Remember those old crystal tree kits from the 80s? And remember how much I loved them? You probably wouldn't remember how much I love them, but I'm willing to bet you loved them growing up, too.
Well it just so happens that it is crazy easy to grow your OWN crystal tree with just a few simple ingredients and a couple of hours to watch it grow.
Here's everything you'll need:
- Household Ammonia (make sure no soap added)
- Liquid Bluing
- Table salt
- Food Coloring (optional, but this will make your crystals colored)
- Cardboard (not corrugated and not too floppy.)
- Bowl
- Water
- Measuring spoon
Don't be weirded out by the liquid bluing. I found it in the laundry/cleaning aisle at the grocery store for $3.
1. Cut out your cardboard tree. Don't make it too big--mine was about 3" on the bottom and about 3.5" high.
Once you've got your tree shape, cut a slit in the bottom of one half and a slit on the top of another. This will make your 3D tree!
2. Color the tips of your tree with food coloring.
3. Mix your magic solution, which is as such:
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon bluing
- 1/2 tablespoon ammonia
Put this solution in a container that you can shake up and mix that baby up real, real nice. Once mixed, place your tree in the water and let the waiting begin!
Here's my little tree after 3 hours...
and the next day, I had a tree! Woop!
So prettyyyyyyyy.
That's all there is to it! Science is cool. So are science DIYs. Have fun! And if you make a crystal tree, link me to some pictures! I'm guessing you could come up with some awesome shapes for this--Chia pet style? Maybe? I even had a wild idea of making little "crystal Christmas tree" kits for the neighbors this year...hmmm...
Enjoy!
This is fantastic!! I always look out for the crystal making kits to do this and now I don't have to! Thank you!!
Wait until Bill Nye sees this! I loved doing these when I was a kid, I'm excited to try it this week! I wonder how an owl would turn out? :]
Ha! This is beyond cool. My sister homeschools her kids. I will have to share this with her!
This is so cool!!!!!!! I have to try this! Although, I'm mildly afraid the cats will try to eat it...
Shoot, I didn't even think about cats! My cats totally left it alone, but I think it's because the ammonia was so strong. They kind of hated it. But maybe just place it somewhere they can't get it. It's so fun!
Eat it or think it's some crazy new litter box [yano, with the ammonia and all]
I don't know how I'd never heard of these before! Super neat!
Wow - this is so cool! I've never seen anything like it before. Would make a great weekend craft!
I always want to buy one of those kits from Hobby Lobby but never do. heh I'll have to try this--I just happen to have a giant bottle of amonia. I just need the bluing and I'm set
Amazing idea and beautiful photos! What camera do you use?
I'm a new follower and would love you to follow me back!
love
amy
x
Thanks, Amy! I just use a Nikon D60 with macro filters.
Thank you so much for following!
i want to do this! modcloth had a christmas tree one last year and i wanted to get it but i was worried about the kitty. were yours interested in it?
xo,
cb
oh my gosh this is so cool!! i'm going to have to do this around christmas time and make them all christmasy!
awesome, awesome.
this > "Put this solution in a container that you can shake up and mix that baby up real, real nice. " made me laugh outloud... haha
thanks for sharing, I'll be doing this soon!
xo
Neat!! I've always wanted to try this. Thanks for the great tutorial!
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when i read the title of this post i was already getting ready to run up the stairs and start my tree. but now im sad because i have no idea what "bluing" is =( pleeeease tell me before i go mad!!!
mine is still super new,but check it out if you have time 
ps:i'm LOVING your blog! just found it via Elycia
Hey Tara!! Thanks so much for reading!! Don't be stressed. I don't even actually know what bluing does, BUT I know it's so easy to find in any grocery store. It's in the laundry aisle!
Bluing is traditionally used to counter-act the yellow of lye soap used for washing clothes. That's why laundry detergent from the stores is blue!
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