Soap Makers Help!

[chiknwhisperer]

WOW Cheeptrick!!!! I don't know what I would do if I got an order like that

Could anyway tell me how it is you get different color and shaped soap inside another soap? Like the heart shaped soap you can put into the middle of another soap. I'm really wanting to try that. I think a lot of people around here would be really interested in those.

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

Quote:
I haven't done this, but some soapers have placed/embedded their fancy silicone molds in a pan of rice to help hold the shape.

CheepTrick Congrats on your soap order!!

 

[cockadoodlemom]

It is good to see you back MissPrissy and Cheeptrick. I can't wait to see pictures of your soap MP. I gave 2 bars to one of my cousins for Christmas and she is hooked. She also wants to come down and make soap with me

 

[Morgaine]

Hey Guys! I just got back today from visiting my family in Georgia so sorry I haven't been on much. I haven't read all the new pages yet, but wanted to congrat Cheeptrick on the soap order. 200 bars is a lot! I'm going to finish up my new mold and then place an order sometime this week for some more fragrances and some oils in bulk. I think I going to get these
Almond
Wasabi
Lavender EO
Ginger Lime

Are we still doing the swap? If we are I have to replentish my stock. I am thinking of doing salt bars, would everyone be ok with that? I am so excited, it's been over two weeks since I've made soap!

 

[ninjapoodles]

Quote:
Here's my personal "hack" for CP embeds.

I rebatch one batch of soap, mushing it into a slab mold, and making it the color I want. This will be for the embeds. The reason I use rebatched soap for embeds is because it's just a tiny bit harder than fresh-poured soap, and also because, since it has had more liquid dehydrated out of it, it won't shrink as the embedded bars cure.

Once the slab of rebatch is firm, I use petit-four cutters or whatever cutter I'm using, preferably to make shapes that are thicker than the finished soap bars will be. I use petit-four cutters because they are metal, and you can get them 2" tall.

Then I get everything ready to make my "fresh" batch of CP, which will be the "bar" part of the soap. This is usually the part that has the fragrance, and it will be a contrasting color from the embed pieces.

While the lye mixture and oils are cooling, I set up my slab mold. I measure out a grid of sorts, usually just with pencil marks (though if you're really serious, you can use string, or a mold with dividers like Cyndi uses), so that I know where the embeds will be placed in the bars. If I'm using simple shapes, like, say, circles, then it doesn't matter so much about placement because I don't care if I slice through them when I slice the bars.

Then I mix the fresh CP soap, and verrrrrry, VERY carefully pour it, at THIN trace, into the slab mold around the embeds. If you pour it too fast, it will knock over the embeds. OR, and this is much easier--you can pour the fresh soap and then just mash the embeds into place. WAY easier.

After the soap has come out of the mold, all that's left is the trimming. Slice the bars, and then with a planer or string-cutter (I have a Delsie Soap Cutter), shave off a bit of the fronts and backs of the bars.

Then you wind up with something like this:

 

[Backyard Buddies]

I LOVE those soaps, Ninja! Thanks for the instructions.

No Rose Milk soap here yet. I went out looking for the beetroot powder. I found something like crystalized dehydrated beet juice, but I wasn't sure it'd work, plus it was too expensive - almost $4 an ounce. Eeek. So, I just came home without it. I did a little more reading and it appears that beetroot will only stay pink in REBATCHED soaps, not in first batch CP where it is supposed to turn an earthy yellow. Darn.

Edited to add: It's geat to see everyone returning after the holidays. I can't wait to see all the creations you guys, well, create.

 

[ninjapoodles]

Quote:
Do you have a food processor? And a microwave? If so, just make a plain batch of CP, then shred it and rebatch it and add your colorant you like. I think people make rebatching WAAAAY harder than it needs to be. I do small batches in the microwave, and larger ones on the stovetop. Just keep adding small amounts of water and heating, heating, heating until you have "mashed potato" consistency. Then ACT FAST, get your additives in and get it molded. Be prepared to really mash it into the mold--it won't pour.

 

[chiknwhisperer]

Thanks NJ for the instructions

I know that I could do real good selling those around here. Your soaps are absolutely gorgeous!

 

[Scrambled Egg]

Poodles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!! AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Soap Queen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Gorgeous!!!!!

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

Those are beautiful, poodles!!

Another way is to use vertical column molds. One that has a shape, the other rectangular.

Make up a column of the shaped soap, unmold.

Make up your soap batch for the 'bar soap'. Slip the shaped soap into the middle of the rectangular mold, pour fresh soap around it.