Borax Crystal Ornaments

Instructions

Tools & Other Supplies Needed
Box of Borax Powder
Mason Jars or Heat Resistant Containers
Boiling Water (adult supervision mandatory)
Big Eye Sewing Needle
Thread
Scissors
Round Nose Pliers (for alternate hanger method)
Wire Cutter (for alternate hanger method)

Techniques to Know
Shaping and Cutting Chenille Pipe Cleaners
Form a Loop

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Form and trim various colors of chenille pipe cleaners into desired ornament shapes.

2. Fill jars with boiling water to just below the lip of the jars (or heat in microwave until water comes to a boil). Stir in 3-4 TB of borax powder until dissolved. Keep adding and stirring more borax powder until it starts to stop dissolving in the water.

3. Cut a 16-18” length of iridescent gold cord. Thread the middle of the cord through the large eye sewing needle. Bring the needle up through three pompoms. Arrange the pompoms so they are slightly separated on the cord. Tie the bottom of the cord ends together underneath the bottom pompom. Cut the needle off the middle of the cord above the top pompom. Tie a double knot to form a hanging loop. Trim off cord tails.

4. Tie one end of a length of thread around the top of the ornaments and the other end of thread to a dowel (or a pencil) so the top of the ornament will be under the top surface of the water when submerged. For pompom ornaments, hang the cord loop around the dowel or pencil. (Alternate hanging method: open the loop of an eye pin, close the loop around the pipe cleaner at the top of the ornaments, trim the length of the eye pin stem, and form another loop at the other end. Tie one end of a length of thread to the top loop of the eye pin and the other end of thread to a dowel (or pencil) so the top of the ornament will be under the top surface of the water when submerged.)

5. Remove the ornaments occasionally and stir the water to keep borax mixed in. Return the ornaments to the borax solution. The length of time the ornaments stay submerged in the borax solution will determine the extent and thickness of the crystals that will form. Start checking after approximately 4 hours. The process of crystallization can take up to 24 hours.

6. Once you are satisfied with the degree of crystals that have formed, remove the ornaments from the borax solution and place them on paper towels to dry. Remove thread from the ornaments when dry.

7. Cut lengths of iridescent silver cord to create hangers for your ornaments. (If used eye pin hanging method, thread the iridescent cord through the top loop of the eye pin.)


Helpful Tips
. Borax solution can be saved, reheated, stirred, and reused. You may need to add more borax.
. Crystals that form in the bottom of the mason jars can be dissolved and removed by placing very hot water in the mason jars and stirring to break them up.
. Ornament shapes can be made by wrapping chenille stems around cookie cutters.