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How to Make Crystals Easily

Crystal making is an educational and fun project that many children enjoy. Evaporation crystals are some of the most common in nature and the easiest to grow on your own. They are made when water evaporates that has minerals dissolved in it. Salt is one of the most common evaporation crystals that people see, but there are many minerals that can be made into crystals easily with this method. Although it takes a few days for the crystals to form, hands-on time is minimal.

Things You'll Need

Pipe cleaner Craft stick Cotton string Pot Measuring cup Glass jar Borax

Instructions

- 1
  Twist the pipe cleaner into any shape desired. A simple shape is to coil it into a disk. Stars, circles and triangles are other simple shapes.
- 2
  Tie the pipe cleaner to the craft stick with a 6-inch piece of cotton string. Make sure it is tied near the center of the craft stick.
- 3
  Boil 2 cups of water in the pot, and then pour the water into the glass jar. Mix 1/4 cup borax with the boiling water until dissolved. Keep adding borax 1 tablespoon at a time until it will no longer dissolve.
- 4
  Set the craft stick over the top of the jar with the pipe cleaner dangling into the mixture. It's OK if the pipe cleaner floats on top and doesn't submerge.
- 5
  Lift the pipe cleaner from the borax solution after 24 to 48 hours. Crystals will have formed over the entire thing. You can hang it in a window as decoration.

Rocks & Minerals