Amy WardenIf you enjoyed seeing the soaps I made with the Bramble Berry 20th Anniversary Collection and would like to try some projects of your own, here are the links to all the products I used:
#BrambleBerry20th ProjectsAmy Warden2019-11-14 | If you enjoyed seeing the soaps I made with the Bramble Berry 20th Anniversary Collection and would like to try some projects of your own, here are the links to all the products I used:
Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/soapchallengeclubRecycling Soap Scraps - the 1:1 Confetti Method for Cold Process SoapAmy Warden2024-03-13 | I learned how to make super fine confetti soaps using 1:1 soap scraps with fresh soap from Robert Lackie in 2019. Original video here: youtu.be/PB5UveRDHBE This time I used the scraps from my daughter's bridal shower favor soaps to make a facial soap for myself. Moral of the story: Shred the soap scraps before they are fully cured and be aware of your color choices!!Rubiks Cube Soap - my personal soap challenge!Amy Warden2024-01-11 | The idea for this soap came from the Real or Cake videos that have been popular lately. This one in particular is pretty amazing: instagram.com/p/Cwgpyy8sWs2 Could I make a soap that looks like a real Rubik's cube? You be the judge!
The two Rubik's cube soaps that I created were auctioned off individually from my Instagram instagram.com/soapchallengeclub to raise funds for BeHeartfelt, a 501(c)3 non-profit charity that serves homeless children in Guam by partnering with the local schools to provide food, shoes, socks and hygiene kits. The Soap Challenge Club provides opportunities for soapmakers to donate soaps year round. More info: soapchallengeclub.com/soap-donations
The soap cutting tool that I use in the video is the Caterpillar from Custom Craft Tools. It's incredibly versatile for accurately splitting soap logs, or slicing soap. Use coupon code Soapchallengeclub for 5% off any order at customcrafttools.comI Rendered Lard and Made Bacon Soap!Amy Warden2023-08-09 | My husband asked a simple question and I went down a rabbit hole! This is the most work I've ever done for three bars of soap!!
The soap cutting tool that I use in the video is the Caterpillar from Custom Craft Tools. It's incredibly versatile for accurately splitting soap logs, or slicing soap. Use coupon code Soapchallengeclub for 5% off any order at customcrafttools.comBouquet Swirl - advanced cold process soap technique!Amy Warden2023-06-08 | I had so much fun making the Bouquet Swirl based on the tutorial in the May/June 2023 Design Mania publication by Making Soap and Cosmetics Magazine makingsoapmag.com/store/p122/%23118_%E2%80%94_MAY%2FJUNE_2023_-_PDF_DOWNLOAD.html
Inspired by the amazing work of Ione Geist of Eves Garden Soaps youtu.be/gqsoEfoLRvIAt What Temperature Will Cold Process Soap Melt?Amy Warden2022-10-11 | Curious what it takes to melt a bar of cold process soap? I visited my brother's powder coating shop to find out! Do not try this at home!! His shop is equipped with ventilation and fire suppression systems.
