Crystal Ornaments
A fun and educational craft that combines art and science by growing beautiful crystal ornaments using simple household ingredients.
Ingredients
Materials
- 1 jar or bowl Clean glass jar or bowl Ensure it's clean and dry.
- 1 cup Water Hot water for the borax solution.
- 3 tablespoons Borax Found in the laundry aisle.
- 1 piece String or pipe cleaner Used to shape the crystal base.
- 1 piece Pencil or stick For suspending the shapes in the solution.
- a few drops Food coloring Optional, for colored crystals.
- 1 piece Small saucepan For boiling water.
Instructions
Preparation
- Gather all your supplies. Ensure your glass jar or bowl is clean and dry.
Making the Borax Solution
- In your saucepan, bring water to a boil.
- For every cup of water, stir in 3 tablespoons of borax until it dissolves completely.
Coloring the Solution (Optional)
- Add a few drops of food coloring to the borax solution and stir well to distribute the color.
Preparing the Crystals
- Use string or pipe cleaner to create your desired shape and tie a knot at the top.
- Attach it to a pencil or stick, which will suspend it in the solution.
Let Them Grow
- Pour your borax solution into the glass jar, and carefully lower the shaped object into the solution.
- Leave the setup undisturbed for 6-12 hours and observe as crystals start to form.
Removing and Rinsing
- When ready, take your crafted ornament out and rinse it gently under warm water.
- Set it on a paper towel to dry.
Admire Your Creation
- Once dry, hang it up or place it where it catches the light for a beautiful display.
Notes
Experiment with different shapes using pipe cleaners or ice cube trays. You can also try using sugar or salt for different textures. Add glitter for extra sparkle!