How to Make Holiday Soap and a Papier Mache Decoupage Box

Jill shares her passion for cleanliness when she makes her "Velvet Spice" holiday scented soap. She also makes a festive paper mache decoupage gift box to complete the project.

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Materials and Tools:

2 stainless steel pans
wooden spoons
mixer
fragrance
oils
sodium hydroxide (lye)
scale
measuring cup
thermometer
spring water
soap molds
plastic wrap
microwave
sharp knife or soap cutter

Steps:

1. Line soap molds with plastic wrap.

2. Mix oils together in large stainless steel pan. Mix sodium hydroxide (lye) separately in other pan with measured amount of water. Allow sodium hydroxide mixture to cool. You can place it in a cool bath in the sink to speed up the process.

Figure A

3. After lye mixture has cooled to about 76 degrees, check temperature of oils. They should also be about 76 degrees. Once this has occurred, pour lye mixture slowly and carefully into oil mixture.

4. With mixer on low setting, mix for about 5 minutes and then add fragrance, mixing as you stir in fragrance to almost a pea soup consistency.

Figure B

5. Carefully pour soap into prepared molds, making sure you get an even amount in each mold. Cover each mold with blankets, making sure they are free from any drafts. Allow to set (don't peek!) in molds for 24 hours.

Figure C

6. Either with a knife or soap cutter, cut each into desired size bars. Allow to cure for up to 6 weeks (on a closet shelf would be perfect!).

Figure D

7. To wrap: After you have allowed your soap to cure for about 6 weeks, you are now ready to package it. We use glossy white wrapping paper to wrap it just lie you would a package. We then add hemlock pinecones along with dried flowers attached with a hot glue gun. Tie with a pretty ribbon. You now have a wonderful bar of soap!

8. To make boxes: Gather desired number of papier-mache boxes you wish to make. Find copyright-free computer graphics you wish to use on the box. After you have chosen a graphic, print graphic on regular white paper using your printer. If you use the postcard format, you'll be able to get two on one piece of paper.

Figure E

9. Cut graphic from postcard format. Place graphic on top of box lid to center design and cut off excess edges so that it fits perfectly on lid of box. Glue to box lid with white glue.

10. Paint bottom of box with a coordinating color of craft paint, making sure to paint around sides of lid. Allow box to dry about 20 minutes. After box is dry, apply varnish over entire box and allow to dry about 20 minutes more.

11. Place wrapped bar of soap into box. You may put a little potpourri in bottom of box before placing soap in box.

Website: www.bittersweetsoap.com