Ingredients
- 1 glass pint-size jar with a wide opening, clean and dry
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 cup borax powder, found in the laundry aisle or online
- 1 chenille stem, also called a pipe cleaner, 12 inches long
- 1 piece cotton string, 8 inches long
- 1 wooden pencil, 6 to 8 inches long
- 1 medium saucepan, 1.5 to 2 quarts, for heating water
- 1 wooden spoon or heat-resistant spoon, 10 to 12 inches long
- 1 pair scissors, household size
- 1 sheet wax paper, about 12 by 16 inches, for drying
- 1 clean dish towel, about 16 by 24 inches, for protecting the table
- 1 pair household rubber gloves, optional but helpful for handling the solution
- 1 measuring cup with a 2-cup capacity
- 1 measuring spoon set, including a 1/2-cup measure
Instructions
- Cover the table with the dish towel before you begin, then place the saucepan, jar, spoon, and measuring tools within reach.
- Shape the pipe cleaner. Bend the 12-inch chenille stem into a simple star, spiral, heart, or loose snowflake.
- Make a hanging loop. Tie one end of the 8-inch cotton string around the top of the pipe cleaner shape. Tie the other end around the center of the pencil.
- Check the fit. Rest the pencil across the jar opening and lower the shape without adding liquid.
- Heat the water. Pour 2 cups of water into the saucepan and warm it over medium heat until it feels very hot and begins to steam.
- Move the water to the jar. Carefully pour the hot water into the clean pint jar, leaving the jar on the protected towel.
- Stir in the borax. Add the 1/2 cup borax powder a little at a time, stirring after each addition until most of the powder disappears.
- Lower the shape. Place the pencil across the jar opening so the pipe cleaner hangs in the solution.
- Leave the jar still. Move the jar to a safe spot away from pets, children, sunlight, and busy elbows.
- Let the crystals grow. Leave the jar undisturbed for 8 to 24 hours.
- Lift and drain the ornament. Remove the pencil and gently lift the shape from the jar.
- Handle small mistakes calmly. If the shape looks lightly coated after drying, leave it in the solution for several more hours.
- Clean up carefully. Wipe the jar and work surface with a damp cloth, then wash the saucepan and spoon with warm water.
Notes
Use hot water with care, and keep the saucepan handle turned away from the edge of the counter. Borax powder can irritate skin and eyes.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
