These marvelous Glitter Jars are also called Calming Jars, Calm Jars, Calm Down Jars, Mind Jars, Relaxing Jars, and Relaxation Jars. They have been made using a variety of bottles and jars. We chose sand art bottles because of their wonderful shapes. These calming glitter jars are good for kids and adults alike. Try making Glitter Jars for your next Girl Scout or Boy Scout meeting. Glitter jars are also a great wedding decoration, wedding favor, baby shower party favor, or even a cool school glitter craft project.
For this fun glitter project you will need craft glitter and or polyester glitter, a jar, hot water, Elmer's Clear Glue (or Tacky Clear Glue, white glue does NOT work- I found out the hard way.), a funnel, a little food coloring (though most craft glitters will bleed into the water/glue mix so food coloring may not be needed), and silicone sealant (I have used Lexel, E600, or even a household silicone adhesive).
Pour the hot water in (if you use glitter glue, make sure to use boiling water or the glitter will clump at the bottom of your jar), add the glue (I use a 50-50 mix, though a 3 parts water to a 1 part glue ratio has also been used). The more glue you use the slower the glitter will fall), shake well (to mix the water and glue completely).
If using the corn syrup mix, by leaving a good sized air bubble at the top, mixing the jar contents up, then adding more corn syrup, the syrup will attach to the glitter and make intriguing glitter
Add the glitters and food coloring (if desired). Finish by adding the silicone sealer to the lid on to the bottle/jar then make a swipe of sealer along the edge of the lid.
This is the finished green triceratops.
These glitter calming jars are a wonderful way to keep anyone entertained and calm. The shaking of the jar and watching the glitter swirl and fall is very mesmerizing. We have had adults and children alike be fascinated with these glitter jars.
We have also used bubble mix with polyester ultra fine glitter for a very slow fall, 1/3 Glycerin 2/3 water, and a 1/3 light corn syrup 2/3 water mix for your base liquid has also been used.
We have found out that with the corn syrup mix the glitter falls slowest and the craft glitter bleeds into the glue mix glitter jars. When you make your glitter calming jar the iridescent glitters may rise and float at the top while the metallic glitters tend to fall to the bottom.
Here is an example of the separation that happens with the glycerin and corn syrup calming jars.
It is a really cool effect and you do not need the hot water to make these types of jars.
You can make these jars into seek and find it jars by adding beads, rhinestones, small figurines, mini erasers, or any small items to your glitter mix. Be aware that some items (like the erasers) may break down in time and then disappear from your jar.
More glitter jars that we have made.
We also experimented with recycled bottles.
On the left is a plastic soda pop bottle, the middle is a glass cocoa cola bottle, and the far right is a plastic corn syrup bottle. Re-purposing bottles (like the perfume bottle in the picture above) is an environmentally friendly way to make these fabulous calming jars. We have gotten some feedback that the sand art bottles or the unusually designed bottles are appreciated more.
