It's a snap to make decorative soap for gifts or your own bathroom by using meltable blocks of soap, such as Soap Expressions, from a craft store. The soap can be tinted or perfumed, if desired, with additives available from the soapmaking section of craft stores. We used simple white soap and cut it into snowflakes.

DIRECTIONS

1. Cut the soap slabs into 1- by 1-inch chunks, place them in a glass measuring cup, and melt them in the microwave. We used 1 cup of soap and microwaved it for 1 minute on 100% power, but be sure to follow manufacturer's directions on the soap you purchase.

2. Pour melted soap into a foil pan or foil-lined 9-inch pie pan. Allow the soap to cool and harden. Use cookie cutters to press out holiday shapes.

3. Set two or three mini soaps on a dish for guests to use, or wrap soap in small boxes or tissue-filled bags for family and friends.