I think this was one of the coolest things we’ve done in awhile. I’m still fascinated by how this worked. (And a little frightened by the wonders of Borax.)
This is so easy to do and it’s so much fun to see the look on everyone’s faces as the crystals grow.
Here’s what you’ll need:
* Pipe Cleaners
* Tap Water
* Borax Soap (found in the laundry detergent aisle)
* Pencils
* String
* Mason Jars or some kind of containers
Bend your pipe cleaners into any shapes.
Measure how much string you will need by hanging the pipe cleaner at the top of the container and have it hang so it doesn’t touch the bottom of the container. Tie it to the pencil.
Fill your container up with very warm tap water (enough to cover the pipe cleaner.) You can use boiling water but I wanted my kids to be able to do the mixing, so I didn’t want it that hot.
Slowly add the Borax. Stir and add more. You want to add enough so that you can visibly see the Borax (and not have it all dissolve.)
Now hang your pencil on the container and, here’s the hard part… let it sit. My kids had a hard time just letting them sit. They had to check them… often.
This was after about two hours…
You can let them sit overnight if you do it in the evening. Or wait a couple of hours and voila! Borax crystals.
Just make sure that if you use a mason jar or something with a smaller opening that your crystal doesn’t get so big you can’t get it out of the opening =o)
What do you think? My kids LOVED them!!!
Thank you Homemade Mamas for posting this fun craft for us to enjoy!!!
I’m linking to the parties on my sidebar.
Are the crystals extremely fragile? How long do they last?
The crystals aren’t fragile at all. That’s the kind of scary part. What does it do to washing machines???!!! But they are hard and pretty durable!
My guess is they last forever unless they get wet. We hung ours in the window and they look so cool!
I love them too!! These are great instructions…
That is so cool. I have heard about these but you make it look so easy and fun. I gotta try this with my kids!!
So pretty!!! I bet they would make cute Christmas ornaments.
Who would have thought, you can do this. They are pretty….to think they come from Borax
What a great project to do with the kids! I would love for you to share it at my “Best of 2011” link party, along with any other posts you are most proud of from this year, at http://www.petalstopicots.com
~Kara 🙂
Pretty cool! I think I’d enjoy doing this just as much as my little one…maybe more!
I’d love for you to link up and share: http://tutusandteaparties.blogspot.com/2011/12/pinteresting-linky-party-week-nineteen.html
How cool is this activity!!! My little one would love this 🙂 stopping by from TGIF.
~MiaB
http://www.mamamiasheart2heart.com
I’m doing this with my granddaughter tonight!
Wow – that came out soooooooooo cool!! I am pinning & DEFINETLY using it soon! Thanks for linking up to TGIF. Happy New Year,
Beth =-)
How cool! My kids would love doing this! Thanks for sharing!
I wanted to let you know I featured this at TGIF Linky Party #11 – http://livinglifeintentionally.blogspot.com/2012/01/tgif-linky-party-11.html – thanks for sharing your super cool project with us! As this is your second feature, email me at livinglifeintentionallyblog@gmail.com and I will give you the code for the special featured more than once button =-) And don’t forget to stop on over & link up this week.
Beth =-)
Love it and am going to feature it this week on The Sunday Showcase! Thank you for sharing your ideas with us on The Sunday Showcase Have a happy New Year!
What another great use for boric acid powder. You can also use it to clean your house, kill ants, and even yeast infections. Keep it around the house just like vinegar or bleach.
//adorable children btw
they remind me of rock candy, remember doing that? Now I can’t wait to visit my sister, my nieces and nephew are going to love doing this one with me! I’m always looking for something to entertain them while I’m their, art projects like this are alway a big hit! Thanks. Louella
I know this sounds like a dumb question but… what do you do with them once they are made? I think it would be cool to do with my students for Valentine’s Day but I am trying to think what to have them do with the hearts once they are finished. Would you make them into a necklace or something?
Not a dumb question at all. I don’t think I would make necklaces because you don’t want the Borax on your skin like that. We hung ours in the window on suction hooks for awhile. They were pretty cool in the sunlight.