How to Make Ornaments Out of Grown Crystals

Grown-crystral ornaments are easy to make at home

Crystal ornaments are simple, interesting projects that involve the use of common household items. Growing the crystals also helps teach scientific concepts, such as how crystals form from super-saturated solutions. Any supplies you may need to grow crystal ornaments can be purchased from craft stores and grocery stores. Children should have an adult's assistance to ensure safety.

Things You'll Need

• Pipe cleaners
• Wide jar or container
• String
• Pencil or ruler
• Boiling water
• Borax
• Spoon

Instructions

1. Shape the pipe cleaners into the ornament shape that you would like. Try making hearts, circles, squares or snowflakes. Twist together the ends of the pipe cleaners to ensure a smooth finish. Keep the ornaments small enough to fit in a container.

2. Tie one end of a piece of string to the pipe-cleaner ornament and the other to a pencil or ruler, which you will use to suspend the ornament in the solution. Make sure there is enough string so that the ornament will float freely in your container without touching the bottom or sides. Test the ornament in the jar to make sure it fits and then remove the ornament.

3. Fill the jar or container with enough boiling water to cover the ornament when it is inserted, but be careful not to overfill so that water does not splash out when you insert the ornament.

4. Add Borax to the jar or container--approximately 3 tablespoons per cup of water--and stir with the spoon. The solution will become super-saturated when granules of Borax remain at the bottom of the container, even when you are stirring.

5. Insert the ornament into the jar and position the pencil or ruler across the top of the container to keep the ornament in place with the string.

6. Allow the solution to rest overnight, giving the crystals time to grow.

7. Remove the crystal ornament and allow it to air dry before use.

Tips & Warnings

• Use colored pipe cleaners or food coloring in the water to create colored ornaments.

• Pour boiling water carefully to avoid burns.

• Keep Borax away from children and animals. It can cause harm if ingested.

References

• Enchanted Learning: Real Crystal Snowflake
• Creative Kids at Home: Crystal Snowflakes