Making soap is not only fun, but it can be useful. Soap can be presented as a gift or used in your own home. Making soap will make you feel like the ultimate crafter, because it is different than most standard crafts. Using the melt and pour method is not only easy, but it provides you the same flexibility to individualize the projects as conventional soap making methods.


 Step 1:
Adding things to your soap is the easiest way to jazz your soap up. You can add exfoliants, herbs, salts, minerals and even actual non dissolving items like toys. Some people make soap for kids and they add an element of fun to it by adding a plastic bug or something similar to the center of the soap. You can easily do this by filling the soap molds half way, letting them partially set and then you add the item you wish to place in the middle and fill the mold the rest of the way. Things like herbs, exfoliants, salts and other minerals can either be mixed right in the melted soap or they can be added using the same process you would use to add an object.

Step 2:
The most common way people make their melt and pour soap more personal is by adding fragrance and color. Color can be added simply by adding a few drops of food coloring to the melt and pour soap mixture. You can experiment with coloring your soap in many ways. If you take a toothpick you can use it to lightly ad color to the mold before you pour in the soap mixture. This will give your soap a multicolored or tie dyed look. You can also swirl in more color by dipping the toothpick in the food coloring and swirling the toothpick gently through the soap after it is poured in to the mold. Many people enjoy making melt and pour soap, because they can add desired fragrance oils or essential oils. Adding essential oils to your soap is not only fun, but it can be beneficial. Essential oils have healing properties and can often be used to aid in the relief of certain skin conditions amongst other things. Tea Tree is a wonderful essential oil to start with.

Step 3:
Shaping your soap can get the creative juices flowing as well. You can use ice cube trays, cookie cutters and muffin tins to mold your soap. All of these things are around the house already for easy access. Cookie cutters that are sturdy enough to hold the soap, can either be placed on a tray or sheet of wax paper for use as a soap mold. Cookie cutters make excellent soaps around holidays, because you can use related shapes. Many craft stores and websites also sell soap molds in all shapes and sizes. You can make your soap little and decorative with purchased molds or like a standard bar.

Step 4:
To make melt and pour soap, you have several options. You can either use a soap base purchased from a craft supplier, or you can use soap flakes of soap already made soap that you have purchased. The melt and pour process is as easy as sticking the bowl of soap in the microwave for about a minutes at a time until melted. Once your soap is melted you are ready to get creative with you soap making projects!