Monday, December 7, 2009

How to Stamp Soap for the Holidays

Project designed by Cheryl Ball

Learn how to make holiday soap creations for your bath.

Materials and Tools:

Delta Soap Creations

- Melt & Pour soap - clear and white
- No-Tip Molds - rectangle and square
- Sparkling Accents - iridescent glitter

Rubber Stampede

- holiday-themed decorative stamps
- frame kit - 78001
Delta Ceramcoat acrylic paint - Christmas green, opaque red, blue jay
Delta stencil sponges
glass measuring cup
craft stick
knife
microwave
cotton swabs
spray bottle filled with rubbing alcohol
paper plate

Steps:


For best results, please take a moment to review all instructions on product packaging before beginning this project.



1. Cut clear soap in half, cut one half into 1/2-inch cubes and put into glass cup. Microwave on high for 20 seconds then five seconds until melted. Do not boil the soap.

2. Pour a thin layer of the soap into the rectangle mold. Spritz with alcohol to remove any bubbles. Let cool. Wipe soap layer with paper towel to rough up.

3. Pour green and red paints onto paper plate. Cut out the tree stamp. Using the flat end of the sponge, tap green paint onto the stamp and press into the center of the soap. Lightly press all areas of stamp for an even image. Add a dot to the top of the tree using a cotton swab covered with red paint. Let paint dry.
4. Melt more clear soap. Spritz molded soap from step 3 with alcohol and pour on a 1/4-inch layer of melted soap. Let cool.

5. Stamp a tree on either side of first tree design, and add red dots. Dab random dots of blue on the remainder of soap. Let dry.

6. Melt more clear soap. Add iridescent glitter to melted soap and stir to mix. Spritz bar of soap from step 5 with alcohol, and pour melted glitter soap to within 1/4 inch of the top of the mold. Let cool.
7. Melt white soap. Spritz the cooled bar of soap from step 6 and top off the mold with melted white soap. Let cool and remove from mold.

8. Wrap cooled soap with plastic wrap for gift giving.
Tips:
  • Cutting the soap in 1/2-inch cubes lets the soap melt quicker and more evenly.
  • Any unused soap can be re-melted.
  • Don't boil the soap. If it occurs, let soap cool slightly before pouring into mold. Boiling adds more bubbles to the soap that may be difficult to remove.
  • Stamping between several layers will add more depth to the design.
  • Spraying alcohol between layers helps the layers adhere together.
  • Spritzing the just-poured soap with alcohol removes any surface bubbles for a clearer surface.