Angie Gail
Well-Known Member
Yes!!! That's where I got the molds to make my Texas soaps and they were a big hit at the craft show I did (in Texas) last weekend.
What soapy thing have you done today?
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@Angie Gail nice!
I forgot to mention that Facebook soap destash pages often have lots of silicone shape molds for sale, and often pretty cheaply. I bought a big lot of those molds from someone off FB. I ended up sharing about half of them with other soaping friends who would use the mold shapes I didn’t want. And it was still cheaper to buy the whole lot rather than buying brand new versions of the ones I kept.
I forgot to mention that Facebook soap destash pages often have lots of silicone shape molds for sale, and often pretty cheaply. I bought a big lot of those molds from someone off FB. I ended up sharing about half of them with other soaping friends who would use the mold shapes I didn’t want. And it was still cheaper to buy the whole lot rather than buying brand new versions of the ones I kept.
I got the idea here, but I can’t remember where. I wound up not getting any soap on them and didn’t want to take them off. They were kind of comfortable, like arm warmers.
Misschief
Supporting Member
It's funny you say that. I bought a pair of socks at a thrift store for that very purpose. My wrists are always cold and my sock wrist warmers are perfect for keeping them warm.
Well, as much fun as it has been to say “In the Poop Swirl” I’m not getting the effect I want.
I really want representation of all three colors, even-ish on the visible side of the soap. I even intentionally tried to have my subsequent pours break through the first poured color. Then I swirled at an angle from bottom to top, as well as around. I still mostly got the first poured color.
I have one poop soap left in my:
Mythical Creatures Poop Soap Sampler.
So for my dragon poop, I’ll be returning to the traditional ITPS.
I really want representation of all three colors, even-ish on the visible side of the soap. I even intentionally tried to have my subsequent pours break through the first poured color. Then I swirled at an angle from bottom to top, as well as around. I still mostly got the first poured color.
I have one poop soap left in my:
Mythical Creatures Poop Soap Sampler.
So for my dragon poop, I’ll be returning to the traditional ITPS.
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Zany_in_CO
Saponifier
Just remember the 3 "P"s: Perfect takes Patience & Persistence.
Keep up the good work!
Adobehead
Supporting Member
I actually tried for a specific outcome instead of a happy accident, was very scientific and focused and disciplined (very against my nature) and I got the color I was trying for: pink. It is colored with rhubarb root infused oilve oil and has 9 oils in all, everything but the olive is one of the whiter ones. I reduced the infused oil to 10% of my last try and put it in the fridge to get a lighter color. Such a departure from my throw-it-together approach. Thanks everyone for the inspiration. I used a Tea Tree/Geranium EO blend at 2.5% usage. Oh, and a new mold, took out the silicone and lined with paper. Yay, I want a brownie button.
Added cut photo the next morning, was so afraid it would morph or partial gel or something like that, but it is OK!
Added cut photo the next morning, was so afraid it would morph or partial gel or something like that, but it is OK!
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Jersey Girl
Supporting Member
That’s a beautiful color you got! Very pretty.
My soapy thing for the day was trying a new FO. Succulent Agave & Oakmoss from Candles and Supplies. It thickened up a bit on me but I think I was still able to get a decent swirl. I guess I’ll see tomorrow! It smells really nice. It’s hard to describe but it’s a clean, light kind of perfume scent. I like it. It’s all tucked in for the night.
ETA the cut.
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msunnerstood
Well-Known Member
My soapy thing? I met a farmer's wife in a small town cafe parking lot to buy some local tallow. (What we won't do huh?)
Guspuppy
Well-Known Member
I trimmed (is that the right word? What do we call it when we make the sharp edges unsharp with a potato peeler? My mind is mush!) the Zany’s no-slime Castile I made yesterday. Scented with Ginger and Lime from Nurture but at only half strength since it is for my very elderly aunt. I am so impressed how fast I was able to unmold and cut that soap yesterday - four hours!!
I also took three bars of a cured test soap to work today and left out in the break room. It was Star Showers FO from Nurture and I reeeeaaallly did not like it at all. Apparently no one else likes it either because by the time I left only one bar had been taken. Ha!
I also took three bars of a cured test soap to work today and left out in the break room. It was Star Showers FO from Nurture and I reeeeaaallly did not like it at all. Apparently no one else likes it either because by the time I left only one bar had been taken. Ha!
GemstonePony
Supporting Member
Beveled, I think. My mind is mush too. And Star Showers sounds like it should be so nice, sorry to hear it isn't.
Guspuppy
Well-Known Member
Beveling!! Yes! Thank you GP!!!
Peachy Clean Soap
Supporting Member
Love the color' beautiful.
very prettyMy soapy thing for the day was trying a new FO. Succulent Agave & Oakmoss from Candles and Supplies. It thickened up a bit on me but I think I was still able to get a decent swirl. I guess I’ll see tomorrow! It smells really nice. It’s hard to describe but it’s a clean, light kind of perfume scent. I like it. It’s all tucked in for the night.
