Description
Create dazzling and sparkling borax crystal flowers easily with this fun and educational craft recipe. Using simple household materials like pipe cleaners and borax powder, you can grow beautiful crystal blooms perfect for STEM activities, kids’ crafts, or decorative projects.
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
- Shape your flowers: Twist and bend pipe cleaners into flower shapes, forming petals and stems. Use scissors to trim any excess pipe cleaner for neatness. Tie a string or thread securely to the top of each flower so it can be suspended.
- Prepare the jar setup: Attach the other end of the string to a pencil or wooden stick. This will allow you to suspend the flower inside the jar without it touching the sides or bottom.
- Make the borax solution: In each glass jar, stir 3 tablespoons of borax powder into 1 cup of boiling water until the powder fully dissolves, creating a saturated solution.
- Submerge the flowers: Carefully lower the pipe cleaner flower into the borax solution, ensuring it is fully submerged and hanging freely without contact with jar surfaces. Rest the pencil across the jar’s opening to hold it in place.
- Allow crystals to form: Leave the jars undisturbed at room temperature for 12 to 24 hours. As the solution cools, borax crystals will start to form on the pipe cleaner surfaces, creating sparkling flowers.
- Finish and dry: Once fully crystallized, gently remove each flower from the solution. Shake off excess liquid and place the flower on a paper towel to dry completely before displaying.
Notes
- For best crystal growth, use clear glass jars and avoid moving them during the crystallization process.
- Adult supervision is necessary when handling boiling water to prevent burns or accidents.
- Add a few drops of food coloring to the borax solution to create colored crystals for more vibrant flowers.
- The yield depends on how many jars and pipe cleaner flowers you prepare, typically one flower per jar.
- This craft is educational and ideal for teaching kids about crystal formation and chemistry.
