Set aside the idea of fancy beading, knitting or scrapbooking for the moment. One of the coolest (and cleanest) projects to make right now is soap.

Sure, the concept has been around forever, but thanks to recent innovations in materials, crafters are approaching the genre as an art form with therapeutic qualities.

I recently chatted with Glendale's Rose Slotter, founder of the Arizona Soap and Candle Makers group. She not only offered insight into the latest concepts in soap making, but also shared details on the Arizona Gathering, a soap- and candle-making conference in the Phoenix area in June.

Details: The 10th annual Arizona Gathering of Soap and Candle Artisans will be held 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 7 at the Doubletree Paradise Valley Resort, 5401 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. Registration for classes closes today, so visit azgathering.com if you are interested in signing up. Regular admission is $55.

Rose was also kind enough to share her Cupcake Bath Fizzies project!

Supplies
1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup citric acid
1/2 cup cornstarch
2 1/2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
1 tablespoon purified water
1/4 teaspoon borax
1 teaspoon fragrance oil (optional)
5-10 drops skin-safe coloring (soap colors)
Witch Hazel in a spritz bottle
Meringue frosting (supplies and directions are available at the end)

Directions
1. In a large bowl, sift together the baking soda, citric acid and cornstarch. Set aside.

2. In a small jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the grapeseed oil, purified water, borax, fragrance oil (if you wish) and coloring. Cover tightly and shake vigorously to combine all ingredients well.

3. Slowly drizzle the wet mixture into the dry mixture while blending thoroughly with a spoon (or your hand). Mix until you have a "wet sand" texture - spritz with Witch Hazel if necessary.

4. Tightly pack the "wet sand" mixture into a silicone cupcake mold (I like using the mini cupcake molds) until you cannot fit any more "wet sand" into the mold. Press the "wet sand" down into the mold as hard as you can.

5. Carefully flip over the mold and tap the bottom of the silicone mold three times to release the Cupcake Bath Fizzie from the mold. After un-molding the bath fizzie, immediately spritz it with a light spray of Witch Hazel. (If the cupcake crumbles when un-molding, place back into the big bowl, spritz with Witch Hazel, mix thoroughly and pack the mold again.)

6. Set the Cupcake Bath Fizzie on a surface to dry overnight.

7. After the cupcake section is completely dried, mix up the "frosting" and decorate as you would real cupcakes.

Note: Do not create bath fizzies on humid days, as they will absorb moisture and grow little bumps all over their surface - not a pretty sight.

Meringue Frosting

Supplies
3 tablespoons of meringue powder
6 tablespoons warm purified water
4 cups sifted powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon fragrance oil (optional)
1/8 - 1/2 teaspoon skin-safe coloring (soap coloring)
Sugar Sprinkles (optional)

Directions
1. Mix meringue powder into the warm purified water.

2. Slowly add the powdered sugar, cream of tartar, fragrance oil (if you wish) and skin-safe coloring while mixing with a mixer on medium speed for seven to 10 minutes, until stiff peaks form.

3. Place frosting into a pastry bag with decorative tip (or plastic storage bag with one corner snipped off to form decorating point) and decorate a Cupcake Bath Fizzie as you would a real cupcake.

4. Quickly decorate with Sugar Sprinkles if desired, and let dry several hours.

5. Store the Cupcake Bath Fizzies in an airtight container until ready to use in a bath.

To use: Toss one or two mini cupcakes or one large Cupcake Bath Fizzie into your bath water and enjoy.