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Elephant

General info

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  • Two designs: Simple and decorated with elegant saddle cloth
  • Perfect room decorations!
  • Difficulty: Easy (simple), Intermediate (decorative)

What you will need

supplies1supplies2
  • Soap
  • Carving or Exacto knife
  • Paring knife
  • Toothpick
  • Pin
  • Elephant Template (download here )

Optional

  • 5 mm plastic eyes
  • Rhinestones and beads
  • Tweezers
  • Craft glue

Soap info

Rice bran soap (old type)

Used in tutorial

rice bran soap
  • Not available
  • Floral scented
  • Size: 7 cm (2-1/4") x 3.8 cm (2-1/4") x 2.8 cm (1-1/8")
  • Weight: 45 g (1.59 oz)

Citrus mild soap

yellow soap
  • Not available
  • Yellow colour
  • Citrus scented
  • Size: 7.5 cm (3") x 5.5 cm (2-1/8") x 2.3 cm (7/8")
  • Weight: 80 g (3 oz)

COW bath size soap (blue box)

COW bath soap
  • Available
  • COW brand
  • Floral scented
  • Size: 8.7 cm (3-1/2") x 5.8 cm (2-1/4") x 3 cm (1-1/8")
  • Weight: 130 g (5 oz)

Ichigo Milk soap

ichigo milk soap
  • Available
  • Milk and strawberry scented
  • Diameter: 6.8 cm (2-3/4")
  • Thickness: 2.8 cm (1-1/8")
  • Weight: 80g (3 oz)

Blue oval soap

blue oval soap
  • Not available
  • Master-soap brand
  • Floral scented
  • Size: 9.8 cm (3-7/8") x 6 cm (2-3/8") x 3.5 cm (1-3/8")
  • Weight: 130 g (5 oz)

Instruction video

Instructions

Carve a simple elephant

1.1 Cut out the elephant templates. Slice off the top of your soap to create a flat surface. Then trace the elephant body shape onto your soap with the toothpick.
step 1.1
1.2 Cut off excess soap around the body with a paring knife and a carving knife. Repeat this step with other side.
step 1.2
1.3 Trim the face and the trunk.
step 1.3
1.4 Using the template, trace the tusk with a toothpick and carve it.
step 1.4
1.5 Trim around the tusk as shown.
step 1.5
1.6 Carve the trunk.
step 1.6
1.7 Draw two lines between the front legs and the hind legs. Then remove the soap between two lines.
step 1.7
1.8 Cut off the soap between front legs, then trim their edges. Do the same with the hind legs.
step 1.8
1.9 Draw a tail, then cut off the soap around it.
step 1.9
1.10 Trim the edge of the tail.
step 1.10
1.11 Trim the edge of the body and head. Cut the ear and remove the soap around the cut.
step 1.11
1.12 Cut between the ear and the body and lift the ear up a bit.
⚠️ Be careful not to damage the ear.
step 1.12
1.13 Trim around the ear. Repeat this and previous step to the other ear.
step 1.13
1.14 Trim and shape the face as needed. Make a small hole and place a plastic eye into the hole.
step 1.14
1.15 Carve a mouth.
step 1.15
1.16 Cut between the tail and the body.
step 1.16
1.17 Done!
step 1.17

(Optional) Carve additional decorations

2.1 Draw a rectangle for a saddle cloth on the body. Then cut the rectangle and remove the soap around it.
step 2.1
2.2 Cut a smaller rectangle inside the place for saddle cloth.
step 2.2
2.3 Refer to the template as needed.
step 2.3
2.4 Carve a small circle indent in the middle. Divide the area around the indent into six equal parts, marking six lines as shown on photo. Then cut a pointed petal in each part and remove the soap around the petals.
step 2.4
2.5 Carve six pointed petals of the second layer. Each petal is placed between the petals of the first layer.
step 2.5
2.6 Cut a short lines in each petal with the knife tip.
step 2.6
2.7 Carve a pointed scallop line in the side of the saddle cloth.
step 2.7
2.8 Carve a parallel pointed scalloped line. Remove the soap inside of the smaller rectangle.
step 2.8
2.9 Carve three small holes in the pointed scallop line. Repeat steps 2.7-2.9 for the other side.
step 2.9
2.10 Carve a wavy pattern at the end of the saddle cloth. Make small holes around the saddle cloth with a pin. Do the same to the other side.
step 2.10
2.11 Trace the shape of the head covering onto the elephant head.
step 2.11
2.12 Cut a parallel line inside the head covering. Carve a small circle indent in the center, then divide the area around the indent into four equal parts. Mark four points as shown.
step 2.12
2.13 Carve four pointed petals, then carve four identical petals of the second layer.
step 2.13
2.14 Cut a short line in each petal.
step 2.14
2.15 Carve a wavy pattern around the head covering.
step 2.15
2.16 Make small holes around the head covering with a pin.
step 2.16
2.17 Carve four anklets. Finished!
step 2.17

Did you know?

thai elephant
Asian elephant is the national animal of Thailand, where soap carving is a long tradition.