Ingredients
- 1 clear plastic bottle, 16 to 20 fluid ounces, with a screw cap
- 1 cup warm tap water
- 1 tablespoon clear school glue
- 1 tablespoon liquid glycerin, optional but helpful for slower glitter movement
- 1/2 cup white cotton balls or loose cotton batting
- 1 teaspoon fine iridescent glitter
- 1/4 teaspoon blue liquid food coloring
- 1/8 teaspoon violet or purple liquid food coloring
- 1 small mixing cup, at least 12 fluid ounces
- 1 wooden skewer, 6 to 8 inches long
- 1 small spoon, 1 teaspoon size
- 1 small funnel, sized for a bottle opening (optional)
- 1 pair of scissors, 6 to 8 inches long
- 1 disposable table covering, at least 24 by 36 inches
- 1 pair of disposable nitrile or household gloves, optional for sensitive skin
- 1 small bead of clear craft glue, about 1/2 teaspoon, for sealing the cap
- 1 clean cloth, about 12 by 12 inches, for wiping the bottle
- 1 small label or strip of masking tape, about 3 inches long, for marking the bottle
Instructions
- Cover your table with the disposable table covering.
- Wash and dry the plastic bottle, removing any label adhesive with cooking oil if needed.
- Mark the fill line with masking tape about 1 inch below the bottle’s shoulder.
- Pour 1 cup of warm tap water into a mixing cup and stir in 1 tablespoon of clear school glue and 1 tablespoon of liquid glycerin until evenly cloudy.
- Stir in 1/4 teaspoon of blue food coloring gradually to achieve a soft twilight blue color.
- Pull apart two or three small pieces of cotton, about the size of a walnut, and push them into the bottom third of the bottle with the wooden skewer.
- Set a funnel in the bottle opening and pour about 1/3 cup of the blue mixture over the cotton, then tap the bottle lightly.
- Add two or three more small cotton pieces and sprinkle in 1/3 teaspoon of iridescent glitter near the cotton.
- Stir 1/8 teaspoon of violet food coloring into the remaining blue mixture and pour about 1/3 cup into the bottle.
- Nudge a little cotton toward one side with the skewer to create an uneven cloud shape.
- Tuck in the remaining cotton pieces and add the remaining 2/3 teaspoon of glitter loosely.
- Pour in the remaining colored mixture until it reaches the masking-tape line, leaving the last inch empty.
- Release large air bubbles by sliding the skewer along the inside wall of the bottle.
- Wipe the rim with the clean cloth and screw on the cap firmly.
- Apply a thin bead of clear craft glue around the seam where the cap meets the bottle.
- Let the glue dry for 24 hours before turning the bottle upside down.
- Keep the bottle upright for about 2 hours before assessing it.
Notes
Handle with care and supervise children closely during the making process. Keep food coloring and other materials away from eyes, mouths, and clothing.
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