If you'd like to see what powder coating is truly all about, check out his YouTube channel! He does some amazing work! youtube.com/c/CrosslincBiz
Also, my brother showed me how to powder coat while I was there. Check this out: youtu.be/0eFrOdtstUoFragrance Testing in Cold Process SoapAmy Warden2022-07-26 | Is it really worth it to take the time and resources to test fragrances in your cold process soap recipe? Excluding the vanilla one, all of the reviews for these fragrances said no acceleration or discoloration. There was definitely one surprise in there! If you use 16 ounces of oils with a 33% lye concentration in your test recipe, you should end up with enough soap for 11 two-ounce portions. One of those can be your control. I don't recommend testing more than this amount at one time as the soap will start to set up in your cups before you are finished testing. You can stir the ones without fragrance added yet periodically to help keep them fluid. The keys to successful testing are organization and preparation and good notes! If you would like a copy of my spreadsheet, you'll find it here: bit.ly/fragrance-test-sheet
NOTE: the original Google spreadsheet got deleted somehow. So this is just a physical copy of my Excel spreadsheet that you are welcome to edit.Meet Our Bubble Support Team!Amy Warden2022-07-12 | These ladies volunteer their time to help with the Soap Challenge Club. They help me plan the challenges, give me feedback and ideas, and also help support our members. Belinda Williams, Love Your Suds, Vancouver, Canada loveyoursuds.com Eva Gomez, Soaping News, Germany facebook.com/groups/soapingnews Dianne Edington, Mountain Goat Soap Co, Kansas mountaingoatsoapco.com Whitney Schneider, Cheeky Goat Soapery, Florida cheekygoatsoap.com Sara Golding, Sunny Girl Sundries, Oklahoma soapysunflower.comCelebrating 101 Challenges!!!Amy Warden2022-07-12 | Can you believe this month is our 101st Soap Challenge?? Take a 30 second trip down memory lane with me!What You Can Expect to Learn from Soap ChallengesAmy Warden2022-07-11 | The Soap Challenge Club is an amazing opportunity for soapmakers who want to expand their skills. Each month a different technique or tutorial is presented and prizes from our sponsors can be earned by those who create outstanding soaps using the technique of that month.
Whether you are brand new to cold-process soapmaking, or you have been making it for many years, the challenges will expand your skills exponentially!
Not feeling competitive? Join the challenges for the camaraderie! We have our own private Facebook group for our members only where you can interact with others from all over the world.
More information: soapchallengeclub.com/current-challengeFinal Dead Sea Spa BarsAmy Warden2022-06-25 | I've been making Dead Sea Spa Bars for my Great Cakes Soapworks customers for many years. This will be my final batch!Fun Soap Made with Ingredients from Natural Bulk SuppliesAmy Warden2021-10-08 | I received these ingredients from Natural Bulk Supplies in exchange for my honest review, and I honestly love them!! Excellent quality products and customer service. HIGHLY recommend! Best part: they are local to me! They have a UPS dropbox in Overland Park, KS for local pick-ups, and also ship to the lower 48 states.
Lye concentration: 33% Superfat: 5% Fragrance usage rate: 0.5 ounces per pound of oils
Clay usage rates: 3/4 tsp French green clay in 12 ounces of soap 1/4 tsp rose clay in 10 ounces of soap 1 1/2 tsp white kaolin clay in 15 ounces of soap
Registration for the February Soap Challenge will open Monday, February 1st. We will be doing the Kiss Pour technique with guest teacher Joanne Watkins of Nature's Potion Handmade Soaps. Our sponsor is Stardust Micas (https://stardustmicas.com). You can sign up for February only, or a three-month registration at a discount (includes Feb-Mar-Apr)
In March we are doing a theme challenge. The two competitive categories will be Alice in Wonderland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The grand prize winner in each category of the March challenge will win a 6-Second Soap Beveler™ from Lilu Soap Tools!!
Registration for the January through April 2021 challenges will open on Monday, January 4, 2021. You will be able to register for all four months for $44.00 or just January for $12.95.
If you'd like to get one year of access to past tutorials before the price goes up, you'll find those here: soapchallengeclub.com/tutorialsMaking 96 Bars of Beach Soap (large batch soapmaking)Amy Warden2020-09-08 | One of my previous customers asked me to re-make a batch of custom beach soaps that I made for him two years ago. Here's how I made 96 bars of beach soap!Experimental Teardrop (and another personal update!)Amy Warden2020-08-13 | This is my second try at doing the teardrop swirl a different way. It's not exactly successful, and I'm definitely open to suggestions on what to try next!
If you'd like to get more frequent updates, please follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/soapchallengeclubPersonal Update and Challenge Club InfoAmy Warden2020-04-04 | Just a quick update about how I'm doing and how it impacts the Soap Challenge Club.
The Soap Challenge Club is an amazing opportunity for cold process soapmakers who wanted to expand their skills. Each month a different technique or tutorial is presented and prizes from our sponsors can be earned by those who create outstanding soaps using the technique of that month. (The Challenge Club will subsidize shipping costs for international prize winners outside the U.S.) I give out recognition awards as well for outstanding soaps that meet a certain criteria.
