Valentines - Part 2
A few years back the kids and I made soap. Not the real soap that I make with lye, but the melt-and-pour glycerin soap. They loved doing it and they eagerly took their baths and showers and used their soap! And you know with boys what a feat that is!
Before Christmas, when I heard the first big snowstorm of the season was upon us (we had 22" of snow the weekend before Christmas), I headed to Michaels and stocked up on block glycerin. (Thank you, 50% coupons!) Sadly, we didn't get a chance to do the soap then because we were busy with Christmas stuff anyway. (I have learned to not even mention such things until it's time to do such things.)
With four feet of snow on the ground, it kind of makes it hard to go anywhere or do anything, so while we were snowbound, I decided to mention the soap. It was a "go" from the start.
The kids each made some soap of their own. They picked their own scent, color and mold. And after they were finished making soap for themselves, we made heart-shaped soap* for their teachers for Valentines Day.
We made up a little poem to go with the soap: "For Valentines I really hope, you like this little heart-shaped soap." Joe wanted to put something in there about "Don't be a dirty girl ..." but I didn't think the teachers would appreciate the humor.
*The silicone mold is an ice cube tray from Ikea. We also made soap in the shape of puzzle pieces and they are a big hit with the boys. These molds are specifically used for crafts now.
Comments
I bought blocks of glycerin at Michaels (also available at Jo-Ann). You can find scents, dye, and molds there, too. All you have to do is cut the glycerin into chunks (along the lines they provide), pop them into a microwave-safe bowl and melt them. The directions are on the soap. It only takes a minute or so to melt. If you don't have a microwave, you can use a double-boiler. Add fragrance and dye after melting.