Description
Create dazzling, sparkling borax crystal flowers easily with this fun and educational craft project. Using simple household materials, you can grow beautiful crystal blooms that make excellent STEM activities for kids or unique decorations.
Ingredients
Scale
Materials
- 3 tablespoons Borax powder
- 1 cup boiling water (per jar)
- Pipe cleaners (in assorted colors)
- Scissors
- Pencils or wooden sticks
- String or thread
- Glass jars or heat-safe containers
Instructions
- Create Flower Shapes: Shape your pipe cleaners into flower designs by twisting and bending them into petals and stems. Use scissors to trim any excess pipe cleaner pieces for a neat finish.
- Prepare Suspension: Tie a piece of string or thread to the top of each pipe cleaner flower. Attach the other end of the string to a pencil or wooden stick so the flower can hang suspended in the jar without touching the sides or bottom.
- Dissolve Borax: In each glass jar, stir 3 tablespoons of Borax powder into 1 cup of boiling water until fully dissolved, creating a saturated borax solution.
- Submerge Flowers: Carefully lower the pipe cleaner flower into the borax solution, ensuring it is fully submerged and hanging freely from the pencil resting across the top of the jar.
- Crystal Formation: Allow the jars to sit undisturbed for 12 to 24 hours as the solution cools and borax crystals begin to form on the pipe cleaner flowers.
- Remove and Dry: Once the crystals have fully formed, gently lift the flowers out of the solution, shake off excess liquid, and place them on a paper towel to dry completely.
Notes
- For best results, use clear glass jars and avoid moving them while crystals are forming.
- Adult supervision is recommended when handling boiling water.
- Adding food coloring to the borax solution can tint the crystals for colorful flowers.
