Project: Easy Soap-on-a-Rope

Looking for a fun and easy craft idea for Mother's Day? Kids will love making their own soap-on-a-rope. Try this project at home, and with adult supervision.

Easy Soap-on-a-Rope

Materials:

• 1 large bar of Dove soap (scented or unscented)
• 4 tablespoons dry oatmeal
• 4 to 5 tablespoons water
• 1 foot of decorative rope
• large soap mold (a small bowl or cup will work as well)
  

Directions:

1. Use a blender or food processor to grind the dry oatmeal. Do not blend to a flour, but rather just so all the flakes have been broken up. You still want the consistency a little chunky.

2. Use a cheese grater to grate the bar of soap into small slivers. Place the grated soap and 2 to 3 tablespoons water into a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high for 2 to 3 minutes. Watch carefully so the soap does not bubble over!

3. Stir the soap and make sure it is all melted. Then, gradually add the ground oatmeal, stirring, until you reach a consistency you like.

4. Pour half the soap into your mold. Take the rope and fold in half, knotting the ends together. place the knotted end in the soap, then pour the remaining soap into the mold to cover the rope.

5. Allow the soap to cool slightly. Once it is cool enough to touch, you can remove the soap from the mold and shape it by hand into a ball or egg-shape, if desired.

6. Allow the soap to cool completely - you can even place it in the fridge to harden.

7. Ta-da! Soap-on-a-rope! It's fun to give this as a gift with a shower puff or washcloth.

Enjoy a weekend full of Mother's Day crafts and activities this weekend at Kidspace Children's Museum, May 9 - 10, 2009!