Kiss Pour Winners

December 2024 Soap Challenge

The Kiss Pour technique is inspired by a fluid acrylic paint technique and was introduced to the soapmaking community by Joanne Watkins. She was our guest teacher for our first Kiss Pour challenge several years ago, and it was so fun, I decided to bring it back! Not only does it create dramatic designs in soap, it’s a quick and mesmerizing pour, which is perfect for end-of-year hectic schedules.

You can get your hands on the updated Kiss Pour tutorial in our Tutorial Shop. I’ve also added a new tutorial on how to control trace this week, as we are heading into a new year of challenges that will focus on getting back to basics.

We love having Majestic Mountain Sage as our returning sponsor each December, as they always bring the Christmas spirit! They are providing $100 gift certificates for the grand prize winners in each of the competitive categories, as well as the Sponsor’s Choice prize in the bonus category. Second and third place winners in the competitive categories will receive $50 and $35 gift certificates!

If you haven’t heard of Majestic Mountain Sage, I’d be surprised! They are a woman and family-owned and operated, full-service supplier of raw materials to the handcrafted soap and cosmetics industry since 1996! MMS was one of the original sponsors when I first started the Soap Challenge Club in 2013 and have continued to support the Club every year since.

I’m ready to announce our winners now, and if you read all the way to the bottom, you’ll also discover what the January through April challenges are and who is sponsoring!

Winners Category

Grand Prize

Name Teri Endsley

Location Indiana

Link Instagram

Prize $100 gift certificate

Ebb & Glow

Second Place

Name Linda Lee

Location England

Link Instagram

Prize $50 gift certificate

Celestial Skies

Third Place

Name Sayani Biswas

Location Texas

Link Instagram

Prize $35 gift certificate

Meanderer

Recognition Awards

Best Technique

Criteria Thin, feathery swirls with interlacing, unmuddied colors

Name Robin Grieco

Location Arizona

Link Instagram

Grapefruit Bergamot Kiss

Best Presentation

Criteria Well displayed soap with interesting presentation and excellent photography (focus, lighting, etc)

Name Marty Johnson

Location Minnesota

Link Instagram

Juniper Kiss

Best Use of Color

Criteria Well-mixed, contrasting colors in a beautiful color palette

Name Shannon Barsi

Location Canada

Link none

Flowers in the Wind

Advanced Category

Grand Prize

Name Heike Caligagan

Location Austria

Link Instagram

Prize $100 gift certificate

Aquarell

Second Place

Name Rachel Kendell

Location Utah

Link none

Prize $50 gift certificate

Elderberry and Evergreen

Third Place

Name Val Carter

Location Utah

Link Instagram

Prize $35 gift certificate

Rolling in the Deep

Recognition Awards

Best Technique

Criteria Thin, feathery swirls with interlacing, unmuddied colors

Name Alice Bui

Location Canada

Link Instagram

One Last Kiss

Best Presentation

Criteria Well displayed soap with interesting presentation and excellent photography (focus, lighting, etc)

Name Debbie Klimko

Location Wisconsin

Link Instagram

Love Potion

Best Use of Color

Criteria Well-mixed, contrasting colors in a beautiful color palette

Name Hayley Moeller

Location Australia

Link Instagram

Aurora

Regular Category

Grand Prize

Name Megan Rader

Location Missouri

Link Instagram

Prize $100 gift certificate

Oceanic Enigma

Second Place

Name Maria Jesús Tarraga Ros

Location Spain

Link none

Prize $50 gift certificate

Arco Iris

Third Place

Name Jody Lunstrom

Location Washington State

Link Instagram

Prize $35 gift certificate

Butterfly Kiss: Monarch Meets Blue Morpho

Recognition Awards

Best Technique

Criteria Thin, feathery swirls with interlacing, unmuddied colors

Name Janeen Kerian

Location Nevada

Link none

Stellar Agate

Best Presentation

Criteria Well displayed soap with interesting presentation and excellent photography (focus, lighting, etc)

Name Ella Joseph

Location New Hampshire

Link none

Majestic Mountain Fog

Best Use of Color

Criteria Well-mixed, contrasting colors in a beautiful color palette

Name Fiona Bougourd

Location Guernsey, Channel Islands

Link none

Zephora

Bonus Category

Sponsor’s Choice

Name Wan-Ting Su

Location California

Link Instagram

Prize $100 gift certificate

Feedback “The bright and cheerful wisps of color was a boost of sunshine that made me smile just by looking at the soap! This soap will be a mood booster in any bathroom!.” -Andee Howard

Wildflower

Great job to all our winners, as well as everyone else who participated in the challenge this month!  If you would like to see the rest of the entries, check out these links. 

That’s a wrap for 2024!! Who’s ready to jump back in? If you’d like to sign up for the entire year of challenges in 2025, registration for that option only will open Saturday, December 28 and remain open until Monday, January 13 at 2pm CST. This is the ONLY time full year registration will be open. Registration fee is $170 for the entire year (2 months free!)

If you prefer to get started with January only or just January through April, that registration will open on Monday, January 6 and remain open until the 13th at 2pm CST. Registration fee for January only is $16.95, all four months is $61 (10% discount).

Check out the Upcoming Challenges page for more details and sign up to be notified as soon as registration opens! Here’s what we have lined up for the first four months:

January Wall Pours, sponsor: Custom Craft Tools

February Impression mats, guest teacher & sponsor: Amy Bautista, Elysian Acres Soap

March Brush Embroidery, sponsor: Bramble Berry

April Beach theme soaps, sponsor: Nurture Handmade