Straight Horizontal Layers Winners
September 2023 Soap Challenge
Back in December 2017, Toni Watt of White Milk Soap & Candles in Australia taught the Club how pour straight line designs using an accelerating fragrance. We revisited this technique with a few twists: 1. All layers had to remain horizontal in the soaps. 2. Advanced & winners categories had to incorporate another design technique into their soaps. 3. The winners category had to use all plant-based colors and scents!
If you think creating straight layers in cold process soap is easy, think again! All the tips & tricks are now in an updated tutorial in our Tutorial Shop!
We are ever so grateful that Baraka Shea Butter returned as our main sponsor this month! Purchasing from Baraka directly impacts women, families and communities in Ghana. They offer a variety of pure, natural and unrefined oils and butters as well as a wide range of black soap products, food powders, and beautiful handwoven baskets. 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. Additionally, second and third place winners in the competitive categories receive 20% off coupon codes.
Also, Kandra Churchwell of Soapy Friends who taught us how to use plant based colors in February has chosen three entries from the winners category to receive a digital copy of her book, The Natural Soap Color Palette!
Winners Category
Grand Prize
Frosty Christmas
Second Place
View From a Cave
Third Place
Master Builder
Recognition Awards
Best Technique
Criteria Straightest and most layers; excellent combination of techniques
Name Lauren Conn
Location Florida
Link Facebook
Still Waters
Best Presentation
Criteria Well displayed soap with interesting presentation and excellent photography (focus, lighting, etc)
Name Maria Merle
Location Germany
Link Instagram
Line Up
Best Use of Color
Target Practice
Teacher’s Choice #1
Name Diane Schmid
Location Austria
Link Instagram
Feedback “The abstract design makes me think of so many aspects of my childhood, as I’m sure anyone who looks at it would say. From a natural color perspective, I LOVE how it shows off the base color of the soap. Great use of the challenge technique!” -Kandra
Both Sides of Live
Teacher’s Choice #2
Name Etsuko Watanabe
Location Japan
Link Instagram
Feedback “So much to love from the tilted stripes in the heart to the execution of the challenge technique. I really like the texture from the colors and overall design.” -Kandra
Striped Hearts
Teacher’s Choice #3
Name Brigid Allen
Location New Zealand
Link Instagram
Feedback “Perfect lines, and I’m a total sucker from two toned designs!” -Kandra
Tiger Tiger
Advanced Category
Grand Prize
The Drop
Second Place
SugarBear
Third Place
Oak Barrel Cider
Recognition Awards
Best Technique
Criteria Straightest and most layers; excellent combination of techniques
Name Gabriela Hudakova
Location Czech Republic
Link Instagram
Over the Rainbow
Best Presentation
Criteria Well displayed soap with interesting presentation and excellent photography (focus, lighting, etc)
Name Loretta Muise
Location Georgia
Link Instagram
Green & Gold Cold One
Best Use of Color
Criteria Well-mixed, beautiful color palette
Name Maribel Marin Flores
Location Spain
Link Instagram
Estrellas En El Cielo (Stars in the Sky)
Regular Category
Grand Prize
Rainbow Road
Second Place
Have Fun
Third Place
Graveyard Shift
Recognition Awards
Best Technique
Criteria Straightest and most layers
Name Kristine Hillman
Location Texas
Link none
Pumpkin Pecan
Best Presentation
Criteria Well displayed soap with interesting presentation and excellent photography (focus, lighting, etc)
Name Natalia Pestaña Ortiz
Location Spain
Link Instagram
Rose Ice Cream
Best Use of Color
Sepia Mood
Bonus Category
Sponsor’s Choice
Name Audra Weisenberger
Location West Virginia
Link Facebook
Prize $100 gift certificate from Baraka
Feedback “Beautiful colour combination. The artist has a keen eye for that. I enjoy the contrast added with the swirls.” -Kristal
Fall Y’all
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 this month, check out these links:
Registration for the October through December challenges opens Monday, September 25! The October technique is Kaleidosoap-on-a-rope. These are the soaps I made for our tutorial with a soap shaper and PVC mold from our sponsor, Love Your Suds. Check out the Upcoming Challenges page for more information about the November and December challenges and sign up to be notified as soon as registration opens.
