President’s Day was originally designed to celebrate President Washington’s birthday. Now it’s common to include President Lincoln, also born in February and all the presidents in this federal holiday. To celebrate the day, I made soap (no surprise there).
Ingredients:
White Melt and Pour
Clear Melt and Pour
Non-Bleeding Red Liquid Color
Non-Bleeding Blue Liquid Color
Iridescent Glitter
For this project, I used the new Bulk Economy base (150 pounds for $180). With its extra glycerin, the layers stick together easily.
Before starting the layers, make the sparkle corridors by adding a dense amount of sparkle (1 heaping teaspoon to 8 ounces of clear soap) to melted clear soap. Keep stirring until the glitter suspends in the soap. The soap will be thick and soupy and almost ready to set up before the glitter will evenly suspend. Pour into a mold long enough to span the entire length of your loaf.
The first layer is made with clear soap and non-bleeding red. It’s important to use clear soap to get a true red. If you use white soap, the color will end up pink. Hint: if you use a yellowing fragrance (such as orange essential oil), your red color may end up orange. Choose your fragrance wisely.
Pour the first layer. Allow it to harden with a thick skin. Depending on how hot you poured the soap, this may take 5 to 15 minutes. While you’re waiting, cut the glitter soap into long strips.
Spritz rubbing alcohol onto the first layer to help layer adhesion. Pour the second layer of white soap. Because you will be embedding the glitter strips in the soap, make sure that the soap is a cool temperature. If it is too hot, the surrounding soap will melt the glitter strips giving a different effect than wanted. Once the white layer is poured, add the glitter strips to the soap. Make sure that you are fragrancing each layer. I normally forget to fragrance at least one layer.
Wait for this layer to harden with a thick skin, enough to sustain another layer of soap. Prepare the blue soap. To ensure crisp, clean lines, make sure that your blue color is a non-bleeding color. Spritz the white soap with isopropyl alchol. Pour the blue layer.
Wait for the entire soap to harden fully. Cut with a sharp knife or a crinkle cutter. Oooh, ahhh and celebrate President’s Day with your patriotic soap.
thos glitter strips give me a great idea! now i just have to get crakin on it… 🙂
I love the bright colors.
I love the brilliant colors you get. nice project.
Michelle in NV
It is not the best photo in the world, but you’ll get the idea. 🙂 Its in my blog as I couldn’t figure out how to add a pic to a comment.
Cool! I can’t wait to see the photo. Good luck getting it off your phone. My trick us to use my phone to email myself the photo – but I have an unlimited data plan on my phone so it’s no extra charge. Make sure to check that before you email yourself the photo! =)
hi im really excited to start soap do u have any tips for a (kid) rookie? im aready ok with mealt and pour but i still cant get the bluing effect right or any of that awsome stuff u do on youtube emily need HELP! and if u could comment back that would be so awsome
It sounds like you’re doing the right thing to get started. Keep watching the videos and remember that it takes practice =)
Remember to only add a little bit of blue colorant for the blueing technique. It’s easy to add too much.
Good luck and have fun!
Courtney from Bramble Berry
Speaking of Presidents Day… we spent it going to the Higgins Armory Museum. While in the gift shop I saw something that made snap a pic for you with my phone. As soon as I can figure out how to get it off my phone and on to my computer I’ll send you a link. It was too cute!
I know I have one of the two oxides, need to check my stash. *grin*
Thanks!
Those are gorgeous! I wish I had your flair for soap! 🙂
I used Cybilla Sea Shore scent. =)
Donna, I’ll check out your site; thanks!
SingingWolf, have you tried the Burgundy Oxide? It’s a non-bleeding, wine-y red that usually does the trick for me. If it’s too blue-based, just mix it with a little red oxide and that should bring it back into a lighter hue.
Hi,
I recently found your blog, and I am enjoying it very much! I have been a customer of Bramble Berry’s now for several years, and it is the only place I would consider buying soap base for my company. We have recently turned our online natural foot and body products store into a blog – Sole Garden- Pathways to Sanctuary, and I have posted a link to your site after each soap recipe on my treatment pages, so that readers can instantly find the high quality ingredients that you consistently offer. I would like to invite you to view my site, and see what you think. If you like what you see and read, and would be interested in linking to our site, please scroll to the bottom of our home page and click on the “link to our site” button. My apologies for leaving this in your comment section, but I couldn’t see any other way to contact you through your blog. Thank you so much. Warm Regards, Donna
That is SO CUTE!!! It turned out precious, esp with the embeds in the middle/white layer. What scent did you use?
J
Lovely! I was wondering what you’d come up with for a patriotic theme. Of course, you didn’t tell us was droolicious scent you used…
Now, time to pick your brain…*grin*
I’m avoiding FD&C dyes (selling factor at the local health food places..which means I’m going to be limited on my jojoba bead order. *pout*) and I’m at a loss for a non bleeding red. I can use ultra marine for the blue, titanium dioxide for the white…but I’m at a loss for the red. Any suggestions?
And to no surprize this looks terrific…President’s Day celebration or our troops.