How to Make a Soap Carving

Embrace your creativity with soap carving, a fun and easy activity.

Remember, Bear Scouts and Webelos Scouts learn about knife safety by earning the Whittling Chip. Scouts BSA members earn the privilege to use knives and other tools by earning the Totin’ Chip.

Do you have a photo of your completed soap carving? Send us a photo!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED FOR SOAP CARVING

• Carving knife (can be a butter knife or plastic knife)
• Pointed knife, toothpick or paper clip
• Fresh bar of soap
• Cutting board
• Newspaper or old bedsheet
• Pen, pencil or marker
• Scissors or craft knife
• Sheet of paper
• Paper towel

WHAT YOU’LL DO TO CARVE SOAP

STEP 1: Cover your cutting board and work area with newspaper or an old bedsheet.

STEP 2: Place a piece of paper on the cutting board and trace the bar of soap to create a template.

On the inside, draw the shape or image that you want to carve. This will ensure that the picture you draw will fit on the bar of soap. Get creative!

STEP 3: Cut out the design on the inside of the template and place it on the soap bar.

Trace the outline of your design onto the bar of soap using a pencil, pen or marker.

STEP 4: Starting at one corner, use a carving knife to slowly shave off small pieces of the soap that are not part of your design.

Move the knife forward as if you were peeling an apple or potato. Do not cut big pieces; if you do, the soap might break.

Complete this step until it’s only your design that remains.

STEP 5: Finally, smooth out your design using a pointed knife, toothpick or paperclip to remove any extra lumps.

Then use a damp paper towel to remove any soap shavings that might be on the soap.

SOAP CARVING PHOTOS

Check out these photos of completed soap carvings sent to us by Scout Life readers. If you have a photos of a Scout Life project, please use the form below to send them to us.