What’s better than 2 for 1? What about 4 for 1! When we started thinking about fun ways to make hearts for V-day, we couldn’t choose just one, and luckily you don’t have to either!
The secret to an armload of hearts is a silicone mold pan – it’s perfect for transforming all sorts of supplies into Valentines treats. Maybe your kids want to make gifts for their teachers and need candy-free cards for their class, or maybe you want to share self-care treats with your girlfriends for Galentine’s Day. Below are how-to’s for heart shaped crayons, perler bead pendants, toy-filled soaps, and sprinkle bath bombs. Make just one or try all four and take advantage of all the options your tray offers!
Add all the dry ingredients (baking soda, Epsom salt, cornstarch, and citric acid) together in a large bowl. Stir until the mixture is clump-free. Add sprinkles or glitter if you’d like and continue to stir.
Next add all wet ingredients (oil, water, and food coloring) to a clean jar and shake them up. Add more food coloring for a brighter hue.
Slowly add the liquid to the dry mixture, stirring as you go. If things start to fizz, go even slower! You should end up with a mixture that just barely clumps together, like damp sand.
As soon as you have the right consistency, fill each mold cup halfway with the mixture and pack down firmly. Add the toy and continue to fill the cups, pressing firmly again at the top.
Let the bath bombs dry a full day or overnight before popping them out of the mold.
Start by cutting soap base into cubes and then small slices and filling the measuring cup. NOTE: It’s easier to make in small batches so start with 8 oz of glycerin at a time. If your glycerin came in a grid, 8oz = 10 cubes. The amount of soap base you need to fill each cup will depend on your mold size. Our mold had 8, 2.5 oz cups which required approximately 4 oz of liquid soap per cup.
Microwave measuring cup for 30 seconds, take out and stir. If necessary, continue in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until glycerin has become clear liquid.
Add colorant to the measuring cup, 4 drops at a time, and stir until you reach the desired shade.
Pour the soap into molds, filling them halfway, and then spritz with alcohol to remove bubbles. Let set for 5 to 7 minutes. Spritz toy with alcohol then place in soap and spritz once more.
Leave for twenty minutes to make sure toy is secure then spritz again with alcohol, remelt soap and fill the remaining space. Spritz one more time and leave until completely hardened.
