Icicles are beautiful, but they won't last very long indoors.It is very easy to make your own icicles.If you take good care of them, they can last a long time.All you need to make icicle ornaments is a few supplies and some free time.
Step 1: The water must be brought to a boil.
3 cups of water is enough to fill a large pot.Place it on the stove and let it boil.
Step 2: Stir in 9 ounces of Borax.
When the Borax is dissolved, keep stirring.This can take a while.
Step 3: Take the water and put it in a jar.
You can pour the water into jars if you are making ornaments.Don't go too small because your icicles will be a little shorter than the jar.
Step 4: Cut down on the pipe cleaners.
You can make them as long or as short as you please.The ends need to be at least 12 inch away from the bottom of the jar so that you can stick them in.The color of the pipe cleaners can still be seen.White pipe cleaners are the best for best results.Light blue or silver can look nice.
Step 5: Tie your string into loops.
As many pieces of string as possible.Make loops by tying the ends of the string together.You can hang your ornaments with these.Clear thread or fishing line is a good option if you want to use any type of string.
Step 6: Attach the loops to the pipe cleaner.
Attach the end of the pipe cleaner to the loop by folding it over.Do this for all of the loops.
Step 7: Attach a loop to a pencil and dip the pipe cleaner into the jar.
The pencil should be placed over the mouth of the jar to prevent it from falling in.If the pipe cleaner is too long, take it out of the water and trim it down; alternatively, you can untie the loop and retie it shorter.The jar needs to be at least 12 inch away from the pipe cleaner.You can use other items if you don't have a pencil.You can put more than one pipe cleaner into a jar, but don't let them touch each other or the walls of the jar.The more pipe cleaners you put into a jar, the more crystals will form.
Step 8: Place the jars in a place that won't be disturbed and leave them there for the night.
Between 8 and 12 hours should suffice.
Step 9: Take the icicles out of the pencil and hang them on the tree.
These icicles are very fragile, so be careful with them.
Step 10: Remove the label from the bottle.
If you want the best results, use a clear bottle.A translucent blue bottle may work.Don't worry if there are bumps or ribs in the bottle.Make sure there is no glue or paper on the bottle.
Step 11: The bottle's top and bottom should be removed.
You will fix any jaggedness in the following step, so don't worry about being neat here.
Step 12: The bottle should be cut into strips.
The strips should be trimmed so that they are flat at one end and straight at the other.At the widest point, they should be no wider than 1 to 112 centimeters.
Step 13: If you want to hold the strip over the candle, hold it by each end.
If you hold the strip close, it will heat up, but not so close that it starts to melt or burn.The point of the strip should be closest to the flame.A short pillar candle is better than a long candlestick.It will be less likely to tip over.
Step 14: The strip should be moved across the flame.
Pull gently on the ends so that they don't bend.You want the icicle and coil, but you don't want it to bend or curve.
Step 15: When you get to the other end, pull the icicle straight.
A coiled strip of plastic is what you should have.Some people need a few tries to get it right, so don't be disappointed if your first one isn'ta perfect one.
Step 16: Use a heated needle or nail to poke a hole through the icicle.
If you want to poke a hole through the top of your icicle, hold a needle and nail over the candle flame.Wait for the plastic to cool.
Step 17: Tie the ends of the thread into the hole.
White, silver, and clear thread are the best colors to use.If you want to make a garlands instead of icicles, thread them onto a long piece of string.
Step 18: Put a piece of paper over your work surface.
If you don't have any parchment paper, you can use wax paper and spread a thin layer of dish soap over it.If you don't lubricate the wax paper with dish soap, the icicles will stick.
Step 19: Put a hot glue stick into your glue gun.
The glittery kind of hot glue sticks can be used.It would work well for icicles to use silver, gold, or iridescent.
Step 20: Straight lines can be drawn on the paper.
You can vary the pressure on your hot glue gun by squeezing it.The top part of the icicle can be made thicker.
Step 21: It's a good idea to shake some glitter onto your icicles.
If it's done quickly, the glue will set and the glitter won't stick.White or iridescent glitter is the best, but silver or gold would look nice as well.You can skip this step if you used glittery hot glue sticks.
Step 22: Wait 2 to 3 minutes for the glue to cool.
It is normal for plain hot glue to turn slightly foggy.If the glue is taking too long to set, stick the paper into the fridge or freezer for a few minutes.
Step 23: Remove the icicles from the paper.
It can make your icicles look messy if hot glue leaves behind "whiskers" or threads.Carefully peel them away if you have any of them.You can draw glue on the back of the icicles to make them more realistic.
Step 24: Hot glue the thread to the top of the icicle.
If you have a sharp needle, pull it through the top of the icicle instead of threading it.It will work best if the thread is clear.