Still looking for Valentine’s Day gifts for your loved ones? Handmade presents are a great way to show you care, and these Sparkling Strawberry Melt and Pour Bars are the perfect alternative to traditional flowers and chocolate. Give these soaps along with a handmade wax sealed card, and your special someone will surely feel the love!
For this project, iridescent glitter is combined with traditional Valentine’s Day colors for a fun and sparkly twist. The red, pink and gold colors create eye-catching contrast against the White Melt and Pour Soap Base. A combination of Strawberry Fragrance Oil and Champagne Fragrance Oil create a bubbly and sweet scent that’s perfect for the holiday.
What You’ll Need:
6 oz Clear Melt and Pour Soap Base
22 oz White Melt and Pour Soap Base
1 Non Bleeding Fired Up Fuchsia Color Block
1 Non Bleeding Perfect Red Color Block
1 Shimmer Sparkle Gold Color Block
0.6 oz Champagne Fragrance Oil
Click "Add to Cart" to add everything you need for this project to your Bramble Berry shopping cart.
ONE: Cut and melt 1 oz. of Clear Melt and Pour Soap in a heat safe container on 5 second bursts. Because you are melting a very small amount of soap, using short bursts keeps the soap from burning. Add shavings of the Shimmer Sparkle Gold Color Block until desired gold color is achieved. Stir to incorporate.
TWO: Use the injector tool or a dropper to fill in the point and end of the arrow. Spray with 99% isopropyl alcohol to disperse any bubbles and allow to harden.
TIP: When using the injector tool, have a cup of hot soapy water nearby! This allows you to quickly clear out the soap in the injector tool between colors. If you don’t, the soap may harden in the injector tool and clog it.
THREE: If necessary, use a Clean Up Tool to remove any gold that leaks into the heart cavities.
FOUR: Cut and melt 2.5 oz. of Clear Melt and Pour Soap in a heat safe container on 10 second bursts. Add shavings of the Perfect Red Color Block until desired red color is achieved. Stir to incorporate.
FIVE: Add 2 mL of Strawberry Fragrance Oil and stir well. When the soap is 130° F or cooler, add 1/4 tsp. of iridescent glitter and stir. When the soap is 130° F or cooler, it is thick enough to suspend the glitter evenly.
SIX: Using the injector tool or a dropper, fill in the hearts on the right side of each cavity. Spray with alcohol to disperse any bubbles and allow to harden.
SEVEN: Cut and melt 2.5 oz. of Clear Melt and Pour Soap in a heat safe container on 10 second bursts. Add shavings of the Fired Up Fuchsia Color Block until desired pink color is achieved. Stir to incorporate. Add 2 mL of Strawberry Fragrance Oil and stir well. When the soap is 130° F or cooler, add 1/4 tsp. of iridescent glitter and stir.
EIGHT: Use the injector tool or a dropper to fill in the hearts on the left side of each cavity with pink soap, spray with alcohol and allow to harden.
NINE: Cut and melt 22 oz. of White Melt and Pour Soap Base in a heat safe container on 30 second bursts. When the soap is melted, add .6 oz. of Champagne Fragrance Oil and stir well.
TEN: Once the white soap is around 120-125 °F, spritz the hearts with alcohol and pour the white soap on top. You want your soap to be cool enough that it won’t melt the hearts and arrows, so be sure to watch the temperature. Spray with alcohol to disperse any bubbles. Allow the soap to fully harden and cool. To remove from the mold, use the palm of your hand to firmly press on the front of the mold to release the air lock. Cut into bars using a sharp knife or soap cutter. Enjoy!
What is your favorite way to show your love on Valentine’s Day?
- Tray of Hearts Mold
- 6 oz. Clear Melt and Pour Soap Base
- 22 oz. White Melt and Pour Soap Base
- Non Bleeding Fired Up Fuchsia Color Block
- Non Bleeding Perfect Red Color Block
- Shimmer Sparkle Gold Color Block
- ½ tsp. Iridescent Glitter
- 4 mL Strawberry Fragrance Oil
- 0.6 oz. Champagne Fragrance Oil
- Injector Tool
- Optional: Droppers
- Cut and melt 1 oz. of Clear Melt and Pour Soap in a heat safe container on 5 second bursts. Because you are melting a very small amount of soap, using short bursts keeps the soap from burning. Add shavings of the Shimmer Sparkle Gold Color Block until desired gold color is achieved. Stir to incorporate.
- Use the injector tool or a dropper to fill in the point and end of the arrow. Spray with 99% isopropyl alcohol to disperse any bubbles and allow to harden. TIP: When using the injector tool, have a cup of hot soapy water nearby! This allows you to quickly clear out the soap in the injector tool between colors. If you don’t, the soap may harden in the injector tool and clog it.
- If necessary, use a Clean Up Tool to remove any gold that leaks into the heart cavities.
- Cut and melt 2.5 oz. of Clear Melt and Pour Soap in a heat safe container on 10 second bursts. Add shavings of the Perfect Red Color Block until desired red color is achieved. Stir to incorporate.
- Add 2 mL of Strawberry Fragrance Oil and stir well. When the soap is 130 °F or cooler, add ¼ tsp. of iridescent glitter and stir. When the soap is 130 F or cooler, it is thick enough to suspend the glitter evenly.
- Using the injector tool or a dropper, fill in the hearts on the right side of each cavity. Spray with alcohol to disperse any bubbles and allow to harden.