Registration is currently open for the April Challenge here. The $12.95 registration fee gets you access to the video and written tutorial with extra tips and tricks and the guidelines for entering your soap. You also get access to our private Facebook group and the opportunity to win prizes and vote for the winners. For more info and to register: soapchallengeclub.com/current-challenge
If you'd like to see my health updates, my blog is here: the-wardens.com
First post: the-wardens.com/2019/12/19/how-my-journey-beganMaking Marble Layered Cold Process SoapAmy Warden2019-09-25 | My process for making a marble layered cold process soap for one of my customers (friend!). I attempted to duplicate the original batch - watch to see how successful I was! Currently, all of the soaps I make for my customers are made-to-order at greatcakessoapworks.com/categories/custom-soaps I make 7 or 12 bar batches at a time.Kaleidoscope soapAmy Warden2019-09-19 | Here are the links to the Soap Challenge Club and the tools and ingredients used for this soap:
Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/soapchallengeclub Facebook page: facebook.com/soapchallengeclubDesign Mania Haul (includes 12-Layer soapmaking!)Amy Warden2019-08-13 | I wanted to share my experience participating in and winning the Design Mania Contest hosted by Making Soap Magazine this year to let you all know about the contest and see the fun prizes I received!
Prize Sponsors in the order they were shown (total prize package valued over $600!):
Making Soap Magazine - All-Access (1YR) Online Subscription and Formulators Notebook (makingsoapmag.com)
National Shrinkwrap – $100 gift certificate (I requested a roll of Biolefin biodegradable shrink wrap. The one I requested was NOT perforated, but they have that option available which would help the scent to come through! nationalshrinkwrap.com/home.html)
Excellentia Intl - Set of Six 4-oz Organic Essential Oils. They are a bulk supplier! (excellentiainternational.com)
From Nature with Love - $50 Gift Certificate (I purchased a variety of items, including colloidal oats, exotic carrier oils and hydrosols) (fromnaturewithlove.com/default.asp)
OrangeMonkie, inc - Foldio2 Plus Foldable Lightbox & Front Cover includes international adapters to plug the lights in! (http://us.orangemonkie.com)
(Sustainable Packaging Industries – Also provided a gift certificate that I did not use since I don’t have a retail business anymore, but they have all sorts of eco-friendly packaging solutions! s-packaging.com)
Information about the Design Mania Contest techniques always comes out in the May/June issue of Making Soap Magazine. I've had a subscription since 2008! It's an excellent online publication, and you can order hard copies of the magazine as well.
Facebook: facebook.com/soapchallengeclubSoap Planer Tutorial and GiveawayAmy Warden2019-05-03 | By request! This tutorial will show you how I plane soaps that either have soda ash, or need to be straightened. I am also giving away the planer from Custom Soap Stamps shown in the tutorial to someone who registers for the May 2019 Soap Challenge Club!! Registration opens Monday, May 6 (until Monday, May 13 at 2pm CDT) here: soapchallengeclub.com/current-challenge We will be doing Pour/Pull Through techniques. Check out the link for more info!
