Getting Crafty with Borax Giveaway and Valentine Crafts

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Who loves to make gorgeous and sparkly crafts?  Me, me, me!!!  I have a fun and easy craft idea that can translate to almost any holiday including Valentine's Day.  Hearts are one of my favorites. Another favorite of mine is a giveaway and speaking of that, Purex just launched their Getting Crafty with Borax Sweepstakes.  Perfect timing with Valentine's Day so I thought I would share a crafty craft with you all.  Don't forget to enter the sweepstakes because you can win up to $500! Now get crafting!

Think about all the possibilities you can make with a few simple ingredients. You can buy 20 Mule Team Borax in any grocery store for a reasonable price and it is an all natural product that is easy to work with for fun crafts.

What you need:

• string
• wide mouth jar (pint)
• white pipe cleaners
• borax (see tips)
• pencil, popsicle stick or twigs
• boiling water
• various liquid or gel food colors
• scissors

1. The first step of making 20 Mule Team Borax crystal hearts or shapes is to make the heart or  shape you want. Cut a pipe cleaner or bend into the shape you want.
2. Twist the sections together at their center and bottom. Make whatever shape you want...if you are doing a round shape or oval for example. Don't worry if an end isn't even, just trim to get the desired shape. The heart or shape should fit inside a wide-mouthed glass jar like a canning jar.
3. Tie the string to the top of  the heart. Tie the other end of the string to the pencil or a wooden stick or even a twig. You want the length to be such that the pencil hangs the heart into the jar.
4. Fill the widemouth pint jar with boiling water.
5. Add 20 Mule Team Borax one tablespoon at a time to the boiling water, stirring to dissolve after each addition. The amount used is 3 tablespoons Borax per cup of water. It is okay if some undissolved 20 Mule Team Borax settles to the bottom of the jar.
6. If desired, you may tint the mixture with food color.
7. Hang the pipe cleaner heart or shape into the jar so that the pencil rests on top of the jar and the heart or shape is completely covered with liquid and hangs freely (not touching the bottom of the jar).
8. Allow the jar to sit in an undisturbed location overnight.
9. Look at the pretty crystals and enjoy them month long!  You can hang your heart as a decoration or in a window to catch the sunlight...perfect to celebrate Valentine's Day.

Because boiling water is used and because 20 Mule Team Borax isn't intended for eating, adult supervision is recommended for this project.