Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
“New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings…”
~Lao Tzu
As the saying goes, all good things must come to and end – and so it is with Amy Warden’s legendary Soap Challenge Club. Although I am finding it difficult to write this knowing it will be the very last challenge, I am comforted knowing I am not alone in my sorrow.
Over the past several years, Amy’s Soap Challenge Club has been an enormous source of learning and inspiration to soap makers all over the world. Not only that, but it has brought countless people together in such a way that inspires encouragement and a genuine camaraderie. Although I am so very sad to say goodbye to the Club, I am filled with immense gratitude for what it has done for me. I have Amy’s club to thank for my success as a soap maker and for the true friendships it helped spark. I will remain eternally grateful to Amy and everything she has done!
Okay, wiping the tears away. On to the Challenge!
Straight Away
For the final challenge, we had guest teacher Toni Watt, of White Milk Soaps in Australia. The challenge was to create a multi-layered soap using perfectly straight lines, or at least as perfectly straight as possible. Easy, peasy you say? I beg to differ. While pouring soap in straight lines seems like a very elementary thing to do, it is not quite as easy to pull off as one would think. To be honest, it is not so much a difficult technique to conquer, it’s more the planning and execution that has to be lined up just right —no pun intended. If you are off in one small place, it completely affects the entire design. Toni graciously shared some of her tricks to mastering the straight line. (Her information was very helpful, but I do admit to being quite captivated by her delightful Australian accent!)
Our guidelines for this challenge:
- Your soap must be made with cold process or cold process/oven process only, featuring straight lines in the majority of the soap. They may be horizontal, diagonal, or a combination of both.
- The soap must all be poured in one “session”. No embeds. You may have as many or as few straight lines as you wish, depending on your skill level and how the lines will best serve the overall design. The goals are straight lines and multiple layers, in that order.
- You may finish the top of your soap however you wish.
- Soap colorants and body-safe glitter are the only non-soap embellishments allowed, either as pencil lines between layers or to decorate the top of your soap.
- Your soap must be created in a log mold.
On the Straight and Narrow with Darrow
I have actually been dying to try this technique every since I saw some of the un-freaking-believable creations of a lovely woman named Janet Darrow. Janet is an incredibly creative soap maker and one of the admins of the Facebook group Soap Making, which has a very impressive member count of over 43,000, and is growing every day! Janet is one soap maker who has absolutely mastered the art of straight-lined designs. This is one of my all-time favorite soaps and one that Janet made:
Needless to say, when she posted this photo in the group, the comment counts and “likes” went through the roof. Janet was very generous in offering tips and tricks and even the recipe she used for this soap. I fell in love with the delicate, thin lines in her design and wanted to give it a try. I’ve never been known to start with baby steps so why not? I moved forward, full throttle, in hopes of capturing this same look in a design of my own.
Getting the Facts Straight
Success in recreating a multi-layered soap with perfectly straight layers fell down to a few important factors. With information combined from both Toni and Janet, I was able to round up the following key strategies:
- The soap batter needs to be very thin and fluid to create the perfectly level and completely straight line.
- The surface of each layer needs to be as smooth as possible. Any hint whatsoever of uneven areas, lumps, bumps, crevices, etc. will show in the design.
- Each layer must be set up, or at least be hard enough to support the next layer being poured. This means being patient most of all. You don’t want the layers breaking through to previous layers, especially when you are 29 or so layers in to your 35 layer design. Trust me! Toni offered a trick to knowing if it was set up enough by looking at the surface of the soap. If had lost its glossiness and appeared with a dull, matte-like sheen, it was probably ready. Janet suggests popping the soap in the freezer for a bit after each layer to help it harden it up faster.
- Pour each layer from one of the ends and tilt the mold to distribute the batter along the layer. This alleviates the messy streaks of soap along the sides of the mold.
- Treat each layer as a separate, individual batch of soap. However, instead of mixing up a bunch of tiny batches of soap, they both suggested taking the full recipe your mold requires and divide everything (oils, lye, water) by the number of layers you desire. Both ladies mixed all the oils and divided the mixture into a small container for each layer. Janet handled the lye and water a little differently by using a masterbatched lye solution. After calculating how much oil mixture would be divided into each container, she plugged the weight into a lye calculator to determine the correct amount of lye and water needed for that amount of oil. She then mixed the water/lye ratio for each layer as it was poured. This is the method I chose to use.
- Mix your colorants into each individual container of oils beforehand but wait to add the fragrance and lye/water as you make each layer.
- Use a higher percentage of hard oils and a water discount. Toni suggested a recipe of 65% hard oils with 35% liquid oils, Janet’s typical recipe is 75% hard oils and 25% soft. They both used a water discount of 25% (lye concentration is 33%).
