This basic mosaic soap beginners project demonstrates how to make two simple floral and two geometric mosaic soap designs.

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Table of Contents

My Inspiration for Basic Mosaic Soap
What You Need to Make Basic Mosaic Soap
Basic Mosaic Soap Video Tutorial
Basic Mosaic Soap Instructions and Printable Tutorial

My Inspiration for Basic Mosaic Soap

For the first month of our 2023 Mosaic Soap Challenge I wanted to start with a basic beginners project.

A finished mosaic soap bar can look quite complex, but the process is actually quite simple.

This project demonstrates the ‘grout surround’ mosaic soap method which consists of a simple mosaic picture or pattern laid out on a soap ‘base’, and then surrounded by white ‘soap grout’.

I chose two simple floral designs and two simple geometric designs using four different colours.

If you can follow this simple method then you can make pretty much any mosaic design.

Let’s get started!

What You Need to Make Basic Mosaic Soap

Melt and Pour Soap Base

Melt and pour soap is sold as large blocks that you can cut up and then weigh out the amount of soap you need.

I used white melt and pour soap base and clear melt and pour soap base to make my basic mosaic soap bars.  Each of my bars weighs approximately 80g (~2.8oz).

I used white melt and pour soap base for the base bars and soap ‘grout’.

The mosaic soap tiles are a combination of white and clear melt and pour soap base at a 20/80 ratio as I wanted them to have a vibrant colour but still be opaque.

Don’t forget to add up to 5% for wastage.

Soap Moulds

To make mosaic melt and pour soap bars you need two moulds, one for the tiles and one for the base.

This mosaic tile mould makes six different patterns of mosaic tiles.  For this project, I’m using the geometric shapes (hexagon, square, circle and triangle) and leaving the abstract shapes for another day.

Live outside of the United States? You can also buy this mosaic tile mould from Aliexpress.

For the base, a mould that is a basic, geometric shape such as a circle, square or rectangle is ideal. 

I used this circular silicone soap mould for my project, but you can use any other geometric soap mould you have on hand.

Plastic or Rubber Scraper

You will find filling the mosaic tile silicone mould much easier if you have a rubber scraper on hand to distribute the melted soap base evenly across the mould.

Live outside of the United States? You can also buy rubber scrapers from Aliexpress.

Soap Colouring

I used royal blue, green, light blue and yellow soap colouring for my basic mosaic soap bars.  I prefer liquid soap colouring, but you can also use coloured mica.

Essential Oils or Fragrance Oils

Scenting your soap is optional, but most of us prefer a pretty smelling soap bar.

For this project, I used doTERRA’s Serenity essential oil blend, but you can feel free to use your favourite combination of essential oils or your preferred fragrance oil.

If you are looking for ideas, check out my list of perfect essential oil soap scents.

Small Glass Measuring Cup

I highly recommend using a small glass measuring cup to pour the mosaic tiles and the white ‘grout’ surround.  An espresso measuring cup (used by baristas) is ideal as it has a double spout, a wooden handle, and can withstand high heat.

Live outside of the United States? You can also buy espresso measuring cups from Aliexpress.

Alcohol in a Small Spray Bottle

Alcohol (rubbing alcohol/isopropyl alcohol or vodka) has a number of uses when making melt and pour soap:

• Spraying the soap with alcohol once it’s poured will remove any bubbles sitting on the soap’s surface.
• Spraying alcohol between soap layers helps them adhere together.
• Spraying the soap mould with alcohol before pouring the soap helps the soap spread evenly across the bottom of the mould.

Alcohol is an absolute MUST when making mosaic soap as it helps the soap ‘grout’ fill the gaps between the soap mosaic tiles.

Additional Materials Required

Kitchen Scales – I’ve used grams in this recipe because the amounts are easier to manage compared with ounces.  Most kitchen scales these days are interchangeable between grams and ounces.  Check your scale’s instruction booklet for how to change your scale to measure in grams and then change it back when finished. 

Glass Measuring Jug – You will need a larger (500ml/16oz) measuring jug to melt the white melt and pour soap base.  I have a separate glass measuring jug dedicated to creative projects (soap making, lotion bars, lip balm etc) to avoid any cross-contamination of non-ingestible ingredients with food.  I recommend you do the same. 

Metal or Bamboo Skewer – Skewers are super handy for positioning the mosaic tiles.  They can also be used for stirring the melted soap base and can be easily cleaned or disposed of. 

Paper Cups – I used paper cups to mix and pour the coloured soap base for my mosaic soap tiles.  A paper cup can also be used to collect any unused soap base after you have poured your base bars, mosaic soap tiles, and soap ‘grout’.

A Tray Lined with Greaseproof Baking Paper – Position the silicone soap moulds on a piece of greaseproof baking paper on a tray before pouring to allow for easy cleaning up (there will be drips) and transport while the soap is setting.

Plastic Tweezers – A pair of plastic tweezers are recommended to help position the soap mosaic tiles.

A Breadboard and a Sharp Knife – For cutting mosaic soap tiles into different shapes.

Cotton Buds – You will require cotton buds/swabs during the soap ‘grouting’ stage to clean up any white soap base spilled on the mosaic soap tiles.

Microwave or Double Boiler – Melt your soap base in either a microwave and/or a double boiler.  A double boiler is recommended for this project to ensure your soap base stays hot while you work.

Basic Mosaic Soap Video Tutorial

To make it easier for you to grasp the process, I created a video tutorial about how to make basic mosaic soap bars.

How to Make Basic Mosaic Melt and Pour Soap Bars

Want your Basic Mosaic soap to look like mine?

I made four, round, soap bars from white melt and pour soap base scented with doTERRA’s Serenity essential oil blend to use as the bases for each of my mosaic soaps.

I then used a combination of clear melt and pour soap base and white melt and pour soap base to make dark blue hexagon, green square, light blue circle, and yellow triangle mosaic tiles using a mosaic tile silicone mould.

I positioned the mosaic soap tiles (in basic floral and geometric patterns) on top of the round base bars.

Finally, I scented a small amount of white melt and pour soap base and poured it around the mosaic soap tiles to ‘grout’ them in.

Basic Mosaic Soap Bars Printable Tutorial

Enjoy!