Friday, April 12, 2013

Great Cakes Soapworks Challenge 2013 - Week 3 - mica swirl tops

Once again, a thank you to Amy Warden from Great Cakes Soapworks for putting a challenge together again this year.  Be sure to check out all the challenge participant's soaps!  

 I wasn't able to participate in last week's challenge, so thought I'd keep it simple this week with both my recipe and colors.   I have to say - I'm disappointed in the colors. BUT, I found a fragrance in the back of my stash that I really love.  Tinseled Garland by SouthernGardenScents.com 

Colors:  Wine Red Glitter - a mica by Elements Bath and Body.
               Black Cherry Mica - by Elements Bath and Body.

Both colors are AMAZING in the containers. The depth of color and sparkle was so intense, that if they translated even partially in soap they would be beautiful.  I don't think either did, but Black Cherry was a bit better than Wine Red (gross ..it turned a muted blood color and that's what it looked like in my attempt at a mica swirl on top).  I thought the difference in the colors was enough that it would be subtle, but unique.
Wine Red (L) and Black Cherry (R)

My fragrance was Tinseled Garland by Southerngardenscents.com.  I'm assuming it's a Holiday fragrance, but it just smells like juniper berries and a bit floral to me. No reason to save it just for the Holidays!  I'm on a fragrance "no buy" until I use some of the MANY I've purchased that are gathering dust. Tinseled Garland was one of those.


"Tinseled Garland" by SouthernGardenScents.com

Here are my results.  I really need to practice on that mica swirl top.  I'll use less olive oil next time and more mica.  I'm not unhappy with the cut bars, but they aren't what I'd planned.  Try, try again!!

The color muted and the mica swirl just didn't look good - it lost a lot
 of the sparkle and the color faded into more of a browned pink.  Ish.  







Okay, is it me or does this look like a cut of meat...marbled bacon maybe? UGH!! 

It may not be pretty, but it smells wonderful and I'll use this fragrance again - it behaved very well and is holding it's scent....the house smells great today !!

See you in two weeks for the final challenge !!!

~Suzy @ Spoonbridge Soaps;   Minneapolis, Minnesota