- It was suggested to use an accelerating fragrance oil to help everything set up quicker. Be careful however, and make sure you really know how your fragrance oil behaves. If it accelerates too quickly, the layers won’t be smooth when you pour it.
- Use a frother, mini-mixer, or small whisk to mix everything.
- Toni suggested to use the oven to CPOP (Cold Process Oven Process) the entire thing once you have finished all the layers to help force the gel phase.
Let’s Get Something Straight
I cannot tell you how many different ideas flew through my mind for this design. I needed to narrow them down so I went online for color design inspiration. I knew I wanted this design to serve as a sort of soap Grand Finale, which meant lots and lots of colors. Although there are many great resources online for color palette inspiration, many of the them are narrowed down to only a few colors, typically around four to six total. I instead focused on finding beautiful and vibrant images.
This is one photo that really spoke to me. I loved all the vibrant colors and how festive it looked:
My first challenge was to simplify the colors and narrow them down to a workable palette. One of the best tools I know of to assist in these types of jobs is Photoshop. I found an awesome tutorial explaining just how to go about this here (link does not seem to work anymore. Try here instead!)
I chose to narrow the colors down to 35 (yes, that meant 35 layers!) and ended up with a palette of these colors:
Straight Off
Since I decided to go with so many layers, everything was broken up into pretty small amounts. I chose to weigh all my ingredients in grams instead of ounces for more precise measurements. I divided up my oil mixture into 35 individual cups…
…and added my colors to each cup.
Some of the helpful equipment I used to facilitate everything.
A mini-mixer was the perfect way to mix the very small amount of batter for each layer.
After each layer, I popped the mold into a small oven that was heated to about 125 °F which helped it set up faster. From start to finish, setup and pouring included, it took me about 13 hours to make.
Scared Straight
I will say one of the most difficult things of all was the waiting it took between each layer. Impatience had no business in this soap design. Impatience is also something that is a major part of my DNA.
The consequences of being impatient reared its ugly head at the tail end of the design. Disaster struck at approximately 1:30 AM, just as I hit layer 29. I was beginning to feel like I was in the home stretch and seeing light at the end of the tunnel and pulled the soap out of the oven for layer 30. I had thought enough time had passed and it appeared to have the correct sheen so I mixed up the next layer.
Unfortunately, I was bleary-eyed, exhausted, (and completely finished with all of my Christmas shopping at that point) and was very, very mistaken. As I began pouring layer 30, it started breaking through the surface of layer 29. I immediately stopped pouring and set the mold back down — and yes, I will admit to uttering a few colorful words. (Alright, fine, there were more than a few colorful words and they were also shouted at the tops of my lungs!) Luckily, I caught it quick enough. I just waited a few minutes longer and poured the remainder of the layer.
The damage was minimal as we only suffered a casualty of 1.5 bars. However, due to the layer break-through mishap, and the shocking realization that one or more of my surfaces was not level, I lost the needed space to pour the final 35th layer. I am sad to say that my ambitious, 12-bar, 35-layer design was reduced to a mere 10-bar, 34 layered design in the end.
Play it Straight
After all was said and done, I feel it was a pretty successful attempt. While I think this technique is definitely not for the newly-hatched soaper, it is not an overly scary technique to conquer.
My biggest piece of advice to mastering the straightest of lines is to remember this equation:
plan + prep + patience = perfection
- This isn’t a technique that is conducive to a creative whim taking over mid-pour. Figure out your design before hand, plan it out, and stick to it.
- Make sure you are prepared by having all the proper tools, equipment, and supplies ahead of time and most definitely make sure you have all the space you need to spread out. Thirty-five individual cups of oils take up a lot of space.
- Be prepared with a decent recipe and know your fragrance oil and how it behaves before hand!
- Be prepared to have plenty of time on your hands.
- And most importantly, be prepared to to be patient. Arm yourself with things that will keep you busy and keep you from watching soap dry…or harden…or whatever!
Straighten Up
It was really difficult to capture the true colors of this actual soap. It almost looks like an entirely different soap depending on the light it’s in. I tried to capture them in as many different lighting scenarios as possible.
I wanted to enter this photo for my entry photo but decided against it since it is so dark. This was my favorite shot however, because it is the one that most truly captures the moody, yet vibrant colors of the soap in real life.
Straight to It — My Entry!
My entry for the Grand Finale of the Soap Challenge Club!
For the scent I chose to use Spanish Fly from Mad Oils/Arizona Mad Oils. It’s a complex and intoxicating scent that is a perfect compliment to the design itself, as well as the dramatic and vibrant colors.
