Hi all, I made some MP soap - basic colors and fragrance - they came out great and now I'd like to learn how to jazz em up! I saw some at a craft sale with ribbon like strips in them and some that looked mosaic. Anyone know how to do this? Or any other suggestions for pretty easy soaps would be great <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Thks!! Meenie

Those are embedded soaps and you can really make some neat soaps that way. I've added an article with basic directions. You can see at http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art37325.asp

I have been making and selling MP soap at local craft shows for about 4 years,I came up with a really neat thing that just sells fater than I can make it. Takes hardly any time and it just spectacular to see. Women love it!
Use silk rose petals ( I have tried all colors, red is still my favorite), After you melt the MP soap, double scent with a good rose scented oil. Dip the petals one at a time and place in a single layer on a waxed paper covered cookie sheet and allow to dry partially, then dip again and allow to dry completely. Be sure that after you dip them, you hold them for a second or two to let extra soap run off so there is no ugly build up. Then use a pretty container, I use the Wilton silver boxes and baskets you can buy at Wal-Mart use for wedding favors (this is cheaper than any online source I have found), put about 6 or 7 in the basket arraranged like a small open rose. Iput them in a cellophane bag, tie with a pretty ribbon and make tags explaining that you use them to wash your hands then toss the petal away. The MP soap and the rose scent just go together. This is such a novel thing
that during the last fall season I sold these for $6.00 each figuring out that I had about 1.25 in each and I sold over 300. It was fast and easy after the first batch. Also just as a side note, I made them one sunny day, put them on my patio to dry and when I went out, had bumble bees all over them. They smelled so real they were after the roses. Had some frustrated bees!!!

Also you can put small children's toys in them and people will buy them like crazy for their kids. Halloween I used skeleton hands, eyeballs with red "veins", spiders and bats. I had a ball. I use small ballerina dolls and ninjas at other times and sell them for party favors etc.

Sorry to ramble, but as you can see, I'm hooked.

Wow, Rmary, I put that post up months ago... I had forgotten about it <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Thanks for the great ideas!! I really appreciate it <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Meenie
www.freewebs.com/meenie1

hi meenie, try and get a book called
soapmaking ,the weekend crafter by joanne o'sullivan.

to create the ribbon effect you need a flat baking tray, pour some of your prepared soap mixture onto the tray in a thin layer leave to set but not totally it should be warm to touch carefully lift a corner with the edge of a knife now slowly pull away from the tray you are left with a soap sheet which you can cut out shapes or cut into ribbons you can also roll up the sheet while still warm and slice into spirials
have a play!
you can make different colours too
to embed them in a bar or loaf place them in your mold and spray them with surgical spirit make sure you get them all or it wont stick now pour over your contrasting soap mix (make sure not too hot as it will melt your ribbons)fill mold to top now spray again to get rid of bubbles.
leave to set when cool demold and slice.
good pointer too remember is surgical sprit is like glue in soap making and it evapourates.
pringles boxes are good soap molds especially for spirals

hope this helps

have fun!

alicat
www.pureessenceproducts.bravehost.com

I know this is old, but I just ran across it...

I have a few questions, if anyone can answer them...What is surgical spirit, AND, don't you wind up with all of the chunks you add sink to the bottom, or are you using a suspension m&p?
thanks