I am experimenting with some some ideas this week. I want to make pina colada soap with realistic pineapple chunks. I found round, plastic cracker storage containers. I thought I could use these as a mold to make round soap pieces for cutting into pineapple chunks. I made a batch of soap which contained more than the amount to fill a cracker tube. I wanted to test my new sunflower molds and with the left over I made yellow soap and sprinkled it with coconut flakes and yellow pearl cake decorating beads. I also used annatto seeds to naturally color my soap. The annatto seeds were left to infuse in the oil for 3 weeks. At the beginning, my soap was an orange color until it began to trace while I mixed it using my stick blender, and then it lightened. The sunflower molds work perfect and the soap sets up quickly. The soap is extremely easy to remove from the molds. The only thing I notice is that the sunflowers are not flat once they are turned over. I will smooth the bottoms some once they have set up a tad bit more.
Today I was surprised with bright, beautiful, and tasty cupcakes for my birthday. Tracy H. made them. She made roses and mums on top of the cupcakes. I only had 3 left when I took this photo.
I was able to test my experiment with the round cracker storage container. I lined the sides of the container and froze the container for easy removal. I learned that I needed to remove the bottom of the container in order to remove the contents. This was expected and not any problem in the future since I have a screw on lid. In the future I will be able to remove the lid and push the contents out.
I learned that I could not cut the soap while it was frozen. It tends to crack in uncut spots. I was wondering if anyone has ever placed lye water and oils together before they have cooled and found the mixture to resemble an oatmeal and water mixture? I came across this issue again today. In the past, I learned that I just need to mix the solution for a while and allow it to cool as I alternate between the use of the stick blender and stirring with a large spoon to allow the stick blender to cool between uses. I have burnt up motors in the past when I did not permit my stick blender to rest every few minutes. As I mix the soap , the solution will begin look like a lovely smooth pudding. At this time I place the solution into the log molds and I have very little time to work with it. I placed the pineapple looking soap pieces in the center of the soap and also on the top. They are placed more heavily on the top. I put shredded cosmetic grade Mylar on the top also.
Today I was surprised with bright, beautiful, and tasty cupcakes for my birthday. Tracy H. made them. She made roses and mums on top of the cupcakes. I only had 3 left when I took this photo.
I learned that I could not cut the soap while it was frozen. It tends to crack in uncut spots. I was wondering if anyone has ever placed lye water and oils together before they have cooled and found the mixture to resemble an oatmeal and water mixture? I came across this issue again today. In the past, I learned that I just need to mix the solution for a while and allow it to cool as I alternate between the use of the stick blender and stirring with a large spoon to allow the stick blender to cool between uses. I have burnt up motors in the past when I did not permit my stick blender to rest every few minutes. As I mix the soap , the solution will begin look like a lovely smooth pudding. At this time I place the solution into the log molds and I have very little time to work with it. I placed the pineapple looking soap pieces in the center of the soap and also on the top. They are placed more heavily on the top. I put shredded cosmetic grade Mylar on the top also.
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