Add confetti to your glitter slime recipe for fast & easy birthday party fun...
You can never have too many fun birthday party ideas up your sleeve, especially if it’s a kids’ slime recipe that can be ready in five minutes (and cleaned up in less). Glitter slime is having a major moment in the lives (and kitchens) of just-for-fun lovers everywhere. Lucky for our office, we not only have the best mess-free, water-based glitters around but also experts on hand in developing formulas with cushiony texture, non-sticky finishes and safe makeup for kids.
Making glitter slime is an at-home science experiment that kids love and learn from (a winning combo in our book). Like lots of beauty products, slime works because the glue is a polymer — which means its texture transforms from a liquid state to a slime state when mixed with an activator. We could talk about the science behind the slime all day (and we do at the bottom of this post), but let’s get to the silver lining: how to make glitter slime you and your little helper will love.
But First, Prep
Here’s what you’ll need before you start...
- Mixing bowl
- Mixing spoon
- Measuring spoons
- Clear Elmer’s glue, one bottle per batch
- Contact solution
- Gen Glitter in 14 Karat Wear It
- A sealable container for post-slime storage
To get Gen Glitter out of the bottle...
This should be done by an adult since it involves using a butter knife to (gently) pry the clear wiper out of the jar. You may have to do a little wiggle work but shouldn’t have to force it. Once you’ve scooped out enough glitter, simply pop the wiper back in.
Step 1: Clear Elmer’s Glue
Use one bottle per batch, squeezing the whole bottle into your mixing bowl. The key to super glittery gold slime is using clear Elmer’s glue. White Elmer’s glue will work, but its milky color will tone down a lot of the glitter and gold in your slime.
Step 2: Baking Soda
Mix one heaping tablespoon with the glue until fully combined. It’s totally normal for the mixture to form bubbles.
Step 3: Gen Glitter
Add a tablespoon of Gen Glitter in So Fancy to the glue and baking soda mixture. The beauty of our Gen Glitter formulas is that they’re water-based and alcohol-free. Not only does this make them a gentler option for little hands to handle, but it helps make the slime more stretchy and less prone to breakage.
Step 4: Cloud Mine Confetti
Or any birthday confetti you have on-hand. Sprinkle into the glue, baking soda and glitter mixture until you're happy with the confetti-to-slime ratio. Since we're using So Fancy, any confetti will shine through the clear, sparkling formula.
Step 5: Contact Solution
Make sure the contact solution you use lists boric acid in the ingredients since that’s the activator that interacts with the glue to turn it into slime. (Read more at the bottom of this post to learn why.) Mix in ½ Tbsp increments slowly and steadily, checking slime consistency as you go. We found that 2 Tbsp was the perfect amount of contact solution, but you might find you like the texture better with a little more or less.
Once your glitter slime starts to reach a less liquid, more squishy state, switch to kneading by hand. It will feel sticky at first but should improve quickly. If your slime still feels too sticky, add another splash of contact solution or put lotion on your hands. If it’s not quite stretchy enough, add a splash more Gen Glitter or just add water. Experiment until your birthday glitter slime recipe is just the right balance of non-sticky and stretchy!
The Science Lesson in the Slime
The reason your contact solution needs to have boric acid is because borate ions are the activator that causes the glue to change its state of matter from liquidy to rubbery. That’s because polymers (like the glue) are made of long, repeating strands or molecules that start to connect and tangle when mixed with borate ions. This is called cross-linking, a similar process to how polymers work in makeup to create different textures, spreadability and adhesion. Making slime, like developing makeup, is just one big, beautiful experiment!
Homemade Slime is Best Enjoyed Safely
Making a kids' slime recipe at home is a chemistry lesson wrapped up in a glitter party — which is why we love it for fun birthday ideas! But like any science experiment worth its weight in gold, this one should always be done with adult supervision. Borate ions come in different forms – sodium borate, borax powder or boric acid. Borax-free slime recipes might still contain borate ions, generally from liquid starch (sodium borate) or saline solution (boric acid).
When making slime with your little helper, use spoons or spatulas to mix before handling by hand. Never inhale or ingest and always wash hands and surfaces after playing with slime. We have never experienced any skin reactions ourselves when making glitter slime, but if you’re worried about skin sensitivity or irritation, wear gloves. Like makeup, slime is best enjoyed when it's fun and safe.
