Soap Class Summary Page

It's a *SOAP FRENZY* at The Nova Studio! We are thrilled to offer you a wide variety of soap making classes with skilled & talented instructors. Choose from the classes below and you'll be a soap maker (or soap addict) in no time. Here's a quick list of what's coming up for 2011 & some of 2012 (JUST our soap making classes):

eClass with Color Slide Show: Color With Confidence (Instant Download)
February 4, 2012 - Sat., 10am-1pm - Melt & Pour Soap Crafting 101
February 11, 2012 - Sat., 10am-1pm - Cold Process Soap Making 101
February 11, 2012 - Sat., 2:30-4:30pm - BRAND NEW: CP Soap 201: "Make & Take"
March 3, 2012 - Sat., 10am-1:30pm - BRAND NEW: M&P: Cute "Candy" Confections
March 3, 2012 - Sat., 3-6:30pm - BRAND NEW: M&P: Electric "Pop" Colors
March 9, 2012 - Fri., 6-9pm - Cold Process Soap Making 101
March 10 & 11 - Sat. & Sun., 10am-5pm - 2-Day Soap Making Boot Camp (PART II)
March 10, 2012 - Sat., 10am-1pm - NEW: Milk Soaps: 3 Types
March 10, 2012 - Sat., 2-5pm - NEW: Soaping With Beer, Coffee, & Juice
March 11, 2012 - Sun., 10am-1pm - Transparent Soap Making
March 11, 2012 - Sun., 2-5pm - Liquid Soap Making
April 20, 2012 - Fri., 6-9pm - Cold Process Soap Making 101
April 21 & 22, 2012 - Sat. & Sun., 10am-5pm - 2-Day Soap Making Boot Camp
May 26, 2012 - Sat., 10am-1pm - Cold Process Soap Making 101
May 26, 2012 - Sat., 10am-1pm - Semi-Private CP Soapmaking Session
June 16, 2012 - Sat., 10am-1pm - Cold Process Soap Making 101
June 16, 2012 - Sat., 2:30-4:30pm - BRAND NEW: CP Soap 201: "Make & Take"
July 27, 2012 - Fri., 6-9pm - Cold Process Soap Making 101
July 28 & 29, 2012 - Sat. & Sun., 10am-5pm - 2-Day Soap Making Boot Camp
September 28, 2012 - Fri., 6-9pm - Cold Process Soap Making 101
September 29 & 30 - Sat. & Sun., 10am-5pm -2-Day Soap Making Boot Camp (PART II)
September 29, 2012 - Sat., 10am-1pm - NEW: Milk Soaps: 3 Types
September 29, 2012 - Sat., 2-5pm - NEW: Soaping With Beer, Coffee, & Juice
September 30, 2012 - Sun., 10am-1pm - Transparent Soap Making
September 30, 2012 - Sun., 2-5pm - Liquid Soap Making
October 19, 2012 - Fri., 6-9pm - Cold Process Soap Making 101
October 20 & 21, 2012 - Sat. & Sun., 10am-5pm - 2-Day Soap Making Boot Camp

[scroll down or click on links for a description of each soap class]

The Original 2-Day
Soap Making Boot Camp

[pre-req: CP 101]

2-Day Soap Making Boot Camp

This weekend workshop is attended by students from all over the world (literally!). It's popular with people who already know how to make soap, but want to take their soap to the next level.

It's two jam-packed days of Soap Making Information! You'll learn Advanced Design Techniques from Ruth Esteves of Sirona Springs, like Swirling, Layering, Texturing & Embedding. You'll also learn How to make Hot Process soap using the Crock Pot method. Finally, you'll learn Big Batch/Production Soap Making (how to make 100 bars in one batch) with David Critchfield of Mission Peak Soap Supplies.

Students take home 6 full-sized bars of soap, thorough handouts with instructions, detailed recipes for everything we make & a personalized certificate of completion. Due to the nature of making soap from scratch, classes are demo-style with some hands-on elements (the best & safest way so you’ll feel confident doing it at home). Ideal for out-of-towners flying in to learn all you can about making fantastic soap.
Click HERE for full description.

