Make Decorative Crystals to Fill a Vase with Borax

6 Parts:

Materials

Instructions

Finishing and Decorating

Tips and Tricks

Questions and Answers

Comments

I have this really neat glass bowl shaped vase that I snagged at our local thrift store. It previously held our pet goldfish but since the demise of Ernie, it sat downstairs in the laundry room stuffed with used fabric softener sheets. I know it's wasting its potential so I decided that I would fill it with...something and then place flowers or something to put inside it.

So off we went to our local home store to find the mysterious something that would bring my vase back to life. I knew that when I found what I was looking for it would immediately grab me. And it did. A small bag of glittering blue crystals almost in the shape of amethyst. They were all differently shaped and a deep color azure. Beautiful. I flipped it over the look at the price and was shocked, stunned, appalled and possibly traumatized to see the price. Refusing to pay such a preposterous fee, I instead embarked on a mission to create homemade crystals and was thrilled to discover I could make them out of Borax. My old faithful friend.

This article will show you how to make a large Borax crystal that can be used to fill a decorative vase.

• Large pot.
• Pipe cleaners. Choose a pipe cleaner color that you want your crystals to be.
• Borax.
• Spoon for the string.
• Thread or unflavored dental floss.
• Wooden spoon that will fit the length of the pot cross ways. You want to be able to duplicate this picture but with your pot.
• Food coloring.

1. 1
   Your crystal will take the shape of the pipe cleaner, this when you need to decide what shape you want your crystal

   .

    

   1. If you want a big crystal 'ball' take 2-3 pipe cleaners and wrap them into a coil.
   2. If you want shapes like stars or hearts, mold the pipe cleaners into the shapes.
      
   3. Tie the pipe cleaner using the thread to the wooden spoon, so it is suspending from the spoon.

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
2. 2
   Bring 6 cups of water to boil in the pot

   .

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
3. 3
   Add as much food coloring as you want to get your desired hue

   .

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
4. 4
   Add 1 cup of Borax

   .

   You want to add as much Borax as you can until no more will dissolve. If you add the Borax to the pot, but it doesn't look saturated, add more.

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
5. 5
   Suspend the pipe cleaner into the pot

   .

   Cover the pot.

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
6. 6
   Turn off the heat but leave the pot on the element

   .

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
7. 7
   Leave the solution undisturbed for 10 hours

   .

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
8. 8
   After 10 hours pull up your string and you will see a glittering Borax crystal

   .

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help

1. 1
   Because the Borax crystals will dissolve if they get wet or even if they are stored in a humid place, it is a good idea to finish them.
   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help