Who Wants to Learn the Mantra Swirl?

Registration for the next Soap Challenge Club opens on Monday! We will be learning TWO different mantra swirl techniques this time – members will choose ONE to enter for the challenge. Only members of the Soap Challenge Club will have access to the instructional video plus written instructions to create their soaps. In addition, members will be able to vote for the soap that best represents the mantra swirl or shows the most creativity. Please note that the Soap Challenge Club is open to any soapmaker who chooses to join. Members will be expected to have a basic knowledge of how to make cold-processed soap.

This month’s sponsor is Majestic Mountain Sage. They will be awarding a $100 gift certificate to the winner of this challenge! If you need suggestions for what to get from them, just let me know. I sorta love their products and can make some recommendations for you!!

So what’s a mantra swirl? It’s usually a 3-color technique that is difficult to explain, but easier to show:

Original Mantra Swirl by Nicole Benitez
Original Mantra Swirl by Nicole Benitez
Mantra Swirl by Barbara King
Mantra Swirl by Barbara King

I haven’t mastered this technique by any means, but these are the two soaps I’ll be demonstrating how to make using two different mantra swirling techniques when you join this month’s Club. They are both made with the new Day Glo colorants from Majestic Mountain Sage:

Original Mantra Swirl, scented with Pink Lemonade essential oil blend
Original Mantra Swirl, scented with Pink Lemonade essential oil blend
Advanced/Modified Mantra Swirl - I call this one Patchouli Tie Dye!
Advanced/Modified Mantra Swirl – I call this one Patchouli Tie Dye!

Two changes I’ve made since last month, based on feedback from the survey:
1. Deadlines will be extended for the time to make the soap, and the time to vote.
2. Recognition for 2nd & 3rd place, with FREE REGISTRATION for the next month’s Soap Challenge Club as a prize!

Here are the important dates:
Monday, June 24 – Registration opens
Monday, July 1, 2013 – Registration will CLOSE
Wednesday, July 10, 2013 – The link-up to share your soap will OPEN
Saturday, July 13, 2013 – The link-up will CLOSE, and voting will begin
Wednesday, July 17, 2013 – Voting will CLOSE, winners will be contacted!

I asked members from last month’s Club to share what they thought was the BEST part. Here are some of their responses:

“It was FUN! Everyone was friendly, the challenge was, well … challenging, and we all learned, regardless of skill level.”

“The best part for me was finally taking the time to try a new technique, and doing it with a bunch of other soapers. Very cool!”

“I loved having the instructions and video…so helpful, and it gave me the confidence to try it. I also loved seeing all the entries.”

“Seeing other peoples videos and all the different methods to achieve the same ending!”

“I feel getting people from all over the world coming together and pushing ourselves to get the best we can achieve, just great fun for all soapers to come together really and learn from each other”

“I do a lot of wholesale production and lately I’ve been a bit bored so this challenge has renewed my interest in the craft. Thanks!”

“Being part of the challenge gives me the incentive to push beyond my comfort zone to learn and practice new skills.”

“Feeling like I had a deadline to do the challenge and knowing that I wasn’t alone in it. That there was a community.”

“Great tutorial, motivation+trying new technique, seeing all the beauty; best part – being part of the group, experiencing together”

“The best part for me was checking out everyone’s entries and showing mine to the other soapers.”

“Getting to be included in an awesome group of people. Very exciting!”

“I thought everything was extremely well arranged. The how-to video was very well done, clear and easy to follow and the link up and voting were easy peasy! Well done!”

If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments:

Page with Comments

  1. I can’t wait to join in the fun again. Mantra Swirl will be great. Thanks, Amy!

  2. So to be clear, we have between July 1 and July 10 to make our soap? Hmmmm, I’ve never even attempted a Mantra swirl, I might play along.

  3. @Michele – That’s correct! Actually, if you register on Monday, you would have from then until July 10th, which is almost two & a half weeks! Would love to have you join us!!

  4. Me!Me!Me! I so want to learn this fantastic technique. The one time I attempted it was an almighty failure, so thanks so much Amy for organising this great learning opportunity.

  5. Once registered, do we use our usernames and passwords from the first challenge to access the instruction Amy? Then we choose one mantra swirl technique to enter, correct? (original or new)

  6. @Becky – We have to start fresh each time, unfortunately. I’ll be sending your new username & password shortly. And YES, choose one soap to enter for the challenge.

  7. I’m so excited to see what people make! I haven’t tried the mantra swirl myself and I think it is time that I do it!

    Good luck to everyone!

  8. I am so excited, I have been searching the web and the examples that I have seen are gorgeous.I can’t wait for my password so I can watch and get started. If I can get mine to turn out half as pretty as what I have seen I will count myself a winner.

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