I'm embarrassed to even admit how much time I've spent on Pinterest this summer. I always plan on just looking for a few cool ideas after the kids go to bed, but the next thing I know, it's 2 a.m. and my mind is spinning with all my new "pins" and the fun I'll have with them. The downside is that the kids have to deal with a tired mommy the next day, but the upside is that I find cool ideas like THIS Lava Lamp.
As soon as I saw it, I knew it would make it onto our Summer must do list. I suspected my kids would get a kick out of it and they did!
Here's how we did it:
1. Gather your supplies ~ cooking oil, water, food coloring, an empty water bottle, and Alka Seltzer antacid tablets.
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| Oops, the Alka Seltzer tablets didn't make it in the picture. |
2. Fill your bottle about two thirds of the way with oil then fill the rest with water, leaving about an inch free at the top.
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| Partially filled with oil |
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| It was fun adding the water and watching the layers separate. |
** NOTE ** We liked watching the water layer "sink" to the bottom, but we had to wait awhile for the bubbles to disappear for the next step. Adding the water first, then the food coloring and finally the oil, wasn't quite as fun, but it was a bit faster.
3. Add several drops of food coloring. (If you did the oil first, then the water, it'll take a little while for the drops of food coloring to "break through" and tint the water.)
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| Mommy adds the food coloring. |
4. Take an Alka Seltzer tablet and break it into 3 or 4 pieces. Then drop a piece in and watch the magic.
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| The kids are looking annoyed that I made them stop for a picture first! |
5. As soon as the tablet hits the layer of water, it will start to fizz and the colored water will erupt!
4. The bubbles will stop as soon as the tablet dissipates, but it will start up again as soon as you add another tablet. If the oil layer starts to become cloudy with tiny bubbles, just let it settle for awhile and then you can do some more.
26 comments:
That's pretty cool :) It's amazing how much fun stuff mom's find or do late at night.
How fun!! Alkaselters just got added to my shopping list!
Sharing on fb.
That is awesome! My daughter and I are definitely going to do this! Thanks for sharing.
I came across your blog on Tip Junkie...What a cool idea...my kids will love it!
I'm hosting a link party..."Fusion Fridays" {Open All Weekend!}
http://janedeereblog.blogspot.com
I would love it if you would come by on Friday and link up!
That is pretty sweet, you ALWAYS have the funnest, ideas, we will have to try this out!
Carlee
www.ladybirdln.com
As always... a great idea!
Thank you!
Cecilia
My oldest did this at a science camp this summer and my kids sure got a kick out of it. What a great idea!
I love this Laura! Gotta go buy some antacid tablets!
This Rocks! I love seeing your kids annoyed because you made them stop for a pic! I get that a lot with Miss Sassy! I loved seeing this step by step. So cool! I pinned it to my board on Pinterest.
-Kate
MyOatmealKisses.com
I gotta try this with Henry. We've attempted a water and oil bottle once without much success, but the addition of the tablet will make this much more fun! Thanks for sharing on It's Playtime!
Brilliant!! we are on our long school holidays now, so I'm going to be trying this one out !!
twiggy
Coolest project EVER!!! We're so going to do this! Thanks!
This looks like tons of fun! We may have to try it!
Can I say it just cracked me up that your kids were working hard to earn antacid tablets?? Gotta love kids! :-)
This is so fun! I love it and totally want to do it (even though there are no kids to enjoy it, I'll love it)! : )
Fantastic - having to earn the tablets! This ones going on my list for the school holidays, that's if I have time as just discovered Pinterest myself this week:))
Stopping over from the Sun Scholars Linky and am a new follower. I love this activity and know my son would too! Thanks for sharing!
Very fun! I remember doing something like this when I was little. :) Thanks for sharing, my little guy would love this! Found you on TT&J, I'm you're newest follower. Would love for you to check out my blog http://domesticcharm.blogspot.com and follow back if you're interested!
oh, love it! thanks so much for sharing on Craft schooling Sunday!
Hi saw you on link party, what a neat idea! Now following you via google and fb, Karima x www.karimascrafts.com
This is a great to keep kids entertain for hours..
I'll be honored for you to join our linking party every Wednesday at
http://www.passionatelyartistic.com/2011/07/american-pickers-with-linking-party.html
Have a fabulous week,
Maggie
http://passionatelyartistic.com
Very clever idea! I posted a link to this on my blog: http://thecraftbarn-ny.blogspot.com/2011/12/crafty-friday-121611.html thru my pinterest board.
Thanks!
Jennifer @ The Craft Barn
Love this idea. Pinned it to my Sensory Play board on pinterest.
http://pinterest.com/pin/60798663689616222/
LOVE!!!
just did this with my kids and it was awesome! Thank you so much! I linked back to you. :)
http://www.confettiandotherfun.com/2012/04/homemade-lava-lamps.html
Do you have to leave the lid off the bottle?
You don't have to leave the lid off. We did just because the bubbles start almost immediately and the kids didn't want to wait for me to screw the lid on first. However, if you're worried about it spilling, you can put the lid on. There will be some carbonation from the tablets, so if the lid is closed, expect a little release of the gases when you reopen the bottle (similar to opening a bottle of soda) but I don't think the pressure would build up too much unless you put in several tablets at once and keep the lid on. Hope that helps.
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