Lily of the Valley Soap – Thin Line of Mica

June 29, 2011 by | 18 Comments

I promised one of my friends that I would make more Lily of the Valley soap, and I figured it was a good recipe to try out a new-to-me technique. I made the thin dark line of cocoa powder in the Sunset Swirls soap using a flour sifter, but then I read this article by Nizzy about making thin lines of mica using pantyhose as the sifter over the jar.

Since floral fragrances tend to set up rather quickly, I made the bottom layer the largest, and added yellow mica and the fragrance to this layer:

Bottom layer of soap in the mold

I dug to the back of my sock drawer for an old pair of cream-colored nylons. They must be 10 years old! I didn’t even bother to cut them off – just rubberbanded them to my jar of green mica and went to work. A few light taps with my fingers on the back of the jar gave a nice light puff of mica over the yellow layer of soap:

Tapping a line of mica over the yellow layer of soap

I hope I got enough of the green mica on there. I didn’t want to add so much that the layers would separate.

Finished layer of green mica

Then I wiped the edges of the freezer paper before adding the final “frosting” of white, unscented soap over the top. I textured it just a bit, but didn’t add any glitter. (I’m still a bit gun-shy after the discoloration issues I had before.) The spatula got a bit of green mica on it, so I must have dug down a little too deep when I was trying to get the white soap filled in around the edges. Otherwise, I think it worked pretty well!

White textured soap on top

Can’t wait to cut it tomorrow! Photos will be coming soon…

Update: Click here to see the final reveal!

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  5. We sure are girl!! When will the unveiling begin? Inquiring minds wanna know! *lol*

  8. I’ve been using Nizzy’s method for yonks… works really well. And let me stress; do NOT make the dark line too thick! Ask me how I know 😉 Like the others, I can’t wait for the reveal. It will look fantabulous 🙂 Try this… push the first layer up and down into waves, sprinkle the colourant, and then put your top layer on. Makes a lovely wobbly line if it works properly. Giving away my secrets for free 🙂

  9. @kez – Yes, Nizzy describes texturing that first layer, but I had to work fast just to get it all in the mold! It was textured some, just the way it fell in, so I left it at that. Hoping to get it cut later today! Should be great!

  11. I love Lily of the Valley! It’s one of the few floral scents that I can actually stand! I never thought to use a stocking as a filter. How clever…

  12. Hello Amy,

    The white textured soap, as shown in that photo, looks incredible. Nice job!

    I like the “frosting” effect you pulled off.

    The mica seemed to work well, also.

    I am sure it will turn out very nicely when you soon cut it.

    You have a real knack for experimenting and for being resourceful Amy!

  13. I learned from Nizzy, too! I use little plastic jars with lids (like empty spice jars), put in some colorant, add the panty hose to the top like you did (except I cut a little piece 🙂 ), and then the lid screws on, too. That way it’s always ready for a little sprinkle!

  15. Wow Amy, I couldn’t believe the size of your mold, makes mine look like baby’s, don’t know how I’d go lifting it LOL. I just love that frosting on the top.

  16. @Jan – It makes 30 bars. Can’t even get the whole thing in the photo! LOL! It’s pretty easy to grab by the ends though.

  17. I love the way the thin line of mica looks in the finished soap. Did it smear at all when you cut the bars? It’s beautiful. ;0)

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