Soapy artist discovery - Kazumi Kinoshita of Aromatica Labo

All photos by Kazumi Kinoshita

Thanks to the wonders of Pinterest, today I was introduced to the incredible artistry of Kazumi Kinoshita in Japan.  From what I gather on her site, called Aromatica Labo, she is a soap teacher in both glycerin and cold process forms.  As you can see from the photos from her Pinterest page above, she has a huge range of styles and techniques.  It's just amazing!

Her site is in Japanese and the translations are not perfect, so I just want to share some of her photos with you.

I love how she uses the softest colors, and the addition of some texture.  Such a beautiful use of light in her soaps!

I am so in awe of her color combinations!  It's like a painting!

And then there's this, which I have no idea about!  All I know is that it makes me happy to look at!

The amazingness goes on and on.  You must see for yourself!  Start with her Pinterest page.  It's breathtaking!!

For all of Soapylove’s tutorials and class projects, go to www.soapylove.com or check out the book on Amazon!

Studio DIY Blog Crush, Ombre Inspiration, and Free Soap Tutorial!

Kelly, of Studio DIY

If you’ve been visiting the Soapylove Facebook page lately, you know that I’ve been seriously crushing on the DIY Studio blog!!  The tag line is “Make Life a Party.”  Say no more, right?!  Kelly, the adorable woman behind the blog, has incredible tutorials and stylish inspiration.  I could go on and on.  But you should check it out and get on her super fun mailing list.  Your inbox will thank you!

Yesterday she posted a tutorial for DIY ombre glassware.  So pretty! 

DIY Ombre Glassware Tutorial

Which reminds me – you can get this beautiful faded effect quite simply in glycerin soap!  A tilt of the mold is all it takes.  In conjunction with The Nova Studio, here is the Soapylove Ombre Soap Tutorial.  Enjoy!  (And if you have any questions or comments, please post them below!)

Free Ombre Melt and Pour Soap Tutorial

It’s so fun when a fashion trend translates perfectly into glycerin soap crafting! Like the “ombre” effect, which is a pretty color fade that is being used in everything from dip dyed shorts to hair color effects. Getting a perfect fade in soap might seem tricky, but with a simple technique you’ll get gorgeous results every time.

I see these soaps as a very elegant wedding or bridal shower favor, or a pretty way to add color to enhance your fragrance choice. This is also a handy technique to add to more complex designs!

Supplies: Makes 4 bars

·         4 oz of clear soap base, cut roughly into 1” cubes

·         12 oz of white soap base, cut up

·         Pastel mica colorant of your choice

·         Fragrance oil of your choice

·         4 cavity soap mold (I used Milky Way guest rectangle)

·         Spray bottle with rubbing alcohol

·         Stir sticks, mini paper cups, 2 cup heat-proof measuring cup, microwave

First we will color a small amount of clear soap with mica powder. The powder must be dissolved before adding to soap or else it will clump. To do this, spray some alcohol in a small paper cup (about ½ teaspoon). Stir in a pinch of mica powder and stir well. Melt 1 oz of clear soap base. Pour into the cup of mica solution and stir well. For this effect, I suggest using less color than you think you should. A blush of color is what we’re going for.

Now spray the inside of your mold with alcohol. Pour just enough colored soap to coat the surface.

Next quickly tilt your mold and prop it up on something like a book or magazine. Not more than 1/2” tall.

The colored layer is so thin that you must be super careful that your white soap is not too hot. Melt 12 oz of white soap base. Stir in 1 mL of fragrance oil per bar of soap you are making. Allow to cool in cup until thickened, spray hardened soap in mold with alcohol, and top off with white soap.

Allow soap to harden and unmold!

For all of Soapylove’s tutorials and class projects, go to www.soapylove.com!

How to Throw a DIY Glycerin Soap Making Party with Free Printables!

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One thing I love about making glycerin soap is how easy and fun it is, for all ages!  I gathered up my friends and family for this video to show you how to host a soap crafting party.  As a bonus, I have included the printable signs and name tags to this post!  All you need is a crock pot and a freezer, plus supplies (which you can find in the soap section of most craft stores).

