Custom design unique gift baskets handmade totally by you. Perfect for pampering that special someone in your life. So beautiful they’ll never believe you made the whole thing yourself!
The materials needed will vary depending on which projects you would like to put into your basket. Below is a listing of everything used.
Life of the Party 4-Shape Bar Mold (or Other Mold of Your Choice)
Life of the Party 2# Clear Glycerin Soap Brick
Life of the Party 2# White Glycerin Soap Brick
Life of the Party Bath Salts- 32oz.
Life of the Party Body Lotion- 16oz.
Life of the Party Shower Gel- 16oz.
Life of the Party 3 pack bottles- 4oz.
Life of the Party Bath Salt Tins
Life of the Party Liquid Soap Colorant- Your Choice
Life of the Party Soap Fragrance- Your Choice
basket or other decorative container- Your Choice
Styrofoam
Decorative Paper Filler
Shrink Wrap
Decorative or Scrapbook Paper (Optional)
Ribbon (Optional)
Labels/Stickers (Optional)
Microwave
Wooden Craft Sticks or Spoon for Stirring
Cutting Board
Glass Measuring Cups
Kitchen Knife
Rubbing Alcohol in a Spray Bottle
Plastic wrap
Scissors
Hairdryer
Tape
Cost of each project will vary depending on materials used.
Due to the seasonal nature of some merchandise, actual availability of some products pictured may vary
Instructions
The instructions for each different component in the basket are outlined below. You can put as many or as few of each of the items into your basket to customize the finished look. Please read all instructions before starting.
Basic Melting Instructions
Cut clear soap brick into cubes, and place into a microwave-safe measuring cup.
Heat for 40 seconds, then in 10-second intervals until soap is completely melted. Stir in between melting intervals. Be careful – melted soap is very hot!
“Layers of Color” Soap Bar
(1) Determine how many layers of color you want to create.
(2) You will need approximately 1/4 cup of melted clear soap for each color used in a two-color soap layer.
(3) Melt soap according to above basic melting instructions.
(4) Add a few drops of fragrance to melted soap, and stir with spoon or craft stick until well incorporated.
(5) Add liquid colorant a few drops at a time until desired color is reached.
(6) Pour soap into mold of your choice filling it approximately 1/4 full.
(7) Let cool approximately 5 minutes or until soap layer develops a “skin”. Tip: To avoid layer separation, spray cooling layer lightly with rubbing alcohol before pouring the second layer.
(8) Repeat steps 2 and 3 to prepare the soap for the second layer. Note: you can alternate between clear and white soap to achieve desired effects.
Tip: Use rubbing alcohol to removes air bubbles, adhere layers to one another and to spray objects you want to embed in the soap to prevent air pockets. Soap bars will not have alcohol in them, since the alcohol evaporates from the heat of the soap.
(9) Pour this layer so that the mold is ½ full and let set as you did the first layer.
(10) Alternating between the two colors repeat the above steps until you fill the mold.
(11) Once mold is filled, let set completely. Once soap has completely cooled, release by applying constant, even pressure with thumbs to the backside of the mold.
“Checkerboard” Soap-in-a-Soap Bar
(1) You will need approximately 1/2 cup of melted white soap for the first step of this project.
(2) Melt soap according to above basic melting instructions.
(3) Add a few drops of fragrance to melted soap, and stir with spoon or craft stick until well incorporated.
(4) Add liquid colorant a few drops at a time until desired color is reached.
(5) Pour soap into the square or rectangular cavity of your 4-shape bar mold.
(6) Let set completely and release by applying constant, even pressure with thumbs to the backside of the mold and cut into small cubes.
(6) Place the small colored cubes into the square or rectangle cavity of the mold, leaving spaces between them like a checkerboard pattern. Press firmly to insure hot soap will not seep under the chunks.
(7) Repeat steps 2 and 3 for using your melted clear soap. You will use approximately ¼ cup of clear soap for this step of your project.
(8) Pour prepared melted mixture into the cavity containing colored pieces. This will embed the pieces into the soap bar.
(9) Once soap has completely cooled, release by applying constant, even pressure with thumbs to the backside of the mold and cut into small cubes.
Soap Chunk Bars
(1) You will need 1/2 cup of melted clear soap for each color used in the following process.
(2) Melt soap according to above basic melting instructions.
(3) Add a few drops of fragrance and liquid colorant to melted soap, and stir with spoon or craft stick until well incorporated.
