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If you’re new here, welcome! I’m AmberLee, and Giverslog is my place to collect gift ideas and pretty wrapping ideas from talented friends and bloggers (plus I throw in a few ideas of my own). I hope the next time you’re stumped about a gift for a teacher, grandparent, hostess, or anyone else that you’ll pop in and I can provide some inspiration.
I saw this DIY project sitting next to my sis-in-law’s sink and instantly knew I wanted to make a version with my kids to give as gifts. So we got to work and made one as a Mother’s Day gift for grandma and several as end-of-year gifts for teachers. The project is pretty basic, just a photocopy on a transparency inserted into a hand-soap pump. But we met with a couple disasters along the way, so I’ll run through the process for you.
1. Start with a bottle of hand soap that has a clear blank area. I picked up these bottles of Lavata at Target (the Brazilian Citrus smells so yummy). DO NOT use foaming soap or hand sanitizer. When we tried each of these and the ink dissolved off the transparency.
2. I then gave my kids one note card for each grandma or teacher we’d be giving a bottle to. I had them draw a picture using just a pen. If you already have a piece of art your kids have created, that works too. And homespun poems can be just as great. I wanted my kids’ pics to fit into a set of hand-drawn frames. Here for download are the frames I drew for the project:
download from DropBox by clicking here: Handsoap Frame Art
or download here: Printable Hand Drawn Frames (3434)
3. For older kids you should be able to skip a step: just print the frames page and put your kids to work drawing directly on the paper. But I found the small drawing space was a little tough for my 4-year-old especially. So instead I reduced my kids’ art to fit in the frame and taped it in place (use a scanner, photocopier, or just your camera to take a picture and reduce your kids’ artwork size). Double check the frame size against the soap container you’ll be using, so you can have it reduced or enlarged if necessary.
4. I took my page of artwork to FedEx Kinkos and had it photocopied onto a page of transparency paper. (We tried using our inkjet printer and laserjet printer to print the transparencies at home, and the results were a mess. Both times the drawing separated from the transparency and dissolved into the soap.) I let my kids add a little color to the transparencies with some permanent markers. UPDATE: The yellows and reds have run, but the blues and greens held fast. You may want to stick with those safer colors if you add color.
5. Finally came the easy part. I just trimmed each frame to fit the bottle, rolled it up to fit through the neck of the bottle, and slid it in. It unrolled in the bottle and I replaced the pump behind the art work. And that was it. They turned out great. In fact, I think I’m headed back to Target to pick up one more bottle for the music teacher.
Thanks for stopping by. If you’re new here, don’t go without taking a peep at my gift guide index and pretty wrapping index. Hope to see you again soon.
{ 51 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m running… no …. sprinting to Target to buy this soap along with making my copies at the Kinko’s next door.
And instead of being kids gifts, they’re just going to be awesome gift soaps for the guest bathroom. Thank you for this WONDERFUL idea!
what a GREAT idea … I’m going to so do this as I know my little one will love seeing his artwork every time he washes his hands!
thanks for the love, girls! kimberly, using these in the guest bathroom is pure genius.
Thanks for the wonderful idea. I was looking for something the kids could make Grandma for Mother’s Day, and this is the PERFECT gift!
yea. Thanks, Kacey! I’m glad it will work.
What a fantastic idea!! Thanks for sharing!
Amazing! I was a teacher and this would have been the cutest gift ever! Thanks! I’m linking to it!
laminating the transparencies might help with the ink runs?
What a great idea for the grandma like ours who has everything!! I was so excited that I printed off the labels, had my children draw their pictures and zipped to Target to get the handwash and guess what? The Target’s in my city (Portland, OR) have discontinued that brand and don’t have any in stock. Now I’m having a heck of time finding a soap dispenser my labels will fit in. I am so sad. Great idea, though.
hi jami,
what a pain! I’m so sorry to hear that. I’ve seen some hand soaps at Bath & Body in the past that would have worked, but I haven’t been recently. Also I’ve had friends find bottles and pumps at Industrial Container Supply stores, though I hate for you to have to run all over town. I know your kids already drew their pictures, but if you find a bottle that needs a different size, let me know and I can resize the frame and email it to you.