One thing that really tickles me when people make soap is how magical it seems!  From stirring in the color and watching it swirl into the soap, to choosing fragrance (which is a very personal decision!), and then the fun of popping a soap out and admiring their work.  The whole process is exciting and entertaining (as you'll see with my friend Alison)!

Get everyone outside and make something useful and creative.  For the full instructions, check out Let's Get Soapy which includes your supply list and ideas for party themes.  From birthdays to bridal showers, this party idea will make you the hostess with the mostess!

Find all of Soapylove's eZines and tutorials at www.soapylove.com!

Bleeding soap colors - what to do?

So pretty, but why won't those colors last?

Do you love those bright, clear colors in glycerin soap? I sure do, but they have their limits! A Soapyfan just learned about one of them and wrote to me:

I was wondering if you might help with suggestions to keep layers from bleeding. I tried the layered pops but after a few weeks it looked horrible. I would love to get those beautiful clear layers without it turning out to be an awful mess.

Sadly, I know exactly what she means. When I made this rainbow soap, I had just ordered an assortment of Labcolors and wanted to use every shade in every soap I made! The colors were so gorgeous and the clear colors were beyond lovely. I even took a picture right away (the one above), posted it on Etsy, and sold a whole bunch right away. I was so excited!

But lo and behold, a couple of days later, I noticed my crisp layers were getting blurry. The colors were bleeding together! So here’s what I told her:

“Yes, the clear layers are beautiful but fleeting! I learned that the hard way, too, AFTER I had shipped a bunch out! Oops!! 

The trick to making the colors stick is using non-bleeding colors. There are two types of colorants - dyes and pigments. Dyes bleed (even some micas are dyed and the colors will bleed) or pigments which are colored powders that don't bleed. If you go to Soapqueen.com and search "non-bleeding colors" you will find several articles about them. Brambleberry is great about indicating on their colorant listings whether the color bleeds or not. https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/bramble-berrys-non-bleeding-colors/

I was determined to get clear colors even with nonbleeding colorants (which are typically opaque colors) so I tested many methods and wrote an article about how to do it here: https://thenovastudio.com/product/soapylove-ezine-issue-9/

One more thing - dyes fade in the sun! So if you put out soaps using dyes at a craft fair (even in the shade!) they will fade right before your eyes!

I hope that helps!
Happy soap crafting!”

I hope that is helpful to you, too. I love helping soap crafters so email me at dchialtas@gmail.com or message me anytime! Thanks and have a great week!

-Debbie

Find the Soapylove book only via Amazon!

Radiating Stripes Soap Tutorial Using Lego Bricks

Glycerin soap is an amazing medium for creating layers.  I always wanted to make a jaw-breaker soap but struggled with the process.  Then, a few years ago, Anne-Marie Faiola (the Soap Queen), was working on a layers theme post for the Bramble Berry blog and invited me to contribute a soap design.

At the time, my son was enjoying Legos (using my Legos that my mother lovingly kept), and I realized how amazing these plastic building bricks would be to build a soap mold!  Leak proof, heat resistant, and totally modular! Although this project requires a lot of time, it's not difficult.  Simply create a tiny square then embed it, building layer upon layer, rebuilding your mold as you go.  Although cutting into it is a tad nerve-racking, the thrill of seeing the layers is worth the effort!!  Here's the visual graphic, and the steps are beneath.  Come to my Facebook page to discuss or show off your version!

1. Set up first cavity, making walls enclosing 4 raised dots (or a "2x2"). Make walls 3 bricks high. You will only fill to 2 bricks high to make a cube.

2. Fill to top of 2nd brick with white soap. Allow to harden, then break walls to release white cube.

3. Trim bottom of soap to remove dot indentations.

4. Build next box enclosing 3x3 dots. Walls should be 4 bricks high. Fill with 2nd color to 1/2 brick high. Let harden. This will be the floor your white cube will sit on.

5. Put in white cube. Spray with alcohol and top off with 2nd color, to 3 bricks high.

6. Here's what it looks like with the white cube covered in red soap.

7. Break walls, pulling bricks off of soap.

8. Trim off these lego indentations.

9. Trimming...

10. Repeat and repeat, every time making your box 1 row wider and taller.

11. Here is my almost finished cube. It is 5 layers thick.

12. My last layer is white.

Main photo:  Here's the finished soap, all cut up into neat angles to show the layers.

Tip: Make sure to use non-bleeding colorants!! You don't want those gorgeous layers to go fuzzy on you.  Also, use a really sharp heavy knife to cut it up - a thin knife may bend and throw off your cut. 

Idea: wouldn't this be a fun way to make some Tetris inspired soaps?  No layers required!!  

Have fun everyone!

-Debbie

(Would you like more Soapylove projects?  Head to soapylove.com for the entire library!)

Dissolving Embed Paper - So Much Room for Soapy Creativity!

When I started making glycerin soaps, I wanted to get lots of detail into my designs.  I used exacto knives and toothpicks to cut pieces of soap into fancy shapes like birds, silhouettes, tiny tiles... you name it.  I loved doing it but even then there were so many looks I couldn't achieve.

I used chocolate transfer paper, which was fun but colors will bleed since it's made of food coloring.

I saw soap designs with photographs in them and was pretty excited until I found out they were using sheets of acetate or plastic which didn't sound very skin friendly (hello, sharp edges and corners!). My quest continued.

Bicycle Soap - winner of Best Melt & Pour at HSMG Conference 2010

Then I heard about dissolving paper.  I was intrigued but read about people using hairspray to set the ink so it wouldn't bleed, and even then it was very problematic.  But it sounded like the best material, so I tried it.

Well, let's just say that once I figured out the nuances of embed paper, I was hooked!  I created an entire soap collection around this material because I loved it so much.  It's perfect for making logo soaps, wedding favors (photos of the happy couple!), and combined with other soap techniques it's a show stopper.

Are you interested yet?  If so, here are my Cliff's Notes about this amazing stuff:

1. This is my favorite brand. I've had NO problems with it.  My soaps that are years old still look new.
2. Use a laser printer!!  Ink jet printer ink will dissolve into a fuzzy blob!  Not pretty!
3. Only use graphics with the designer's permission.  Personal photos are great, but celebrity pics will get you in trouble. The world of digital clip art is vast and affordable. Just check the artist's rules about using them if you plan to sell your gorgeous creations.  

If you'd like to learn more - from printing tips to a step-by-step project - check out Issue 9 of Let's Get Soapy which also includes free printables.  I'm sure you're going to have so much fun!!  

Comment below if you have any questions or additional input!  

Hello again! Care to get reacquainted?

Hi!  It's been a long time since I've used this blog, and to be honest I forgot what a great place it is to share and write!  And since it's been so long I thought it would be great to catch everyone up.

So first, here's what I look like these days!  No big deal really, but it's good to have an accurate picture in your mind when reading posts, right?

I work full time in marketing and don't sell Soapylove soaps right now, but the Soapylove Facebook page is going strong.  It's frustrating, though.  Even though there are over 7500 fans there, my posts reach only a few hundred (unless I decide to BUY exposure which I can't do all the time).  That's Facebook for ya.

My kids are getting so big (10 and 7!) and my husband is doing great with his acupuncture practice. It's summer break and the weather here in San Diego has been pretty amazing!

Okie doke, well consider yourself caught up! :)

I really want to share this hilarious video with you.  It's called "girl vs. pin" where the host tries making the fish-in-bag soap project.  You have to watch it!

Gotta go now but I'll be here more often!  I look forward to getting a bit more wordy than the usual one-sentence Facebook posts. Please comment and validate my efforts!  :)  Ta ta for now!

Tutorial video: Fun and Simple Soap Balls

Hi there!  Before I was bitten by the glycerin soap crafting bug, I fell in love with rebatch soap making.  Rebatch is a method of using cured CP soap (CP means "cold process" which is the most common way soap is made from scratch). Rebatch is great because you don't need to handle lye.

I can tell I'm already rambling, so let me get to the point.  I made soap balls!  It's easy and fast!  Here's a quick video showing how to do it.



