At the first ever Soapmaking Weekend Intensive held at Otion in 2008, I had the great pleasure of meeting Paula Kates of PJ Soaps. She is an incredible glycerin soap artist and I learned a little method from her that I haven’t used until now. The interesting surface design on these Ombre Hearts uses her deceptively simple mold-tipping technique. I think you’re really going to like it!
Supplies:
2 oz. Bright White soap base
12 oz. Naturally Clear soap base (or Clear M&P)
Jewelry Box Colorant Set
Candy Jar Fragrance Set
Striped Heart mold
Knife, cutting board, bottle of rubbing alcohol
Directions:
1. Prop top left corner of mold up on something about 1″ tall.
2. Melt 2 oz of white soap base. Spray mold with alcohol, then pour a small amount of soap into mold at the top curves of the heart, allowing soap to run down stripes and pool at one side. You only want total coverage of white soap over 1/2 of the design. Allow to harden.
3. Melt 12 oz of clear soap. Color with 1 or 2 drops of any color from the Jewelry Box set (Fiery Fuchsia and Turquoise Blue are shown) and a sprinkle of Sparkle Dust. Fragrance with 2 dropper fulls of any scent from the Candy Jar set. Allow soap to cool to 120 degrees.
4. Place mold flat on table and spray white soap with alcohol. Slowly pour colored soap into mold, aiming the stream at the edge of the mold where white soap is thickest. This will protect the thinnest area from melting. Allow to harden and unmold.
Although the Jewelry Box colorants are bleeding colors, the white area may become a pastel shade of the colored soap but will always look bright and distinct.
Stay tuned to the Bramble Berry and Otion sites for info about the next “SWI.” It’s a great weekend that you should not miss!
-Debbie, Soapylove
