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Tools needed to make soap cigarbands

What are soap cigarbands? Soap cigarbands are soap labels that are made from cardstock type paper that wraps around the soap. The ends are usually left open so that the soap which is an organic product can dry further.

Soap cigarbands are easy to make and require just a few tools and supplies to get you started. Here is my list of necessary tools to get started.

1. A logo and or graphics to embellish the label.

2. Cardstock paper. Cardstock paper is paper that has a stiff and heavier weight than regular writing paper. Cardstock paper is typically the same weight as greeting card paper. There is no set rule as to what you can use to wrap soap in and typically both the drugstore brand and fancy boutique soaps are wrapped in lighter weight paper. However, handmade soap has a long tradition of being sold without wrapping or just a piece of a stiff weight paper encircling the soap. The ends are left bare so that the beautiful natural goodness of the soap shows through. Another practical reason that soap is wrapped in cardstock is that cardstock not only holds its shape but is also durable to withstand the handling of the soap bar. My ultimate reason though for wrapping soap in cigarbands is so that important information about the soap maybe listed on the soap bar.

Other paper besides cardstock paper may be substituted but should be stiff enough and have a heavy enough weight to hold its shape around the soap. Other heavier weights paper used are - the heavier weights of vellum, Kraft paper, and handmade paper.

3. A good paper cutting device. I have 2 favorite paper cutters that I use. My first choice for the person who is just starting out and needs an efficient cutter that will cut 8x11 cardstock paper and make precise cuts safely is the Professional Rotary Paper Trimmer with Ergonomic Handle, 12" CUIRT200. This paper cutter is economical and easy to use, has a finger guard for safety, and has optional decorative replacement blades that can be purchased separately. The decorative blade set cuts neat wave and scalloped edges easily and the results are beautiful. I cut ribbon bands with the decorative set to wrap as a tie around the soap cigarband. Having a rotary cutter instead of using scissors ensures a smooth, crisp edge on the cigarband and cuts down on your label making time remarkably.

For the person who makes a lot of soap cigarbands and needs a cutter that can handle stacks of cardstock paper, I would recommend the QCM-1200E Heavy-Duty Commercial Stack Paper Cutter. Again, this is another rotary cutter that can cut a whole stack of paper at a time and is a very reliable product when you have hundreds of labels to pump out.

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