sOAP cARVING

How to Carve Soap Into Shapes
By an eHow Contributor


Carve Soap Into Shapes
Making soap - from exquisite stained-glass, marbled, and layered soaps to soothing masseuse bars - is a tempting craft. But if you don't have time to make your own, try this.

Difficulty: Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:
Bars Of Soap
Kitchen Utility Knives
Peelers
Nut Picks
1
Buy some soap. Get some nice bars for the eventual finished product, but don't forget some inexpensive practice bars. (Ivory is perfect.)
2
Think of some simple designs that will not be impossible to carve: fish are always good, a simple bird, or perhaps just a shape, such as a heart.
3

Sketch the outline of the shape on the bar with a knife or other sharp instrument such as a nut pick.
4

Hold the knife in your right hand and the soap in your left (reverse this if you're left-handed).
5
Pay attention to the feel of the knife. How thick a layer can you take off at once? Where does the knife get stuck?
6

Use a sharp knife to gradually shave away layers until you achieve the shape you want.