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Linear Swirling (Cold Process)

Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

Advanced Swirling Part 5: Linear Swirling

Guest post by Kat from Otion (Bramble Berry’s retail store)

This is the grand finale of my advanced swirling tutorials.  Today is linear swirling! Make sure that you check out parts 1 (Understanding Color Theory Terminology) , 2 (Getting Brave with Color),  3 (Soap Design and Color Matching) and part 4(In-the-Pot swirling) if you haven’t already. Learn the secret to a fabulous linear swirl!

Before you get started, check out my must have materials for swirling!

Step 1: At a light trace, separate half of the batch into two smaller containers; one for each color, add scent by hand before pouring.

Step 2: Linear swirling is about building layers. Create a pattern using the two colors first so there is something on the bottom of the bars.

Step 3: Pour about ½ to ¾ of the white on top for the mid section which your lines will form into.

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In-the-Pot Swirling (Cold Process)

Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

Advanced Swirling Part 4: In The Pot Swirling

Guest post by Kat from Otion (Bramble Berry’s retail store)

Welcome back! This is part four of Kat’s advanced swirling tutorials. Please make sure to check out parts 1 (Understanding Color Theory Terminology) , 2 (Getting Brave with Color) and 3 (Soap Design and Color Matching) if you haven’t already. In this section, the secrets to successful swirling are revealed!

Must have materials:

Before beginning, make sure to have all safety equipment and supplies at hand. Have your colors picked and prepared and your fragrance oil weighed, line your wooden mold and have divider inserts set up on the side. Snug fitting rubber gloves are ideal for maximum dexterity (Tip! Pick up some hair-dying gloves from the local beauty supply store). A rubber spatula is your best friend for swirling! This tool manipulates the swirl pattern and pulls it through the entire bar.  Use a bamboo skewer for creating finer details and surface swirls. You will also need extra smaller heat resistant pitchers for dividing the soap into sections to color.

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Soap Design and Color-Matching

Filed Under: Cold Process Soap


Advanced Swirling part 3: Design and Color-Matching

Guest post by Kat from Otion (Bramble Berry’s retail store)

Hello again! This is part three of four in my Advanced Cold Process Swirling tutorial. If you missed the first half of the series, be sure to check out part 1 (Understanding Color Theory and Terminology) and 2 (Getting Brave with Color) to learn about color theory terms and how to build confidence with color. This is the final segment on color usage before we get into actual swirling techniques.

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Getting Brave with Color

Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

Advanced Swirling Part 2: Getting Brave with Color

Guest post by Kat from Otion (Bramble Berry’s retail store)

 

Welcome back to my four-part swirling tutorial! If you missed part one on Understanding Color Theory Terminology, make sure to check it out here.

I’d like to start out today’s topic by reiterating what my professors told me in painting classes that helped build my confidence with color and technique.

1. Don’t get too attached. This means a couple of things; don’t get too attached to a plan (expecting the swirls/colors to look a specific way) because it limits your spontaneity and creative flow. Allow things to happen. Also, don’t get too attached to the finished product or you will have a hard time trying new things, and you will most likely get stuck repeating yourself. Remember, what makes an interesting product line is variety.

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Understanding Color Theory Terminology

Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

Advanced Swirling Part 1: Understanding Color Theory Terminology

Guest post by Kat from Otion (Bramble Berry’s retail store)

Now that you understand the fundamentals of cold process Soapmaking, let’s get artistic! You can set your product apart from the rest with eye-catching swirls and have fun in the process.

Not familiar with cold process yet? Check out these videos on Soap Queen TV to and learn about Lye Safety, The Basics, Fragrances and Colorants.

It is vital to have a solid understanding of color relationships and swirling techniques in order to swirl soap confidently. This four-step series will reveal the secrets to success and guide you through the following topics: 1) Understanding Color Theory Terminology 2) Getting Brave with Color 3) Design and Color Matching 4) Swirling Techniques Made Simple

It’s time to take those bars from boring to beautiful!

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