2-Day Soap Making
Boot Camp - Part II

[pre-req: CP 101]

BRAND NEW "Next-Level"
Soap Making Series:
2-Day Soap Boot Camp - Part II

1) 3 Types of Milk Soaps
Discover the creamy world of milk soaps! When used in place of distilled water, milk is a lovely addition to cold process soap. Many folks consider milk soaps to be milder, more conditioning, and have a creamier lather.

2) Soapmaking w/Beer, Juice & Coffee
Getting bored with your cold process soap? Juice it up! Dump the boring distilled water and get turned onto a variety of interesting liquids that can be used to make soap: coffee, tea, juices, beer & wine! Each one can bring something fun and exciting to your handmade soap!

3) Transparent Soapmaking
Did you know that you can make your own transparent & meltable soaps from scratch? Do you like the creativity & flexibility of Melt & Pour Soap but would prefer to make your own soap rather than purchase from a store or supplier? Handmade Soaps from scratch, both Cold Process and Hot Process, are naturally opaque (i.e., not see-through), but with a few added ingredients, you can put a unique twist on your handmade soap to make it transparent & set it apart from the rest.

4) Liquid Soap Making
Have you heard? Soap savant David Critchfield has been underground in his soap cave all winter (and spring), working on liquid soap formulations until the wee hours of the morning, and he finally emerged and didn't see his shadow! He's ready to share his method exclusively with students at The Nova Studio!

These four classes are designed to take your soapmaking skills from basic to advanced. Your soap will stand above the competition for its craftsmanship & unique appeal. David & Ruth are both successful business owners & have years of soapmaking & teaching experience.

Click HERE for full description.

Cold Process Soap:
(CP 101) The Basics & More

No Pre-Req or Experience Needed

Cold Process Soap Making 101

[Demo] This is the class that started it all (and the one you must take before almost all the others). Come & learn how to make your own all-natural soap from scratch using vegetable oils, herbs, clays for color & pure essential oils for scent. Learn the history & chemistry of soap & why homemade soap is *the* absolute best soap money can buy. Note: CP soap takes 4-6 weeks to cure before using and requires the use of lye (since all real soap must be created using lye). Take home handouts, resources & one awesome bar of soap. Beware... soap making is addicting, so prepare yourself!
Click HERE for a full description & dates.

Cold Process Soap 201:
"Make & Take"

Prerequisite: CP 101 or Equivalent

Cold Process Soap 201: "Make & Take"

[Hands-On]We hear it a lot right after one of our CP Soapmaking 101 classes: "I can't wait to go home and make my own soap!" Well, now you don't have to wait! Come to our afternoon session of CP Soap "Make & Take" and you can customize your own batch of soap that you get to take home. In this group soapmaking session, Nova Studio teacher Ruth Esteves will make a big batch of plain soap & portion out a 2-pound batch to each student. Than YOU get to scent it and color it, pour it into your mold and take it home. Once it's hardened at home, you just slice it into about 9-10 bars and let them cure for 4-6 weeks until they're ready to use!
Click HERE for a full description & dates.

Hands-On CP Soap Lab

Prerequisite: CP 101 or Equivalent

Hands On Cold Process Soap Making Lab

[Hands-On] Are you are a little apprehensive about working with lye? Or is your kitchen is a bit too small or a bit too occupied for a safe & focused soapmaking session? Or maybe you just don't want to deal with ordering all the supplies - you just want to go somewhere, make soap & take it ALL home with you! We’ll be there to lend a helping hand, answer questions or simply observe as you design & make cold process soap. We supply all the raw materials - you just need to bring a few things (call or check website for details). Take home all 18 bars to cure & cut at your leisure.
Click HERE for a full description & dates.

