Total Time Needed: Weekend Project
By adding a very small amount of water to gelatin, kids can create a simple plastic that hardens into colorful window decorations. Gelatin is formed from collagen, a protein made of tiny fibers that's essential for keeping cells stuck together. As the water evaporates, it leaves behind a product that is lightweight and strong but without any of the oil-based chemicals used in many factory-made plastics. The bonus: It glimmers and shimmers in the sun.
Materials
- Small saucepan
- 3/4 cup water
- Small spouted measuring cup
- 4 envelopes unflavored gelatin
- Food coloring
- 4 disposable plastic plates (we used 9-inch)
- Glitter (optional)
- Scissors
- Hole punch
- Parchment paper
- Heavy books for weighting
- Markers (optional)
- String, ribbon, or fishing line
Instructions
- Boil 3 tablespoons of the water and pour it into the measuring cup. Add 1 envelope of gelatin and a few drops of food coloring. Stir the mixture slowly until it's combined. Let it sit for about a minute, then stir it again to minimize air bubbles.
- Pour the mixture onto a plastic plate. If you like, sprinkle glitter on top of the gelatin, or add one or two drops of different-colored food coloring and swirl with a toothpick to make a marbled pattern.
- Repeat steps 1 and 2 with the remaining envelopes of gelatin, varying the shades of food coloring each time.
- Let the gelatins dry until hardened, at least overnight. Peel them off the plates, then cut them into shapes with scissors. Using a hole punch, make holes at the top of them.
- If your light catchers start to curl, wrap them in a sheet of parchment paper, then place them between two heavy books. When they're flat, use markers to draw on them, if you like.
- Suspend each from a string, ribbon, or fishing line and hang in a sunny window.
