As springtime rolls around and your children are anxious to go outside in the lingering chilly weather, entice them inside with these fun indoor activities. You’ll be delighted with the economical price point.

Cookie Cutter Soap

Inspire kids to stay clean by creating their own soaps in fun shapes. Along with being great keepsakes, the soaps make fabulous gifts for friends and relatives. After all, Mother’s Day arrives next month.

What You’ll Need:

  • 4 ounces clear glycerin melt and pour base (available at craft stores)
  • Food coloring
  • Skin-safe fragrance or essential oil (optional)
  • Cookie cutter
  • Saran Wrap

Directions:

Melt down four ounces of glycerin melt and pour base in the microwave for approximately 30 seconds. Add one to three drops of food coloring. Add ten drops of skin-safe fragrance or essential oil, if using. Mix well. Place the cookie cutter on a flat piece of Saran Wrap. Carefully pour the melt (the soap) into the cookie cutter, holding down the cookie cutter. The stickiness of the Saran Wrap will adhere to the cookie cutter, forming a natural seal. Wait approximately 30 minutes for soap to harden before popping out of cookie cutter.

Embedded Soap Toy

A toy trapped in soap? How cool is that?!

What You’ll Need:

  • 8 ounces clear melt and pour (available at craft stores)
  • Small smooth children’s toy
  • Tupperware or plastic cup
  • Fragrance or essential oil (optional)
  • Rubbing alcohol

Directions:

Melt four ounces of melt and pour in the microwave. If you have a skin-safe fragrance or essential oil, this is the time to add it. Pour a thin layer of this clear soap in a mold. You can use Tupperware or anything plastic that “gives” for easy release. Spray the thin layer with rubbing alcohol to get rid of any bubbles. After the layer hardens, gently set the toy inside the mold. Pour the remaining four ounces of clear soap over it and spray with another spritzing of rubbing alcohol. Wait four hours, pop soap out of the mold and wait for your child to beg to bathe.

Lip Balm

Making lip balm is as simple as finding beeswax and olive oil. You can go for extra moisturizing qualities by using a bit of coconut oil, too. The key is to add just the right amount of beeswax into your olive oil and coconut oil mixture to get the oil to harden.

What You’ll Need:

  • 1 ounce coconut oil
  • 1 ounce olive oil
  • 1 ounce beeswax
  • Small cosmetic case

Directions:

Slowly melt all of the ingredients on low on the stove. For a fun touch, toss in some cocoa powder or even a chocolate chip or two for flavor. You can put honey in your lip balm, as well. But because honey takes a little extra stirring, be prepared to stir until the mixture is cool so that it will suspend the honey. Pour the mixture in a cosmetic case for your child to enjoy. 

Bath Fizzies

Bath fizzies are a cinch to make if you have citric acid. What’s citric acid? It’s an ingredient commonly found in sour candies that can be ordered online or at a specialty kitchen supply store.

What You’ll Need:

  • 1 cup citric acid
  • 2 cups baking soda
  • Witch hazel
  • Small plastic container

Directions:

Combine the citric acid with the baking soda. Mix the dry parts together well. Then spritz a little witch hazel into the mixture and blend well until the dry mixture easily holds together. Once you’ve got a texture that slightly sticks together, press it into a small plastic container or the bottom of a cut-off water bottle. Press down firmly, turn over and lightly tap until the bath fizzy pops out of the mold. Wait 24 hours and the fizzy should be hard and ready to transport and use.

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  • Anne-Marie Faiola

    Anne-Marie Faiola is the CEO and creator of Bramble Berry, a DIY crafting company. For products and more information, visit www.brambleberry.com and www.soap-queen.blogspot.com.

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