Pre-order The Complete Guide to Natural Soapmaking by Amanda Aaron: amzn.to/2UODMSAEgg & Turmeric Soap - second attempt!Amy Warden2019-02-25 | First attempt at this soap: youtu.be/kgU0CFU9JjY
Pre-order The Complete Guide to Natural Soapmaking by Amanda Aaron: amzn.to/2UODMSAEgg & Turmeric Soap (first attempt!)Amy Warden2019-02-22 | Making the Egg & Turmeric soap recipe from Amanda Aaron's new book: The Complete Guide to Natural Soapmaking, available for pre-order: amzn.to/2UODMSA
The soap SHOULD have been smooth. Amanda says she's never encountered this before, so I'm looking for feedback from others who have successfully made soap with egg in it!Apple Cider Vinegar SoapAmy Warden2019-02-20 | This recipe comes from the new book by Amanda Aaron: The Complete Guide to Natural Soapmaking, available for pre-order: amzn.to/2UODMSAMaking Stone SoapsAmy Warden2019-01-23 | Making Stone Soaps Recipe, Ingredients, and mold: (I used 26 ounces of oils and that was 2 cavities short, so I would recommend 30 ounces to fill all 12 cavities) 30% coconut oil 27% olive oil 15% shea butter 15% lard 10% safflower oil 3% castor oil 5% superfat 35% lye concentration sodium lactate - 1% of total oil amount 3 parts Gladiator FO from Majestic Mountain Sage (thesage.com/catalog/products/Gladiator-Fragrance.html) 2 parts 5x orange essential oil 1 part litsea cubeba essential oil Cocoa brown mica - Micas & More (http://micasandmore.com/product/m-ge) Silver graphite - Micas & More (http://micasandmore.com/product/m-hc) Hershey's cocoa powder Mold from Aliexpress - (ships from China) aliexpress.com/item/Professional-Moule-Zen-6-Cavity-Stone-Shape-Silicone-Cake-Mold-Pastry-Tools-for-Soap-Muffin-Brownie/32705771669.html Also available from Majestic Mountain Sage: thesage.com/catalog/products/Soap-Stone-Silicone-Mold.htmlSoap Challenge Club ReturnsAmy Warden2018-08-07 | The soap challenges will return soon! Watch to find out when this will happen and then sign up for notifications here so you don't miss out: http://eepurl.com/B4iOv Find more information at soapchallengeclub.comMoroccan Mint Coffee SoapAmy Warden2018-07-09 | Just a fun soapmaking video! Moroccan Mint Coffee Soap removes odors from your hands - whether natural food smells, animal smells or even chemical smells! If you are interested in the Soap Challenge Club, check out https://soapchallengeclub.com. Find me on Instagram: @greatcakesoapA Soap Challenge CollaborationAmy Warden2018-03-08 | Kenna from Modern Soapmaking joins me for a fun soap challenge!! Check out the soap she made here: youtube.com/watch?v=ORPbEHFb0sg&feature=youtu.beDual Lye Shaving Soap TutorialAmy Warden2018-01-23 | Technique and recipe guidance from Carrie Seibert's book How to Make Shaving Soap. soapcommander.com/products/book-how-to-make-shaving-soap or amazon.com/How-Make-Shaving-Soap-Charting/dp/0692795448 (These are NOT affiliate links - I just highly recommend this book!)
Recipe: 16 oz stearic acid (no palmitic acid - I misspoke in the video!) 6.4 oz coconut oil 3.2 oz shea butter 3.2 oz. palm oil 1.6 oz hemp oil 1.6 oz castor oil
12.2 oz water 1.8 oz sodium hydroxide (NaOH) 4.2 oz potassium hydroxide (KOH)
3.2 oz glycerin 0.8 oz fragranceMay & June Soap Challenge Mash-upAmy Warden2017-05-04 | I put together both of the techniques for May and June into one soap - three times! Registration for the May and June challenges will only be open until Monday (May 8) at 2pm CDT. Sign up and learn the techniques, enter your soap to win prizes, and have a great time interacting with other members on our Facebook group. Fee is $6.95 for the May only challenge, or $12.00 for both. For more info and to get signed up: soapchallengeclub.com/current-challengeBrambleberry Soap Swap!! Fall 2016Amy Warden2016-09-29 | UPS just arrived with my #bbsoapswap package!!! Ahhhh!! So exciting!! Let me know if you got mine!!Making Wood Grain Soap with KennaAmy Warden2016-09-28 | Practice batch of wood grain soap for the October Challenge Club. Making soap with Kenna of Modern Soapmaking!! Registration fee for October only is $6.95, for October, November, and December is $18.00. Sign up by