countingonasmallprayer:

Making a Calm Down Jar: Lessons Learned

So I set out to make a calm down jar as a test-run before I try to do it with a group of kids. Smart right? Anyway, I used the directions found here: http://www.dumpyourfrump.com/2011/09/29/use-a-mind-jar-to-calm-yourself/ but with a few modifications. 

Directions: 

Mix 1 Tbsp of pink glitter-glue with about 1 cup of hot water, then added pink food coloring and a tiny tub of glitter. The glue makes the water so thick and gooey that the glitter just slowly and gently swirls around, it takes about 5 minutes for all the glitter to settle, perfect to gather your thoughts!”

Here is what I know now:

1. The amount of glitter glue necessary will depend on the size of the jar (this one was easy to figure out)
2. A lot of stirring/shaking is necessary to get the glue to dissolve without it looking chunky. 
3. You can use Elmers glue to thicken it up more if you don’t want to buy more glitter glue (it’s expensive). 
4. Don’t forget that as it cools it will thicken up. So don’t keep adding more glue until it is settling at your preferred rate while the water is still warm. (I did this and and attempt 1 ended up not settling at all once the water began to cool) :-( 
5. Food coloring may not be necessary. Personal preference here. you might like the look without it.
6. Buy glitter that is a bold color. I purchased glitter that has some blue specks and some lighter iridescent specs. You can’t see the lighter ones very well.