(4) Pour into the 4-shape bar mold filling one of the cavities completely and spray lightly with rubbing alcohol.
(5) If you’d like to fill all four cavities with different colors, follow above instructions using a different color until all four mold cavities are completed.
(6) Let set completely and release by applying constant, even pressure with thumbs to the backside of the mold.
(7) Melt white soap following the melting instructions above. You will need approximately ¼ cup of melted white soap for each soap bar for this part of the process.
(8) While white soap is melting, prepare soap chunks from the soap bars.
(9) Cut each soap bar into small chunks with knife.
(10) Add a few drops of fragrance and liquid colorant to melted white soap and stir with spoon or craft stick until well incorporated.
(11) Pour a small amount of melted soap into one cavity of the 4 shape bar mold, just enough to cover the bottom, and spray with rubbing alcohol.
(12) Spray soap chunks with rubbing alcohol and carefully scatter a layer of soap chunks into the mold cavity, over the melted soap. Spray mold cavity with rubbing alcohol, being sure to spray all chunk surfaces.
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Note: This will prevent air pockets and will allow melted soap to flow around and under chunks.
(13) Pour enough melted soap to almost cover chunks and spray again with rubbing alcohol.
(14) Repeat steps 11 and 12 until the mold cavity is filled. Note: Do not move mold until it has set up a bit.
(15) Repeat the process with a different color if you’d like until all mold cavities are full. You can make soap chunk bars in one color, or mix and match different color chunks for a unique, colorful bar.
(16) Once soap has completely cooled, release from mold by applying constant, even pressure with thumbs to the backside of the mold.
“Tie-Dyed” Soaps
(1) Choose the liquid colorant and mold design you would like to use.
(2) Squeeze 2-3 drops of color directly into the mold scattering along the bottom. Hint: Try two colors for a unique effect.
(3) Depending upon the mold you are using you will need approximately 3-4 ounces of melted white soap base.
(4) Melt soap according to above basic melting instructions.
(5) If you would like to fragrance your soap, add a few drops of fragrance to your melted white base and stir with a spoon or craft stick until the fragrance is well incorporated.
(6) Pour the white soap into the mold filling it to the top.
(7) Immediately spray the melted soap with rubbing alcohol. This will get rid of all air bubbles and help the color diffuse throughout the soap bar.
(8) Once soap has completely cooled, release from mold by applying constant, even pressure with thumbs to the backside of the mold.
Bath Salt Tins
(1) Empty bath salts into a glass-measuring cup.
(2) Add fragrance, a couple drops at a time, mixing after each addition, until desired fragrance intensity has been reached.
(3) Add liquid colorant, a few drops at a time, mixing after each addition, until desired color has been reached.
Tip: Using more than one color to tint the bath salts gives you a dramatic finished effect!
(4) Using a spoon, scoop salts into decorative tin.
Shower Gel/Body Lotion
Fill one of the small empty bottles about half full with either shower gel or lotion. Add a few drops of fragrance and color of your choice, until desired effect has been achieved. Make the color slightly darker than you like so you won’t need to add color later when you fill the bottle. Put the lid on and shake well.
Squeeze additional shower gel or lotion into bottle until container is almost full, and shake well. (You can add additional color and fragrance if necessary, but we recommend adding most of the color into the bottle before it is completely full because you don’t want the concentrated color getting hung up on the lid.)
Layered Shower Gel/Lotion: You can make a great effect by layering different colors in the bottle. To make a bottle with two-tone shades, make two complete bottles of two different colors. Get a clean bottle and pour 1/4, 1/3, or 1/2 (depending on how many layers you desire) full with one color. Then pour another layer with second color. Repeat steps until bottle is full.
Assembling the Basket
Once all soaps/gels/lotions/salts have been completed, it is time to arrange your basket. Assemble all the finished pieces you will be using. If you would like to add a unique personal touch, decorate the products with scrapbook paper, labels, stickers and ribbons. (See photo for decorating ideas). Cut styrofoam to fit into the bottom of the basket to be used as filler. Cover styrofoam with decorative paper shred. Arrange finished pieces in the basket as you desire. Once the basket is designed as you would like, follow manufacturer’s instructions for shrink-wrapping the completed basket.
In addition to making beautiful gift baskets, you can also use other types of containers to create unique, one-of-a-kind gifts for family and friends.
Source: http://www.michaels.com/art/online/projectsheet?pid=e08247
1 comment:
Cute gift ideas! I like it. I will try to make something like that this weekend. Thanks for sharing.
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