Soap Carving: A Clean Hobby

Irish Spring, Dove, Ivory and countless other brands have taken whole aisles at local mega markets that it is hard to imagine that at one time soap was made by hand. With so much soap, what can be done with it other than washing and cleaning? How about using it for carving? Although this is not a new process, soaps today offer a wide variety of colors to help spark your creative muse into creating something unique and beautiful.

According to Jim Creative Designs, soap carving originated in the village of Chian Rai in Northern Thailand. Soap carving was the hobby of farmers when they were not in the fields. They also sold their carvings during nighttime bazaars as just one of many handmade souvenirs. Artisans fell in love with the work and brought the technique back to the states.

Soap carving can be done at home with only a few simple items and just a little time. Here is what is needed to start: (1) Bar of Soap. Fresh soap, recently purchased is best otherwise there is a risk of crumbling. Purchase flat bars for maximum working surface; (2) Carving tools. These can range from professional clay working tools to a paring knife to even popsicle sticks and plastic utensils; (3) Carbon paper and pencil for transferring design to soap; (4) acrylic paint, sealer and artist brushes. These items are optional and only needed if you wish to paint your sculpture afterwards.

Now that all of the materials have been assembled, you are ready to start creating: (1) On a sheet of paper, draw out your design. You can also print out some simple designs from the Ivory website at http://www.ivory.com/PureFun_IvoryProjects_SoapCarvingTips.htm. They have simple and cute ideas for children as well as beginners. (2) Trace your design on the bar of soap either using carbon paper and lightly tracing or pressing harder on your design to leave an impression. (3) With your chosen carving tools, work in small areas, slivering the soap [like whittling wood] until your design starts to take shape. Continue to work this way until the design has fully emerged from the soap. (4) You can also add detail work, such as eyes and leaf veins. Continue to add detail until you are satisfied with the result. (5) Slightly dampen hands to smooth carving. (6) Allow to air dry for one to two days. (7) Polish with a soft napkin. Here you can paint your carving if you so desire using acrylic paints. It should be noted that to achieve a smooth coat, the paint may require two coats. Allow paint to fully dry before next coat of paint. You can also seal the carving with two coats of clear acrylic sealer; again allowing each coat to dry. (8) Enjoy your work or give as a gift.

Here are a few tips: (a) Always carve away from you no matter which tool you are using; (b) keep the final design in your mind while you are carving; (c) carve in small pieces or slivers as large bits tend to break more easily; (d) Work from high points [farthest from center of soap] to low points [closest to center of soap]; and (e) save the shaving in a small sandwich bag - you can add a bit of water to the soap and when it is soft, you can squeeze into a usable bar of soap for either more practice of for actually using it as a cleaning agent.