We live in a day and age where environmental issues is in the spotlight, and here is a great homemade soap recipe for all the fans that will help them to do their little bit to save the environment. This is a fun way to recycle some of your homemade soap to help you save money, time and effort, as well as allowing you the freedom to explore new ideas while letting your imagination run wild. It is sublime to say the least.

Notice that small pieces of soap that you chuck in the rubbish bin? Well, that will be your main ingredient for this homemade soap recipe. You need to find a recycling bin of sorts which can be anything from a tin can, bucket or whatever else you would like to use to save your soap pieces in. Collect enough soap so that you will be able to fill up a few cups and then you are ready to go. If you wish to try this project before you start saving up, simply take the homemade soap you have made, or any other soap, break it into small pieces and use it as a substitute for your first try.

What you need:

• A few cups of soap pieces.

• A blender.

• Scented oils (optional).

• Coloring (optional).

• A tin, bucket or other storage device (an empty hand soap dispenser works very well if you wish to keep it in your bathroom).

What you need to do:

1. Throw all your soap bits into a blender with a little bit of water.

2. Slowly chop all the soap bits in the blender, adding a bit of water and short intervals until the mix turns into a pudding type substance.

3. If you choose to add some colorant or scented oils then now would be a could time to add it. Only use a little bit and mix well.

4. Pour your liqiud into a bucket that has a sealable lid or into a hand soap dispenser.

5. Enjoy!

Keep your lid tightly sealed so that it doesn’t dry out. You can place the soap in a handsoap dispenser for the bathroom or even us it to clean floors, cars, garages and workspaces by dilluting it in some hot water. It is an absolutely brilliant homemade soap recipe that is practical, simple loads of fun and a money saver.

The benefits you gain from making homemade soap is extremely incredible, that has been mentioned a million times, but there is one thing that you need to take into consideration whenever you take on a homemade lye soap project. One of the main ingredients used to make homemade lye soap is, you got it, lye. Also known as Caustic Soda and Sofium Hydroxide it is a chemical you might be more familiar with than you think as it is also used a drain cleaner. So, what you probably could figure out just from reading this little introduction Lye is a caustic chemical and does require safety precautions when being used for whatever reason.

I can see a couple of people backing up as they are reading this. Don’t worry, thousands of people make homemade lye soap every day without mishaps. Treat lye with the respect it deserves as a dangerous chemical, follow the proper safety precautions, take care and you could have endless fun in creating and designing your very own soap. Remember to read the manafacturer’s notes for any chemicals that you use and do a bit of research on your own. Here are a few basic safety instructions to ensure that your soap making process is a fun and rewarding experience. These tips however do not overrule any proper safety instructions of a professional, medical practitioner or manufacturer’s notes. Work carefully and you will have all the fun in the world.

Safety First:

* If any Lye comes into contact with your skin you should immediately rinse it with vinegar and then with cold water.
* Always make sure that the room is adequately ventilated.
* Always wear eye protection goggles (The goggles should preferrably seal eyes in the same manner as swimming goggles would).
* Always use chemical-resistant gloves.
* DO NOT SWALLOW. Lye can be fatal if swallowed. If ingested do not induce vomiting. Go to the emergency room immediately!
* Keep Lye and any essential oils out of reach of children. Keep it in a locked cabinet and NEVER leave it unattended for one second once you start using it.
* Lye has very strong fumes, so ALWAYS wear a safety mask that covers your mouth and nose.
* Wear an chemical resistant or rubber apron when working with Lye to protect your skin and your clothes.
* If Lye spills on your counter tops you should immediately wash it off, because it can remove paint and varnishes.
* ALWAYS KEEP AWAY FROM PETS, CHILDREN and anyone else NOT COMPETENT to work with Lye.

Containers:
* Always keep your Lye in an air tight container.
* Use safe containers like glass, enamel, plastic and stainless steel.

When using Lye always make sure that you are well versed in the safety precautions. If anything happens you need to act quickly so take the time to prepare properly! Have a bottle of vinegar on standby and work close to a water tap. Know where you keep your emergency numbers, in fact, paste your emergency numbers next to your telephone. Don’t be shy to ask for advice or help from medical professionals, your doctor just might have some elixer of sorts tailor made for lye accidents. Safety comes first, then all the fun will follow especially if you are making your very own Homemade Lye Soap.

At this very moment in time I have a very special place for the art of creating ‘whatevers’. It is amazing how much fun you can have exploring the depth of some of the silliest and most simple things. As an example of this, I present to you a little project with which I had hours of fun and I know that you will enjoy this as well. The project? How to decoupage serviette unto soap. Yes, you can decoupage on soap and it makes wonderful decorations and gifts. Obviously once you start using the soap the motifs won’t stay on very long. Perhaps best for pure decorative soaps although this is a fabulous item for guest houses and hotels because the soaps look grand and proves to the occupant that it is a fresh, unused soap. Decoupaging on soap is a fun and quick process, so let’s give it a bash.

What do I need: - Surfeit motif (top layer only)

- Candle medium

- Soft paintbrush

- Soap base

- Dry cloth (to clean base)

Using serviettes on soap:

- Cut out your design.

- Use a dry cloth and clean the soap to ensure that no dust or hairs are in the way.

- Use a soft paint brush to apply some candle medium to the place on the soap where you want your motive to stick.

- Place your motif on the wet area (careful not to wrinkle your motif). Lightly paint on your candle medium and remember to go over the rims of your motive to ensure that the sides are also glued on. Leave to dry.

- Apply another coat of candle medium; make sure to cover the motif completely. Leave to dry.

- Repeat the last step until you have applied at least 5 coats.

- Viola!! Your done.

It is as simple and easy as that. So play around, have some fun and who knows what you might bump into next time you try a different method. If you are one of those people that likes to exhibit at crafter markets with your own little soaps and crafts, this is also a very easy way to make your home made soap look absolutely stunning.