The holidays are just around the corner and if you are stumped for gift ideas for loved ones who seem to have everything you might consider this next photo project. Not only does it make for a lovely house gift, it’s also simple to make and the end results are impressive.
I call it picture soap and it couldn’t be easier to make. All you need are a few small bars of soap. It doesn’t matter what shape (round, square, rectangular, etc.). Personally, I like to use soaps I’ve saved from hotel visits. They really are the ideal size for this project. Next, you need one photograph for each bar of soap. Flower pictures are nice, but if you’re giving the soaps to family members you might want to use pictures of their pets or children. The photos must be on thin paper, not traditional photographic paper. Which means if you are printing the image on your home printer, do so on plain paper, not photo paper. You’ll also need an acrylic medium, a paintbrush and a potato peeler.
To start, examine your soap. If the bar has a raised design, carefully shave it with the potato peeler. Next, measure the top of the soap. You want the photo to be slightly smaller than the top of the soap. Spread a coat of acrylic medium over the top of the soap. Then, place the photograph on the soap and coat it with an additional coat of acrylic medium. Quickly press down on the photo for a few seconds to make sure it adheres properly to the bar of soap. I would suggest smoothing it with your fingers, because it is rare that you will be able to have it sit perfectly the first time. When the medium acrylic is dry, coat the photograph and top of the soap with another layer of medium. Finally, when that layer dries coat it a third time. These three coats of acrylic medium will make the picture waterproof, while allowing you to use the soap from the other side.
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