Complete Guide to Soap Carving: Tools, Techniques, and Tips

by Janet Bolyard

Overview

This comprehensive guide provides everything readers need to know about carving soap, from basic carving methods for beginners to sophisticated techniques for accomplished artists. Complete Guide to Soap Carving shows how to choose the best carving soap, and how to test soap for carving quality. Twenty-six step-by-step projects range from quick carvings to elaborate soap sculptures. Fun and easy-to-learn, soap carving is a perfect craft for children, who won’t need to handle sharp knives—this book shows how to make simple wooden carving tools that are safe for kids.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781565239210
Publisher:	Fox Chapel Publishing Company, Incorporated
Publication date:	09/11/2018
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	320,414
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Janet Bolyard is a full time wood carver/sculptor. She owns and operates Janet Lee Carvings, LLC, and is a sales/instructor at WoodCraft in Chandler, Arizona.

Table of Contents

Preface: One Soap Carver's Journey x

Introduction: Why Carve Soap? 1

Gallery 4

Part 1 Getting Started

My Advice to Beginners 10

About Safety 11

How to Make Your Own Carving Tools 12

About Soap 20

How to Make Pattern Templates 23

Prep Your Workspace and Soap 25

How to Transfer Templates to Soap Bars 26

About Carving 27

How to Handle Carving Tools 29

Your First Cut: The Stop Cut 31

Your Next Cuts: Roughing Out 32

How to Use a Go-By 34

How to Fix Mistakes 35

How to Add Detail and Texture 36

About Finishing 38

Part 2 Carving the Novice Projects

Ivory All the Way 42

I Love U Soap Much 43

Eyes Wide Owl-pen 48

Teddy Bear 50

Whale of a Tale 55

Chugga-Chugga Name Train! 58

The "It Floats" Sailboat 64

Seashore Treasures 67

Workshop: Soap-on-a-Rope 71

Soap-on-a-Rope Pirate 73

Soap-on-a-Rope Mermaid 75

Workshop: Mortise and Tenon 77

Chillin' Penguin 78

Sudsy the Snowman 85

Part 3 Carving the Advanced Projects

Beyond Ivory: Melt-and-Pour 90

Time for a Tool Upgrade 91

Woodsy Bear 93

Kitchen Kritters 98

Pampered Pup 102

Cat with Attitude 105

Workshop: Melt-and-Pour Soap 111

Spring Butterflies 112

Rose Relief 114

Hummingbird Keepsake Box 117

Radiant Cross 120

Mother Seal with Pup 123

Snowflakes 126

Chip-Carved Medallions 129

Broader Horizons: Siam (Thai) Soap Flower Carving 131

Thai Soap Flower 134

Templates and Go-Bys 138

Index 147

Editorial Reviews

If you are looking for some good, clean fun, soap carving may become your next obsession. Carving instructor and author Janet Bolyard uses inexpensive soap and some handmade tools to teach basic carving skills in a less intimidating way than traditional methods. With a new book out in September – “Complete Guide to Soap Carving” – Janet has made it her mission to encourage soap carving and inspire creativity in young and old alike.

Woodcraft

Janet Bolyard’s mission is to inspire you to be creative, have fun, and to keep the art of soap carving alive.

Leading Creative Pathways - Carol Heppner