Summer Kid Crafts: Make Your Own Bouncy Balls

This is a great and gooey craft that small kids and big kids alike will love--and all using things you most likely have on hand in the house.

It works best if you set up your work area with the ingredients separated into two little disposable bowls with plastic spoons, ready to go, so that you can throw the things away once you've done mixing. I love a quick clean up.

Though if you use your dinner bowls and fancy silverware it shouldn't cause any problems. Conservation is nearly as good as a quick clean up.

You'll need:
2 paper/plastic bowls (optional)
plastic spoon (optional)
1/2 teaspoon Borax
2 tablespoons warm water
1 tablespoon cornstarch
food coloring (optional)
1 tablespoon liquid glue such as Elmer's

Step 1:
In one of your bowls mix the 1/2 teaspoon Borax, 2 tablespoons warm water, 1 tablespoon cornstarch and a few drops of food coloring if desired. In the other bowl put the 1 tablespoon glue.


Step 2:
Add the Borax mixture to the glue in the other bowl. Set the timer for 15 seconds. Let it set for the full 15 seconds before mixing things together.


Step 3:
Stir the mixture around until all the ingredients are combined and then start rolling the mixture in your hands until it forms a ball. It takes a while for it to dry completely but we found it works better if you blow on it a bit to speed things along. We tried doubling the recipe for extra bouncing pleasure but it wasn't a good idea--it took longer to dry and form a ball with double the mass.

Once you've got a ball it will bounce on flat surfaces and holds together well though it isn't as firm as a regular hard plastic-style ball and will gradually flatten out on a counter if left out before it's dry. Don't leave it on carpet or on fabric until you're sure it's dry--I'd hate to have color get somewhere it shouldn't.

But we had hours of fun with it yesterday. Happy bouncing to you all.

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Congratulations to Kelly of Rochester, Michigan; Justine of Tumwater, Washington; Anne of Fort Smith, Arkansas; Olivia of Anchorage, Alaska; Anne of Atlanta, Georgia; Katie of Troy, Michigan; Monica of Haines, Alaska; Sharon of Chico, California; Jennifer of Lakeland, Florida; and Kristi of Friendsville, Tennessee. Each of the ten have won a pair of Dockers' new Cargo Khakis in last weekend's giveaway. Happy Father's Day!

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