Creative Soap Making

Citrus Slice Soap Bars

Materials:

6" of 2" round PVC pipe
6" of 3" round PVC pipe
clear glycerin soap
white glycerin soap
orange fragrance
orange colorant
plastic wrap
rubber bands
1-1/2" thick dowel (to use as plunger)

Steps:

1. To prepare the mold, first wash out the PVC pipe to clean out the dust. Cut a large piece of plastic wrap and fold it into eight layers so that it is thick enough to hold the soap inside the pipe. Use a rubber band to affix the plastic onto one end of the 2-inch pipe (figure A).

2. Melt, color, and scent approximately 14 ounces of clear glycerin soap. Pour it into the prepared 2-inch mold (figure B). Let harden without moving for approximately 45 minutes. Put into freezer for about 10-15 minutes so that the soap is easier to remove from the pipe.

3. Using the dowel rod, push the soap out of the pipe (figure C). Let return to room temperature before cutting.

4. Cut the soap in half vertically, and cut each half into thirds so that you have six long wedges (figure D). Keep the pieces in order so that your finished slices look somewhat uniform.

5. Place another large piece of plastic folded into eight layers on your work surface. Take your six citrus wedges and arrange them spread a little apart in the center of the plastic (figure E). Place the 3-inch pipe over the sections. Bring the plastic wrap up the side of the pipe and carefully affix with a rubber band.

6. Melt and scent approximately 20 ounces of white glycerin and pour into the 3-inch pipe to cover the wedges (figure F). Be careful not to make your soap too hot or it will melt your orange pieces. Let harden for approximately 45 minutes, and then place in freezer for 10-15 minutes to allow for easier removal from the pipe.

7. Using your dowel rod, push the soap out of the pipe (figure G). Allow soap to cool to room temperature before slicing into beautifully fragrant citrus slices (figure H).

Materials:

clear glycerin soap
white glycerin soap
liquid soap dyes
soap fragrance
Life of the Party soap molds: N47 shells, F87 flower/leaf, F88 butterfly/flower

Steps:

1. Melt and scent either the clear or the white soap base. Each cavity will use approximately 1 to 3 ounces of soap.

2. Choose the colors you wish to work with. Put a couple of drops of color scattered around in empty mold.

3. Pour soap into the mold. Using a toothpick, mix gently to swirl the color (figure I).

4. If necessary, spritz with alcohol to get rid of any air bubbles you may have.

5. Let soap cool approximately 15 to 30 minutes.

6. To remove soap from the mold: Apply steady, even pressure with your thumb until the air seal releases. Soap will come easily from the mold once the air seal is broken.

Materials:

white glycerin soap
soap color powder
fragrance
mold
unmounted rubber stamp

Steps:

1. Melt, scent, and color white glycerin soap.

2. Affix the rubber stamp face up in the bottom of the mold. Pour the melted soap into the mold (figure J).

3. Allow to set for approximately 30 to 45 minutes.

4. To remove the finished soap from the mold, apply steady pressure with your thumbs until the air seal releases. Once the seal releases, the soap can be easily removed.