Straight Talk
It may be time to say goodbye to the yellow brick road we have been traveling on, the one that brought us all the way to Kansas and to the soap-wizardess herself, Amy Warden; the very same one that whisked us all away on dozens of soapy adventures. It is now time to say goodbye to this yellow road and to the challenges that brought us all together. Sadly, this may seem like a permanent goodbye for some. I however, choose to believe otherwise. This particular road may be ending, but up ahead there is a gate beginning to open, revealing a bounty of other roads just waiting for new adventures. For each and every person I have had the pleasure of knowing on this journey, I will always have a special place very near and dear to my heart just for you. I am excited to see where these new roads lead us and I truly hope our paths will cross many times over!
So now is my time to say a fond farewell to the legendary Soap Challenge Club. It is also my time to say hello to all the new roads we are about to venture down.
….I’m kinda hoping there might even be a few purple brick roads along the way!
Thanks for stopping by!
Until next time…
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Wow Debi, you are the on that created that most beautiful soap i
ve ever seen before....!!!! Thione had me breathtaking first i saw this. It
s a masterpiece soap and i in LOVE with that :)) Thank you for sharing your technic, Have a nice day, TINAWhat a wonderful compliment, Tina! Thank you so much for your kind words!
Oh, Debi! Congratulations on winning the final challenge!!! I can’t think of a more fitting ending to such a great experience! I have so missed participating in the club, but have just been too busy, having gone back to school after graduating the last of our five homeschooled kids. I only made TWO soaps this whole year! 🙁 But, I have tried to keep up with the club through the months since I left, and always love searching for your entry, and then oohing and ahing over your newest creation! You express perfectly the wonderful, uplifting, and encouraging community of… Read more »
Chicken Penny!!! I have been wondering what you have been up to lately! I have truly missed seeing your amazing creations and hoped you were doing well. It sounds like you have been just a little busy, LOL! Your words absolutely made my day and I can’t thank you enough. I don’t think it has quite set in for me that the Challenge Club is actually over. I know it will be missed by so many people around the world. Hopefully, something or someone will step up to take its place. I wish you the best in all your adventures… Read more »
You did a beautiful job. I enjoyed reading your blog post. Congratulations!
That is so sweet, Cindy! Thank you, and I’m so glad you enjoyed reading it!
Holy Cow!!!! I gave you my 3 votes for the win. Outstanding, fantastic, inspiring. You are the fa-shiggity-fo-sho! 😀 😀
😆 I think I just snorted coffee out my nose, Kathryn! Thank you so much for your support. It truly means the world to me!
I know I commented on this on instagram Debi – but finally I have the chance to sit down and look at everyone’s post and I just have to say again how much I love your soap! From the colors to the lines to the name! It’s perfect 🙂 So bright and fun!
That is incredibly kind, Nicole! Thank you so much. 😀 I truly believe this is the most difficult of them all to decide on!
Debi, You have created a masterpiece! I love the pic of your inspiration photo and your soaps together, truly beautiful. You have such patience too, to do so many pours, but it turned out gorgeous as always. I will miss you and your creations here! The end of an era but new beginnings for us all with work. I wish you all luck in your future making and also with your entry! You got my vote Mrs, now go get em!! Love as always, Carolyn xxx
You are such a wonderful friend, and beautiful person, Carolyn! I will miss these interactions for sure, but I’m also excited to see the exciting adventures unfold for everyone. I have no doubt your adventures will be amongst the most exciting of all! Much love, my dear!
Debi – I have enjoyed seeing all your beautiful creations over the years and this one is great! Just gorgeous! I love all the colors you used.
Bonnie, you are always so uplifting with you lovely compliments! Thank you so much. I hope I get to see you around often! 🙂
I don’t know what’s better your absolutely beautiful soap or your heartfelt writing about it’s creation. I just started soaping this past year and wish I had found this Challenge Club right from the start. But just these last two challenges have helped me grow so much as a shaper I’m looking forward to working through many of the past challenges on m own over the next few year. You and your soap are truly an inspiration to me!
Aww, Gwenn! What an awesome compliment – thank you!! I wish you had been able to join in on the fun sooner, too. Amy’s challenges have been amazing for me and are truly the BIGGEST reason I am where I am today. I wish you all the best and continued success in your soapy journey,and I hope to see you around!
I am stunned! Did you whip that soap? Cuz it’s floating at the top, lol!
LOL! Cara, that was awesome!! Thank you for making me smile and thank you for the compliment! 😀
Debi, what a fantastic design! I love the colors, you turned your inspiration into a fabulous soap. Thanks for once again letting us join in your soaping adventure!
That is so kind, Conny! Thank you so much!
These are just beautiful, Debi! I love the colors, and wow – all those layers. Your entries are always creative, but creating your inspiration in this soap was truly an outstanding effort.
Oh, Marty! You are always so kind :smile:. Thank you for your wonderful compliments!
