Have you ever froze Ice Jewels with your kids? They are simple to make and perfect for winter imaginary play!
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We started by filling regular sized balloons with water and liquid watercolors. We placed the balloons outside to freeze overnight. The next morning, the boys and I went outside to check them. Much to our delight, the balloons had split and slid off of the ice. The boys got down to the business of playing right away!
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Winter Ice Jewels
Materials:
Directions:
To make your own Ice Jewels, drip several drops of food dye or liquid watercolors into balloons, then fill with water. Tie and rinse the balloons, then place them outside (or in a freezer) overnight. Please note that as your children play, a small amount of liquid watercolors may get on their mittens.
Ice Jewels will keep as long as temperatures stay cold! My children enjoyed theirs for a long time!
My kids enjoyed pressing the ice jewels into their snow fort. They looked like bright holiday lights in the sun! They also liked towing them through the yard on their sleds. My oldest pretended that he was a dragon, hoarding jewels in his lair. My little one tried to steal them, and ohhh how the dragon would R O A R !
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How do your children like to play in the snow?
virginia says
January 11, 2013 at 4:56 amI am thinking about using some natural materials to make the dye, rather than food coloring? Might not be as bright though….but less stain, if that matters. What about freezing leaves and other colorful things into the balloons… will experiment
firefliesandmudpies says
January 18, 2013 at 7:11 amSounds like a great idea! Let me know how it goes!
Roopa says
January 16, 2013 at 11:25 amWe make these t play in the HOT summers here in FL. I use washable paints/water colors to make the colored water, that way our dress/hands are not stained 🙂
Mandy says
January 17, 2013 at 3:10 pmThanks for your comment on the washable paints. I have been wanting to ask Melissa if that would work, but just haven’t gotten a chance to get on and ask. The idea looks really fun, but I didn’t want to stain up their coats, clothes, etc.
firefliesandmudpies says
January 18, 2013 at 7:09 amGreat idea! I will try that next (the boys have been asking to make them again!). Thanks for the tip!
Hannah @ Making Boys Men says
January 17, 2013 at 4:52 pmLove this, just wish it was cold and snowy enough to do the same! I’m featuring you tomorrow on the Outdoor Play Party, thanks for sharing
firefliesandmudpies says
January 18, 2013 at 7:07 amThank you for the feature, Hannah! Loved your post today!
jenn says
January 26, 2013 at 12:09 amI made these for my preschool class the other day. I think I had the exact same blue dye experience! They loves them and their hands got a bit stained but it did not get onto their lothes at all.