How-To: Fortune Cookie Soap

Materials
Glycerin soap (14 oz. makes 12 per pan)
Soap coloring (gold used in sample)
Soap scent (optional)
Jelly roll pan (or cookie sheet with raised edges), 12" x 17"
Waxed paper
Round cookie cutter (or round cup or bowl), 3 3/4" diameter
Printed paper "fortunes," 7/16" wide by 3" long (use your imagination!)
Small purchased brown bags, 3 1/8" high
Rubber stamp (Chinese "harmony" character used for sample)
Embossing ink
Embossing powder (metallic gold used for sample)
Embossing heat gun
Single-hole punch, 1/8" diameter
Black satin ribbon, 1/8" wide, cut 4" long
Red tissue paper, cut in 4" x 6" pieces
White crinkle-cut paper excelsior



Step 1: Melt the soap. Place it in a microwave-safe glass measuring cup or bowl sufficiently deep so that the melted soap fills no more than half of the container. Melt on a high setting in a microwave oven for about 40 seconds, following the instructions on the soap package. (Length of time depends on how much soap you're melting.) Make sure soap is completely liquid.

Step 2: Add 1/4 tsp. soap coloring and mix well. If desired, add a few drops of scent and mix well.

Step 3: Line the jelly roll pan with waxed paper, including the sides. Pour the soap mixture into the pan, keeping it as level as possible. Tap the pan on the counter or tip as necessary until mixture is level. Let cool for only about 10 minutes or until leathery. (If allowed to set longer the mixture will crack when folded.)



Step 4: Press the cookie cutter (or other round item) into the soap to make circles (step-by-step photo 1).

Step 5: Gently fold opposite edges of circle together without making a hard crease (photo 2). Fold the "points" together over your finger in the opposite direction to form the cookie shape (photos 3 through 5). Tuck paper "fortune" into "cookie."

Step 6: Press the stamp into the embossing ink and stamp the image onto the center of a flattened bag. Immediately sprinkle gold embossing powder onto the inked image, then gently shake off any excess onto clean paper (for reuse). Heat the image with the heat gun until the powder melts. Let cool.

Step 7: Punch two holes at the center front of the bag about 1/8" from the top edge. Thread a length of ribbon through the holes and tie in a knot.

Step 8: Fill the bottom of the bag with a small amount of excelsior. Add a piece of red tissue and top with two "cookies."

Find more great books and projects from Basha Kooler and Kooler Design Studio at www.KoolerDesign.com