Great Cakes Soap Challenge Club Collaborator Challenge


Fruit Loops & Fun!

 

Update 1/25/17

Whoo-hoo! Tied for First Place!!!

A huge thank you toĀ all that voted for usĀ in this challenge! Your support means the world to both of us! Ā 

Ā 

Welcome!

Whoo-hooo! A brand new year andĀ a brand new Soap Challenge. The January 2017 challenge for Amy Warden’sĀ Soap Challenge ClubĀ was the Collaborator Challenge. This month we had to grab someone we don’t typically make soap with and,Ā well… make some soap. There weren’t a whole lot of requirements or specific instructions for this particular challenge. Mainly, our collaborator had to be at least 18 and the soap had to be made with the Cold Process method of soap making.Ā 

While I would have thoroughly enjoyed working with many of my friends and most of my family, my daughter was the clear choice. She has only made soap once (with my assistance) but she has been my photographer for every one of the challenges I have entered. She’s watched me make a lot of soap. Let me introduce you to my amazing daughter!

Haleigh

My beautiful daughter just turned 19. She is the girl part of a boy/girl twin-ship, a senior in high school and is enrolled in a culinary arts program through her school as well. She is also a three-time cancer survivor. Yes, you did read that right. Three times! She was first diagnosed when she was only three-and-a-half, was in remission for an entire year, and had it recur in a different part of her body. She underwent grueling treatment for 12 months and was cancer free for eightĀ months. She then was diagnosed with an entirely different type of cancer, caused from her treatment from her first two battles. She has officially been cancer free for 12 years! She absolutely loves animals, is one of the most caring people I know, loves to bake, and is very creative in many, many different things.

I won’t flood this post with details but if you would like to learn a little more about me and my family, please visit here. I recently had the fortune of being interviewed by the talented Anastasia KrasilnikovaĀ (nejen o mýdle) for her “Soapers Around the World” series on her blog.Ā 

 

Fun Before the Fun!

One of the requirements Amy had was for us to post at least one picture of our collaborator either stick-blending the soap or pouring it, and some photos of us working together. She offered the suggestion of a selfie (or should that be an “us”ie if there are two of us??) in our safety gear. The first day we planned to make soap we had a little too much fun with a new filter app on our phones. We didn’t even get around to making soap that day because we got too carried away!

Playtime over!

Finally! Now we’re serious…sort of!

 

Phase One

Immediately after I announced the challenge for this month, Haleigh and I knew exactly what we wanted to do. We have actually been planning this soap since this summer and have just not found the time to actually make it. What a perfect opportunity! Haleigh is always my co-sniffer when I get new fragrances. In fact, I’m not even allowed to openĀ a box if she’s not around to smell the new bounty. I snagged a “Fruity Rings” fragrance oil in a de-stash and once we smelled it, both of our minds started whirlingĀ with ideas.Ā It was almost magical! We were like two mad scientists working feverishly to create the perfect soap! Our final plan was to create bowls filled with Fruit Loops and milk.Ā 

Our supplies and initial set-up

Originally, we had wanted to make molds using real Fruit Loops. Once we got into the project, we realized the full-sized cereal would look weird in the small bowls we had planned. Soap dough to the rescue!Ā 

If you haven’t had the opportunity to try this fabulously fun technique, you are truly missing out! Bee Iyata of Sorcery SoapĀ is the magical witch behind this marvelous idea. Basically, soap dough is soap made by taking a cold processĀ soap recipe, letting it saponify for 24-48 hours, and then putting it in an air-tight container. Three to five days laterĀ the soapĀ can beĀ taken out and molded into anything your mind can think of. Ā Soap dough can be kept in the sealed container for quite a while and stillĀ remain pliable. Bee has a posted a basic soap doughĀ recipeĀ on her site and has also released a couple of wonderfulĀ eBooks, oneĀ with 20 soap dough recipes and another giving some recipes and a more in-depth look atĀ the technique.

Instead of creating soap dough just to mold the Fruit Loops, we decided to combine a few steps to make the process easier. We were using a silicone muffin pan to make the bowls and knew they would be solid and not very bowl-like. Since there are six colors of Fruit Loops, we decided to make our bowls in all six colors and scoop out the middles after the soap had set up a little and use the “dough” to make the Fruit Loops. We used one of Bee’s soap dough recipes and filled the muffin pan with the six colors.Ā 

Haleigh stick-blending away!

All colors with a genuine Fruit Loop next to it for color comparison

We made another batch of soap, colored it gray, and poured it into the spoon mold.

Phase Two

The next day, we scooped out the middles of the “bowls” and put each colorĀ into a sealable plastic bag. The bowls continued to cure as they would normally but the soap we put in the bags became our dough.Ā 

Ā 

PhaseĀ Three

The next phase consisted of making the Fruit Loops. We made them by rolling the soap into a tiny ball and then flattening it slightly. We then created a ring by sticking a bamboo skewer through the middle. We also dipped the little balls in cornstarch not only to keep them from being too sticky but also to give them a realistic finish.Ā 

Real vs Soap

 

We also removed the spoons from the mold but the handles were a little too long. We ended up cutting a section out of them and re-attaching them together. We then rubbed a silver mica over the surface to give it a metallic look.Ā 

 

Our next step was to add a little flair to the bowls. We carved a couple of rings around the bowls and then filled each groove with a contrasting soap color.

