Fun craft idea

This is a Borax crystal, made by one of the residents at my nursing home.  They did this as an activity shortly before St Patricks Day, but they are still hanging around.  They turned out so cute I wanted to share them, because it looks like something that would be fun to do with kids.  This was a shamrock, but you could do hearts, stars, circles...  whatever you like.

Borax Crystals

pipe cleaners

3 cups boiling water

1/2 cup Borax

large glass cups or canning jars

string

pencil or short rod of some type

Twist pipe cleaner into your desired shape.  The color of pipe cleaner will be the color that shows through the crystals when finished.

Tie a string around one end of the finished pipe cleaner shape and tie the other end to a pencil.

Stir borax into the boiling water until it's completely dissolved and the water is clear.

Pour borax mixture into cups, making sure the solution is deep enough to submerge the pipe cleaner shape in it.

Lower the pipe cleaner shape into the solution, being careful that it doesn't touch the side or bottom.  Lay the pencil across the top of the jar so the shape is suspended in the solution.

Set jar in a safe spot where it won't be disturbed and let it sit overnight.  The next morning you will find crystals coating the pipe cleaners!