I have seen ornaments and snowflakes made from borax and pipe cleaners, but I didn’t want to wait until Christmas to try this fun kids’ activity. Instead, we made Borax Crystal Letters. We began with the letter “A” and briefly considered making the whole alphabet — that proved ambitious. So far we’ve completed only the “A.” Because the process takes time, we’ll likely limit future projects to first initials. If your kids enjoy letter activities, you might also like our glowing letters project.
Supplies you will need:
- Borax
- Pipe cleaners
- Thread or string
- Boiling water
- Pencil
- Glass container large enough for the letter to hang (mason jars work well)
Borax Crystal Letters
A mason jar is ideal because it can safely hold boiling water without cracking. I didn’t have mason jars on hand, so I tested a vase with boiling water and it handled the heat fine. Whatever container you choose, make sure it withstands high temperatures. After the crystals formed, a layer of borax remained on the vase’s sides and bottom, but a little scraping cleaned it right up.
Start by shaping a pipe cleaner into the letter you want. I made a blue “A.”
Mix 3 tablespoons of borax into 1 cup of boiling water. For a larger container, double the amounts as needed. The letter must be able to hang fully submerged in the solution.
Tie a length of thread to the pipe cleaner letter, then tie the other end to the middle of a pencil. Lower the letter into the borax solution, making sure it does not touch the container’s bottom or sides. If it makes contact, the forming crystals will anchor it to the glass. My pencil rolled a bit, so I used tape on each end to secure it in place.
Crystals don’t appear right away. My kids checked hourly, curious for changes. After about five hours I began to see small formations. I let the letter soak overnight, and by morning a complete crystallized “A” had formed. The kids were delighted. We hung the finished letter from a chandelier, where it sparkles and catches the light as it spins.
This activity is easy for young children to enjoy as observers, since it requires caution around borax and hot water. Older kids can participate more directly and learn about the science behind crystallization. For more borax-and-pipe-cleaner ideas, explore other simple crystal science projects and adapt them to suit your child’s age and interest.
Simple experiments like this make science approachable and fun for kids and adults alike. If you enjoyed making borax crystal letters, try other easy hands-on experiments that spark curiosity and creativity.
If you liked these borax crystal letters, you’ll love similar simple science activities for preschoolers and curious kids of all ages.