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

36 comments:

Kirppu said...

Oh, I love your "bacon" soap! :D The colors are beautiful and it looks like the red colors would sparkle.

Katie Carson said...

I will never ever complain about anything looking like bacon! Who cares what it was supposed to look like? The fact is, it looks like bacon and you weren't even trying! I call that ingenious! LOL xoxo Katie

Unknown said...

You're a sweetheart - thank you!! It's really not as bad in person as it photographs, but not one of my better attempts. Try, try again !! :-D

Unknown said...

LOL !! I like your spin on it, Katie - I can always count on you to be creative and positive. Hey, it's a learning experience. You take the good with the bad and, hopefully, don't make the same mistakes twice. I have friends who wait for my free "fails" and never complain, so here's a whole batch coming their way. I do love the fragrance.

Natalia said...

The soap is very beautiful, Suzy! The fragrance sounds to be nice too!

April said...

Last year, I made 2 colors of mint soap, dark green and orang-y. The scraps were made into soap balls, and they looked like meatballs! They sold for $1 each at a craft show. There is just no telling what customers are "hungry" for!

Lindalu said...

That soap is lovely!

LatherBeSoaping said...

I think your soap looks pretty, Suzy! It's funny that you mentioned bacon because I just bought a Bacon FO from NG. I thought my dad and brother would get a kick out of it. I'm still trying to decide what technique to use for that FO. And I know what you mean about being on a no-buy plan when it comes to FOs. I've got tons that I need to use before I buy more. I try to resist buying new FOs, but I fail sometimes.

Diva Prirodna Kozmetika said...

Hi Suzy, you're so fun! When I made my first soap, it was a bit darker than yours and was swirled with lighter portion. My broter-in-law asked (when I sent him a photo):'Is it ham?' You just reminded me of this comment of his, but yet my soap was nice and yours is beautiful!

T.A. Helton said...

Beautiful bar!

Pam said...

Good for you using those fo's that are collecting dust. I like the pinks and the marbling. In person with the fragrance call it something like forest fairy soap and don't point anyone in the direction of ham or bacon! LOL

Louisa McFarland said...

Hi Suzy, As always it is a beautiful soap. One thing my mother always used to say was never call something a fail, name it something else. But there is nothing wrong with bacon like Katie said, and I am sure your friends wont mind either. I know I wouldn't. I loved your last soaps too, I tried to comment but our internet decided it didn't want me too. You are extremely talented, I love looking at what you create.

Unknown said...

I didnt think of meat at all looking at this until I read what you thought of it. I think it is very pretty with lovely swirls!

Unknown said...

Aw, you're sweet Natalia. It not as "meat" looking in person as it appears in the photos (or I'm kidding myself), but it really is a gorgeous fragrance. :-D

Unknown said...

LOL - meatball soap. You and I could go into a new "meat soap" business :-D Loving the last line of your comment!! Live and learn.

Unknown said...

Thank you! I'll keep trying. It's certainly not what I was aiming for and I should have made a 1 or 2 lb batch - that would have been smarter soaping, but I'll find a home for it when it cures. :-D

Unknown said...

Hey Jenny, that fo would have been perfect in this soap - IF I'd been trying to make a bacon soap :-D Too funny though, because I know something quirky like bacon scented bacon looking soap would probably be a hit at a craft fair. It's just quirky enough. Let me know how it turns out. I'll send you the micas I used if you'd like them (?)

Unknown said...

LOL to your brother-in-law !! It's all in the color and the swirl I'm afraid - sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. The colors were so beautiful in the containers. Nothing like having your FIRST batch look like ham, but a funny story once you have a few great batchs under your belt I'm sure. Thanks!

Unknown said...

Thanks, Louisa - I feel the same way about all your soaps!! I couldn't get the photo to confirm my comments on people's blogs for the last challenge, so wasn't able to comment on as many as I would have liked. I get that. Thanks for stopping by, as always. You're a positive influence and it's much appreciated.

Unknown said...

Thank you - that's good to know. Maybe I'll just keep my mouth shut from now on - I'm a Virgo and truly my own worst critic. :-D

Unknown said...

I like the shade of pink, it looks very nice with the white. Your soap does remind me of bacon a little bit - but the first quality one!

Unknown said...

Thank you very much !

Unknown said...

Thanks ! You're right, if I call it "bacon" it will be bacon. Liking the forest fairy suggestion ;-D but still not feeling the soap. I have friends that like my free whoops soaps though, so they'll go to good homes. Thanks again, Pam!

Unknown said...

YEAH - the GOOD bacon, not the cheap stuff LOL !! Thanks, Barbora. I need to learn to slow down when soaping and plan a bit more, but each batch is a lesson learned. :-D

debsisson said...

I think it is lovely!

Natural Aroma Handmade Soaps said...

Bacon didn't even enter my mind till I ready your comment LOL, but I sure had a good laugh after I read it. I think your colours are lovely Suzy:)

Anne-Marie said...

It looks absolutely lovely, and I actually think it is super neat how it almost looks like bacon. Thanks for sharing! =)

Amy W said...

I think it's beautiful!! One of my friends gave me a bacon scented soap as a funny gag gift, and not only does it smell horrible, but it has no design personality. I would much rather have your gorgeous soap that smells nothing like meat! LOL!

Cee said...

I love it Suzy! I'm trying to figure out how you did that swirl, I love the effect!

Unknown said...

Thank you so much !!

Unknown said...

Thank you !! I guess maybe I shouldn't have mentioned bacon....but I thought I would before someone else did !!

Unknown said...

Maybe I should have out a positive spin on the bacon look and stressed how difficult it was to obtain ! LOL
Thanks for the positive feedback, Anne-Marie

Unknown said...

Thanks, Amy! xx
I heard there was a bacon fragrance oil. Who knows...maybe it would do well in soaps at a craft fair - sort of a novelty item.
Ick.
:-)

Unknown said...

It was a high pour of two colors, although its hard to tell that. I'm glad you liked the look, thank you !!

Maitri said...

Beautiful mica swirl!

Victoria
http://maitribathbody.com

Misty said...

I think it is pretty! *Off to cook some bacon.
Hummer Hugs,
Misty
http://deliteful-gifts.blogspot.com/
hummingbird204 at comcast dot net