Happy Summer Soapsicles

Three days away from May means there is a line of bathing suits drying along the pool gate out back, bedtimes are becoming a little more relaxed around here, barbecue plans are under way, watermelon makes it into our grocery cart every week and yes, we’re throwing around summer bucket list ideas. We still have a lot of this gorgeous spring to enjoy, but being as the season lines are very blurred where we live, we’re already playing summer’s soundtrack–lawn mower hum, sprinkler spray, grill sizzle.

Between Teacher Appreciation Week and Lainey’s birthday both coming up, we’ve got crafty summer favors on the brain.

Enter our favorite treat…Popsicles. Even better…red, white and blue Popsicles. Even better than that? Red, white and blue Popsicles that don’t melt! 

They’re Soapsicles for the shower, and they’re super easy and quick to make. Wrap them up in cellophane with a ribbon and a cute tag, and you have yourself a nice summer gift–for teachers, for hostesses, for summer party favors.

What you’ll need:

Shea Butter Soap Base (We used this one)
Essential Oil for Scent (I used summery scents–lemongrass for one batch and grapefruit for another–about 6 drops for each color batch.)
Red and Blue Soap Dye (this pack has red and blue in it)
Large Popsicle Sticks
Popsicle Molds (we have this one)

I used a butter knife to slice through the soap base block, and worked with about 1 cups (melted), pouring one color at a time. Drop a small block of soap base into a glass measuring cup. Heat in 30 sec. increments in the microwave until it’s in liquid form (it melts super fast).

Add 6-7 drops of your choice of essential oil as well as a few drops of red color until the saturation is how you like it.

Pour red candle liquid into Popsicle mold, being careful that it doesn’t drizzle against the sides. Fill about 1/3 of the way up.

Let sit for about 5-10 minutes until it’s solidified a little bit but still mushy enough to slide a Popsicle stick in. Push a Popsicle stick right in the middle and let it sit for another 20 minutes or so until soap is hardened.

Repeat melting and essential oil step with another block of soap base, but skip the color for the white layer. Again, pour soap liquid carefully, avoiding the sides. Fill another 1/3, leaving room for the last blue layer. Let sit until hardened (20-30 minutes).

Repeat the first steps again, adding blue color for the last layer. Let sit to harden. When it was fully set and hardened, I pulled the soapsicles out just like I would a Popsicle–put it in the freezer for a few minutes and then ran the outside of the mold under a little hot water, wiggling and pulling the Popsicle stick as I did. Eventually, it pulled loose and slid out perfectly.

Voila…some happy summer love for your shower!