Making Soap with an Embedded Toy

Putting together a gift basket for a child or grandchild, or even a gift basket for a friend, isn’t too hard. Choosing an assortment of things the recipient would like is part of the fun. However, it seems the focus in the spring, like Easter baskets, is on chocolate candy and hard-boiled eggs. If not real eggs, then plastic eggs that can hold more candy! Here is a different kind of surprise for the basket…a clear bar of soap with an embedded toy inside. The toy is a reward for washing hands instead of eating candy!

I first made these at the beginning of 2020 when the Pandemic kept us all at home. I mailed these to my grandchildren since I could not visit. I was sure the soaps would keep them entertained for several weeks.

My dear granddaughter was so excited to get to her Lego toy, she took a VERY VERY long bath and managed to use up enough soap to release the toy in one evening! So much for making it last a long time. Made me laugh! Try it yourself! Enjoy!

Making Soap with an Embedded Toy

I collected a bunch of Lego people from the store and even snitched a few from my son’s pile of Legos he had as a kid. I eventually had my grandchildren go through their old Legos to find a few.

Then I had to order the molds that would be large enough and deep enough to fully submerge the toy in soap. Measure your preferred toys and then check the measurements of the mold before ordering.

Supplies and Ingredients:

(Makes 16 individual soaps with an embedded Lego toy)

16 small toys

Silicon molds to make 16 small soaps

2 4-cup heat-safe glass measuring cups plus two pans of water

3 lbs. Clear glycerin Melt & Pour soap base

Instructions:

Step 1: Cut the soap base into small cubes, placing 1 1/2 lb. in each measuring cup.

Step 2: Place each cup into a pan of water. Bring water to a boil and simmer until all the soap melts.

Step 3: While the soap melts, arrange the toys face down in the mold.

Step 4: When the soap is all melted, fill each section about half way. Reserve the second measuring cup of melted soap by keeping it on simmer until needed, adding water to the pan to keep it simmering.

The Lego toys will usually float. Use a toothpick to gently push the toy to the center if necessary. The soap quickly makes a thin skin over the surface but poking through it isn’t harmful. Let the soap set up about 30 minutes before filling the molds the rest of the way. That will keep the toy centered in the soap.

Step 5: After 30 minutes, spray the half-filled molds with alcohol (this helps the next layer of soap to stick to the first pour). Using the second cup of melted soap fill each mold to the top. The toy should stay embedded in the center.

Step 6: Allow the soap to completely harden…about 2 hours. Once hardened, the soaps can be popped out of the silicon mold.

Note: Wrap each soap in plastic wrap to keep it from absorbing moisture from the surrounding air.

Please comment or email me directly at marykisner@comcast.net.