With the holidays fast approaching, I find myself once again thinking about all the teacher and hostess gifts that I will need to come up with. I usually like to try to make something if I have the time - it's more personal and it can be a lot of fun to try to come up with something creative.
This year I am making pretty little guest soaps wrapped in vintage wallpaper.
To begin, you need the actual bars of soap. I bought these pretty French soaps at a local shop because they came packed in economical boxes of 12, but you can find good quality soaps at almost any discount store. I find that square or rectangular bars work best, as they are easier to wrap, but round ones can work as well. It's fun to choose soaps with pretty fragrances. These are "Sugar plum" and "Cranberry".
I first unwrapped the soaps from their original packaging and then re-wrapped them neatly in waxed paper. You can also use parchment paper (which can be found at any supermarket or kitchen supply store) or tissue paper.
Now comes the fun part - wrapping and embellishing. I used vintage wallpaper because I am CRAZY for vintage wallpaper, but you could use scrapbook paper, wrapping paper…even newspaper! Using a straightedge, I measured out a rectangular strip of vintage wallpaper that was slightly longer than the width of the soap bar. I then wrapped this around the bar and secured it on the bottom with some double-sided tape.
Now you are ready to embellish! Again, I chose vintage millinery flowers and seam binding because I love them, but you could really use anything (tiny trinkets, glitter, Christmas baubles, velvet leaves, etc…). I just tied on my bows and secured the flowers with a bit of hot glue.
Once you have a bunch of soaps made, you can start to package them up. I'll be placing mine on some small vintage floral plates, which I will then wrap in clear cellophane, but you could also use little baskets or bags. Just attach a pretty gift tag made out of vintage wallpaper and you have a very special and personal gift!
These soaps are a wonderful color and will make a nice gift after you have wrapped them so nicely. This is a great idea.
Posted by: Nan | November 21, 2008 at 11:40 PM
So, so pretty!!!!!!!!
Posted by: jennifer | November 22, 2008 at 08:25 AM
Love all your presentations. Beautiful soaps!
So glad to find your blog!
Best Wishes ~
Joelle XO
Posted by: Joelle Dolce Bebe | November 22, 2008 at 06:04 PM
those are very pretty
i saw you visited my flickr and i thought i'd pop by and say hello.
Posted by: Nancy | November 22, 2008 at 09:22 PM
What a wonderful idea for gift-giving! Thanks so much for sharing. You blog is beautiful!!
xo
jeanne
Posted by: Jeanne | November 23, 2008 at 07:38 AM
I love this idea!! thank you so much for sharing... I think I will make some of these for friends this year. ;) xox Heather
Posted by: Heather Kowalski | November 23, 2008 at 11:44 PM
I love this idea also! I'm in love with Vintage wallpaper too. I just came here from the new flickr blog.....and was shocked to see you have a post about Lucketts! I LOVE LUCKETTS! I used to live in Western Loudoun but now I'm in Fairfax...I still go all the time!
Posted by: Robin~Thrifty Miss Priss | November 24, 2008 at 07:33 PM
What a great idea. I love it all.
Posted by: Lisa Mainz | November 24, 2008 at 10:49 PM
i love the idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-abigial
Posted by: Abigail | November 27, 2008 at 08:25 AM