Teach Soap

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Armi

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Armi

Omg don't even get me started on PJ's soaps....my mouth hits the floor every time...I've checked out her site and...wow. That's all there is to it!

Thanks for the info re the mica's...as yet I've not found anywhere online that sells the mica powders at a price I'm willing to shell out for what, right now at least, is a bit of a hobby...so I'm using liquid dyes so I guess that fixes the sinking problem.

I've only ever used mica powders with regards to card making and jewellery making, (point of note mica powders when kiln-fired can make some AMAZING results!), so couple that with total newbiedom I haven't got a clue what happens with them in soap lol...

Is there a way to keep soap base at a "permanent melting point" so to speak? Like not over-melt it but bring it up to the right temp and then sort of, keep it there lol?

I dunno...its why I'm new

Naomi

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Armi

Hi you guys! I guess my ears were burning!!

Thanks for the compliments, Armi! I'm glad you've been checking out The Soap Lab blog! It's my new baby.

I have a suggestion for the mica dilemma. For a completely different approach, I would recommend brushing on the mica after you have made the soap. Here's an example of that technique:



You use a minimal amount of mica - I use whatever sticks to the lid of my jar - and brush it on with a blush brush. This way you can also control which parts of the design you are making metallic. I went pretty light on this design, but you can keep layering it to achieve the shine you like.

Here's a group shot of all the designs I did with this mold. The one in the lower right hand corner shows the same method on a solid bar.



For a heavier effect, I used a pipette to put mica-colored-clear-soap into the mold in the areas I wanted (the knight's helmet and weapons). Just keep a cup of hot water nearby to clear your pipette as the soap cools.

Hope those are some helpful tips!

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Debbie Chialtas

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Wow Debbie!
In the second pic, I really like the last soap in the first row!

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Thanks!! For that one, I put white soap in the shield and helmet, then poured gold soap in the weapons and perimeter of the shield, then topped it off with white soap. After it was unmolded, I dusted the shield details and helmet with gold mica.

If anyone's curious about how I made other ones, I blogged about them . Thanks!!

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Debbie Chialtas

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Thanks, Debbie! I knew someone would have an answer!

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Peggi

Hi Peggi!
I'm so glad I could help! Post pics of your new suns when you're done. I'd love to see - and I'm sure the rest of the posters in this thread would, too!

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Debbie Chialtas

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Armi

Aww... you guys are too nice!

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Debbie Chialtas

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Hi! I just wanted to share that you can also layer different color micas on top of each other. It's best if you use freshly made soap to do this otherwise the micas don't "stick" as well to the soap. This technique was taught to me by Gail Matsuura of CJ Works Soapmaking Supplies here in Hawaii.

To do this you need 2 complementary colors, freshly made soap and some round brushes. I used pink and yellow micas for this plumeria soap, with the pink going on first then the yellow mica dabbed in the very center only. You have to gently brush the mica on to the soap or you'll get heavily colored and "bald" spots.

You can also use a mica similar in color to your soap to highlight it:

The large plumeria in the center and 2 mini plumeria were dusted all over with pearly white mica then pink and yellow.

Sorry about the picture quality. These (again) were taken with my phone and it's one of those freaky weather days here - it's nice and sunny but raining heavily here in Oahu.

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Armi