I remember that soap that was your inspiration soap being posted in some of the groups we both seem to belong to. 😉 But I have to say, I love love love the bold colors you chose for your design! You did an excellent job on your straight lines!! <3
Awww, Lisa! Thanks for your wonderful compliments! And wasn’t Janet’s soap absolutely amazing?! 😯
I’m enjoying myself reading your post, Debi. And I just got to say once again how beautiful the colours of your soaps are. The pallete looks pretty much similar to one of my inspiration where I failed to do the colour combo. You did it very beautifully!! I’m just so happy to finally able to see those colours in soaps!! You make my dream come true!! Thanks, Debi!! Congrats on a beautiful soap!!
That makes me so happy, Linda! I am so amazed at your soap creations all the time. I am so glad I will still have the opportunity to see your amazing art on Instagram! 😀
These are fab Debi! Love the inspiration and colors! And I like your blog post…very heartfelt.
Thanks, Ceil! I’m not sure it has really sunk in yet that this is really the last one! 😥
Wow! I love how you used the blankets as inspiration. Such time and patience!
Thank you so much, Amy!
Amazing job! I love how you used the blankets for inspiration!
Thank you, Amy! It was a lot of fun trying!
Lovely lovely layers Debi! Yes, patience was tough on this one but so glad to have been pushed to try all these new things we have over time in these challenges by Amy! Beautiful color pattern, love the inspiration. Congratulations on your wholesale account! how exciting, I wish you the best, see ya ’round : ))
Awww, so sweet as always, Eva! Thank you! I truly would not be where I am today without these challenges. In fact, my wholesale customer found me through this blog, which was created because of Amy’s challenges! I sure do hope to see you around as well!
I’d like to say these are amazing! 13 hours on one loaf of soap so each bar when sold should cost what $20 to pay for your time? Just saying I can’t see how a soaper can make money on these. Mine took me four hours and I was tired. I couldn’t imagine spending that much time. But the result is wonderful and way better than mine. 😉
LOL! Thank you, Johnelle — and I have to say, you are absolutely correct! Making this design to sell would probably be a great way to lose money. I guess that’s why it’s probably a good idea to participate in the challenges for the experience and learning opportunities rather than in hopes of monetary gain. If — and that’s a big IF — I were to ever sell something like this I would figure out a way to mass produce them on a much larger scale. And plan very productive activities for the wait time in between layers. At the… Read more »
WOW! Love the lines, love the colors, love the tall skinny! This is absolutely a work of art! I’m also in Colorado 🙂 Where are you?
You are so kind, Taralyn! Thank you! I’m in Fort Collins. And you? Have you joined the Colorado Soap Club Facebook Group?
Beautiful! Mesmerizing! Patience paid off for sure
That is so kind, Amanda! Thank you! <3
Debi, this is so amazing. I love your inspiration and that you used Photoshop to find the colors. I’m with you, it’s like were losing something we’ve become so used to. I will miss seeing everyone’s soaps each month, along with the sense of community that we have here.
Thank you, Leilani! The community that has formed from the Challenge Club is definitely going to leave the biggest hole for me. I’m still holding out in hopes that something else might form to take its place. Maybe we should all be looking at forming a 12-step program to help with our withdrawals…or maybe it’s just me! 😀
I am amazed by your soap, your creativity and your talent to write! Bravo. It is very inspiring !!!
Thank you very much, Marie! That means so much coming from you!!
Ah, Debi. Such a sweet tribute to the Club and all that it embodies for all of us who have committed ourselves to it. I’m super excited about your final soap! The comparison photo with the stack of blankets is just stunning!! I’d say your casualties are quite few and you should be very proud of those 35-layer soaps!! Amazing work! You’ve always been a huge inspiration!!
Aww, Amy! Your words choked me up! I know I’m sounding like a broken record, but I owe my success to you and your challenges. I’m sad to let them go, but I’m so excited for this next chapter with you!
What a lovely way to say goodbye! You express yourself so wonderfully for all of us Debi.
I hope you will continue with your Blogs, as I find them so well informed, and you always have heaps of information for me to learn.
BTW: Your soaps are really GORGEOUS!!
Best of luck in the Challenge!
Big Hugs,
Sly
You are so kind, Sly – and always make me feel so good! I’ve taken on a huge wholesale account but I’m crossing my fingers that I’ll still have time to play – writing more Blog posts and even getting a subscription option set up! I’ve missed seeing your beautiful entries. Hope you are doing fabulous!
Awesome Debi!
Thank you, Jane!
Absolutely beautiful!!
Thank you so much, Kristie!
Gorgeous, and your write up is awesome, as always! I’d wish you luck, but don’t think you’ll need it! 🙂
Such kind words, Claudia! Thank you! I think we’re both going to do just fine! 😉
Hello, Debi! I’m delighted with your soap. It is beautiful! As with all your soap !!! Good luck, darling. I will vote for you!
Wow! Thank you, Vera! I was just thinking the same thing about yours! 😀