Hi!
We are the manufacturers of the Lavata Hand Soap line and absolutely loved your ideas and the twist to our packaging!
The reason you were not able to find the products in all Target stores is that we are still in a test phase with Target and hopefully soon will be able to expand to more stores. Do keep your eyes open for a great new packaging revision available after Memorial Day.
Please do let us know if we can be of any help. Just wondering if we can add a link to your page on our upcoming website.
Thanks,
Tha Lavata Team
612 782-3941
Hi! I just wanted to let you know that I also went to Target and could not find the soap you used. BUT – I purchased Target brand hand soap (I think their version of SoftSoap) that is clear. I have taken the front label off of it and am in the process of trying this project. The bottle is short and a little round. Hope this helps for people who can’t find the other soap!
Also – what do you think would happen if you printed onto the transparency in color? (Have the kids color it first, then transfer to transparency) Would this work?
Jenny, yea! thanks for finding an alternative! as for printing, it’s possible that a professional color photocopy on the transparency might work? but i have both an at-home laser and ink jet, and was so sad b/c a couple hours after putting the transparency in the soap, a thin layer with the image separated off and denigrated.
I love this idea – so creative, so personal, an so practical!!
What a great idea…..will be using this sometime in the future…thanks for sharing.
Adorable! Thank you so much for sharing this tutorial. We made these for Teacher gifts and they loved them! I did use hand sanitizer and had laser transparencies printed at Office Depot…so far so good!
wow, i’m impressed at the helpful responses. i will definitely try the target brand hand soap. thanks for offering to resize the frames amberlee, but i have software that can do it if needs be. that’s sweet of you. and how cool that the manufacturer’s piped in to let us know the scoop. has anyone had success with using goo gone to take off labels on soap dispensers?
This is such a fun idea! I am going to try it but I also love the frames for other purposes! Thank you!
What an awesome idea… and you mentioned a music teacher at the end of your post…. EXACTLY who I needed a gift for! Thanks for sharing!!!
the cutest thing!
Great idea! I’m having an outdoor wedding and looking for ways to spruce up the “portable toilet”! Imagining labels with our names and wedding date. Thanks!
I love your name . . . my sweet baby girl is Amberlin!
thanks for reposting this project on your teacher gift guide. thinking about tackling this one for sure, but if i can find a good bottle that will work I’m thinking about doing a clear sticker printed on the outside of the bottle instead.
Hi Amber!
tyandi LOVE this gift idea AND totally used it. We had Jada scribble all over a piece of paper and off to Kinko’s we went. THANKS!
i am a 2nd grade teacher and my kids are making these for parent presents for xhristmas. soo fun. i’m wondering if you can make the frame size a 3 inch in width and 3.5 in heighth? i think that sizing will work. i bought my soap containers from the industrial container supply store in slc. i was hoping they could draw a pic of their families, but it’s so small i think it will have to be a self potrait. thanks!
If you use an inkjet printer the copy will not last in the soap, if you use a laser printed copy you are safe. I just take mine down to the copy store and they print in there for me. Also, kudos for supporting Target but you can get the same thing at the dollar store. I buy any clear soap and take off the labels with Goobegone.
Thanks for taking a moment to come back and share these tips, Tena!
Hope your day is great!
I was looking for a project for Teacher’s appreciation day for my daughter’s pre-school teachers and was soooooo excited when I found this. This project is really cute and I too will not only be making one for the teachers but also one for our home bathroom. (Hopefully my Target has that brand of hand soap) Thanks, really neat idea!
Thanks for the sweet note, Shannon! I’m so happy you like it. And I’ve heard from several friends who have found soaps that work elsewhere too! So keep your eyes open.
