LaVida

I forgot to add this is the forst post.... I insulate... the book doesn't say to do so, but I do it because heat is key... I put the top to the steel pot on then the towels then the other topsy tirvy top... *s* Thank You WildAngel! It hold up really well actually. I put the whole thing on my yahoo 360 page.. http://360.yahoo.com/lavidab77

*lol* That's so funny you posted your soap....it's very pretty! I told Hibiscus I'd post my tutorial so there's another loooooooooooooooong liquid soap thread.... what method did you use?

Water, Veg. Glycerin, Alcohol & 33% Borax Sol. paste diluting.... it takes FOREVER.. I had to use 3 - 4 x's more alcohol to dilute... all of it evaporated. All of paste diluted FINALLY!! Frothy Bubbles went down After cooking a few minutes... 1. Strained (I'll dilute what I strained later) 2. Put into 64 oz bottle (not trans. because of bubbles and lots of movement.) 3. ..... PH at 10 and bottle.... Not clear because of stirring fragrance, honey and color in... (I reheat in thr mic. before I add additives) VOILA... Pictures taken at work.. I had to bring the bottle with me..*l*

ok, HP/ Stove Top/ Dbl boiler method - from Liquid Soap by Cavitch... After first soupy trace, Turning to Taffy Thicker Taffy 1. Pushed Aside to see bottom for lye seperation, none present Yippy. 2. About 2.5 hours after cook phase - clearly not enough time. We're looking for a transparent look... 2.5 hours later... this is what we're looking for. Stored for a week in the fridge (you can store this as long as you'd like to..I usually dilute the entire batch but I went with 2 lbs)... I reheated the 2 lbs in a dbl boiler..... I couldn't wait for the 2 lbs to re-heat so I just transfered the pot to direct heat. ...continued........ I'll post the rest of the pic's in a second. I'm not sure how many photo's you can add.......

I did a 6 lb batch of paste... I used 2 lbs of the paste this weekend and it pade about 32 oz plus (because I like a thick gel)... I brought my digicam and my scandisk here to work so I can upload my pic's today... I'll do that in a little bit..I'm an addict, I had to bring the 4 oz bottle I made up for myself this morning.. I grabbed the wrong color dye too.. it's supposed to be an aqua blue but I grabbed 2 greens instead.... give me a little bit-o-time... I use the cheap 3 set steel pots from Wal-mart and the huge speckled pot that was only like $5.00 (I can't remember) as my dbl boilers.. but there will be pic's so you know what I'm talking about.......

I tried looking them up they are much like the trash bag material but hevier right? Mm...I'd probably go with Cellophane, Frosted (one of my favorites.. haven't used it yet, I went with cumbersome jars) or the tin tie kraft bags... You know how trash bags get once something is in them.. it takes on the shape of whatever is inside..... OR place the bags you have inside another, or put a cigar band around it OR just put a pretty label on it....

Hibiscus.... isn't it a loooooooooooooooooong painstaking process... I'm on dilution stage right now...ugh... The end result is fabulous though.... Maybe I should try the crock pot method sometimes.... Brenda this is definitely a winter project... I figured since I sell it I better make some. *s*

Robin, this is a great idea too.... I have ton's of these.... I'll try it and post pic's after....

Hibiscus... about that size... a little shorter would be nice.. but if they're that size that's fine. I have 2 steel baking pans... you think I can use those? I may have to just use a bundt cake pan

What type pans does everyone that makes soap cakes use.... I've seen silicone cake pans (non Bundt - they have a bunch of silicone bundt cake pans everywhere).... I just can't seem to find a full size circular cake pan w/out the hole in the middle. Does anyone have an idea where I could find one? Question 2.. I bought 2 steel baking pans (cake layering pans). Can I use these for the mold just by lining with a heavy plastic first?

what's PKO?

Wow, Hibiscus!! It came out GREAT!!! Now how long did it take in the crock pot? I'll post my picture's this weekend when the entire batch is diluted....

hijacking the whole forum? No way...... that's a good thing, posting the pictures. I stored my paste in the fridge from last weekend... I took picture's up to that stage. I'll let you know when the complete process is on my yahoo 360 album... I have to go see your photo's......

The first time I used Thesoapdish.com I just ordered from Saratogascents.com / McGregor Mt Soaps (same place).... Mine should be here any moment

Is it a big paste slab yet? What method are you using? I use Cathy Failor's method and I cook it WAAAAAAY longer than the 3 hrs... I insulate with utility cloth's and both pot tops.... take pic's!!

Thank you ..... I got the hand blender (stick,whipper, puree'er *l* and there's another attachment) from Macys... I get a lot from there... it was only $20.00 or $29.00.. I should have gotten 2 ... it's very handy...... I think it's by Braun(?)... I got the molds from flexiblemolds.com.... I wanted to buy the whole store... boy if I had a couple thousand $'s I could do some SERIOUS soap damage...*l*... I want this pie mold www.soapmoldsrus.com

Watch the pineapple... it may turn brown... there's a LOT of acid in that so there's going to be a chemical reaction.... It may be orange or brown... look at my Citrus/Honey/Ginger soaps... here's the link: http://360.yahoo.com/la77ny

Mine errupted with a pringle's can too.... I'll try the pringles can again... I insullated w/ my Honey Calenomile I love cucumber puree... Have you tried Carrot too. Those are the only fresh veggie's that work for me... I used Kiwi and Strawberry... the soap is very nice but I don't like the look... I have photo's if you're interested....

I need a brown color... not shiny like the Mica's..... Will some kind of clay work?

I have wanted to order candy corn all week.....Thanks for posting.. Now I just have to look at the abbreviation for BCN..... Thank you!

I make my own then scoop it w/ a big plastic spatula and sanitized spoon (both with alcohol) into a reusable (I think it's vinyl?) Wilton piping bag....

I sure can't wait to do a layer like this... it's beautiful!

I didn't mean to bumbard your thread... Iwanted to share with you all. I love your idea!! I bet the children got a huge kick out of that! ..... It's A LOT cheaper to make something than to buy it, isn't it?... and why would you when you have the talent and creativity? I'm brainstorming for holiday sales now....

why am I smelling strawberry and getting an urge for strawberries and whipped cream? Those look great!

Thank you both for your replies... I will be using CP so if the soap gels (most likely it will) it won't work out... I want the crust to be separate from the "custard" part and I'd rather not paint a crust bottom on..... I plan on using the silicone mold..... don't you love silicone molds!