 

Phase Four

Our final phase was to make a white batter for the milk. We did end up using a different recipe for this because we wanted the batter to stay thin and smooth. The previous batter thickened up quickly, which was perfectly fine since the consistency was not as important. We poured the batter into each bowl. Once it had thickened up a little, we gently placed the spoon in each bowl and lightly scattered the cereal around in the “milk”, using skewers for more precise placement. We used a squirt bottle to squirt some “milk” in each spoon and delicately placed some loops in each one.Ā 

We wish the soap could have stayed wet looking like this because it looks so real!

Wet soap!

All the soaps together

 

FinƔle!

We both could not be more pleased with the outcome of our final soap! I think what thrilled me the most is this was a complete and total collaboration. I did most of the set-up and the technical part of the process such as mixing the colors and setting up the oils and lye, but Haleigh did all the mixing and most of the pouring. We both contributed ideas and solutions equally and we combined efforts putting everything together. This was definitely a team effort!

A million thanks, yet again, to Amy Warden and her challenges. Your challenges always pushĀ me to challenge my skills and have a way of encouraging me to get things done instead of just putting them on my wish list. This has been such a wonderful experience and definitely created aĀ memory we will always cherish!

Our entry!

 

Soap Specs:

Ingredients:

Soap Dough:

Lard
Coconut oil
Mango butter
Cocoa butter
Castor oil
Olive oil

“Milk”:

Olive oilĀ 
Lard
Coconut oil
Sunflower oil
Powdered sugar

 

Fragrance:Ā 

Fruity Rings fromĀ Nature’s Garden

Ā 

Ā 

Thanks forĀ stopping by!

Until next time…

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Robyn
Robyn
April 20, 2017 10:05 pm

This is soooo genius! o_O

Madhavi
Madhavi
March 31, 2017 12:43 am

This is brilliant , awesome, astonishing, cute , superb ,

Claudia Carpenter
Claudia Carpenter
January 24, 2017 11:05 am

Seriously, Deb?!?

These little bowls of fruit loops are *EVERYTHING*

I love the colors, the techniques, the write up — it’s all so amazing that I just have to keep re-reading it. And you and Haleigh in your safety goggles and animal ears are the cutest, ever. Brava! You have totally inspired me to pick up my stick blender again…

Amaryce
January 23, 2017 3:16 pm

These look so amazing! I keep drooling over the soap dough book, I’ve tried the free recipe but keep meaning to play more. This looks like a fun way to play with it!

Cheryl
Cheryl
January 23, 2017 7:58 am

I love this soap! Like many others, I did a double take when I looked at the photo. It is amazing how real it looks. Very original idea and a lot of processing steps, also a variety of techniques. Thank you for sharing your story and for being an inspiration!

Lisa
January 23, 2017 3:23 am

Debi, just wow!!! I love your soap and your whole blog post. As you know I’ve been wanting to try Bee’s soap dough for ages and this really has given me a kick in the bum because of how much absolute fun it looks! It’s just the coolest thing. Thanks for sharing it! And your daughter is gorgeous and such a champion.

Melissa
Melissa
January 22, 2017 7:38 pm

Wowza…those are awesome! I have not the patience for something like that. Well done, both of you and what a great way to spend quality time together.

Melissa @ Berky\'s Bubbles
Melissa @ Berky\'s Bubbles
January 22, 2017 3:49 pm

Just truly awesome! When I first saw it, I had no idea why someone would post their breakfast, then I realized it was made out of SOAP! Very artistic and so much patience. Great job.

Love Your Suds
January 22, 2017 12:29 pm

This is amazing! I thought it was real at first. Congrats on a wonderful collaboration with your daughter – creative talent obviously runs in your family šŸ™‚ Thank you also for sharing your process and story šŸ™‚

Renee
Renee
January 22, 2017 6:53 am

Awesome!!! Love this idea, really cool!

Cindy Stroing
Cindy Stroing
January 21, 2017 9:00 pm

Amazing! I would never have thought of this idea. Your soap turned out great.

CChubbuck
CChubbuck
January 21, 2017 7:37 pm

Such a creative project, and so rich in detail! Inspiring!

Carmen
Carmen
January 21, 2017 11:49 am

You never cease to blow my mind away!! This is spectacular!

Marty Johnson
Marty Johnson
January 21, 2017 9:19 am

How great is this? What a fun project for you to share – love it!

sly
sly
January 21, 2017 8:38 am

Debi:
I loved reading all about you and Haleigh making soap – what fun! And SO very creative!
I’m so glad you included a link to the interview you had with Anastasia – it was fantastic and I really enjoyed learning more about you and your life…thanks for sharing that with the world.
Good luck on the soap challenge – as always, you nailed it!!
Sly

Amy Warden
January 21, 2017 8:33 am

All of these sweet collaboration posts just warm my heart!! You two are just two peas in a pod! Love the planning and execution of your soap – it’s amazingly realistic and such fun!!

Janelle
Janelle
January 21, 2017 8:23 am

Oh my gosh, Debi. These are absolutely amazing!! They look so real!! And the colors are so vibrant. I am in awe!!!

shauna
shauna
January 21, 2017 5:21 am

OMG!! That is amazing. I barely have the patience to eat breakfast in the morning, nevermind make soap that looks like it… wow just wow. you two did a fabulous job…

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