Full of sparkle and shine, it’s easy to see why soap gems are making a serious comeback. These Sparkling Garnet Soap Gems were inspired by the sophisticated January birthstone. Garnets actually come in a wide variety of colors, but the deep red hue is the most popular. Garnets are said to signify friendship and trust, making these Garnet Soap Gems a great gift!
Merlot Sparkle Mica is added to Clear Melt and Pour Base to achieve the rich, scarlet color. Pomegranate and Black Currant Fragrance Oil give these soapy gems a juicy scent, with notes of citrus and soft florals. Once cooled and hardened, the soap is cut at random angles to achieve an authentic gem appearance. This project is easy to customize, and is perfect for beginning crafters. As a bonus, a wide variety of micas and glitter are 20% off, including the Merlot Sparkle Mica and Fine Iridescent Glitter.
What You’ll Need:
9 Cube Soap Silicone Mold
20 oz. Clear Melt and Pour Base
.4 oz. Pomegranate and Black Currant Fragrance Oil
Merlot Sparkle Mica
Fine Iridescent Glitter
Optional: 99% Isopropyl Alcohol
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PREP COLORANTS: In a small container, mix together 1 tsp. Merlot Sparkle Mica and 1 Tbs. rubbing alcohol. This step is optional. Mixing the mica in alcohol helps it to mix into the melted soap a little bit easier.
ONE: Chop and melt 20 oz. of Clear Melt and Pour Base in the microwave using 30 second bursts. Once completely melted, add all of the dispersed Merlot Sparkle Mica and use a spoon or spatula to thoroughly mix in.
TWO: Add about 1/4 tsp. of Fine Iridescent Glitter and stir until fully mixed in.
THREE: Add the Pomegranate and Black Currant Fragrance Oil and stir to thoroughly mix in.
FOUR: Allow the soap to cool to below 130° F or below. Letting the soap cool slightly helps suspend the glitter throughout the soap. Pour the soap into the cavities of the 9 Cube Soap Silicone Mold. It will fill about 5 cavities, or more if you don’t fill them up all the way.
FIVE: Spritz the top of the soap with 99% isopropyl alcohol to help disperse bubbles. Allow to fully cool and harden.
SIX: Once completely cool, remove the cubes from the mold. Then using a sharp, non-serrated knife, carefully cut the cubes at random angles to create various gem-like shapes. There is no right or wrong way to cut your gems, so have fun with it!
SEVEN: Once you’re done cutting your gems, don’t throw away the scraps! Save them to remelt, repour and make more gems! They can also be used to embed into other melt and pour projects. To avoid glycerin dew, wrap the gems in plastic wrap immediately after cutting. Click here to learn more about glycerin dew and how to prevent it. Enjoy!
Have you ever made soap gems before? Be on the lookout for a Soap Queen TV video demonstrating a more advanced soap gem technique!
- 9 Cube Soap Silicone Mold
- 20 oz. Clear Melt and Pour Base
- .4 oz. Pomegranate and Black Currant Fragrance Oil
- Merlot Sparkle Mica
- Fine Iridescent Glitter
- Optional: 99% Isopropyl Alcohol
- In a small container, mix together 1 tsp. Merlot Sparkle Mica and 1 Tbs. rubbing alcohol. This step is optional. Mixing the mica in alcohol helps it to mix into the melted soap a little bit easier.
- Chop and melt 20 oz. of Clear Melt and Pour Base in the microwave using 30 second bursts. Once completely melted, add all of the dispersed Merlot Sparkle Mica and use a spoon or spatula to thoroughly mix in.
- Add about ¼ tsp. of Fine Iridescent Glitter and stir until fully mixed in.
- Add the Pomegranate and Black Currant Fragrance Oil and stir to thoroughly mix in.
- Allow the soap to cool to below 130° F or below. Letting the soap cool slightly helps suspend the glitter throughout the soap. Pour the soap into the cavities of the 9 Cube Soap Silicone Mold. It will fill about 5 cavities, or more if you don’t fill them up all the way.