So now I can ramble. Rebatch is typically recooked soap (since I didn't cook my grated soap, maybe it's more like recycled soap.  I don't know.  Don't call the soap police on me).  If you don't have any CP soap scraps laying around you can buy grated, unscented soap online that's made just for this purpose.  Since it's unscented you can add your own additional ingredients like essential oil, exfoliants such as ground luffa or oatmeal, moisturizers like aloe vera, and even colorants.  If this interests you, head over to The Soap Queen for this great video about rebatch soapmaking and links to lots of supplies.  Have fun!

PB&J Marshmallows, anyone?

Last week's Bubble Gum Marshmallow Soaps sold out in one day, but there's more where that came from!  This week's Marshmallow flavor is PB&J.  Yummy peanut butter and grape jelly scent (just like those great 80's scratch n' sniff stickers!) will tickle your nose whenever you use one of these light and airy little blocks. 

Each 1" cube soap marshmallow lasts one or two washes, and you'll get 27 of them per box!  In beige and grape, their colors are as sweet as their fragrance.  They would make a perfect gift for your favorite back-to-schooler or candy fan in your life.

Hurry over to my Etsy shop and grab one - there are only 3 boxes available!  Click here.

Introducing Mini Marshmallow Soaps, new from Soapylove!

After weeks of testing and experimenting I am thrilled to roll out my brand new Mini Marshmallow Soaps.  My 5 year old son said, "You get to play while you wash your hands!"  He loves them (and so do my cousins, my friends, and my mom)! 

Each little block (about 1" cube) is light and airy just like a real marshmallow, and lasts 1 or 2 washes.  They look adorable displayed in a cup or on a plate and will make your bathroom smell delish! You get a box full of them - 36 in this case.  They'll last you quite a while!

Like my Soapy Pops, these are SLS and phthalate free.  Check out the entire listing in my Etsy shop.  I only have 2 boxes of the Bubble Gum scent available, but keep your eyes open for more varieties coming soon!

Flavor of the Month: I'll Give You a Hint!

1. It's a Mint Chocolate Chip World, 2. Mint Chocolate Cupcakes, 3. Mini Chocolate Mint cake, 4. Mint Chocolate Brownies, 5. Chocolate mint soap bars packaged, 6. mint chocolate chip, 7. Miniature Mint & Chocolate Cupcakes, 8. ebi, 9. mint chocolate cookie sandwiches, 10. Mint Chocolate, 11. Mint Chocolate Chip Ice cream Cubie, 12. Mint Chocolate Minis

I hope that after looking at all of those gorgeous photos that you're in the mood for Mint Chip, our Flavor of the Month. Having a line of ice cream inspired soaps makes this one a must, and yet it's our newest style!  The minty bar is full of chocolate scented soap chunks, hand cut and mixed into every batch.  It's a perfect follow up to our other classic style, the Neapolitan. 

Definitely give it a try since Soapyfans agree that Soapy Pops are even more adorable in person and the scent will win you over the moment you open your box!  And we're happy to ship them right to your favorite sweetie.

This one is only on sale for the month of February, so head on over to the Soapylove Pop Shop!

New Tutorial over at The Soap Queen - Ombre Hearts!

Brand new Soapylove tutorial now up at The Soap Queen!  This neat fading effect is actually very simple.  You'll love how they turn out.  See you there!

New Tutorial Tomorrow at the Soap Queen!

Get ready for a brand new Soapylove tutorial over at the Soap Queen! Tomorrow afternoon you will learn how to make these cute and easy Lucky Star Soaps. Check it out then! :)

Very Exciting! New Soap Frosting Recipe!

Honestly, I haven't been this excited about a soap tutorial since the texture sheets. I've always been attracted to soap cupcakes but didn't want to get all sorts of special ingredients I would only use for one project. So I decided to tackle soap frosting myself.

First I tried mixing melt and pour with coconut oil, loads of glycerin, and I don't even remember what else. What I got was a ball of soap so rubbery I could have bounced it on my kitchen floor. Soap rubber would be a really fun project but since I added so much oil it had no lather. Bummer.

