I really think the great folks at @Klutzbooks have outdone themselves this year with their latest collection of craft books.
First, we were floored by the magic of making our own erasers. And now? We’ve been blown away by the cool of growing our own crystal jewelry.
Grow Your Own Crystal Jewelry: 7 Sparkly Projects to Make and Wear is created for crafters 8 years of age and older, and all supplies must be kept out of reach of young children. This kit contains crystal powder (aluminum potassium sulfate) and requires the use of boiling water, so an adult ‘assistant’ is definitely required.
Unlike other Klutz craft books, Grow Your Own Crystal Jewelry: 7 Sparkly Projects to Make and Wear does require a bit more time, too, for creating solutions, allowing drying time, etc. But friends, it’s totally worth it. We learned so much from this kit, and the results were amazing!
Growing crystal jewelry is a fantastic weekend activity, since it requires you to make two solutions — a crystal seeding solution and a crystal growing solution — and each element of this project requires ample drying time.
Though it is absolutely essential that crafters and their assistants follow the detailed directions in the Grow Your Own Crystal Jewelry: 7 Sparkly Projects to Make and Wear book, here's the gist of what you'll do.
The Process of Making Crystal Jewelry
Step 1: Decide on a project. Cut the pipe cleaner to the appropriate size and attach it to a jump ring and/or string.
Step 2: Create a seeding solution. Soak your pipe cleaner in the seeding solution and let it dry completely, overnight if possible.
Step 3: Create a growing solution. Soak your seeded pipe cleaner in the growing solution for 2-4 hours.
Step 4: When your pipe cleaner is covered in crystals, hang it in an empty jar and let it dry completely.
Step 5: Glaze your piece of crystal jewelry and let it dry.
Step 5: Add your own combination of glitter to make it sparkle and pop.
Step 6: Attach the jewelry to a necklace or cord and wear it with pride!
The crystal jewelry we created wasn't just amazing. They were gorgeous. Awe-inspiring. And not only did my kids learn how crystals grow, thanks to Grow Your Own Crystal Jewelry: 7 Sparkly Projects to Make and Wear, but they learned how to make those crystals into beautiful, wearable jewels.
Most importantly, the girls were proud of their hard work.
Check out our finished pieces:
Share your thoughts with us on the Scholastic Parents Facebook page, or find Amy on Twitter, @teachmama, and let’s continue the conversation!
fyi: Amy Mascott was given the Grow Your Own Crystal Jewelry: 7 Sparkly Projects to Make and Wear book to read and try with her children. It was a hit. All opinions belong solely to Amy Mascott and are influenced only by her experience as a parent and educator and her crystal-growing tweens.
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Check out bloggers Amy Mascott and Allie McDonald's book, Raising a Rock-Star Reader: 75 Quick Tips for Helping Your Child Develop a Lifelong Love for Reading. Get expert advice and learn new strategies for your young readers.
