After taking my baby time-out, I’ve finally rejoined the Soap Challenge (now a Club!) put on by Amy Warden of Great Cakes Soapworks. This month’s challenge was to create a seven-layer multi-colored gradient soap. Last year, I created Sage & Citrus gradient soap using only one color. It was fun, and I’ve used the technique again, but I’ve never tried it with multiple colors! Challenge on!
I searched through my growing supply of fragrances to find one that had multiple facets to inspire several color choices. The winner was Satsuma, a very bright citrus scent with a mix of juicy ruby red grapefruit, sweet orange, and tangerine. What better colors to use than those new neon samples I’ve been waiting to try?! I chose Neon Laser Lemon for the bottom layer, Neon Citrus Blast for the middle (an awesome bright orange color), and Neon Tutti Frutti (HOT pink) for the top. Even the names of the colors are perfect! They’re also side-by-side on the color wheel, making them beautifully blendable.
Thanks to Amy’s step-by-step tutorial, I was very comfortable creating the right amounts of soap needed for each layer. I began by making the lye solution and letting it cool to about 100 degrees. The oils with fragrance added were at about 110 degrees when I added the lye and blended to emulsification. This fragrance worked wonderfully, allowing me plenty of time to play with colors. In fact, I almost wished things would move a little faster! Almost.
Here are the three main colors getting ready to be poured.
Here’s a look at the layering process.
First and second layers
Third and fourth layers
Fifth and sixth layers
Final layer!
The raw soap colors were very pretty but weren’t very extreme, so I put it in the oven to force full gel, hoping to bring out those neons.
Wow, do they pop!?! The colors are absolutely neon now, and they blended together so well. My girls love the bright pink tops, too. When Annabelle (one of the triplets) saw it, she squealed, “Mommy, you made me a rainbow soap!” She went to tell her sisters, then they all ran in together oo-ing and ah-ing over the “pwitty wainbow” soap. Too cute! They obviously approve of my color choices, and I’m pretty darn pleased as well!
You can see that some of the layers aren’t completely flat. I have a few waves from where the layer beneath was still rather soft when I spooned on the next. I really love the effect that it made!
As always, I had a great time taking part in this challenge. I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone else created!
Love the bright colours…very pretty 🙂
Thanks, Dianne! I just got a quick glance at your soap, and OH MY! It’s so pretty! My girls would really flip out over that “wainbow”!
Beautiful gradient! I’m a huge fan of pink and orange together.
Victoria
http://maitribathbody.com
Thanks, Victoria! I am loving these colors together too! My girls seriously can’t keep away from it either. They keep pulling up stools to the shelf it’s on so they can grab a bar to smell it and see the pretty colors.
This is booootiful! Love the colours
You have such a beautiful family – I take my hat off to you… I thought I was busy with a three year old and a 5 month old!!
Soaping is my ‘me’ time too – I’m going to follow your blog and hopefully pick up some time management tips ha ha! 😀
Thanks! Not sure you’re going to pick up many time management tips from me, though! I just try to survive each day, one at a time, making sure everyone is fed and alive! So far, so good. Sounds like you’re busy, too! Glad to “meet” you!
🙂 You too Katy!
Looks fantastic, Katy!! So glad you decided to join us again! 🙂
I’m so glad I joined you all again, too, Amy! Thanks again for putting this all together. It’s so fun to be a part of such an awesome community. Everyone is so friendly and so talented!
Very bright and cheery! Very beautiful!~~Sharon
What a great looking soap! Those colours just pop off the screen. Very lovely indeed!
Gorgeous Katy, I love the way those neons popped from being gelled! Beautiful gradient of colors 🙂
Thanks everyone for the comments! I do love these bright and cheery neons, too! Believe it or not, the pink in the soap nearly matches my 1962 pink porcelain bathtub in one bathroom in my house that desperately needs remodeling! Haha!
So pretty and fresh looking!
So beautiful! I am impressed by your perfect layers!
I bet it smells as good as it looks too Katy! Lovely.
Beautiful soap, love it! I like the vibrant colours, very nice yellow. And the gradient is gorgeous!
lovely.