Gather an assortment of holiday cookie cutters. Trace the shape onto a piece of lightweight cardboard. Cereal or snack-cracker boxes are ideal. Cut out the shape and place it on the bottom of the cookie cutter. Tape the edges with masking tape to create a solid seal. Line a baking pan with aluminum foil and place the cookie cutter molds on the baking sheet. Fill with melted soap. Allow the soap to cool completely and remove the cardboard to easily remove the soap.

Cut soap shapes with cookie cutters for an easy alternative to using molds. Pour melted soap into a baking pan and allow to cool. Cut shapes with cookie cutters when the soap is firm but soft. Allow the soap to cool and harden completely. Remove individual soap shapes and display in a soap dish.

Purchase a product like AeroMarine Silicone Rubber Putty to create silicone molds to use for soap molds. Mix equal parts of the two compounds in the kit and knead well to blend thoroughly. Select an item to use as a model for your mold. Holiday decorations make great forms for the molds, but keep in mind that you will need to remove the soap from the mold. Items with small intricate features are not suitable. Basic shapes like stars, mittens, Santa hats or bells will work well. Press the putty around the item and seal well. Allow the rubber putty to dry, usually about 5 minutes, and remove the rubber mold. Pour cooled soap into the mold and let it set.

Use decorative candy molds. These make delightful miniature soaps and come in a variety of holiday shapes. Simply melt the soap chunks and allow to cool before pouring into the molds. Place in the freezer for 1/2 hour and pop the soaps out of the molds.

Save molded plastic items from holiday packaging. These are often appropriate shapes to use for soap molds.