Set out all of your equipment and ingredients ready to be used.
Instructions for Using Soap Scraps
Sort your soap scraps into four paper cups, grouping similar colours together.You will need reds, oranges, yellows and browns. You can combine different colours if necessary (red and yellow = orange, red and green OR orange and blue = brown).
Melt your soap scraps in a microwave and stir well.
Add gold mica (if using) for added shimmer. Stir well.
Alternate Instructions if Not Using Soap Scraps
Weigh out 85g (~3 oz) of melt and pour soap base (white, clear or combined) and cut it up into small cubes. Put it in a glass measuring jug in a microwave or double boiler.
Melt your soap base as per the instructions.
Divide the melted soap base evenly into four paper cups.
Add soap colouring or mica to tint the soap base in each cup to a different colour - red, orange, yellow and brown.
Add gold mica (if using) for added shimmer. Stir well.
Spray the silicone baking mat liberally with alcohol.
Instructions for Using a Paint Pouring Tool
Place the paint pouring tool/s in the centre of the baking mat. If you are using two, space them about 5cm (2") apart.
Start pouring your melted soap base through the funnel of the paint pouring tool, alternating colours as you go.
When the area of the baking mat around the paint pouring tool is covered with soap, pick up the paint pouring tool and move it to an uncovered area nearby and pour again.
Continue until a large area of the baking mat is covered with soap base - enough to accommodate all three of your cookie cutters.
Wait 10 minutes for the soap to set.
Alternate Instructions if Not Using a Paint Pouring Tool
Pour out your coloured soap bases in a random pattern across the baking mat until it is covered with a thin layer of soap - the area covered should be enough to accommodate all three of your cookie cutters.
Wait 10 minutes for the soap to set.
Pouring the Remainder of the Autumn Leaf Melt and Pour Soap Bars
Push the sharp edge of the cookie cutters down into the set soap base.
Weigh out 155g (~5 1/2 oz) of white soap base and cut it up into small cubes. Put it in a glass measuring jug in a microwave or double boiler.
Melt your soap base as per the instructions.
Add the soap scent (if using) and mix well.
Spray the surface of the set soap base inside of the cookie cutters with alcohol. This will help the coloured layer of soap adhere to the white layer of soap.
Pour the melted white soap base into the cookie cutters until they are full to the brim.
Spray the surface of the soap with alcohol to get rid of surface bubbles.
Let the soap set overnight (at least 12 hours).
Demoulding Your Soap Bars
Once the soaps are fully set, pick the cookie cutters up from the baking mat and remove the excess coloured soap layer from around the outside of each cookie cutter.
Ease the soap bars out of the cookie cutters by first flexing and bending the cookie cutters to pry the edges of the cutters away from the soap.
Push the soap bars out of the cookie cutters with your thumbs.
Tag Cookie Cutter Crafts, melt and pour soap techniques