Amy Warden
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-rack
updated 11 years ago
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!!
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.com
Pork butt from Sam's Club: samsclub.com/p/members-mark-bone-in-pork-boston-butt/prod4570162?xid=plp_product_1
Rendering starting point: soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/render-lard-home
I learned from my Instagram friends that adding salt and filtering with a cheesecloth (or old cotton bed sheet in my case) were vital parts of the process.
50/50 blend of merlot sparkle mica from Bramble Berry and voodoo mica from Mad Micas for the red and pink portions of the soap. brambleberry.com/shop-by-product/ingredients/colorants/micas/merlot-sparkle-mica/V000468.html
madmicas.com/products/voodoo-mica
Maple Pecan Streusel fragrance from WSP: wholesalesuppliesplus.com/products/maple-pecan-streusel-fragrance-oil.aspx
Tree Marie Soapworks: youtube.com/@UCgPPsjskADvAL2r3fGtfneg
Follow Me on Instagram! instagram.com/soapchallengeclub
instagram.com/p/B0wpQ4sDnx4
instagram.com/p/BmGA_71H--1
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.com
Inspired by the amazing work of Ione Geist of Eves Garden Soaps youtu.be/gqsoEfoLRvI
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/0eFrOdtstUo
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.
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.com
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-challenge
Natural Bulk Supplies: naturalbulksupplies.com
Instagram: instagram.com/naturalbulksupplies
Coconut oil (76 degree): naturalbulksupplies.com/coconut-oil-rbd-76-melt
Raw shea butter: naturalbulksupplies.com/butters/shea-butter
Natural cocoa butter: naturalbulksupplies.com/butters/cocoa-butter
Refined olive oil: naturalbulksupplies.com/oils/olive-oil-refined
Castor oil: naturalbulksupplies.com/oils/castor-oil
French green clay: naturalbulksupplies.com/clays/french-green-clay
Rose clay: naturalbulksupplies.com/clays/rose-clay
White kaolin clay: naturalbulksupplies.com/clays/white-kaolin-clay
White Lily and Aloe fragrance from Bramble Berry: brambleberry.com/shop-by-product/ingredients/fragrance-oils/white-lily-and-aloe-fragrance-oil/V001016.html
Lily Lemon Drop fragrance from Bramble Berry: brambleberry.com/shop-by-product/ingredients/fragrance-oils/lily-lemon-drop-fragrance-oil/V001234.html
Cheshire Cat Angler from Custom Craft Tools: customcrafttools.com/collections/other-soap-making-tools/products/soap-mold-angler-cheshire-cat
Gear tie: walmart.com/ip/Nite-Ize-Original-Gear-Tie-Reusable-Rubber-Twist-Tie-18-Inch-Bright-Orange-2-Pack-Made-in-the-USA/204612140
Recipe used:
40% refined olive oil
30% coconut oil
15% natural cocoa butter
10% raw shea butter
5% castor oil
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
Find me on Instagram: instagram.com/soapchallengeclub
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!!
For more information about the Soap Challenge Club: soapchallengeclub.com/current-challenge
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/tutorials
If you'd like to get more frequent updates, please follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/soapchallengeclub
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
Custom Craft Tools: customcrafttools.com
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-began
Anniversary Collection (includes Bramble Berry fragrance and color blocks): brambleberry.com/shop-by-product/samplers/fragrances/anniversary-collection/CB603182.html
Heart Column Mold: brambleberry.com/shop-by-product/holiday-and-seasonal/valentine%27s-day/valentine-ingredients-and-molds/large-heart-silicone-column-mold/V001100.html
White Melt & Pour Soap Base: brambleberry.com/shop-by-product/ingredients/bases/soap/sfic-white-melt-and-pour-soap-base/V000760.html
Clear Melt & Pour Soap Base: brambleberry.com/shop-by-product/ingredients/bases/soap/sfic-clear-melt-and-pour-soap-base/V000755.html
Queen's Purple mica: brambleberry.com/shop-by-product/ingredients/colorants/micas/queen%27s-purple-mica/V000482.html
Caribbean Blue mica: brambleberry.com/shop-by-product/ingredients/colorants/micas/caribbean-blue-mica/V000491.html
Magenta mica: brambleberry.com/shop-by-product/ingredients/colorants/micas/magenta-mica/V000498.html
Titanium dioxide: brambleberry.com/shop-by-product/ingredients/colorants/pigments/titanium-dioxide-pigment/V000591.html
I just discovered that the apron is a special edition and not available for purchase! Thank you, Bramble Berry!
