The brightest kids slime recipe to make at home with your little helper ...
Have you tried making glitter slime yet? How about glitter slime that looks and feels like liquid gold? We spend a lot of time perfecting formulas over here at PnP HQ — making sure the texture is just right, the finish isn’t tacky and the payoff is nothing short of pretty. So, naturally, we couldn’t resist nerding out on a kids’ slime recipe that’s as glittery, glossy and GOLD as 14 Karat Wear It.
Making glitter slime is an at-home science experiment that kids love and learn from (a winning combo in our book). Like a lot of makeup, slime works because a polymer transforms its texture 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 gold stuff: how to make glitter slime you and your little helper will love.
HOMEMADE GLITTER SLIME INGREDIENTS
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
Here's how 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.
HOW TO MAKE GLITTER SLIME
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 14 Karat Wear It 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: 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 you've struck a glitter slime gold mine!
TIPS, TRICKS & TWISTS
How to make slime less sticky
If your slime feels too sticky, add another splash of contact solution or a sprinkle more baking powder. Keep kneading and adding until you strike the right non-sticky balance. Or put lotions on your hands — sometimes dry hands cause the slime to stick more.
How to make slime more stretchy
If your glossy glitter slime isn’t quite stretchy enough you may have gone too far with the baking powder. Try adding a splash more Gen Glitter, which is water-based, or just straight-up water. Or take that lotion you just put on your hands and knead a squeeze of it into the slime. The key to non-sticky, stretchy slime is working it (like dough) until the balance is just right.
Discover more satisfying slime recipes
If you need more shades of glossy slime in your life (or at your kiddo’s birthday party), try another kids’ slime recipe like Birthday Confetti Slime or Liquid Gold Glitter Slime made with our mess-free, super pretty (and water-based) Gen Glitters. Or better yet, make all three and braid them together for the ultimate glitter slime party.
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 so much! 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 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.
