This afternoon we have a great DIY, soap! I have really enjoyed bringing ya’ll all of these different kinds of DIY projects. Jenn even found a way to repurpose some items for this project. Look at that staging, aren’t these eggs and their container just too cute!
Chances are, if you celebrated Easter this past week, you probably have a dozen or more of those colorful plastic eggs lying around. So, what to do with those empty plastic shells once the last jellybean has jumped and the last peep has popped into your mouth?
Hi, I'm Jenn, the crafty bird behind the creative living blog, Rook No. 17! I'm a cake sculptor by profession, but am on hiatus -- taking the time to enjoy my two young daughters and satisfying my itch to be creative by sharing my original recipes and unique craft projects in my own vintage-avant garde style at Rook No. 17. I was so excited when Gail invited me to be a guest here at My Repurposed Life! I wanted to be sure to share a project that embraces the spirit of repurposing and had enough sophistication and chic to fit in here with all of Gail's amazing work.
To that end, I came up with this simple little tutorial for making lovely egg-shaped soaps out of your leftover plastic Easter eggs. Even the packaging is made from recycled materials.
DIY -- Egg Shaped Soaps from Plastic Easter Eggs
Materials
Pour & Mold Soap
(2 pounds will yield 1 dozen egg soaps)
Essential Oil for scent -- optional
Cardboard Egg Carton
Acrylic craft paint & paint brush
Small funnel* (typically available at craft stores)
Drill with a 7/32 bit and a 11/32 bit
Piece of scrap wood
Plastic Easter Eggs
Gorilla Tape & scissors
Bamboo skewer
Note: For my eggs, I made LAVENDER soap by adding a few drops of lavender essential oil and a few teaspoons of real dried lavender to the melted soap. You can add any scent or color to the soap once it's melted. If adding dried herbs, flowers or natural exfoliants, be sure to get a soap specially formulated for "suspension", so the add-ins don't sink to the bottom. For half of my "eggs" I ground the lavender in a spice mill to break it into finer pieces. When mixed in the melted soap, the milled lavender added a subtle green tone.
Step 1: Fit your drill with the smaller 7/32 bit. Drill a hole through the center of the bottom of the bottom-piece of the egg. Use a scrap piece of wood beneath the egg to protect your work surface.
Step 2: Now enlarge the hole by redrilling with the larger bit.
Step 3: With your scissors, cut small pieces of Gorilla Tape and use them to cover the holes on the pointy-end of the egg. Use another small piece to help hold the two sides of the egg together. I learned the hard way that this step is necessary -- the egg opened up and hot soap went everywhere!
Step 4: Chop the soap base into small pieces with a kitchen knife and melt according to manufacturers instructions. For mine, I microwaved a cup at a time, in a glass measuring cup, for 30 seconds, then at 10 second intervals until the soap was melted (this fills 2-3 eggs). Stir in any desired color, scent, or exfoliants.
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| *Try not to laugh at my doofishness -- Somewhere amidst the leaning towers of craft bins in my art room, there lives a family of nesting funnels.Try as I might, I couldn't find them and feared an ensuing avalanche if I continued. As a substitute, I used one of my kitchen funnels, and created a smaller tapered end with Gorilla Tape. By golly, I love Gorilla Tape! I wouldn't recommend this method over a proper funnel, but in a pinch it'll do. |
Step 5: Set the prepared plastic eggs in a carton or egg cups to stabilize, hole side up. Place funnel in the hole of one egg. Gently pour in melted soap. If funnel clogs, use the bamboo skewers to help move things along. When soap has reached the top, gently tap the bottom of the plastic egg on a hard surface (with a finger over the hole). This will help the soap settle and help release air bubbles. Top off with more soap. Repeat with remaining eggs.
Step 6: Let eggs set for 30 minutes to an hour. Then, remove the piece of tape holding the two sides together, and open egg. You may need to give the egg a gentle squeeze. When the eggs come out, they may have a slight lip near the center. You can trim this away carefully with a craft knife. You can also use your fingers to buff out any imperfections. It will not adversely affect the sheen of the finished egg.
Step 7: Package -- For my repurposed packaging, I cut a cardboard egg carton in half and painted the inside and outside of the lid with DecoArt Americana French Blue acrylic paint. When dry, I filled the carton with little bunches of paper shred and then placed the soap eggs inside. Lastly, I found a beautiful vintage label from The Graphics Fairy, made some modifications, printed it on handmade paper and glued it to the top of the carton.
You can download my version of the label by clicking on the image:
Enjoy!
Thanks Jenn for a super post and a great tutorial. I love your pictures and staging! (we all know I’m in need of help in that department). Make sure you hop over to Jenn’s place to say hi! (after leaving her some love here first.)
gail
looking for more easy craft ideas?
Gail Wilson is the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. She is obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believes that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again, including herself!
Gail reinvented herself during a midlife crisis and has found purpose again. She hopes you will find new ideas for old things and pick up a few tools along the way.
Lauren
Thanks for the tutorial! I love the egg soaps, I just started making a few different types, testing things out and what not. I can't seem to get a rounded top on the top of the soap where I screwed a hole to pour into the plastic egg. Any suggestions?
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Lauren,
This is not my tutorial, and I've never made any soaps. But I was wondering if maybe you could drill the hole in the bottom, so it may be less noticeable? Just a thought.
good luck,
gail
Tiffany @ ArtSea Chic
Brilliant egg soap hack! Pinned 🙂
The Acorn Cabinet
Thank you for this brilliant tutorial. I make birds nests and have been attempting to make egg shaped soap to go with the nests..this tutorial has given me some great ideas. I love your packaging for these soaps.
-Cait
http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheAcornCabinet
Priscilla
Love your tutorial..I want to try this. I can't seem to download your label 🙁 Could you email it to me pretty please? 🙂 heatonup@verizon.net
Pretty Please?
Natasja
How cool!!! Will try this for sure during the summer vacation when the kids are bored 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
CK
Oh! I can almost SMELL the soap!!!
Suzanne@Meridian Road
These would make a perfect gift! I love how you packaged it all. Clever!
Jan
This is a great project. I am itching to make these today. And lavender is my favorite. Thanks for the great instructions.
Jan
Rose @ Confessions of a Curbshopaholic
Wow, I may actually attempt this. I never knew how to make soap! Love your pretty packaging too.
So pretty!
Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co.
Great tutorial Jenn! How pretty and I bet they smell yummy too!
Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co.
Great tutorial Jenn! How pretty and I bet they smell yummy too!
Granny
One word for those soap eggs, adorable. Those would be a big hit at a craft show. Bet they'd sell out in no time.
vintagesue
oh my gosh....that is soooo cute!!! i love it!! great way to upcycle and such a beautiful end product!!!! awesome.
sue
Tammy
A great tutorial!