Growing Borax Crystals

Category Crafts For Kids

Using a mix of borax and water, you and the kids can create unique crystals that you grow on shaped pipe cleaners. Let us show you how to grow borax crystals.

Solutions

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Growing Borax Crystals

By 15mhhm15 [1,212 Posts, 2,614 Comments]

August 6, 2019

Here are some beautiful crystals made with borax. Instead of buying crystals, you can make your own in all shapes, sizes, and designs. You could even use some as decor. Patience is needed as it will take 2 days to form into crystals, but it's a fun process to document and watch!

Total Time: 2 days

Yield: As many as you want to make!

Supplies:

borax
funnel
water
pot
pipe cleaners
scissors
string
pencil
glass Jars

Steps:

Prep the pipe cleaners into your desired shape/object or letters that you would like your crystal to form.
Example #1: You could a bend pipe cleaner into names. If you run out of pipe cleaner just tie together and continue like pictured.

Growing Borax Crystals - bend the pipe cleaner into a name

Growing Borax Crystals - child's name made with pipe cleaner

Example #2: You could bend pipe cleaners into fun shapes or designs.

Growing Borax Crystals - pipe cleaner rocket ship

Growing Borax Crystals - circular abstract designs made with the pipe cleaners

With the shapes, you will need to attach a string from the shape to a pencil (in the center) to sit over jar.

Growing Borax Crystals - attach a string to the pipe cleaner

Growing Borax Crystals - suspend from a pencil

Growing Borax Crystals - lay pencil over a jar with the pipe cleaner down inside

With letters since there is extra pipe cleaner, you could wrap the pipe cleaner around the pencil (in the center) to sit over jar.

Growing Borax Crystals - or wrap the pipe cleaner around the pencil

Growing Borax Crystals - shapes and names suspended

Time to make your borax solution. This is a trial and error step. For every cup of water, add about 3-4 tablespoons of borax. Stir together until the water becomes clear and the borax is dissolved.

Growing Borax Crystals - pan of water on stove

Growing Borax Crystals - boiling water with dissolved borax stirred in

Pour the solution into a jar and cover with Saran Wrap.

Growing Borax Crystals - pour mixture into the jars

Growing Borax Crystals -cover with plastic wrap

Find a safe spot to place your jars and wait until crystals start to form!

Growing Borax Crystals - store in a safe spot and watch crystals begin to form

Growing Borax Crystals - crystals forming on a name pipe cleaner

Growing Borax Crystals - another shape in jar

Once ready, carefully take your crystals out! Place on paper towels. Discard Saran Wrap.

Growing Borax Crystals - when done remove the pipe cleaners and discard the wrap

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