Anyone ever make soap?

[KarlaB]

I saw Martha make some on Oprah, along with some bath salts. Both looked pretty simple, but I was just wondering if either of these are actually worth the time? Thought they would be fun to make as little gifts....but are they as simple and useful as Martha made them seem?? Any input from anyone?? :)

[Lynda/WA]

I've made soaps and bath salts both for myself and as gifts. After I told my mom how to do the salts she made them for the group craft project for her homemakers club.

It's fun and can be worthwile especially if you know what their bathroom theme and colors are. My SIL has an ocean theme with the sea blues and such. I made the soaps to match. Little star fish and shells. I used the scents that she prefered. I don't think she expected it because I had her smell my scents months earlier and then made little notes about which smells she liked and disliked. And I had found a giant ceramic shell that had at one time been a light. I put the soaps in there along with loofah type material. That was probably 5 years ago and she still has it sitting out. For my niece, I let her make some with me. It was just the melt and pour soaps.

One that I'd like to try - Put a long loofah in a pringles container. Pour orange colored/ scented soap into container. When firm, tear off the pringles container. Slice like slice and bake cookies. The pieces will look like oranges.

For the bath salts I had found interesting containers at garage sales throughout the year. The salts are actually cheap to make. I just used epsom salt and ran it through an old blender to make it fine. Then added soap scents and coloring. I layered a couple of them like sand art.

[Diane]

One year I had the day care kids make little soaps for their mom's and dad's as a Christmas gift. It really wasn't that hard... it was actually quite of a fun thing to do. Nice to give as a home made gift.

Diane... :wave:

[KarlaB]

Thanks gals! The directions for both look really simple, just can't decide if it's something I want to tackle this year! LOL!

Lynda - LOVE your Pringles can soap idea!! :)

[JAK]

I have made it several times and it does make great gifts. I usually make it for dks teachers at Christmas, but didn't this year. I really is very simple and you don't even have to be crafty! LOL

[RCT]

Ok, am I not seeing the recipe for soap...how do you make it...I am sooooo curious....I love the luva slice idea...but how do you make the actual soap...??(

[KarlaB]

Here are two links :)

http://www.marthastewart.com/page.jhtml?type=content&id=channel1105&catid=cat412

http://www.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/tows_past_20011108_b.jhtml

[RCT]

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You....marked them for later use....:)