For more information about the Soap Challenge Club: soapchallengeclub.com
Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/soapchallengeclub
Soap Challenge Club:
soapchallengeclub.com
May 2019 Winners:
soapchallengeclub.com/pour-pull-through-techniques-winners-announcement
Soap Shaper: loveyoursuds.com/store/p85/kaleidoscope-soap-shaper.html#
Silicone Column Mold:
brambleberry.com/shop-by-product/molds/silicone/silicone-column-mold/V000740.html
Green Apple Fragrance:
rusticescentuals.com/Green-Apple.html
Wink Fragrance: thesage.com/catalog/products/Wink-Fragrance-Oil.html
Red Mica:
americansoapsupplies.com/product/fire-engine-red
Black Mica:
micasandmore.com/product/m-hd
Black Oxide:
nurturesoap.com/products/black-iron-oxide
Titanium Dioxide:
madmicas.com/products/titanium-dioxide
The Tank Soap Cutter:
http://forcraftssake.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7_8&products_id=20
Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/soapchallengeclub
Facebook page: facebook.com/soapchallengeclub
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)
If you’re interested in the polyolefin Smell Through Shrink wrap that I sell, you can find that here: greatcakessoapworks.com/products/smell-through-shrink-wrap
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)
Candle Cocoon - $25 Certificate (I purchased the Tall & Skinny Mold candlecocoon.com/collections/molds-soap-bath/products/tall-skinny-loaf and 2018 Best Selling Fragrance Collection candlecocoon.com/collections/candle-cocoon-scents-all-sizes/products/1-candle-cocoon-year-round-best-sellers-sample-set-of-10-2017)
American Soap Supplies - Twelve 1-oz micas (americansoapsupplies.com)
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.
For more information about the Soap Challenge Club, visit soapchallengeclub.com
Find me on Instagram: instagram.com/soapchallengeclub
Facebook: facebook.com/soapchallengeclub
Find me on Instagram: @soapchallengeclub
Find the planer from Custom Soap Stamps: etsy.com/listing/247627248/blade-less-acrylic-soap-planer-no-more
Planer/Beveler Combo: etsy.com/listing/272556076/blade-less-acrylic-soap-2-in-1-planer
My Beveling Tutorial from 2012: youtu.be/pzlOEfvvE5c
If you want to join us for the April Soap Challenge, more info here: soapchallengeclub.com/current-challenge
This is also a great article on hot process soapmaking in a crockpot: modernsoapmaking.com/hot-process-soap-in-a-crockpot-tutorial
Second attempt at this soap: youtu.be/9rCE0_7L-9A ----recommended method!!
Pre-order The Complete Guide to Natural Soapmaking by Amanda Aaron: amzn.to/2UODMSA
Pre-order The Complete Guide to Natural Soapmaking by Amanda Aaron: 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!
(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.html
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 fragrance
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.com
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.
Soap Stamps store: etsy.com/shop/CustomSoapStamps
Rebatching tutorial from my blog:
greatcakessoapworks.com/handmade-soap-blog/index.php/ready-to-rebatch
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-soap
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/TMjLNf
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!
cutting it!
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-membership
Nurture Soap Supplies: nurturesoap.com
Riverlea Soap: http://www.riverleasoap.com


