October 2017 | Autumn Spiced | KCK Soapery

The vision for this was pumpkin pie with autumn leaves.

Leaves were made from melt and pour soap. Colors used for the cold process were activated charcoal for black and red, and brown mica mix for the pumpkin.

Mixing lye with the Coconut oil, Olive oil, Rice Bran oil, Palm oil, Mango butter, Shea butter, and Castor oil.  Scented with Spiced pumpkin fragrance oil.

Poured the pumpkin batter as my main soap color.

I had hoped to have the black go into the soap deeper but it started hardening faster than I thought.

So I swirled in the color using a spoon.

Gave the loaf some texture using spoon as well.

Added the leaves on top.

Tried to space the leaves equally.

Out of the mold.  

Finally cut.  

Thanks for dropping by!

September 2017 | Gingered Bergamot | KCK Soapery

Attempted another butterfly swirl.

This batch needed a little more imagination to visually see the butterflies.

By placing the ends of the soap side by side, you get to see some sort of butterfly silhouette.

As pictured above, my butterfly was a no show at first. After watching other soapers' pictures I noticed that most of them took pictures after placing the bottoms of the soap together.

 Scented with "Gingered Bergamot" described to be citrusy notes of bergamot and freshly ground ginger, sandalwood, cedar, Indian patchouli, and sweet basil.

Oils used were Coconut oil, Olive oil, Rice Bran oil, Palm oil and Castor oil.  Butters were Mango butter, and Shea butter.
This batch was swirled by a tool I made from drain pipes with a straw as seen in the picture above on top of the white mold.

Colors used were white (titanium dioxide), yellow and green mica.

Poured most of the white.

Made a green line.

Yellow above the green.

Green batter on top of the yellow.

With the straw on a drain cleaner tool, I tried to make a butterfly swirl. As seen in the finished picture above, I ended up pushing the colors down instead of swirling them.

Above picture was taken after the swirling.

Covered the swirl with another layer of white and drizzled leftover yellow and green on top. The batter was hardening so I was in a hurry, I forgot to take picture of the drizzled yellow and green.

Swirled the top in a figure of 8 pattern.

Off the mold.  

And it's cut!

Happy Soaping!

September 2017 | Christmas Gift | KCK Soapery

A friend at work wanted to be ready for Christmas. This was what I came up with. I hope "J" and the recipients will like them as much as I love making soap.

These gifts were made with melt and pour soap.

Oils added were Coconut oil, Olive oil, Rice Bran oil, Palm oil, Shea butter, and Castor oil. Scented with Mistletoe and Ivy fragrance oil and a hint of Peppermint essential oil.

Red mica and titanium dioxide for white.  

Blending the oils, butter and lye solution.

Poured the white base.

Poured the red in the middle at different heights.

Made two more lines on the sides.

Made the swirl using chopstick.

Added the gifts.

I am pleased by the result of this batch.  Everything turned out just as expected.  

Hope you guys like these bars.

Thank you for stopping by!

Enjoy!

September 2017 | Lavender Essential Oil | KCK Soapery

This batch was inspired by a family member who likes essential oils.  

I decided to make this very natural, no added colors or fragrance. Oils used were Olive Oil, Rice Bran Oil, Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, and Castor Oil.  I also used two butters, Shea Butter and Mango Butter and scented with Lavender Essential Oil.

I always love the look and feel of the oils and butters emulsifying.

Poured the batch onto the mold.  Just as natural, plain, and simple.

 I got an itch and just had to do some artsy stuff.  Using spoon, I gave the top some texture.

Added some lavender buds in the middle. The buds were added while the soap was still wet in the mold.

I forgot to take a picture of it.
This picture was taken after I unmolded the soap.

Some of the lavender buds are still just loosely attached and came off.  But I like the contrast it gave to the soap.

Thank you for stopping by!

March 2017 | Lavender Essential Oil and Shea Butter "Butterfly Swirl" | KCK Soapery

This batch was specially made for a friend who loves Lavender Essential oil.  Thank you "M" for your order.  "M" wants her soap to be colorful and the addition of shea butter made the soap feels great to the skin and visually look so creamy.

Colors used were brown, white, green, yellow, pink and lavender. Scented with Lavender Essential oil.

After pouring the white base, I alternate the different colors in the middle of the mold.

Covered the colors with white so the colors are not seen on top and will allow me to play with the top without disturbing the design inside.  Then using the kids regular straw size play thing that I know they will not miss, I inserted the straw thingy and drag out a little swirl with it.

I have no definite reason about the way I colored the top.  This is what my instinct told me to do and I just added the different colors the way I brain told me.

This was how the colors end up after I used up all the leftover soap batter.

Gave the colors a little swirl through out the mold.

Made another swirl diagonally.

Removed the soap after two days in the mold just to be sure they come out intact.  Nothing got stuck.

I am so happy with how it turned out.  Hope "M" is happy with them, too!