Two weeks ago, I made some gemstone soaps, and in the comments, Anne-Marie said " I could see you doing so much with the gemstone soaps" which got me thinking. I remembered seeing a post on Otion's blog about making geodes and I wondered how I could use their idea and make it my own.
Good thing I started this experiment early in the week because it was not working the way I wanted. After some thought, and re-reading the post again, I decided on a variation of how they did their geodes. Also I wasn't wanting a geode per se, but rather to look like a gem was being mined.
I melted clear soap and mixed in some black lustre mica (oooh shiny!) and dipped the gem soap into it. I thought it'd be like working with chocolate, where you have to get a thin layer on and keep building it up slowly. Eventually I worked it out that if I set the gem into the black soap, and let it partially set, it would come out in bigger chunks. In the second gem, I added some activated charcoal to give the "rock"more blackness.
 |
| Dipping the gemstone into liquid soap. Hard to have something to hang onto! |
 |
| Finished "sapphire"-ish gemstone |
 |
| My diamond in the rough |
Rock-on with those just-mined gems! How cool is that!
ReplyDeleteThanks Silvia! Next time I'm hiring 7 dwarves to do this though. ;)
DeleteLol!
DeleteLove this! Very creative the way you've dipped the soap to achieve the different layers.
ReplyDeleteThanks Carrie! It's amazing how laziness can also be the mother of invention.
DeleteDude! Well played! You are much more adventurous than I am - I usually just stick to the loaf mold.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever made loofah soaps? Where the loofah is in the soap? I saw those once and have always wanted to try that - even though I don't really do melt and pour. But I wanna try growing the loofahs first in my garden...
Lindsey, I'd do more soaps in a loaf mold if I had one. I'm still waiting to remember to buy one so I can other cool soaps. THis is my "make what I can with what I have" invention.
DeleteI haven't tried making a loofah soap yet, but one came with the kit I had, so I'm going to try it out. You're hilarious BTW. :) Can you make loofah soaps with CP soaps? If you grow loofahs, I'd love to see the pictures.
I think the sapphire one looks awesome! If the diamond were clearer soap base, it'd be great too!
ReplyDeleteThanks Teresa! I think the sapphire should be a lot darker, and you're right, both soaps would benefit from a clearer base. Oh my list for my next trek down to Bellingham.
DeleteOh dear, they look so real! Now, you really could fool your f&f, giving them a piece of luxury! Greatly done, Monica!
ReplyDeleteYou're so sweet Maja, thank you. Now who's the one with all the nice things to say? I could tell people this is a poor man's gem. :D
DeleteThose are soooo cool Monica! I love the way you made them so that they are peeking out of the rocks. Very clever and so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cee! I had thought of encasing the entire thing in black, but people might think they're buying lumps of coal and that would defeat the purpose of having the gems.
DeleteWhat a cool idea, Monica! I love how the gemstones are emerging from the rocks. Great job!
ReplyDeleteThank you Jenny! It was fun to try and think of something a little different.
DeleteThey look so real, Monica!
ReplyDeleteReally creative, congratulations!
Thanks Natalia! I hope I can fool some people at least. ;)
Delete