I originally wrote this post back in May upon returning from the 2013 Handcrafted Soap and Cosmetic Guild Conference for the Soap Queen blog-somehow I believe it got lost in the post conference/new Bramble Baby shuffle on the Bramble Berry end,so while it's not exactly timely it's still great information and was very well presented. I don't give you the "full" instructions for making the molds, but merely an overview as Amanda Griffin does have a nice PDF for download on her website Lovin Soap.
Saturday was a day full of interesting sessions, one of
which was a session by Amanda Griffin on how to make single cavity silicone
molds. Amanda lives in Dallas,
Texas and teaches
soapmaking classes that
include the basics of formulation as well as more advanced soapmaking
techniques that include working with color, swirling and she’ll even teach you
how to make your very own silicone molds.
Have you ever found a little ornament you thought would be
the cutest soap, or wished you could make your soap into something more
personal? Learning to make your own single cavity silicone molds offers you a
wide range of new and interesting shapes for your soaps. Think about unique
shapes such as -Buddhas, pine cones, cupcakes, fake food, grandma’s figurines,
thrift store finds, and holiday themed items-the possibilities are endless.
Within the session Amanda explained the types of materials
that were best suited for the use of making silicone molds. Pretty much
anything goes, however your surface needs to be non-porous, if you find the
item you’ve selected is porous be sure to seal it before making your mold.
You will also need to give thought as to how pliable you
would want your mold to be for example; if you are making a slab or log mold
you might want the walls to be more sturdy to hold in the larger amount of
soap. Small single cavity molds will need to be more pliable to release your
small irregular shaped item.
Amanda gave several examples of household items that can be
used to make a mold box-the mold box holds the item you want to cast (and will ultimately become your mold);
such as a pine cone, fake food item, nail polish, etc. She also explained that
in order to make the proper amount of silicone you need to figure up the cubic
inches within your mold box minus the space your item will take away-don’t be
afraid there’s a calculator for that.
Amanda shows us how to make an easy mold box out of a cup and paper plate
Pouring silicone from up high reduces bubbles
One great option for pourable silicone is an all
inclusive
kit from Bramble Berry that includes Part A and Part B with
complete e- book instructions written by Amanda Griffin. This kit is perfect for making
fun single cavity molds.
Silicone slab/log molds make soapmaking so much easier as
they solve the huge problem of getting your soap to release without the
headache of all that pushing, tugging and destruction of your soap-saving you
time and money. Making your own mold is a great solution to the costly expense
of purchasing a ready made mold and if you want a very specific size it is the best
option. Amanda showed us how she made her very own
slab
mold from just a few pieces of melamine (as her mold box) from the local
hardware store and pourable silicone. Yes, a new slab/log mold is really just a
DIY project away.
