are stable in cold process soaps and these sure did stay true!
Pistachio, Key West Blue, Grape Nehi and Metallica.
Winner is #5!
Pistachio, Key West Blue, Grape Nehi and Metallica.
Winner is #5!
And the last batch for this challenge. Presenting Patchouli Wild. A restock soap with the same six mica colorants but a new pattern on the inside and patchouli essential oil. This one is a favorite with the patchouli oil lovers!
I think this last batch is my favorite!
Winner is #1!
Winner is #1!
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My son was playing with the soaps I left on the counter for the challenge. He started turning them sideways and upside down. He took the winning soap from the Patchouli Wild batch and look what he found- a butterfly I had not seen. So these are the two choices I will decide on for the challenge......
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