How to Make Guest Soap for the Holidays

When family comes to visit during any holiday season, put away the big bar of soap and display pretty guest soaps instead. While these can be purchased, making them is more fun. Get together with the kids for an afternoon to create these holiday guest soaps. You can also customize the guest soaps easily for each holiday season. This article will teach you how to create them.

Materials Needed for Guest Soaps

Making this type of guest soaps is very easy. You only need plain soap flakes, water, food coloring, and a mixing bowl and spoon. Soap flakes can usually be purchased in discount stores, supermarkets, or drug stores. To shape the guest soaps, medium sized metal cookie cutters are ideal. You can use plastic cookie cutters as long as they are very strong and have a narrow cutting edge instead of a squared off one. You will also need small paper cut-outs of holiday designs and a small pot of very hot water.

Creating the Holiday Craft Guest Soaps

Begin by pouring approximately two cups of soap flakes in a large mixing bowl. Next, measure out about a quarter cup of water and put a few drops of your desired food coloring into it. Stir this all together and mix until the soap is evenly colored. If desired, you can make marble-patterned or swirly soap by mixing only lightly. Of course, these amounts depend on how many guest soaps you want to make. While two cups of soap flakes will make enough for your bathroom over the holiday, you can use much more if you are making holiday soaps as gifts.

When the soap is mixed enough, dump it out on a counter top or cutting board. Pat it firmly into a slab about three quarters of an inch thick. Use the metal cookie cutters to cut out holiday themed soap shapes. Let the guest soaps dry and harden for a day or two.

Decorating the Guest Soaps for the Holidays

Decorating the guest soaps can be a lot of fun. Begin by cutting out pretty holiday themed pictures from wrapping paper, greeting cards, or other stiff paper. You can also use stickers.

Dip one of the flat sides of the soap into the hot water. This should soften the soap slightly. Then, stick the sticker or picture onto the soap, pushing gently until it is stuck. Be careful not to gouge the soap. Allow this to dry and your holiday guest soap is complete.