My sister-in-law used to make "flubber" for her kids, a rubbery simi-liquid made out of water, glue, and Borax. You can add food coloring to it, but we left ours snowy white to fit our recent winter kiddo crafts theme -- and to ease the pain of our snowman melting away. We're calling it "Silly Stretchy Snow."
In a medium-sized bowl, stir together:
--1 and 1/2 cups warm water
--2 cups (16 ounces) white glue (such as Elmer's)
--Food coloring (optional)
In a large measuring cup, stir together:
--1 and 1/3 cups warm water
--3 teaspoons Borax (laundry detergent booster)
Once both containers have been mixed well, pour the Borax mixture into the glue mixture. Stir until combined. The blend will thicken at once into a stretchy polymer.
After most of the mixture coagulates into a mass, pour off any remaining liquid. Place flubber on a tray to rest for about five minutes. During this time it will change from gooey to rubbery. Now it is ready for play! A few things to keep in mind...
--If flubber is dropped, it picks up grit and dust. Unfortunately, if washed, it turns slimy, so just pinch out any dirt flecks.
--Be aware that it may also stick to some fabrics and paper. To be safe, we just play with ours at the kitchen table.
--Store in a airtight container. (Ours is three days old and just as nice as when we made it. I have no idea how long it lasts.)
Flubber is cool, rubbery, oozy, and jiggle-bouncy but does not stick to your skin. After a few pokes, it is hard to resist. But what do you do with it?
Make a...
-Lava flow
-Oozing snowball
-Vanishing handprint
-Collapsing tower
-Translucent melting window
-Braided rope that blends into a single strand
-Rude noise (with trapped air)
-Multi-pops from tiny bubbles
-Longest oozy drip contest
Good flubber tools:
-Cookie cutters
-Plastic butter knife
-Pancake turner
For a good homemade play dough recipe, click HERE.
Later Note: We stored our Silly Stretchy Snow in a plastic tub with a tight-fitting lid. Three weeks later, it is the same -- smells good and stretches the same as always.
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