Seven Messy Babies

Soap gentle enough for babies, luxurious enough for a spa.

Multi-Colored Gradient Soap Challenge

After taking my baby time-out, I’ve finally rejoined the Soap Challenge (now a Club!) put on by Amy Warden of Great Cakes Soapworks. This month’s challenge was to create a seven-layer multi-colored gradient soap. Last year, I created Sage & Citrus gradient soap using only one color. It was fun, and I’ve used the technique again, but I’ve never tried it with multiple colors! Challenge on!

I searched through my growing supply of fragrances to find one that had multiple facets to inspire several color choices. The winner was Satsuma, a very bright citrus scent with a mix of juicy ruby red grapefruit, sweet orange, and tangerine. What better colors to use than those new neon samples I’ve been waiting to try?! I chose Neon Laser Lemon for the bottom layer, Neon Citrus Blast for the middle (an awesome bright orange color), and Neon Tutti Frutti (HOT pink) for the top. Even the names of the colors are perfect! They’re also side-by-side on the color wheel, making them beautifully blendable.

Thanks to Amy’s step-by-step tutorial, I was very comfortable creating the right amounts of soap needed for each layer. I began by making the lye solution and letting it cool to about 100 degrees. The oils with fragrance added were at about 110 degrees when I added the lye and blended to emulsification. This fragrance worked wonderfully, allowing me plenty of time to play with colors. In fact, I almost wished things would move a little faster! Almost

Here are the three main colors getting ready to be poured.

Here are the three main colors getting ready to be poured.

Here’s a look at the layering process.

Layers 1 & 2 of Gradient Soap

First and second layers

Layers 3 & 4 of Gradient Soap

Third and fourth layers

Layers 5 & 6 of Gradient Soap

Fifth and sixth layers

Final layer of Gradient Soap

Final layer!

The raw soap colors were very pretty but weren’t very extreme, so I put it in the oven to force full gel, hoping to bring out those neons. 

Satsuma Gradient Soap

Wow, do they pop!?! The colors are absolutely neon now, and they blended together so well. My girls love the bright pink tops, too. When Annabelle (one of the triplets) saw it, she squealed, “Mommy, you made me a rainbow soap!” She went to tell her sisters, then they all ran in together oo-ing and ah-ing over the “pwitty wainbow” soap. Too cute! They obviously approve of my color choices, and I’m pretty darn pleased as well!

Satsuma Gradient Soap

You can see that some of the layers aren’t completely flat. I have a few waves from where the layer beneath was still rather soft when I spooned on the next. I really love the effect that it made!

Satsuma Gradient Soap

Satsuma Gradient Soap

As always, I had a great time taking part in this challenge. I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone else created!

0 Comments

  1. Dianne Forrester

    Love the bright colours…very pretty 🙂

    Reply
    1. Katy

      Thanks, Dianne! I just got a quick glance at your soap, and OH MY! It’s so pretty! My girls would really flip out over that “wainbow”!

      Reply
  2. maitriscraps

    Beautiful gradient! I’m a huge fan of pink and orange together.

    Victoria
    http://maitribathbody.com

    Reply
    1. Katy

      Thanks, Victoria! I am loving these colors together too! My girls seriously can’t keep away from it either. They keep pulling up stools to the shelf it’s on so they can grab a bar to smell it and see the pretty colors.

      Reply
  3. Vicki

    This is booootiful! Love the colours

    You have such a beautiful family – I take my hat off to you… I thought I was busy with a three year old and a 5 month old!!

    Soaping is my ‘me’ time too – I’m going to follow your blog and hopefully pick up some time management tips ha ha! 😀

    Reply
    1. Katy

      Thanks! Not sure you’re going to pick up many time management tips from me, though! I just try to survive each day, one at a time, making sure everyone is fed and alive! So far, so good. Sounds like you’re busy, too! Glad to “meet” you!

      Reply
      1. Vicki

        🙂 You too Katy!

        Reply
  4. Amy Warden

    Looks fantastic, Katy!! So glad you decided to join us again! 🙂

    Reply
    1. Katy

      I’m so glad I joined you all again, too, Amy! Thanks again for putting this all together. It’s so fun to be a part of such an awesome community. Everyone is so friendly and so talented!

      Reply
  5. Sharon Phillips

    Very bright and cheery! Very beautiful!~~Sharon

    Reply
  6. Marie

    What a great looking soap! Those colours just pop off the screen. Very lovely indeed!

    Reply
  7. Cee

    Gorgeous Katy, I love the way those neons popped from being gelled! Beautiful gradient of colors 🙂

    Reply
  8. Katy

    Thanks everyone for the comments! I do love these bright and cheery neons, too! Believe it or not, the pink in the soap nearly matches my 1962 pink porcelain bathtub in one bathroom in my house that desperately needs remodeling! Haha!

    Reply
  9. Shannon @ SmelliciousSoaps

    So pretty and fresh looking!

    Reply
  10. mijnzeep1

    So beautiful! I am impressed by your perfect layers!

    Reply
  11. Gail

    I bet it smells as good as it looks too Katy! Lovely.

    Reply
  12. Barbora

    Beautiful soap, love it! I like the vibrant colours, very nice yellow. And the gradient is gorgeous!

    Reply
  13. byswanee

    lovely.

    Reply

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