Went to bed shortly after work due to not feeling well. Got up a few hours later and couldn't sleep. Nothing to do but make a double-master-batch of lye solution. It really makes soaping so much more enjoyable to me when I don't have to measure out the lye and liquid each time, or wait for it to cool.
Was so proud of myself for remembering to add the tussah silk this time -- thank you, @TheGecko for clueing me in about that! Was just about to start cleaning up when I realized I'd mixed a 2:1 ratio instead of my desired 1.5:1 ratio. Sigh. Got out more lye, did some more measuring and stirring, and am now ready to go to sleep. Hoping third time will be the charm for the SMF Challenge later today (since it is now past midnight). And maybe modify the label that says 50% lye solution to 40%. I really shouldn't be math-ing in the wee hours.
Was so proud of myself for remembering to add the tussah silk this time -- thank you, @TheGecko for clueing me in about that! Was just about to start cleaning up when I realized I'd mixed a 2:1 ratio instead of my desired 1.5:1 ratio. Sigh. Got out more lye, did some more measuring and stirring, and am now ready to go to sleep. Hoping third time will be the charm for the SMF Challenge later today (since it is now past midnight). And maybe modify the label that says 50% lye solution to 40%. I really shouldn't be math-ing in the wee hours.
Jersey Girl
Supporting Member
I hope you’re feeling better! You’ve got this! Your first attempt was amazing. I need to start masterbatching. I’m really getting tired of waiting for the lye to cool down.Went to bed shortly after work due to not feeling well. Got up a few hours later and couldn't sleep. Nothing to do but make a double-master-batch of lye solution. It really makes soaping so much more enjoyable to me when I don't have to measure out the lye and liquid each time, or wait for it to cool.
Was so proud of myself for remembering to add the tussah silk this time -- thank you, @TheGecko for clueing me in about that! Was just about to start cleaning up when I realized I'd mixed a 2:1 ratio instead of my desired 1.5:1 ratio. Sigh. Got out more lye, did some more measuring and stirring, and am now ready to go to sleep. Hoping third time will be the charm for the SMF Challenge later today (since it is now past midnight). And maybe modify the label that says 50% lye solution to 40%. I really shouldn't be math-ing in the wee hours.
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@Jersey Girl thank you, I am better. I’m pretty sure it was usual leaf allergies. Hubs had just come in from blowing off the roof and gutters, and then mowing up all the leaves to dump them in the compost. Gets me every time!
Re: master-batching lye - do it! Changed my whole soaping game. I soap more and enjoy it more bc I don’t have to plan around the lye.
Since I almost always use a 40% lye concentration, that’s what I mix up, and that’s what I put in the soap calculator. No math to do other what is needed to make the big batch (which, as you can see, is more than enough for me).
Re: master-batching lye - do it! Changed my whole soaping game. I soap more and enjoy it more bc I don’t have to plan around the lye.
Since I almost always use a 40% lye concentration, that’s what I mix up, and that’s what I put in the soap calculator. No math to do other what is needed to make the big batch (which, as you can see, is more than enough for me).
Misschief
Supporting Member
Once my lye is mixed, I put the bowl in a sink full of cold water. It doesn't take long before it's cool enough to soap with.I hope you’re feeling better! You’ve got this! Your first attempt was amazing. I need to start masterbatching. I’m really getting tired of waiting for the lye to cool down.
I master batch my oils/butters and my lye. I started doing it because if I was going to make a business out of this, I needed to be able to make more soap and I simply didn't have time during the week (full-time job and commute) and not a lot of time on the weekends.
In addition to having my oils/butters and lye pre-mixed, I have a spreadsheet that lists every mold and how much oil/butter and lye I need to fill each one. So when I want to make soap, I first attach a commercial paint stirrer to a drill and mix up the oils/butters. Because the hard oils are mixed with the soft oils they never resolidify, but the stearic in the Palm Oil still settles to the bottom. I then weigh my bowl and tare the scale and then grab my ladle that hold approximately 4 oz and start counting the number of scoops I need per my spreadsheet and then weigh and adjust. I then pop the bowl in the microwave and depending on the batch size...20-30 seconds PPO. While the oils are going from slurry to liquid, I weigh out my lye solution (ready to pour) and add in my Sodium Lactate. I then mix up my Kaolin Clay with a bit of water and whisk it in to the warmed oils/butters.
This takes me maybe 10 minutes tops and I am now ready to make whatever soap I want. And since I started using microfiber towels, I will use the same containers, spatulas and whisk over and over again which has really cut down on cleaning time. And since my recipe is well-behaving overall, I will often mix up a large quantity of batter in a dish tub and then just pour off what I need for each soap. I can usually make six different soaps in about an hour's time.
Jersey Girl
Supporting Member
Great system. Goals!
Louise Taylor
Well-Known Member
I master batch oils and butters in the same way. I tried with lye but find it is then too cold and I get stearic spots. I warm the oils in the microwave but what to do about cold lye?
I have been working with chocolate for my Christmas recipes. Here are chocolate mint and chocolate orange (uncut).
