How to Make Slime

Stretchy, squishy slime is the classic rainy-day craft, and it takes about five minutes with two ingredients plus water. This is the original borax method, which gives a firmer, less sticky slime than most shortcuts. A quick recipe from The Soap Barn.

Method

1. In the first bowl, dissolve 1 teaspoon of borax powder in 250ml of warm water. Stir until the water runs clear with no grains left at the bottom. This is your activator.
2. In the second bowl, mix the glue with 125ml of water and stir until smooth.
3. Add your colour to the glue mixture, a drop at a time, until you like the shade. Mica gives a pearly finish, liquid colour gives a solid one.
4. Pour the borax activator into the glue a little at a time, stirring constantly. The mixture will start pulling away from the sides of the bowl almost immediately.
5. Once it has come together, lift it out and knead it for a minute or two. It will feel sticky at first and firm up as you work it.
6. Store in an airtight tub. It will keep for a couple of weeks.

Tips & variations

• This is a project for children to do with an adult, not on their own. Borax powder is a cleaning raw material, so keep it away from small hands and mouths, and wash hands after playing.
• Add the activator slowly. Too much at once gives you a stiff, rubbery slime that will not stretch.
• If it stays sticky, knead in a few more drops of activator. If it turns stiff, work in a little more glue.
• Clear PVA glue instead of white gives a glassy slime that shows off glitter and mica beautifully.