Liquid Soap Making

Prerequisite: CP 101 or Equivalent

Liquid Soap Making (Paste Method)

[Demo] Come & learn how to make your own all-natural liquid soap in this 3-hour demonstration & discussion class. We'll use the paste method to make a gallon of thick, luscious, liquid soap in a slow cooker (crock pot) from plant-based vegetable & nut oils. Because liquid soap cannot be made from start to finish in 3 hours, we will use a batch of paste that was made on a prior day, but show from the beginning how that paste was made. You’ll also learn how to use phenolphthalein to test the pH of your soap & adjust as necessary. Take home a 4 oz. bottle of liquid soap, custom scented with your choice of essential oils.
Click HERE for a full description & dates.

Transparent Soap Making

Prerequisite: CP 101 or Equivalent

Transparent Soapmaking

[Demo] Handmade Soap from scratch (Cold Process & Hot Process) is opaque (i.e., not see-through), but with a few added ingredients, you can put a unique twist on your handmade soap that will set it apart from the rest. This is a new class, so students who sign-up should expect a few kinks. The making of transparent soap from start to finish takes longer than 3 hours, so parts of the process will be pre-made (where necessary). Students take home 1 full-sized bar of soap (in a to-go container) made in class, to cure at home & handouts which include the recipe made in class, as well as instructions.
Click HERE for a full description & dates.

Alternative Liquids: Soapmaking with Beer, Juice, & Coffee

Prerequisite: CP 101 or Equivalent

Alternative Liquids: Soapmaking with Beer, Juice & Coffee

[Demo] Once you've got your soapmaking skills solidly learned, you'll start wishing there was more you could do with those delicious soaps you're pumping out. No worries - now that you know how to soap with water, you'll need to learn how to make soap with other liquids (like alcohols & juices!). Ruth has plenty of experience in the field & you won't be disappointed in the new levels of soapmaking you'll learn in this three hour demonstration-style class.
Click HERE for a full description & dates.

Melt & Pour Soap 101

[No Experience Necessary]

BRAND NEW
Melt & Pour Soap Making 101

In this fun workshop, you will learn about the types of melt and pour soap bases, the basics of melting your soap, various options for coloring and scenting, different and creative molds, and how to cut and package your soap. After covering the basics, you will learn and practice techniques such as layering, embedding, marbling, making soap embeds, and adding additives to your soap. The class uses a high quality natural soap base that is SLS-free and has no animal ingredients. You will receive a helpful handout and make and take home four impressive full sized bars of soap, all packaged and ready to gift.
Click HERE for a full description & dates.

Special Weekend with Debbie Chialtas of SoapyLove

[No Experience Necessary]

BRAND NEW
Special Weekend with
Debbie Chialtas of SoapyLove

1) Melt & Pour Soap:
Cute "Candy" Confections
Learn to make Princess Soapy Pops, Confetti Sprinkles Bar Soap, and Frozen friends soap - adorable soap creations modeled after sweets.

2) Melt & Pour Soap:
Electric "Pop" Colors
Master the techniqes required to make Pop Star Soap, "I Heart Soap", and Retro Robot Soap with awesome, bright colors!

Click HERE for full description.

Soaping With Milk: 3 Types

Prerequisite: CP 101 or Equivalent

Soaping with Milk: 3 Types

[Demo] Ruth is a small business owner & soap teacher with loads of experience. In this class she demonstrates her knowledge of soaping with different types of milks & all the considerations that come with working with a liquid other than water. Ruth will provide all the information you need to be able to make you own unique & lovely milk soaps from scratch in this 3-hour demonstration-style class.
Click HERE for a full description & dates.

Coloring Soap with Confidence

No Pre-Req or Experience Needed

Coloring Soap with Confidence

Many people make good handcrafted soap that feels great on the skin. But what sets yours apart from the rest? A beautifully colored soap attracts attention and practically sells itself. Do you want to know the difference between dyes and pigments? Do oxides morph or bleed in soap? What is a lake color? All these questions and more will be answered in this class.You will see results of 77 different colors tested in cold process soap in pigments, dyes, lakes, neons, pop micas and natural colors. Students will take home very thorough handouts, color samples and get access to the power point presentation to print at home.
Click HERE for a full description & dates.
or Click HERE to buy the E-Class Downloads.