Ever wonder, how to make bar soap? Did you know you could easily make fun soaps shaped like just about anything you would like? Make these super cute DIY Pencil Soaps with your kids. Your kids could use as a fun addition to their own bathroom or they could make them as a creative teacher gift idea for back to school time. This is a fun back to school activity that the whole family can participate in. You can also add essential oils to help them smell great, too.
These homemade pencil soaps are easy to make because you simply take the ingredients and use the pour method to get the layers. Using premade soap base and soap colorings is how to make bar soap very easily!
DIY Pencil Soap Supplies Needed:
- 1 package of white soap base
- 1 package of opaque soap base
- Soap colorings – I use a package that has multiple colors. The colors I used were: black, amber, orange red, rose pink, and sunset yellow
- Essential oil – I used lavender but feel free to use any scent (or no scent) you would like
- Cosmetic grade glitter – gold
- Soap Mold
- Bowls
How to Make Bar Soap Instructions:
Note: This is a super easy DIY, but does require some patience! This project focuses on the layers. The layers for pencil soaps are:
- Bowl A: Opaque soap base, 2 rows, dyed black (pencil tip)
- White soap base, 2 rows, few drops of amber to form a creamy white (sharpened part of the pencil)
- Opaque soap base, 4 rows, mix of sunset yellow and orange red, gold glitter (pencil)
- White soap base, 1 row, few drops of black to form a grey (metal before the eraser)
- White soap base, 2 rows, rose pink (eraser)
- Gather your supplies.
- The soap bases come in a grid of squares. You will need to cut along the lines of rows to make melting the soap base easier. Add the following amounts to each bowl:
– Bowl A: opaque soap base 2 rows
– Bowl B: white soap base 2 rows
– Bowl C: opaque soap base 4 rows
– Bowl D: white soap base 1 row
– Bowl E: white soap base 2 rows - Starting with bowl A, place in microwave for 30 second intervals (stirring between each) until melted.
- Carefully remove from the microwave. Add black coloring and stir. (I like to use craft sticks to stir. They are easy and you can toss them when you are done!) You are going for a graphite color. If you are adding essential oils, this is the step you will want to do so.
- Once your color is made, pour into your soap mold.
- Allow the soap to set (10-15 minutes)
- Now it is time to move on to bowl B. After this soap is melted, add a few drops of amber. Mixed with the white of the soap it will form a cream color.
- Pour over the first layer of soap and allow to set.
- For the third layer, melt again in the microwave. Once melted, color to form a pencil orange color.
- Dust with commercial grade cosmetic glitter. Don’t be shy with the glitter! This is an opaque soap base so you will be able to see through it and the glitter will make this layer beautiful!
- Pour over the other two layers and again let it sit.
- Melt bowl D. For coloring, use a few drops of black. Mixed with the white soap base it will create a cool grey color perfect for the metal on the pencil.
- Pour over the orange layer and let it set.
- Last layer! Melt bowl E in the microwave. Color it pink for the eraser and pour into the soap mold.
- Using a knife, scrape off any air bubbles that rise to the top.
- Carefully let it sit out or put in the refrigerator.
- Be patient! (This is the hardest part of the whole thing!) It will need to fully set. If you take it out to early before it has hardened fully the colors will bleed together. Allow to fully cool for 2-3 hours.
- Cut the soap into bars. Then, cut each bar into thirds. On the bottom layer (the black layer) cut two angles to form a point.
Now that you know how to make bar soap, we hope you enjoy making them with your kids too!
Kids will love to wash their hands with these fun little DIY Pencil Soaps. Maybe I won’t have to tell them to go wash their hands as often as I do, because they will just want to go do it on their own. :)
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