- Cut and melt 2.5 oz. of Clear Melt and Pour Soap in a heat safe container on 10 second bursts. Add shavings of the Fired Up Fuchsia Color Block until desired pink color is achieved. Stir to incorporate. Add 2 mL of Strawberry Fragrance Oil and stir well. When the soap is 130 F or cooler, add ¼ tsp. of iridescent glitter and stir.
- Use the injector tool or a dropper to fill in the hearts on the left side of each cavity with pink soap, spray with alcohol and allow to harden.
- Cut and melt 22 oz. of White Melt and Pour Soap Base in a heat safe container on 30 second bursts. When the soap is melted, add .6 oz. of Champagne Fragrance Oil and stir well.
- Once the soap is around 120-125 °F, spritz the hearts with alcohol and pour the white soap on top. You want your soap to be cool enough that it won’t melt the hearts and arrows. Spray with alcohol to disperse any bubbles.
- Allow the soap to fully harden and cool. To remove from the mold, use the palm of your hand to firmly press on the front of the mold to release the air lock. Cut into bars using a sharp knife or soap cutter. Enjoy!
Brandy says
I would like to make these for Valentine’s Day this year but I really like the colors from the Rose Gold & Charcoal Heart melt & pour soap tutorial. How would I go about making these Sparkling Strawberry melt & pour bars only using Shea melt & pour and the colors from the Rose Gold & Charcoal Heart Soap recipe?
I know it’s primarily just swapping one color for another, only I’m a newborn when it comes to everything soap making and since the type of colorant used from one recipe to the next are not the same (color blocks vs mica and activated charcoal) I’m unsure on the amounts I’d use and if there would be any other steps I’d need to do differently. When I’ve tried to things “my way” in the past I’ve ended up with some pretty hilariously embarrassing tragedies as a result, so now I try to be safe vs ultimately sorry (and embarrassed.)
On that note I have to do a shout out to Courtney at BB and send my endless Thank You’s and appreciation for her never ending patients at answering my thousands of questions and her kindness for not laughing too hard after hearing about my most recent project failure.
Kelsey says
Hi Brandy!
I can definitely help you out! For colors, you can prepare them the same way as the Rose Gold and Charcoal Heart Melt and Pour Soap. That includes 2 teaspoons of Rose Gold Mica and activated charcoal into 2 tablespoons of 99% isopropyl alcohol. Then, add that dispersed color 1/4 tsp. at a time until you get a shade you like. 🙂
Keep in mind, in a white base like Shea Melt and Pour, the colors will be more pastel. For instance, the activated charcoal will create a gray color, and the Rose Gold will be a softer pink (like the embed color). If you want the darker colors, we do recommend a clear base. Read more about that in the How to Get Vibrant Colors in Soap post: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/how-to-get-vibrant-colors-in-soap/
You can make the hearts pink and the background gray, or vice versa. Either way will look really pretty! Have fun giving this recipe a try Brandy. Also, thank you for the sweet message about Courtney! I’ll definitely let her know. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Activated charcoal: https://www.brambleberry.com/Body-Care-C434.aspx
Rose Gold Mica: https://www.brambleberry.com/Rose-Gold-Mica-P6226.aspx
Shea Melt and Pour Base: https://www.brambleberry.com/SFIC-Shea-Melt-and-Pour-P3192.aspx
Brandy says
Kelsey, Thanks So Much! For breaking this down for me as well as the additional tips such as using a clear MP. I’m really looking forward to giving this one a try! Crossing my fingers I don’t mess up part or all of my valentines soap! I guess that’s the good part about MP, it may not look pretty but I can still use it for something! I suppose I could always learn how to felt my soap if things go that bad lol! Any tutorials on felting soap yet here on Soap Queen? I’m fairly confident that without a doubt a day will come when I’ll need to learn that cute and oh so useful (if your me) craft! Thanks for the help! Oh! and Happy Valentines Day💕!💕!
Kelsey says
You’re welcome Brandy! Also, you are definitely right – melt and pour will still feel awesome. And, you can always remelt it and try again. 🙂
Also, we do have this tutorial on felting soap you may find helpful: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/cold-process-soap/fuzzy-felted-soap-balls/
Have fun making your bars Brandy, and happy Valentine’s Day to you too!
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Evita says
Hi Anne Marie, I have a question about packaging. I am new at soaping so I’ve only done melt and pour so far. Is it better to completely wrap MP bars so that they don’t lose any moisture or is it better to let it breathe (as with CP soap)?
Thank you! Love your work
Kelsey says
Hi Evita!
That’s a great question! We recommend wrapping your melt and pour as soon as it’s cool and hard. If the soap is left unwrapped, it can get glycerin dew. To prevent that, wrap your soap with plastic wrap and use a heat gun to adhere the plastic tightly. 🙂
You can read more about glycerin dew and how to prevent it in the Augh! What’s THAT All Over my Soap post: http://www.soapqueen.com/personal-ramblings/augh-whats-that-all-over-my-soap-2/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Monica says
Those are incredibly adorable!
Kelsey says
Hi Monica!
Thanks so much, glad you like them! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Margaret Grimm says
These are super cute! They really did turn out gorgeous 🙂 I love the choice of scents as well. Thanks for the inspiration!
Kelsey says
Hi Margaret!
Thank you, so happy you enjoy them! We love the scent as well, it’s very sweet and bubbly. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry