My belly is pink, Dear Reader.
This past Sunday, I was trying out a recipe for bath paint, and I was stained. The staining appears to be permanent. Gracie Anna is stained, too, thanks for asking.
Fortunately, our skin cells will not live forever, and our bellies and legs will return to their normal color in a week or two. I hope.
At any rate, the bath paints were super fun, and my friend at KaNani Essentials is sending me some organic bath paints that are guaranteed not to stain.
But you aren't looking for bath paints, you're looking for bath crayons, like the ones I used to color Joe and Grace uses color on the sink. We've been making those, too.
Homemade Bath Crayons
Ingredients:
- 1 bar Ivory soap
- Warm water
- Food coloring
Instructions:
- Grate the bar of soap. You'll need about 1 cup of soap shavings. I use Ivory because it's very mild. It's what Grace's dermatologist recommended, and it's what we use at home. Unfortunately, there isn't a short cut to the grating, unless you use a food processor. You can't use detergent or powdered soap. They're too harsh.
- Add food coloring and warm water, a few tablespoons at a time, to the soap shavings and mix until it forms a thick dough. You can add more water or soap shavings to get the right consistency.
- Once the dough is firm, you can shape it into crayons by hand or press it into candy molds. I made ours into little cigars so that they'd be easy for Grace to handle.
- At this point, you can leave the crayons out to dry and harden. Amy from MomAdvice puts hers in the freezer for 10 minutes or so, and then leaves them out to dry after that.
Notes:
- You probably want to test the crayons on your bathtub and other surfaces before you unleash the children with them. Make sure they rinse off.
- Ditto with your skin. I learned that one for you.
- I found some neon food coloring at my grocery store that is splendid. I love it.
- If you want to make your crayons different colors (as opposed to all one color as in the instructions above), you can separate the soap shavings into smaller chunks, and mix each with water and food coloring to get the right consistency.
- If you're interested, you can get real crayon-shaped molds at the craft store.
When you're all done, take some pictures! I'd love to see them.
Rachel says
I saw someone commented that they used the dyes specifically for making colored soap. I had bought some but have yet to try it out. Did it work? I don't want to waste it if it didn't.
Tara Ziegmont says
I haven't tried them, sorry.
steph says
Tried this and they turned out crumbly. Did I not add enough water? What's the consistency of the dough supposed to be like (i.e. Peanut butter, playdough, cookie dough...)
THX!!
Ashley says
What size shreds should the grater make?
Makenna says
Hi! I'm Makenna, and I'd really appreciate if you
Would please put up a post of how to make
Bath paint or email it to me! I would also
Like to see how to make bath fizzies!
Or if you call them bath bombs, their the
Same! So please, email me bath paints
And bath bombs!!!
Llapis says
WASTE OF TIME AND SUPPLIES. Followed recipe to the tee and all I've got are 8 soft pieces of slippery soap....ycch a mess....
Isabel says
thanx for the idea they came out great!!!!!!
my sistes love them<3
Lara says
Love this!! And same as above I had all the stuff. I get frustrated with "easy" little crafts get excited and you need to make a grocery list to do! Lol can't wait to try them!!! One color got a little watery so wondering how it will turn out!!!
Patty says
I use the Dove bars (sometimes the generic) to make liquid soap and I have to grate them to do so... the best way to grate the soap is to microwave it for 20-30 seconds, and not a bit longer. It softens up the soap enough to finely grate without tearing up hands and it makes the grating process 1000% faster.
Thanks a MILLION for this recipe. I'll be trying it later, I use the bath crayons more than my kid does. The shower helps me think and I need something to write down my ideas! lol
Summer S. says
Anyone tried using sidewalk chalk for the color? I use sidewalk chalk dipped in water to write on the shower walls while my toddler is bathing.We practice shapes, numbers, letters, etc. but some of the darker colors leave ghosting behind even though 99% of it just wipes away with water. Usually all I have to do is take a soapy rag to it and then it completely washes away, so wondering if I could just mix the chalk with soap from the get-go?
Lisa says
If I make these up ahead of time for Christmas present...will the colors stay vibrant?