- Spritz the top of the soap with 99% isopropyl alcohol to help disperse bubbles. Allow to fully cool and harden.
- Once you’re done cutting your gems, don’t throw away the scraps! Save them to remelt, repour and make more gems! They can also be used to embed into other melt and pour projects. To avoid glycerin dew, wrap the gems in plastic wrap immediately after cutting. Click here to learn more about glycerin dew and how to prevent it. Enjoy!
Hi! Just wanted to say a quick thank you for this tutorial. Recently, we needed a quick easy project for a fundraiser we did. It was for a little girl who’s name is Ruby (so, naturally we marketed them as “ruby soap stones”). They we’re SO perfect and people went nuts over them. Thank you thank you thank you!!!
You’re very welcome Annie! That is such a great idea for the fundraiser. I love the Ruby Soap Stones name! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Does the mica bleed at all when being used?
Hi Stephanie!
If too much colorant is used, it can transfer onto your skin or a washcloth. However, this recipe doesn’t have any color transfer! 🙂
With micas in Clear Melt and Pour soap, a little goes a long way! Adding more than 2 dispersed Tbsp. per pound may transfer onto the hands. We recommend adding 1/2 dispersed teaspoon and then stirring to see what you think. If you like, you can add more from there. Learn more 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/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi, thank you so much for soapqueen.com! I truly admire you Ann-Marie and your web absolutely changed my life (as weird as it sounds) Regarding soap, I have two questions… why did my glitter not mix up well enough and ended up in the bottom of my mp soap? And then why when I intended to make layers, bubbles appeared between them in the place where I sprayed the alcohol? Thanks!
Hi Emi!
Thank you so much for your sweet message! I passed it along to Anne-Marie, I know it will mean a lot to her. 🙂
When working with glitter in melt and pour soap, it is important to pour the soap when it’s a little cooler (125-130F). When the soap is cooler, it is thick enough to suspend that glitter. So, after you add the glitter to your melted soap, keep stirring until the soap is 130F or cooler and pour. That will ensure it suspends nicely in the soap!
Learn more about working with glitter in soap here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwtNblDKmfk
You may also like this Stephenson Suspending Melt and Pour Base, which suspends glitter beautifully: https://www.brambleberry.com/Stephenson-Suspending-Melt-and-Pour-Base-P6272.aspx
Also, I’m not entirely sure why those layers formed bubbles! Can you tell me a bit more about your process, including what type of alcohol you used, and when you sprayed alcohol? We’ll get this figured out. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Emi, thank you so much for your kind note and comment. It really inspired (inspires!) me to know that people are reading and trying the projects I create and post here. And, knowing that soapmaking is providing a creative outlet and income to many is mind-boggling-ly cool, amazing, wonderful and downright danceworthy. =) Thank you for letting me know. I so appreciate your support.
Is mica and glitter microwave safe? Rather than trying to remelt the scraps I think I’d save them for suspending in layers of other projects, just to be safe. (I’m also a scaredy cat soooo. Ha)
Gorgeous little gems though.
The mica and glitter are microwave safe! We often remelt batches with mica and glitter in them if they harden up. You can absolutely do so as well. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I love the idea !
So glad you enjoyed this tutorial! It’s one of my recent favorites 🙂
-Amanda with Bramble Berry
Will have to try this, this is my daughters birthstone! You should do this once a month with all the birthstones! 🙂
That’s awesome, it would make a great birthday gift for your daughter. Also, that’s a great idea – thanks so much for suggesting it! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I like it! This would be a fast fun little gift to use someone’s birthstone or favorite gemstone with, or some assortment thereof.
Thank you Michael! Also, that would be an awesome idea – it would make a great birthday gift. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
These look great! I don’t really soap with melt and pour but will definitely try these. It looks like a great project to make with my girls.
Thank you so much Marleny! I think this would be really fun to make with kids. They can get creative with colors, scents and shapes. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry