Homemade bath crayons are easy and fun to make. Crafted from ordinary household materials, the soap crayons can be used in the bathtub or shower by kids of all ages. The homemade crayons can also be made into many different colors and shapes with just a touch of creativity.
Materials for Homemade Bath Soap Crayons
1 cup grated soap, soap flakes, or soap powder (not detergent!) ~ I prefer finely grated Ivory soap bars
3 tablespoons to 1/4 cup warm water
Food coloring (liquid, not paste) or washable paints
How to Make the Bath Crayons
1. Mix the grated soap, flakes or powder with the warm water.
2. Add a couple drops of food coloring or washable paint to the mixture. For light or pastel colors, I use food coloring. If I want dramatic or unusual colors, I add washable tempera paint. Note: paint or food coloring may temporarily discolor your bath walls. I strongly suggest testing out the homemade color crayons in advance of bath time.
3. . Continue mixing the soap crayon solution until it begins to thicken and hold its shape. Add more water or soap if needed. It will be very difficult to stir; I usually knead by hand at this point. Once the mixture is stiff and begins to harden, it’s time to mold the bath crayons.
4. Mold the soap crayons (see more details below). Allow the crayons to dry at least a couple days before popping from molds and using in the tub.
Bath Crayon Molds
No molds are necessary if you want to create balls. Just round the mixture into golf ball or tennis ball shapes and allow to dry.
Molds, however, are a wonderful way to personalize your bath crayons. The homemade soap crayons can be molded in a simple ice cube tray, empty film canisters, and Dixie cups. For more elaborate molds, try some of the soap or candy molds found at craft stores. I’ve made skeleton shapes for Halloween, hearts for Valentine’s Day, and trees for Christmas.
Adding scent is another way to customize your homemade bath crayons.. Craft stores sell various liquid scents intended for soap making. I like the cinnamon scent for Christmas soaps and a rose scent for Valentine’s Day soaps. A little bit of scent goes a long way so beware if your kids have sensitive noses!
Use crayon-shaped molds to make a whole set of “real” crayons in a rainbow of colors. Don’t add any color until Step 2 of the directions; you can separate the soap mixture into small bits to make one or two crayons of each color. Crayon molds can be found at most craft stores, like Michaels, JoAnn Crafts, and A.C. Moore, for about $4.00.
Homemade rainbow eggs are a fun gift too. Make a small amount of the soap crayon mixture in two or three colors. Gently press the colors together, either by hand or by pushing into an egg-shaped soap mold. Shape together just enough to hold the egg together but not so much that the colors become muddy. My kids love these.
Bath crayon “popsicles” are nice for summer. I use Dixie cups to mold the crayons, insert a popsicle or craft stick for a handle, then push soap around the handle to seal it in. I peel away the Dixie cup, rather than popping it out. Red, white, and blue popsicle bath crayons are great for the 4th of July and can be used outside in water play for drawing on toys or pools.
