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Hello Skip to My Lou Fans!
I’m Selina over at CreativeJuicesDecor. I was very excited to come up with this post that would be full of fun (and dare I say some educational?) ideas to do with your kids over winter break.
My first craft is one that takes some time but my kids LOVE watching the crystals form and of course the joy of eating their creation when it is all finished!
#1.) Make Rock Candy
Ingredients:
2 c water
4 c sugar
Food coloring
1 tsp flavoring extract or oil
Glass jar
Skewers
Preparation:
1.) Prepare your materials: wash glass jar with hot water to clean it. I used a shish-ka-bob skewer and broke it in half – but any thing like that will work.
2.) Wet your wooden skewer and roll it in granulated sugar. this base layer will give the sugar crystals something to “grab” when they start forming. (set aside carefully)
3.) Place the water in a medium sized pan and bring to a boil. Begin adding the sugar, one cup at a time, stirring after each addition. You will notice that it takes longer for the sugar to dissolve after each addition. Continue to stir and boil the syrup till all the sugar has been added and it is all dissolved. (this will take around 10 – 15 min) Remove pan from the heat.
4.) Add the color drops and flavorings.
5.) Allow the sugar syrup to cool for approximately 10 min, then pour into the prepared jar. Lower the sugar skewer until it hangs about 1″ from the bottom, not too close to each other or the sides of the jar. (mine are a little short in the picture)
6.) Carefully place your jar in a cool place, away from harsh lights, where it can sit undisturbed. Cover the top loosely with plastic wrap or a paper towel.
7.) You should see sugar crystals start forming within 4 hours. If nothing happens you may have to try boiling the syrup again and dissolve another cut of sugar into it, then pour it back into the jar with the skewers.
This time around the crystals formed super fast and were quite small. (I like the big rock like crystals) Touchy little buggers.
Makes TWO candy sticks per jar.
#2) Make a Naked Egg
This one is so simple but has quite an interesting outcome! My kids were fascinated. 🙂
Simply drop a raw egg into a bowl of vinegar (cover completely) and watch as the egg shell starts to slowly dissolve.
After 24 hours carefully take the egg out and replace it with fresh vinegar and let it sit (12-24 hrs) till it becomes a completely “naked” egg. Try experimenting with adding food coloring to the vinegar mix!
#4) Make Stained Glass Cookies
Roll out Sugar Cookie Dough and pinch the ends together. Set the shapes on a cookie sheet on top of foil. Crush up any hard candy and sprinkle it evenly inside the dough parameters. You and your kids will LOVE the surprising and unique stained glass effect each cookie has!
#3) Keeping them entertained with a fruit loop necklace!
This is for the younger kids. My daughter will spend forever making bracelets and necklaces out of fruit loops. Just grab some yarn and tie off one end with a fruit loop. Now no matter what age they can start stringing the cereal through. They don’t usually get fruit loops as cereal so it’s an extra special treat!
#4.) Make Good Smelling Playdough!
This is one of our favorites, Gingerbread Playdough.
#5.) Make some Ice Candles
My 10 year old daughter had so much fun making these with me. Really you just add water to a cup or bucket and let it sit overnight to achieve these beauties but feel free to stop by my blog to see a full tutorial!
…..and just one more fun idea make darling smiling snowman envelopes and send a friend that long overdue letter!
Selina is an interior designer that loves the thrill of turning drab to fab on a budget. She and her husband live in the Northwest with their 3 young children. Along with a passion for design, Selina loves crafting, scrapbooking, cooking and has been playing the violin since the age of 3.
julie selden says
Hi I wanted to know how you are getting the stick to stand up in the jar if it can not touch the bottom? I’m not understanding, and would love to do this with my daughter as a home school science project! Thanks Julie
[email protected] says
Sorry to get back to you so late! Usually it takes around 4 hours to see the crystals start to form…..
Nancy Antol says
Just wondering how long it takes to form the finished rock candy.
Thanks!