Teach Soap

I know there is a post about this somewhere, but darned if I can find it! I am making my sister a batch of japanese cherry blossom for her birthday and I want to do it half pink and half white with a pencil line in between. I've read that you can use mica or cocoa powder. I just want to make sure that using cocoa powder won't be an issue! I think it would give the perfect effect!

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

You can use cocoa powder - it works really well. If you are putting it between layers just use a very light dusting or the next layer may not stick. The color won't change - it stays that nice deep brown. I love using it for swirls.

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

Can you explain what a pencil line is. I don't recall ever reading about that or seeing that anywhere.

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Debbie

Here is a picture from one of the forum members (cat040876), from the CP soap forum =D The one at the very bottom with the dark line. The line is a pencil line.

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

how do you do it and can you use natural colorants?

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Debbie

You sprinkle on a thin layer using a sifter. I'm going to use cocoa myself, only ever heard of cocoa and mica, not sure what else you can use.

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

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Debbie

Hmmm... interesting, I will have to try that. I had been thinking of slicing a very thin section of a different colour from an existing batch and inserting it into the mould and pouring around it.

Thanks Linda =D Wasn't sure what other folks had used hehe

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

I'm going to do 2 batches with the cocoa pencil line. The first will be muskoka boathouse with blue and green layers done in my shoebox, the second will be japanese cherry blossom with pink and white layers in my new 4lb wooden loaf mold. That will be the first batch in that mold! It will be a birthday gift for my sister who is addicted to the scent. Planning to make the tops extra pretty too!

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

When you do a pencil line, turn the soap on its side to cut. That way the color from the line will not get dragged down your soap. This is especially important if you use something like poppy seeds that will gouge the soap as it drags.

Similarly if you put something like oats or coffee beans on the top of your soap, turn the soap log upside down to cut it.

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Thank you! I was wondering if the cocoa would "drag", never thought to turn it on its side hehe

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

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Debbie