Mosaic Soap Challenge - April

Welcome back! I’m excited to share another mosaic inspired soap with you today. Allow me to introduce you to April, who will be sharing the soap she made.

When I saw this soap challenge, I admit, I was intimidated. Not being terribly creative in the drawing department as even stick-men elude me, I was afraid I would not be able to create a picture, with pieces of soap. Nevertheless, challenge accepted!

Adding alcohol and glycerin Colored glycerin soap cooling.

Skimming the top of glycerin soap. Cutting pieces.

Since the challenge instructions said we could use melt and pour but I didn’t have any on hand (I’ve never bought or used it) I thought, no problem – I’ll just make my own! I set about making glycerin soap and managed to get through the stages okay. Cooked soap, added alcohol and glycerin (stirring carefully so the soap would not explode out of the pot), added sugar water a little at a time. The soap looked like it was doing exactly what it was supposed to do. I was so excited that I forgot to test the clear liquid on a cold glass to check for actual transparency. Alas, this soap is not transparent. I colored the soap with different micas (I thought a picture would come to mind, uh huh) and scented the batch with a mix of Lavender and Cedarwood EO’s because I did not want to chance the soap doing something weird with fragrance oil.

A week later, it was time to create a mosaic. I began slicing up my soap. At first carefully, piece by tiny piece, and eventually just chopping it up because I was beginning to become impatient with the tediousness of slicing and separating each piece individually. Now I had a bunch of pieces of glycerin soap.

Attempting to melt in microwave. Making layer 2.

Making layer 1. Making layer 3.

I had formed a loose image of the mosaic I could attempt with the colors I had chosen. First, I tried to melt my white glycerin base soap in the microwave only to have it foam right out of the container. So instead, I melted it slowly on the stove. Then carefully layered, piece by piece, my “tiles” into my mold. Spritzing each layer with alcohol and adding the melted soap in between each layer. As I neared the top of the mold, I knew…

1. I should have brought in a 4 year old to help.
2. My mosaic wouldn’t look anything like the picture in my head/li>
3. I should have used a Bubblegum or Birthday Cake type fragrance.
4. I was going to have to post pictures on the internet (oh no’s!)
5. Mosaics are not my thing.

Cutting the soap. Finished and cut bar of soap.

Cut bars of soap. Finished and cut bars of soap.

I learned quite a bit while attempting this challenge. I enjoyed making glycerin soap and will do it again in an attempt to achieve transparent soap. As for the Mosaic, well this was a journey, one I wouldn’t care to take again for pride’s sake. I decided one shot was enough, no reason to further taunt my ego with a mosaic mess on top of soap. Another attempt would just remind me of my grade school days in art class trying to make a picture with pieces of tissue paper and glue. I will limit my creativity to more abstract mediums. Thank you once again for pushing us to grow with this challenge. I tried 🙂 I look forward to witnessing some real artistic works of art in other entries!!!

April

Neato bandito, April! I’m really impressed with your attempt to make your own glycerin soap. You have challenged me to consider trying something new.