OMG we made these for my daughters teachers for teacher appreciation and they came out sooooo good better than I expected. FYI, I had my daughter draw her picture in color markers and took that to Kinko’s and had them copy it and it really looked awesome. The color showed up so good. Also ,I didn’t try Target I just went to the 99 cent store and got the cherry blossom and cucumber melon Soft Soap. This is going to be the best gift they get hands down!
I just want to make sure I understsand correctly before I try this. When you say “transparency”, are you talking about the clear kind teachers used to use on an overhead projector?
Thanks!
Hi Susan,
Thanks for asking. And yes. I’m talking about the teacher type of transparency. I took my kids’s art right to the copy center and had them photocopy it on transparencies they had there.
Love this idea. I couldn’t get the link to open with the frames. Would you mind emailing the frame template to me?! Thanks so much!
Hi Jen,
Thanks for the note, and the printable is on its way!
This is a wonderful project- thank you! I am already stressed about Christmas presents for my kids’ teachers and found your site from some Google searches for homemade teacher gifts. I just bought a bunch of 16.9 fl.oz. of light-colored handsoap at my local BigLots for $1.50 ea. and just caleld my local FedExKinko’s and learned it’s only $0.75 per 8.5 x 11 page to color-copy onto a transparency! I’m going to wrap these up in colored cellophane and tie them w/ a lot of pretty curled ribbon. One tip: The key to sticker removal is first to look for something that you think you can easily remove the sticker from. When you get it home, start a corner and then s-l-o-w-l-y roll the sticker away from the container (you’re basicaly rolling it back onto itself). Take your time so you can try to get it all off in one piece. Use rubbing alcohol, nail-polish remover, or something like “Goo Be Gone” to get off any remaining residue. Have fun!
Thanks for the note, SeaMama! Love the tip on sticker removal. I should try nail polish remover, I have had some stubborn labels before.
After the label is printed on the transarency, do you put it inside the bottle or stick it on the outside? Thank you :)
Hi Beth! I roll up the transparency and slip the picture right into the bottle full of soap. I used the soap pump to maneuver it a little so it could go where I wanted. Good luck!!
This is such a great Idea, I shared it on my facebook page for my fans to make. I swear I am going to make one myself …..maybe more, I can think of a few message of my own, like…..”did you put the seat down” “hanging a new roll will not make you a women” oh gosh I could do this all day. Thanks for sharing!
kim!! that is exactly what I need. i am going to make one with each of these too!!
thanks for giving me a good laugh.
This is fantastic!.. I am a class mom this year and was looking for “End of Year” gifts and this I love! QQ: How do you get the transparency so stick to the bottle w/out moving all around? Also has anyone tried placing the stickers on the front of the bottle?
Thanks again! H
I haven’t made these yet, but as far as finding clear bottles goes, try using an old neutrogena face wash bottle. It looks the same as the ones above.
I am so using this idea for my Kindergarten students for their Mother’s Day gifts! I think it will be a smash! I can’t wait!
Thanks for sharing this great idea!
This is so cute! Has anyone had any luck finding any good soaps to use lately? I checked Target and Bath & Body Works today with no luck :(
I love this idea. I agree with Hellen, stick it on the outside. I will definitely try to do that!! Thanks for the idea. WE are using it during teacher appreciation week! Added you to my pinterest board!
Did you find a way to stick it to the outside….tried her way and mine still ran off the transparency…used laser printer at Office box store
do you take the soap out of the bottle before inserting the transparency
I am wondering this too??? Can you help us Amberlee…thanks.
what a great ideaa! I can’t wait to use it for a teacher gift this year!
Confused, is the picture floating in the soap or is it somehow fastened to the inside wall of the bottle? Such a cute idea and would love to duplicate for grandparents! Thanks!
Hi Meg,
So sorry to be getting back to you so late. THe picture is basically floating in the soap, but I made the transparency big enough to touch the top and bottom of the bottle, so it doesn’t flip or wiggle. Best of luck!!
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