All the wow factor with none of the wait!
Materials
Epsom salt
Sandwich bags
Liquid food coloring
Egg carton
Scissors
Glue
Paint brush
Spoon
Tape
*Optional* glossy Modge Podge or similar top coat
Directions
1) Pour Epsom salt into sandwich bags. You will want a bag for each color crystal you want to make. We added about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of salt to each bag.
2) Add a few drops of liquid food coloring into each bag. Seal and shake till salt is evenly colored. Add more food coloring if more saturated color is desired.
3) Cut apart egg carton. Separating it into individual cups. You will have 12 cups from the top of carton and 12 from the bottom.
3) Pair up a cup that came from the top and one the came from the bottom of the carton. You will have 12 whole rocks.
3) If necessary, trim edges of each half so the pieces fit together flush.
3) Generously coat the inside of each cup with glue.
4) Add a scoop of Epsom salt to both sides.
5) Tape together the top and bottom of the rock and shake.
6) Open, dump out excess and be amazed!
7) *Optional* after geodes dry, add coat of Modge Podge or similar topcoat to the Epsom salt to increase their shine.
love it!!!
ReplyDeleteI just tried this and they turned out great! I also tried liquid watercolors but the food coloring was much more vibrant! What type of food coloring did you use?
DeleteHow long do they retain color?
DeleteCan this be done with Styrofoam egg cartons, or do they have to be cardboard?
ReplyDeleteI used paperboard cartons for 2 reasons:
Delete1. I painted the inside of the cup before adding glue and salt;this helps hide any spots the salt doesn't stick.
2. The texture and color more closely resemble rock
How long does it take these to dry?
ReplyDeleteWhat's a good follow-up activity with these?
DeleteTaking a nap
DeleteThey dry overnight if the weather is dry and the coat of glue isn't too thick.
DeleteLittle tip use puzzle glue it dries faster than modge podge and still shines like the modge podge does.
ReplyDeleteDoes it matter if the Epsom salt is scented??
ReplyDeletei think its the best way to use damaged egg crates and make decoration pieces with it
ReplyDeleteI would love to do this for our VBS but we need a lot of prep ahead of time. How long do you think the Epsom salts will last with the food coloring? Only hours or maybe a day?
ReplyDeleteIf you spread them out to dry and then rebag them they would be fine for weeks.
DeleteCan we use iodized salt?
ReplyDeleteCan you use coarse salt instead of Epsom salt?
ReplyDeleteEgg cartons where I live don’t have a top the same shape. It’s a flat top. Can possibly tape two bottoms together? But I don’t know how well they would fit together for shaking purposes.
ReplyDelete