Everybody loves receiving handmade gifts and I love giving them! You can easily customize handmade items to fit the person. A dear friend loves purple - almost as much as I do! But deep down I think she copies off of me - but that's what friends often do! It's a huge compliment. Sorry, I digress! So I thought she would love getting soap not only in her favorite colors - but in plaid to boot!
You know when you get really excited about making something… especially for gift giving. Then it's an epic fail? That was me trying to make plaid soap! Plaid is all the rage now. It can be found in almost anything, so can you imagine plaid soap, too! Who wouldn't love this for a gift? I had made lots of soaps before. I even had a crafting class devoted to making soap. It was easy and we all had fun! But this time, let's just say it didn't go as planned.
I was inspired by a pinterest pin on making plaid soap - it looked really pretty and I wanted to tweak it by using my favorite colors. I read the directions over and over and thought them simple enough. But boy oh boy, something went wrong - big time! Mine didn't turn out or resemble what was pictured in the least - not even close! What a disaster! So I had to go to plan B.
I had to salvage what I had concocted so I could at least have something to post for our Festive Christmas Ideas Blog Hop! Yes, we're in the second week of ideas for a festive Christmas! And today, it's Handmade Gifts!
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so much for your support!
Materials Needed:
- Melt & Pour Soap Base - Clear Glycerine or Shea Butter Soap Base
- Soap Mold
- Essential Oils - Sandalwood
- Soap Dyes
- Spray Bottle with Rubbing Alcohol
There are basic steps to making soap and that remains the same:
Decide how much of the soap base you will need. One cube of the melt and pour base equals one ounce. Then cut up your soap base into
even, small chunks and place in a microwave-safe bowl, and
microwave until melted starting with 30 second intervals. 
Next, add in essential oils and stir well. I'm using Sandalwood essential oils. I love how it smells - but it is also thought to be beneficial for acne, anxiety, cracked and chapped skin, depression, dry skin, insomnia, nervous tension, scarring and stress. It's a great natural remedy, benefitting your skin, mind and health.
Quickly add the essential oils and color dyes to the base - about 20 drops for 4 bars, stir well, then pour into soap molds.
Allow the molds to set for a couple of hours, then
gently remove. 
Now, for making the plaid design, cut the soap into 1/2" strips.
Make another batch, the same as before, except add a different color dye (fuchia)
Pour into mold, set, and cut into 1/2" strips.
But the colors blended together and I ended up adding additional melted fuchia soap to the tops. 
I had about a cup of white shea butter base left and decided to melt that and adding drops of purple dye to the bottom of the molds before pouring.
The soap bars turned out nice enough to put into cellophane bags . . . they still smelled really good, too!
and adding a bow to close! How cute are these!
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They are fabulous! I love the colors and bows - great idea!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for leaving such a sweet comment, Patricia!
DeleteThe soap is so lovely. Anyone would love a gift of custom homemade soap. You decorated the soaps beautifully.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda! I was glad I had a plan B
DeleteThey look fabulous, Gail! Sorry the plaid idea didn't work out but these are very pretty too. Last year I got some handmade soaps and they were my favorite gift. Lucky are the recipients of your pretty handmade soaps!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marie! The sandalwood fragrance has so many wonderful properties and it does smell so good!
DeleteThis is such a great gift idea! I will have to try making some handmade soaps. I think my daughters would love them, and I can customize the soaps to fit them perfectly!
ReplyDeleteGail I have never made soap but it looks so pretty and your tutorial looks easy enough to do. You are pushing me into making soap gifts for the ladies in our family. They will all love it! Thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI would never have known that this started out as a fail. They soap is so pretty and will be a great gift!
ReplyDeleteWow those are beautiful!! A happy accident for sure! You're like me, when something isn't working out as planned I just keep on trucking along and it usually works out!
ReplyDeleteTania
These are such beautiful soaps! Perfect batch project for gifting!
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful little gifts. I always wondered how complicated and expensive soap making would be and your tutorial was perfect at showing me everything I needed to know. Pinned
ReplyDeleteThese are so pretty! I have a friend who makes and sells beautiful soaps. I love the colors you added
ReplyDeleteThese soaps are so pretty Gail! And I can almost smell them through the screen :)
ReplyDeleteSoap-making is one thing I have always wanted to try, because I think it would make such a great and thoughtful gift. I will have to give this a try!
ReplyDeleteHomemade soaps are one of my favorite things to receive! I didn't know all those benefits of Sandalwood. Seems like a fun craft to try. I appreciate your sharing even about your mistakes. The final bars turned out beautifully, and look really nice in their packaging.
ReplyDeleteAlexandra
EyeLoveKnots.com
Your blog has some quality information by which a person can learn something new about natural handmade soaps. There are so many other handmade soaps available that you can swap with your regular soap. Here are some eco-friendly handmade soaps which you might like, so sharing them here with you:
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ReplyDeleteShowing someone you care for them with a hand made soap gift is such a unique way to customize your gifts. With these handmade soaps, there aren’t any harmful chemicals since they are made from natural ingredients which makes them suitable for every skin type. For the parents, there is a perfect opportunity where they can combine the handmade soaps with baby care products online in pakistan which they can find in various shops & stores. What an interesting gift to give in a personalized way while also meeting an actual practical need!
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