Glitter Jar

Glitter Jars...what to say? They are cool! Watching them is relaxing and making them is easy! My recipe was modified from one I saw on Here We Are Blog where she calls them Mind Jars. On this post she has labels to put on the jars that say:

Imagine the glitter as your thoughts. When you shake the jar, imagine your head full of whirling thoughts, then watch them slowly settle while you calm down.

Materials you'll need:

• Container: I chose an empty plastic peanut butter jar
• Distilled water (optional, the water out my facet isn't always pretty)
• Glitter glue: I used green Elmer's
• Silver Glitter: 2 sizes for a varied look.
• Glycerin (hand protectant in the first aide section)
• Food coloring: I used Betty Crocker's neon green
• Wire Wisk
• Glue: Either hot glue or E6000 (not pictured)
• The photo below shows some plastic christmas ornaments I thought I was going to add to my jar, but they floated too much, and took away from the glitter. But I've heard of others adding charms for added interest. Just an idea.

1. I started with 1 cup of distilled water and allowed my son to put a big glob of glue in with the water. The total amount was about 1/3 of the entire bottle. We did this in a glass measuring cup, but doing it in the jar you will use is probably a good idea-less dishes to wash.
2. I then added about 1/3 of the bottle of Glycerin in the mixture. (My bottle was 6 oz, so I probably added about 2 oz.)
3. Then with the whisk, I mixed it vigorously. I got a lot of bubbles so I "filtered" the bubbles by placing my hand over the opening while I poured the good green mixture into the peanut butter jar.
4. I then add my food coloring--several drops.
5. Mixed with whisk again
6. Added generous amounts of sliver glitter
7. Add more water to fill the container 2/3 full. Mix to combine all. Screw on the lid.
8. Shake it, and test to see how the glitter falls. Add more glue or glycerin if the glitter falls too quickly, add more water if it falls to slowly. Either way. Fill the jar to the top.
9. If you desire, glue the lid on using hot glue, or E6000. (I did and its held up well.)

Both my 4 year old and my 11 month old like the glitter jar. In the photo above, I moved Corban's chair into the sunlight and you can see the beautiful reflections it makes. I've used the jar with Caleb to use in a time out. At first he kept shaking it because he's mad that he's in time out, but I told him that he had to remain seated until the glitter settled; therefore the more he shook it, the longer he would be in time-out. He got it. He's learned to sit with the jar in his lap. It does the trick. In frustration he's allow to shake it but understands the consequences; and when he's ready to get out of time out he watches the glitter fall. It doesn't alway work, but we need as many tricks up our sleeves as we can, right?