Sparkling ornaments an easy family project

These one-of-a-kind sparkling crystals might appear overnight, but they'll last through the first thaw. Spend a few minutes with your family on a quiet evening this week, and make the first step of this winter craft using plain white pipe cleaners and a magic solution. Go to bed with visions of sugarplums and sparkling crystals. Presto! In the morning you'll wake to a spectacular, sparkling ornament, plus the happy memory of creating it together.

Here's how to make ice crystal ornaments that never melt:

Twist a white pipe cleaner into a festive shape such as a star, snowflake, Christmas tree or spiral. Twist one end of a second pipe cleaner onto the top of the shape to create a hanger. Wire, fishing line and ribbon also work well.

An adult should pour 3 cups of very hot or boiling water into a clean, wide-mouth, heat-resistant glass jar, such as a pickle jar. It is very important that the water is hot, or the project won't succeed. Then, slowly add 9 heaping tablespoons of borax powder (available in the laundry section of grocery stores). Stir the mixture until dissolved. It will be cloudy at first. Place the shape into the mixture and tie the hanger to a pencil set over the middle of the mouth of the jar. Make sure the shape does not touch the bottom or sides of the jar.

Place the jar where it won't be disturbed overnight. (Always keep borax out of children's reach.) As the mixture cools overnight, crystals will form. By morning, the pipe-cleaner shape should be sparkling with crystallike formations. Gently lift the ornament from the jar.

Let dry. Remove the pencil and the second pipe cleaner, and attach a pretty ribbon for hanging. Display in a window or on a Christmas tree, or use as a decoration on a holiday package.

Note: Make sure to hang these higher on the tree so they will be out of reach of young children. Like any fragile ornament, these shouldn't be handled by kids under 3.

Write to Donna and share your family holiday ideas and traditions at www.donnasday.com.

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Write Donna with your questions and ideas at www.donnasday.com. Donna's latest book, "Donna Erickson's Fabulous Funstuff for Families," is available in bookstores nationwide. © Donna Erickson

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