Create unique decorative soaps using dollar store items! This give looks amazing in person and is surprisingly easy to make!
With Mother’s Day right around the corner, I needed to come up with a fabulous craft idea. You see, my sister and I have a silent competition that has been going on since we were little. We try our best to one-up each other every year. This year, she is taking Mom to Disney World. How can I compete with that? What about homemade decorative soaps?
For the decorative soap I used:
Unscented white soaps from the Dollar Store
Printed fabric
Mod Podge
Wax
I first found a fabric with motifs on it that are small enough for the front of the soaps. I located a fabric that had birds all over it. Mom loves birds. So this one was kinda obvious. I cut each individual bird from the fabric, one for each soap that I was going to make. Options for this project include using scrap book paper designs or even stickers for the decorations on the soaps.
Take the wrappers off the soaps. I happened to buy Jergens brand, which unfortunately has the brand name embedded in each soap. I found that was common with every soap in the Dollar Store. No problem. I simply took a paring knife and sliced a thin layer off the front of the soap, creating a smooth surface for my fabric print.
Brush a bit of Mod Podge on the back of each print and smooth onto the front of the soap. The Mod Podge is simply there to hold the fabric in place until the next step. You do not need to coat the top of the fabric with Mod Podge.Now create a double boiler with one pan inside another. The bottom pan has boiling water. The pan on top is one that I use only for crafting purposes. Since clean up of wax can be difficult, I recommend having a pan that is assigned for this type of craft. I used one small piece of paraffin and melted it fully in the pan.
Now take each soap, held by tongs and dip the front of the soap into the melted wax. Lift out and allow it to dry. Then dip it again. You may want to dip it as many as three times for a good even protective coating.Since you are only dipping the front of the soap in wax, the soap can still be used and the design will stay intact. Pretty, huh?So I went back to the dollar store and bought some washcloths, a basket, some bath salts, emery boards and some cute little birdies.
I added some bubble wrap to the bottom of the basket and covered it with one of the washcloths.I then tied up the other washcloths with pretty ribbon and added the rest of the dollar store items, finishing it off with the decorative soaps and a pretty ribbon around the basket. The little birdies are hot glued onto the basket.
Certainly not a good as Disney World, but I’m betting Mom will appreciate the thought.If you enjoyed this tutorial, you might like my Doodle Frame tutorial. Another easy gift that you can make with very few supplies.Or check out my Faux Stained Glass tutorial. Making stained glass using acrylic paints and school glue.For over 150 more tutorials for all ages, be sure to visit my
Tutorial Page!
Thank you so much Carolyn! Would love to see what you make!
suzy
Love the soaps.cant wait to make them. I remember seeing Christmas ones years ago but I love the birds. As I said before you are so talented and share your talent with others.God Bless you Suzy .. Carolyn
Could you use clear melted soap instead of wax?
I've never seen this. Very cool!
Love those vintage bird images, Suzy. You truly have some of the most original ideas in the blog world…
Thanks for linking up at Creative Juice. Hope to see you back tonight!
I cannot wait to try this! Such a great gift idea! Thanks for linking up!
Hi Suzy~
Glad to see you pulled this great idea from the craft vault! LOL!! It's actually a wonderfully timeless idea. Thanks for linking to my K.I.S.S. blog bash last week, looking forward to seeing what you share this week.
Drop By The Tattered Tag
awesome! back in about 1983 or so, when I was in elementary school, my friend had a birthday party and we made these! With Strawberry Shortcake on them. I still have that bar of soap in my sock drawer….
What a cool idea, and so versatile.
Thank you so much for stopping by and linking up to {nifty thrifty sunday}!
I hope to see you again tomorrow!
xoxo,
Vanessa
love it, I'm sure your mom will too! Thanks so much for sharing on Craft Schooling Sunday!
Very good idea! And looks easy enough to do with kiddos for teachers or grandparents. 🙂
Found you via Free Pretty Things' link party 🙂
~meri
That makes a beautiful gift set! I have always wondered, though… what happens if you try to use the soap? I can't imagine using something that pretty anway! Great job!
WOW! Totally creative! They turned out great.
Delighted Momma
This is such a good idea. One can make soaps of many different themes, holidays, etc.
Thanks for sharing.
Michele
The soaps are so pretty- I love the vintage bird images you chose! Your mom is lucky to have a talented daughter to make her such a lovely gift!
Pretty–I'm sure she'll love them!
that is cool…love those vintage birds!!
april
xoxo
So pretty!!! The bird pictures really make them look vintage!!! I'm sure your mom will love it! Thanks for linking to Fancy This Fridays!
My Gram use to do this!!
I still have some soaps she made!!
I'm going to have to try it!!!
I'd love it and would love it if you linked up to this weeks Glitter link party! http://runwithglitter.blogspot.com/2011/04/running-with-glitter-6-link-party.html
Those turned out great!
Wow Suzy! That basket looks fantastic! Great idea with the soaps – Totally different to Disneyworld!! but just as special 🙂
Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a great week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/
What a neat craft and a lovely gift. The soap and the basket look great!
I'm a new Follower…love your site:)
I would rather have something as lovely as these are and handmade with love any day.
This is a wonderful idea. Great job! I'm a new follower, won't you follow me back? http://www.carla-writes.blogspot.com
This is such a cool idea!! Very cute – I love the birds.
Those are pretty. I remember making ones like that when I was younger. It's funny, but I haven't used a bar of soap for years. I guess I'm a liquid soap girl now.
What a clever idea! They look wonderful. I really like the fact that you can make them with any design or maybe even a photo. Great job!
I remember doing this project at school when I was a child, as Christmas gifts. We used paper cut-outs of Christmasy things to decorate the soap. Your gift basket looks fantastic!
These are so cute!! I was wondering how the little birds stayed on until I read the wax part…..
What a GREAT idea! I'm definitely going to be trying this.
Cheers,
Tracy All Thumbs Crafts
I make soap so when I first saw the picture I was staring in amazement of you soaping abilities. When I read how easy it is I was jealous that I didn't think of it, lol! I can't wait to try it on some of my own bars, thanks for posting this. Shannon
Oh my, your soaps are just the coolest!! Aren't they fabulous? TFS!
I'm thinking the dollar store needs to hire you. The could have the whole crafting section in their advertising with all the treasures. The things you come up are amazing!
They are beautiful. I want some!!!
Wow! Moms gonna love it! Actually, she's paying her own way to Disney, hahahaha I haven't even figured out what I'm getting her for mothers day, AAAHHHHHH!!!!!
WHat a fantastic gift,very nice, love the soaps!
Paula
oh suzy, you are so cool.
love your tutorials! great idea!