Lavender Egg Soap

 I made these soaps last year.

 I started by taking an egg carton and painting it a pale blue.  I don't know why this is an important thing to share, but really, it's all about the delivery in my book!

 I used some soap squares, dried lavender, and I even added some lavender oil to make the scent a little stronger just because.  I used Easter eggs for my mold.

 If your eggs have holes, you might want to cover those up with a little duck tape so it doesn't leak out.

 Melt your soap, add your dried lavender and a drop of oil.  I filled one side of the egg, let it harden.  I filled the second side and then close it, making sure the liquid was on top so that it would adhere to the dried side.

 Once both sides are dried, you pull off the egg.  Everyone once in awhile, the two sides would separate.  I took just a little bit of melted soap and place it in the middle and they dried together again.

 I placed my soaps in my painted egg carton.

 Last year, my resolution was to send something through the mail each month-cards or gifts just because. The rule was it couldn't be for a birthday etc.  So, this little package went to a friend up in New York who is a fan of floral.  I added a little purple candle holder and tea lights and a little chocolate bunny to the package and shipped it on it's way.

Conversation Heart Soap

 I saw this idea last year at a craft show.  Random items in soap? I can do that!  So simple....first...I found some conversation heart erasers at Walmart.

 I melted a square of soap (found in the soap section at the craft store).  I've had this mold forever-I found it at the Target dollar spot, back when things were actually a dollar, BUT they also sell this shape via Wilton.  I sent the erasers in the soap.

 Once it set (about 15 minutes) and hardened enough to hold the eraser where I placed them, I melted two more squares of soap (only takes about 30 seconds in the microwave) and poured it over the back of the erasers to cover them.  You could add a fun cherry scent, or a few drops of dye to jazz it up even more.

DIY Make Up Remover for Just Pennies

 Someone told me about this via a google site and I had to try it out.  I used the recipe I found on nomadic's site, and she found it via pinterest-but I didn't see the source to the link on the site. I was skeptical.  I pay 9 bucks for a little bottle of Make Up Remover how is it possible to make your own for just pennies?  Uhh.....now I'm made about all those nine dollars over all these years.  Granted....I don't wear a lot of make up....so I'm only a little mad, but in case you are in the same boat-here is a super cheap/easy recipe for your own make up remover...that works!!!
I bought these little dollar containers of tear free baby shampoo and baby oil, and I used a little container to store my finished product.

Mix 1 1/2 T of tear free baby shampoo and 1/8 t. baby oil with 1 c. of water.  Store, shake, use.  Repeat.

Gingerbread Men Cinnamon Soap

 Last Christmas I had a whole list of things I was going to make each person for Christmas.....right up until I found this little silicon Gingerbread man tray at Hobby Lobby.  I stumbled across soap using this same pan on Etsy and all those other ideas went out the window....where they sat until this year.  BUT.....last year was the year of cinnamon soaps.  I grabbed some soap squares at the craft stores as well. 

 I used dye (also found in the same section, though you can use regular food dye.  I've never had any problems with this dying my hands, but if you want to be double triple sure, use the dye found in the soap section).  I also used a cinnamon scent.  Again, I used about 1/8 of a teaspoon per 6 men (about 9 of the squares of soaps melted).  I just used cinnamon flavoring from the kitchen supply spice section, but they also sell scents in the soap aisle of craft stores. 

 I followed the instructions to melt down the soap and added the scent and coloring and then poured it into the molds.  It only takes about ten minutes to harden.  I like using the silicon, as opposed to metal because it is much easier to pop out and keep it's form. 

 I bought a little tray at the dollar store to give to one of my friends with a herd of grand kiddos.  I thought this would be fun for them when they come to visit their Grandmother at Christmas. 

 I also packaged these (wrapped in Saran with a little dot on the back with what they were) with mints for the administrative assistants at work. 

 ...and a few more individual for coworkers. 

...and now, I'm off to make all those things I was going to make last year until I became a one-woman- gingerbread-man-cinnamon-soap-factory-making machine....

Cupcake Bath Salt

 This is a super easy birthday gift I put together with some really affordable supplies.  I made some bath salt with Epsom salt, baking soda, and scented oil.  They sell the first two at the grocery store (Epsom salt is usually by medicine in the stores by me).  The oil can be found at the craft stores near the soaps, or online.  I used bubble gum flavor, but vanilla would have been good for this guy as well.

 I mixed 3/4 cup Epsom, 1/4 cup baking soda, and a few drops of scent (the more you add, the stronger the smell-very scientific-I know).  Mix it up...

 I bagged it up, and then placed it in the bottom of this salsa bowl. I found this at the dollar store-they sell them in red/white etc.  I got 3 or so for a buck.  You could also use some of the free printables for the cupcake liners, but this worked for me...

I put a loofah on top and then tied it shut in a little cellophane bag.  I tied it shut with a tag I made and I cut out  a little circle for my cherry.  You could also find a small soap....but I couldn't find mine and I refuse to buy something I know I have somewhere in this house.  But...that's a story for another time.  In the meantime, so simple, and a fun little birthday gift for about a dollar.  

Mummy: Soap

 I've been planning these out for several years.  They are so simple, and a cute little addition to...well, life.  I saw the idea at howdoimakesoap two years ago.  I simplified the steps since I'm not a soap maker, but I think the outcome is close enough!
I packaged them up in these little fry boxes I got at Hobby Lobby.  Which means I had to go buy more fry boxes b/c I hear them.

 I used a gingerbread mold I bought at Hobby Lobby as well (though Wilton sells one as well, along with one called 'little people mold).  I also bought some soap squares.  You can add a scent, but I was an underachiever on this particular day.

 It took about two cubes per mold.  I also shaved some soap with my grater, and set it aside.

 I melted the squared soap, poured it into the mold, it dries quick, so before it dried I tossed on the shavings to make it look more like the wrap of a mummy.

 I took a toothpick and some black gel and just dabbed on some black eyes.

Pop them out and wrap them up.  Cute.

Reindeer: Peppermint Bath Scrub

 Last year I used this recipe to make peppermint bath scrub for my friends for Christmas.  I layered it in jars in red and white stripes, but I also bagged some of it up in ziplock baggies. 

 I bought some small wash clothes at the dollar store, two for a dollar, and folded it inside. 

 I grabbed two ends and pulled it up to make ears. 

 I tied the 'ears' together with a bow, and added two brown pipe cleaner antlers.  I sewed the bell nose on, and then added two google eyes with glue dots.  No actual reindeer were harmed in the making of this gift.

Ornaments: Peppermint Bath Salt Ornament

 I made this scrub last year and scented it with peppermint oil.  I added it to jars in striped layers and a few other packaging options I'll post about in a few weeks, but I also added it to one of my favorite Christmas vessels....the empty glass ornament.  I used a funnel to layer the dyed salt. 

 I added a little slip of foil to the top so it wouldn't spill out the holes.

 Insert the top 'thingie' and bejewel, beribbon, betag, it beaffordable for a b(e)iggroup.....