Great Cakes Soapworks Challenge 2013 - Week 1 - Tiger Stripe

A Big Thanks to Amy Warden of Great Cakes Soapworks for pulling together this years challenge.

Be sure to check out the challenge information and videos. 

There are still three weeks left to join in if you weren't able to this week!

This week's challenge was the "Tiger Stripe",  a technique that was on my "gotta try this" list. 

This was my first time making soap since October, so I hoped it was like riding a bike. I have to admit, I was nervous!  Lye into water...not water into lye...volcano...bad.  Goggles, apron, gloves.  My oils and supplies are all still sitting in packing boxes in the basement of my new townhome since my divorce and move in December, so I had to do some digging. I must have gone up and down the stairs at least five times because I kept forgetting things - measuring cups, lye pitcher, lye spoon, wrong fragrance, changed my mind on fragrance, no....going with the first fragrance.  I managed to find everything except my digital thermometer, but did dig out the old thermometer I'd originally used when I first learned to make soap, so all was good.  Choosing colors really stumped me this time.  I decided to steer away from the traditional tiger colors of black/brown and orange.  The store that sells my soaps had requested something with Spring colors, so I finally decided this would be their batch.  I used "Breath of Spring" from TKB Trading and "Peacock Blue Mica" from The Conservatorie in my base batter of cream with some titanium dioxide added.  Both these micas in the mixing oil just don't get any prettier.  I wish there was a way to hold that shimmer and bright intense color in my cured soap.  Oh, my final fragrance decision was Morning Sunrise from Moonworks Collection.  Their fragrances are always unique and have depth to them.

Creating the tiger stripes....blue, green and cream. 

Mold filled and top swirled, although it's subtle

Out of the mold and ready to be cut...the house smells sooooo good ! Morning Sunshine says it all. Fresh, clean but not a chemical or artificial smelling clean.  

The cut bars - cool technique !!  I like this look better than the faux funnel I think.

I really need to get a good camera and stop using my phone,  but here's a close up of a bar.  I can't wait to try this again!  Next time, more contrast and maybe three or more colors.  I'd like to figure out how to eliminate the dip in the bottom layer.  Any ideas ?

Thanks for visiting ~ please leave a link to your blog or website so I can follow your soaping adventures !!

Until next week......

~Suzy @ Spoonbridge Soaps    Minneapolis, Minnesota