Monday, October 3: http://soapchallengeclub.com/current-challenge Sponsors are Modern Soapmaking http://www.modernsoapmaking.com/and Brambleberry brambleberry.comUpdated: How I Make Goats Milk SoapAmy Warden2016-01-28 | This is the half water/half goat milk method for making goat's milk soap. You can see my previous method here: youtu.be/GC8GN1FAEBY All my goat milk soaps can be found here: http://www.greatcakessoapworks.com/categories/handmade-goat-milk-soap Figuring out the goat milk amount: Take any regular recipe, run through a lye calculator figuring the full water amount. Look at the lye amount - that's the same amount of water you will use, or maybe an ounce more just to make sure it dissolves properly. The rest of the water amount you will substitute goat's milk added to the oils.Beveler/Planer ReviewAmy Warden2016-01-25 | Demo on how to use the beveler/planer tool from Alex Kelly's Custom Soap Stamps store: etsy.com/shop/CustomSoapStamps Rebatching tutorial from my blog: greatcakessoapworks.com/handmade-soap-blog/index.php/ready-to-rebatchMaking Soap with my Homemade Impression MatAmy Warden2015-12-15 | After several failed attempts at making my own impression mat, I finally made one that worked! Here's the soap I created using my homemade impression mat! The tutorial for making your own impression mat soap is now available here: http://www.greatcakessoapworks.com/products/impression-mat-soap-tutorial-cold-process-soapDecember Challenge Club Time!Amy Warden2015-12-03 | Come have some fun with us!! Register here by Monday, December 7 at 2pm CST: http://www.greatcakessoapworks.com/products/soap-challenge-club-membershipNew Batch of Gingerbread SoapAmy Warden2015-10-19 | Here's a new batch of gingerbread soap without goat's milk that turned out fantastic!! These will be ready at http://www.greatcakessoapworks.com on November 15, 2015. Be sure to sign up for our Preferred Customer newsletter to receive notifications when new soaps are available here: http://goo.gl/TMjLNfHow to Rebatch Fresh Cold-Process SoapAmy Warden2015-10-08 | This video demonstrates how I rebatched the Gingerbread soap that overheated. If you have a soap that didn't turn out quite like you planned, it's pretty easy to melt it down and fix it while it's still fresh!Not Cutting the Gingerbread SoapAmy Warden2015-10-03 | A quick peek at the gingerbread soap and an explanation for why I'm not cutting it!Making Gingerbread SoapAmy Warden2015-10-02 | Here's a fun holiday soap! I'm re-making a gingerbread soap that I did about 3 years ago. Also: October Challenge Club registration is open until Monday, October 2nd at 2pm CST only! OR you can register for the next three months at a discounted rate. For more info and to register: http://www.greatcakessoapworks.com/products/soap-challenge-club-membershipPreview for July Challenge ClubAmy Warden2015-07-01 | Registration closes at 2pm CST on Monday, July 6, 2015. Don't miss out!! Sponsors for the July Challenge Club are Nurture Soap Supplies and Riverlea Soap. More information and to register: http://www.greatcakessoapworks.com/products/soap-challenge-club-membership Nurture Soap Supplies: nurturesoap.com Riverlea Soap: http://www.riverleasoap.comCutting Calypso Moon soapAmy Warden2015-06-17 | Ok, time for the reveal of the Calypso Moon soap! It will be available at http://www.greatcakessoapworks.com on July 18, 2015. The making video of this soap is here: youtu.be/Con-VEjIXzEMaking Calypso Moon soapAmy Warden2015-06-16 | My attempt to duplicate the hanger swirl from the Country Clothesline soap that turned out so beautifully! Calypso Moon is a new fragrance that smells amazing too!! Cutting video available here: youtu.be/fESDUdGAoHoCutting Pearberry SoapAmy Warden2015-06-13 | Yummy blend of pear and berries! This soap will be available at http://www.greatcakessoapworks.com on July 12, 2015. You can see which soaps are Coming Soon here: greatcakessoapworks.com/content/curing-rackMaking Pearberry SoapAmy Warden2015-06-12 | Spoon swirled soap with an amazing scent of pears and berries that I blended myself. Cutting video is here: http://youtu.be/MDTZ_2oJWi0