Homemade Soap
Difficulty: Very Easy
Age: 4 and up
Average User Rating:
Parental supervision is recommended
Suds aren't the only result of this easy kids' soap making craft. Candy molds turn ordinary soap into fun shapes and great gifts.
What you'll need:
- Glycerin soap in lots of colors (This only works with glycerine soap -- transparent Neutrogena bars will work fine.)
- Soap or candy molds
- Microwave
- Microwavable cups (don't worry-the soap washes off :) or you can use paper cups -- but watch your fingers!)
- Plastic or metal spoons and/or wooden Popsicle sticks or coffee stirrers
- Knife (sharp-watch your fingers)
How to make it:
- Set out everything you need, all ingredients, etc. on top of the kitchen table (or other comfortable working area) that has been covered in newspaper.
- Cut bars of soap into about three pieces.
- Put a piece into a cup (cut the pieces in half if you are going to mix colors).
- Put soap in microwave and melt it on high for about 10-15 seconds (no kidding!) It may take a bit longer on low-wattage microwaves. If it doesn't start to liquefy in 15 seconds or it starts to bubble or boil, you may not have a pure glycerin soap bar.
- Remove it using a potholder, and stir it to mix thoroughly.
- Pour melted soap (you have to work quickly here -- it hardens really fast!) into molds.
- Wait about 5 minutes for it to harden and cool.
- Remove from molds, and keep going! It gets to be quite addicting!
- Put soap in gift bags or bath bags (see my project) to give out as presents!
Tips:
- If you are having difficulty getting the soap out of the molds, put them in the
freezer for a few minutes, or a half hour or so, that should do it. - If the soap still sticks to the molds, you can put olive oil in the soap or oil the molds with oil or cooking spray.
- Sandra Friesen shares another soap making recipe using soap flakes and water.
- Other projects that use candy molds are: Recycled Crayons and Valentine's Day Pins
