Miss R, at age six, is extremely fascinated by rocks, crystals, jewels and science in general. This is a project idea that she made up herself, after watching this experiment on Youtube for making your own lava lamp. She wanted to make a lava lamp for her bedroom, but I explained that the experiment she saw was not a real lava lamp, just a soluble tablet churning up oil and coloured water. A real lava lamp, I told her, has melted blobs of wax floating around inside a lit-up lamp filled with hot water. When the lamp is switched off and cools down the wax blobs turn hard. This is what gave her the idea to melt candle wax into a jar of water, to get cool blobby shapes of her own that she could hold and keep. Of course, as many or our crafts do, the experiment needed to involve plenty of glitter. The results were quite striking, and better than I expected. Here is how you can make your own sparkly “wax gems” at home.
You will need:
• A candle
• A jar of water
• Glitter in your favourite colour (or two)
• Matches or a cigarette lighter
• Paper towel or a clean tea towel
How to:
Sprinkle glitter into the water, it should all sit floating on top of the water. Then light the candle and, holding it sideways over the jar, let drops of wax fall into the water. You’ll need lots of drops to make a wax gem.
Once you have a large-sized blob of wax in the jar like in the picture above, screw the lid tightly on the jar and give it a good shake.
Take the lid off and use a tea spoon to remove the wax gems from the jar and leave them to drain on the paper towel. They will be all sparkly and should be completely cool after being shaken around in the cold glitter water.
Make some more and mix the glitter colours up and see what results you get. Miss R was very pleased with her sparkly jewels!
Each one is pretty and unique, and it is interesting how all the bubbly blobs make patterns on the front of the jewel.
Obviously, it is up to the parents’ discretion on whether you think your kids are mature enough to hold lit candles and let them drip into the water. Miss R managed this no problem, but I needed to light the candles for her, and would certainly recommend constant supervision by a responsible adult with this activity.
For lots more rocks, crystals and science ideas try visiting my Crystals rocks and jewels board or my Science fun for kids board on Pinterest.
More Science ideas:
• Create an oil and water discovery bottle
• These borax crystal ornaments are so pretty
• Make a classic paper cup telephone
Anastasia @ Montessori Nature says
October 14, 2014 at 9:19 pmWow! This is such a fun craft to make! Pinned!
Sara @ Happiness is here says
October 15, 2014 at 4:44 amThey are beautiful! And I love that it was all child-led.
Kelly @ Happy Whimsical Hearts says
October 15, 2014 at 11:52 amWhat a cool idea! I’ve never come across this before – my son will love it! Pinning 🙂
Penny says
October 16, 2014 at 9:47 amThat is super cool! I never would have ever thought to have done that with wax. I love it.
Debs says
October 17, 2014 at 6:17 amWhat a creative idea! They look really cool. Pinned 🙂
Kylie @ Octavia and Vicky says
October 18, 2014 at 5:09 amThese are awesome! I’ve saved this idea to make with my four year old, she’ll love them.
Suzie's Home Education Ideas says
October 19, 2014 at 2:45 amSuch a beautiful way to make art!! Such a great idea! I’ve pinned your post!
Laughing Kids Learn says
October 19, 2014 at 9:05 pmThis is incredible!!!! I’ve never seen anything like it. I’d love to give it a go.
Kelly says
October 20, 2014 at 4:41 amSo so so cool!
Pauline says
October 22, 2014 at 11:11 amThey look beautiful Kate! I look forward to making these with my kids – just have to find some nice long candles first (we only have those little birthday candles I think). Pinning. xo P
Jean Diehl says
November 29, 2014 at 4:40 pmIf you could, would you please email me ideas for what to do with the wax gems? I do crafts with my friends kids, and with 8 children, I try to make sure crafts we make have a purpose and will not be just something to sit around or get on the floor for the baby to eat. But I know they all would love this. Thanks.
Kate says
December 8, 2014 at 10:51 pmHi Jean, as an activity the purpose of this is really just the process of learning, doing and creating. For most kids crafts in my opinion the biggest benefit is that they get a sense of achievement and feel proud of themselves. The finished product is just a lump of sparkly wax that my girls think looks like pretty jewels. It has no real purpose. I’d say don’t let the older kids leave the pieces lying about on the floor or it will obviously be a choking hazard for your baby.
Nana says
May 14, 2019 at 10:47 pmmy Grandaughters will probably create treasure hunts – and these are the jewels!