So I started over and tried just glycerin soap base and liquid soap (which is also very handy for the Soap Slime project!). To my delight it was the perfect marriage! Not only is it a super fast and simple process (click here for the full tutorial on the Soap Queen), but it's very forgiving since you can remelt it if it's overwhipped or starting to harden before you're ready.

I really hope you'll give it a try and let me know what you think. This project just goes to show that the potential of melt and pour soap base is so vast and that there's still an endless supply of fun things that we can do with it! Let's keep pushing the soapy envelope! :)

Going Coconuts!

I am such a sucker for contests. Especially soap contests! Last week, Joanna at The Soap Bar blog posted a contest to see who has the best coconut scented soap. So here is my entry! Too bad you can't smell it. It's yummy! I even got my pregnant friend to give me the thumb's up.

There's still lots of time to send in your entry, though (click here for details) - so get cracking! I can't wait to see who Joanna picks!

Hard at Work - For You! :)

Were you wondering why I can't just post that eyeball soap tutorial (and tell you where I got that mold?!)? Because I'm working very hard on the August issue of Let's Get Soapy. The eZine - my labor of love - needs to be packed with tutorials, tips, tricks, techniques, and great pictures so it will give you what you have come to expect! And I promise I won't let you down.

For example, here is one of the projects you'll find - Candy Stick Soaps! The crazy stripes are so fun to make and you can really get creative with color combinations. I went with a Candy Corn theme for Halloween (which this issue is dedicated to!).

You will find soap painting, neon colors, glowing colors, embedding tricks, and more! I am planning on having it up and ready next week. Make sure to sign up with the Soapyclub so you'll get the heads up when it's available (and I always offer an early bird discount!).

Thanks for your patience!

Are You a Maniac? Come Join Us!

Chances are excellent that you make melt and pour soap. Or maybe you own a shop and sell them there, or maybe you just love soap crafting of all persuasions! Well then you qualify as an M&P Maniac!

I have a group on the Indie Beauty Network called M&P Mania and I would love to have you join. We have lots of discussion topics there and all of them revolve around M&P - whether it's about colorants, soap trends, artistic uses for glycerin soap, class announcements, or whatever else!

If you're not an Indie Beauty Network member, that's no problem. You don't have to be to join my group. While you're there check out lots of great community discussions on the Indie Beauty site and meet other indies like you, too. I guarantee that you'll learn something new!

See you there!

The Things That Glycerin Soap Can Do - Amazing!

As I browsed the world wide web today I found some of the most awesome glycerin soaps! Check out these great soapy creations from Dirty Ass Soaps, where their "claim to fame is taking what would be a boring bar of soap and turning it into a frickin' masterpiece." I love that attitude - and they're not joking. Check them out for yourself!

They are really taking soap to a whole new level. I hate to sound cliche, but can you argue the amazing creativity? Love it! Go to their shop and get some masterpieces for yourself. Now! :)

Video: The Making of a Soap Mini Cooper

Since posting the photo of my soap Mini Cooper, I heard several comments like "I'd love to see how you did that!" So yesterday I made this little video as I make a red, checkered roof Mini. I didn't add any captions, but if you'd like to read more detail about the steps, please check out my post at the Teach Soap forum.

For lots of great tutorials, check out Let's Get Soapy, and for my book (coming out this fall), reserve your copy on Amazon. Thanks!!

Check Out What Just Drove Out of Soapyland!

Ever since I saw a great post about a Swarovski-encrusted Mercedes on The Crafty Chica Blog, I've been dying to make a soap car. Like many of my soap projects, it took me months to finally decide on all of the details. When I saw a fist-sized Mini Cooper toy at Rite Aid, I knew I found my muse.

This is just a fun personal project. It wasn't for any reason - just to see how it would come out. I got some molding putty and cast a silicone mold, then layered, embedded, remolded, and painted until it came out right. (The tires are actually part of the soap bar - not made separately!) It's scented with Green Apple fragrance. Oh, and this was my 3rd one! Glad that's over with!

Would you like to hear the blow-by-blow of how I made this? Check out my post at the Teach Soap Forum here.

I hope you like it! :)