Here’s a great project you can do on your own, with kids, or whomever! It’s no-fuss, little mess, and in 24 hours you can create amazing crystal ornaments for less than $1 each!

Recently I learned how to create crystal ornaments, which are much sturdier, quicker to make, and turn out more consistently than the standard sugar-water-string projects I used to fill the kitchen with growing up. The secret is sodium borate—Borax.

Used mostly as a laundry booster (softens hard water and leaves your clothes cleaner and brighter), it’s actually one of those old school “do it all” products. You can use it as a cleaner, a deodoriser, an insect repellent, and for crafts!

In concocting the perfect recipe for Borax ornaments I realized it really could be tailored to suit any level of crystallization you desire. However, the general rule to follow is this: three tablespoons of Borax to one cup of boiling water.

To make this snowflake ornament, follow these steps.

You will need:

• Pipe cleaners
• Borax
• Glass jars
• String or yarn (remnant pieces)
• Sticks or pencils (to suspend the ornaments from the jar into water)
• Boiling water
• Measuring cup and stir stick
• Food colouring (if desired)

Instructions:
Bend and shape pipe cleaners into desired shape (follow chart for snowflake, using two pipe cleaners)

Tie string or yarn to pipe cleaner at top—this also acts as the ornament hanger

Affix string to stick or pencil, hang ornament in jar (or other heat resistant container) being careful to avoid the shape touching the sides or bottom of jar

In a separate container, mix three tablespoons of Borax to one cup of boiling water. Mix until Borax is dissolved (if you want coloured crystals also add a few drops of food colouring, keeping in mind the colour of the pipe cleaner will show a bit)

Pour mixture into jar, covering pipe cleaner completely

Wait 24 hours.

Remove from jar. Leave on towel until dry (only a few minutes), wipe off excess crystals and display your beautiful handmade ornaments for all to see!

The best part about this craft is watching the crystals form before your eyes!