From: "EF" efisher

DECORATED SOAP
...Soap (I buy a package of the cheapest soap I can find, usually 3 for $1)
...leftover pieces of printed Christmas wrapping paper or other sources for
soap-size pictures
...craft paint & small paint brush (I use whatever I have on hand in the
color(s) I want. A $1 set of children's water colors work fine too.
...1 block of wax (I use Gulf, bought at the grocery story for making
candles or sealing homemade jelly)
...scraper (I used an old knife until I got one for scraping paint)

Directions:
Scrape------
1.  If the soap has the name imprinted on both sides (like Jergens), scrape
one side so it's smooth).

Decorate--------
2.  Cut out a picture that's no larger than the soap from wrapping paper.
(Like a picture of Santa or bells, etc.)
3.  Swoop the picture over the top of water in a bowl so it's damp but not
soggy and then place on the top of the soap.
4.  Gently smooth out any wrinkles.  (I usually use the handle from the
little scissors I used to cut out the picture.)
5.  Using the paint, paint a border around the edges of the soap.
6.  Allow to dry.  (I usually make several gift soaps at a time, doing all
the above steps one evening and the last steps of sealing the soap the
following evening.)

Seal--------
7.  Heat one block of wax in a double boiler.
8.  Use tongs to pick up one block of soap (gently, so you don't nick chips
off the soap sides.) and dip the soap into the wax for 3-5 seconds, covering
just the top and the border.
9. Lift and set on paper towels to dry.
10. Gift wrap.  Can tie a bow around the soap for a little stocking stuffer
gift. I often do a set of three, put into a tissue lined box.  Saran wrap
with a pretty bow looks fine too.

(I read the directions for this in a Women's Circle magazine 30 years ago
and have been making these ever since for little gifts--Christmas,
housewarming, etc., plus for myself to carry out a theme/color for the
bathroom.  They're not just pretty; they can be used until you get down to
the waxed part.  After wrapping the Christmas gifts, I use the leftover
paper to make little soap gifts.  I also make lots of theme soaps or sets,
like using angel pics for a friend who collects angels; roses for a friend
who decorated her house with a  rose theme; patriotic ones for a man; Power
Ranger figures for my grandson--etc. etc.)

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