Teacher Gift: Customized Soap Bottles

Here’s another teacher gift idea for you. I first saw these customized hand-soap bottles on Design Mom (go figure!) last year and liked how they turned out so much, we’re doing them again this year. I like how they have that “how did you do that?” feel to them.

I’m giving you links to two different websites that have slightly different takes on how to make these. Design Mom’s link has downloadable PDF templates you can use―you just have to add your own artwork. We used silhouettes of the kids from when they were each two years old by local treasure Patti Pate. The other site, The Giver’s Log, walks you through the project using artwork made by you or your kids. Both are great!

Here are some notes from my experience in case you give these a try:

• SoftSoap works great. I bought a bunch of bottles on sale at Target this week.
• I bought the transparencies at Office Max. I nearly choked when I saw that a box of transparencies costs $40. But a kind clerk said I could buy individual sheets at the copy center. If you’re going to make a lot of these buying a box might be worth it.
• Using a laser printer does not work. The ink smudges. So I made photocopies and they turned out great.
• Goo Gone was recommended for removing the sticky label residue. I don’t have Goo Gone, but my Melaleuca Sol-U-Mel worked just fine.

So there you have it. Please let me know if you have any questions. Good luck!