Great Cakes Soapworks Challenge Club - DNA/Helix Swirl

The challenge for Feb 2015 was to create the DNA/Helix swirl which is a variation of the Taiwan swirl.
Method - the three main steps are:
(1) laying down stripes of different colored soap on a contrasting base

(2) using a skewer is to pass back and forth perpendicular to the coloured stripes in a tight S pattern from one end of the soap to the other
and

(3) making larger S curves in the same direction as the tight S pattern to achieve the the DNA/Helix. This should reveal an hourglass-like pattern ... .

I made two attempts. The first is what I eventually chose for the challenge. The second attempt was meant to produce a 'better' swirl but as luck would have it I omitted step two by mistake - was simply absentminded! Both times I used a lovely scent called Tuscan Sun and chose colours that are reminiscent of the Tuscan landscape in Italy - green and yellow hills and fields, different shades of brown, sienna red and ochre. Perhaps a little too much but I just couldn’t leave any of them out. Making the swirl come out as it should turned out much harder than I’d hoped, but I’m sure with a bit of practice I’ll finally achieve the desired effect. For now, here’s my DNA swirl.

My second attempt ... minus step 2  :)

Freshly poured into mould

A few hours later ...

Flower Power Soap Challenge

  When I signed up for Amy's Flower Power challenge I had a million and one ideas about what I'd do. I have to say that this is not one of them! While planning what cookies to make for Easter this year, I recently looked for inspiration on YouTube and watched several talented artisans beautifully decorating their cookie tops in very many intriguing ways including 'wet on wet'. So, I thought to myself, "Why not try that out with soap?" And so I did. 

 And wasn't it DIFFICULT! CP soap batter is not easy to play around with! First round the soap set up too fast so I couldn't use it to decorate. Next time round the 'batter' just wouldn't set and that made work tough again. I am not really happy with my final result, but I am really glad I signed up, if only to see the other members' BEAUTIFUL soap! Well done soapers ... you've inspired me to keep trying.

  I am not really happy with my final result, but I am really glad I signed up, if only to see the other members' BEAUTIFUL soap! Well done soapers ... you've inspired me to keep trying.

Great Cakes Soap Challenge - embeds

When I signed up for this Soap Club Challenge, I thought I'd have plenty of free time on my hands to practise a bit by making a few batches and then choose the prettiest of the lot :). Well, that was all just wishful thinking - like always, I just had time to make one batch!
I chose to go with Sensory Perfection's Bubblegum FO to make my challenge soap - the scent matches the design since the embeds look like gumballs! And boy does it smell yummy  - like the real thing :). I used micas to colour the soap balls (5 colours) and just added a few drops of TD to the main soap.


I have just had a look at all the other participants' soaps ... amazing work (I'm clapping)! So artistic ... really beautiful.
Amy, THANK YOU for organising yet another fun soap challenge. Looking forward to learning another new technique in the near future :).
Good luck to all!

Great Cakes Soapworks Challenge - Dandelion Zebra Swirl

After last month's soap challenge organised by Amy of Great Cakes Soapworks, I was excited to give this next challenge a go - the original by Vinvela is absolutely beautiful! She's really talented - check out here blog here. So I studied Amy's tutorial and decided on four colours and a slow moving fragrance - Black Raspberry and Vanilla. I had hoped I'd have enough time to make a few batches and present the best of the lot, but as ALWAYS, I had no time whatsoever to do more than one batch. Compared to last month's gradient soap, I found this one easier and more fun to make, BUT I still have a lot of practising to do before I am truly happy with my results.

 My green mix (chromium oxide) and brown (mica) traced so much faster than the others which made pouring pretty difficult - I kept having to 'push' them down the 'slope', so I didn't quite get the 'smooth stripes' I'd hoped to achieve. Apart from that, I really enjoyed making this one and will definitely be returning to this technique.
I'm sure all the other soapers had as much fun as I did :). And I look forward to seeing all your results.

  Good luck everyone.

Great Cakes Soapworks - Soap Challenge Club: MULTI-COLOURED GRADIENT SOAP

I've been wanting to take part in the Soap Challenge Club challenges organised by Amy Warden of Great Cakes Soapworks ever since they began sometime around May but there have been constant obstacles every time I wanted to and  I simply couldn't participate. Luckily for me, I managed to register for the September challenge and was sure I'd have enough time to 'practise until perfect' and then present the results of my very best attempt .... BUT as luck would have it, tons of things got in the way again and I only managed to make my soap last night!!
 Which is why it is still soooo soft and 'mushy' looking in the pics. It was bit of a challenge for me - I can't say it was easy, but I'm pretty happy with the whole 'gradient' effect and the way it's turned out.

The tutorial was very helpful! I chose a green-yellow-orange gradient, but because my green started out really dark, it needed A LOT of yellow and I ran out before I could get the 'right' shade! Oh well, here's hoping for the best - I certainly would love to win the Nature's Garden $50 gift certificate and FINALLY get to buy some of thier products, but then again, who wouldn't? I've had a look at the other fabulous gradient soaps .... the competition is going to be tough :) !


Good luck to ALL fellow participants - may the best soaper/soap win :).

P.S. It's been raining cats and dogs in my part of Poland and with the dark cloudy weather outside the colours all seem to have come out a little dull. Or perhaps I'm just a poor photographer ;).