Teach Soap

I just want to compare notes with someone. My mom owns an art gallery, and I have been making soaps for her, with embedded paintings that she sells. WHEN it comes out right, it looks really cool But it seems to be hit and miss type of project, and I have wasted a lot of time getting it right. Often layers would pop, and often image doesn't look even inside, but kinda wavy...

So, what I have been doing:

I am using milky way trays (8 soaps cut)
Pouring first clear layer (it acts as a glass) - let it cool, spray with alcohol
Pour the second clear layer
Work fast to place in it the cut up to bar size embeds/papers
Kinda drown them in, smoothing air bubbles out.
Let it cool, spray with alcohol
Pour white backing layer - cool/alcohol
Pour colored opaque layer (just to make it prettier)
Let it dry and then cut.

I guess my main concern is the two first steps. That's when usually stuff happens. I tried spraying papers with alcohol and inserting them, I tried just dropping them in, I drown them in and push them against the first glass layer - still no consistency. Very often, at the cutting, the first glass layer with separate from the second one If I just drop it in, it comes out wavy.

How do you do it/ Do you get consistent results?

I can't claim any experience with this so take this for what it's worth

If I were to tackle this I would try dipping the paper in the liquid soap to get it well coated, let it dry/harden flat on a sheet of wax paper, then lightly spray both sides with alcohol before embedding as you are already doing. This might give you better adhesion and a little more control over the paper.

_________________
- Mickey!

xyxoxy, brilliant. I shall try that too

By liquid soap you mean melted MP base, right?

Yep that's exactly what I meant!
I was kinda thinking like a wick in a candle...

_________________
- Mickey!

If the two soap layers are not touching enough they may be having trouble adhering to one another. If your picture takes up the whole bar of soap then there is no where for the soaps to stick together. Leave a little trim around all edges of the pictures and the layers should stick together nicely.

I'm going to butt in here now because I've been curious about this as well....

I tried to use the paper, but the colors ran.....I read somewhere that you're supposed to spray the image with hairspray and let it sit for a few days..Is this true? If it is, that could explain why the picture of my daughter turned into a gray blob....

TIA!
Denise

This would happen if you use bubble jet. I am taking my files to print to local Kinko's, and ask them to print it on their behind the counter Fiery laser printer. It is only 59 cents per print, and it doesn't run. You can spray it with alcohol, etc, it stays true to color.

Thanks for the advice, Siberian...I will have to try that!

Working with water soluble paper does have it's challenges. Our company specializes in custom soaps of this nature so we've experimented with it ALOT! One big project we did (5,000 4oz. bars) taught us that all laser printers are not created equal. We had the printing done and over 300 poured before we discovered the color was morphing! Now we only get our prints from Staples or Office Depot as their ink doesn't react with the soap. We tried the inkjet printer and spray with hairspray without consistent results so do not use that method. Briefly this is the method we use with great results.
Pour thin layer of clear glycerin soap; let it harden.
Insert picture face down on top of that.
Spray with the highest percentage of alcohol you can get (90% rather that 70% - that means 90% alcohol 10% water - it won't dissolve the paper)
Rub out air bubbles and cover with paper towel to absorb excess alcohol.
Remove paper towel and pour clear glycerin soap on top of print.
On occasion we have poured this layer, let it harden, sprayed with alcohol and then poured white soap for the final layer (makes the picture stand out).
I hope this helps!

Karin
http://GlycerinSoapOnline.com

Karin09,
I'm so happy that you gave me more insight on this subject. I just started experimenting with this paper a couple of weeks ago. It's been workiing well if I just print words on the paper in black ink. But if I try to put the words on a colored background......what a mess. It all runs together. I just want to make sure that I understand....if I take the water soluble paper to Staples, they will use that paper to make copies for me? Thanks again for your help!

You will have to buy the water soluble paper and take that to your printer to be printed with a laser printer.

Karin
http://glycerinsoaponline.com

ceeceesoaps,
I forgot to mention we had to convince the printers both at Staples and Office Depot that the paper would not burn their laser printers. I don't know the settings at Staples but Office Depot the paper setting should be one setting above transparency. I always tell them their very best settings too. Good luck!

Karin
http://glycerinsoaponline.com

Thanks so much Karin,
I'll give it a go at my local Staples or Office Depot. Wish me luck!

Hi Karin,
thank you for sharing your tips!

So, when you spray the insert with an alcohol, do you completely saturate it, or just spray slightly?

SiberianSF
Completely saturate the picture. The paper will become more transparent. Using finger or paper towel smooth out any air bubbles. Blot some of the excess alcohol up with a paper towel...not too much, you still want the paper transparent white.

Let us know how your project came out!
Karin