Glitter Slime Fail (Sensory Win!)

 

Please note that I’m notoriously bad at making homemade doughs for play – just check what happened when I tried to make Bubble Dough! Even with regular play dough {that I now make successfully all the time}, I had to overcome some hurdles as explained in this post.

That doesn’t stop me from trying something new every once in a while. When I saw Fun at Home with Kids’ Golden Glitter Slime, it was time to give it another try. Once more, it didn’t work out as expected but E turned the glitter slime fail into a sensory win!

 

How E turned a glitter slime fail into a sensory win!

(E was 32 months old.)

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 We used

 

 

Note: Given the materials, I wouldn’t recommend trying this with any child likely to want to have a taste. 

 

 

I measured the liquid starch, and E poured it into the bowl.

 

My glitter slime didn't turn out as expected but my toddler turned the glitter slime fail into a sensory win!

 

then added the two kinds of glue. The glitter glue was a bit hard to squeeze for her, so I removed the cap.

 

My glitter slime didn't turn out as expected but my toddler turned the glitter slime fail into a sensory win!

 

She switched between both kinds of glue and ended up dropping the white glue bottle into the mix.

 

My glitter slime didn't turn out as expected but my toddler turned the glitter slime fail into a sensory win!

 

Once all the glue had joined the starch in the bowl, I reached in to see how the slime was coming along

 

My glitter slime didn't turn out as expected but my toddler turned the glitter slime fail into a sensory win!

 

and E took the clue right away. She had great fun handling the not-quite-slime.

She lifted it

 

My glitter slime didn't turn out as expected but my toddler turned the glitter slime fail into a sensory win!

 

and dropped it back into the bowl.

 

My glitter slime didn't turn out as expected but my toddler turned the glitter slime fail into a sensory win!

 

She held it up to see the stringy mess

 

My glitter slime didn't turn out as expected but my toddler turned the glitter slime fail into a sensory win!

 

and had me hold out my hand to place it on my palm.

 

My glitter slime didn't turn out as expected but my toddler turned the glitter slime fail into a sensory win!

 

She tried to pull it apart

 

My glitter slime didn't turn out as expected but my toddler turned the glitter slime fail into a sensory win!

 

and squeezed it between her fingers.

 

My glitter slime didn't turn out as expected but my toddler turned the glitter slime fail into a sensory win!

 

The materials sort of combined, even if it wasn’t the way I’d expected.

 

My glitter slime didn't turn out as expected but my toddler turned the glitter slime fail into a sensory win!

 

E enjoyed hanging the strings over her arm

 

My glitter slime didn't turn out as expected but my toddler turned the glitter slime fail into a sensory win!

 

and wrapping them around her wrist.

 

My glitter slime didn't turn out as expected but my toddler turned the glitter slime fail into a sensory win!

 

When E was done, this was left in the bowl:

 

My glitter slime didn't turn out as expected but my toddler turned the glitter slime fail into a sensory win!
           

Not exactly slime but E still had lots of sensory fun with this apparent FAIL! It stopped being sticky almost immediately, and it actually felt quite soft and, well, slimy!

 

 

Why did this go “wrong”? I think it must be the white glue. In the original recipe, clear glue was used, and I’m sure it has slightly different properties apart from being a different color.

 

 

Update: We were able to reuse this sensory material for another activity – Invitation to Play with Slime. Click to check it out!

 

 

Additional suggestions: 

  • No matter if your slime works out or not, in the colors above, it would make a great backdrop for Arctic or Antarctic small world play.
  • Use different colors {you can use liquid watercolors and/or different colors of glitter} for different uses, like the golden glitter dragon lair in the original post.

 

Have you tried making slime? Has it worked out for you? What did you use it for? Leave a comment!

 

 

 

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10 Comments

  1. Hi Simple Fun For Kids! I just did the SAME thing! The key is clear school glue. We made Dino Goo a while back and it’s amazing! It has stayed (sealed) for over 2 months. It’s 1 part Sta Flo to 1 part clear School glue. You can add glitter if you like too. Here’s the link: http://crayonboxchronicles.wordpress.com/2013/08/27/dinosaur-goo-game/ White glue (without the glitter glue) will make GAK or a Flubber type, but wont be see through. The problem is the glitter glue! I thought it was the same as clear glue, but sadly and $7 out, I was mistaken!

    1. AHA, so it’s the glitter glue? Like you, I thought surely it was simply clear glue with glitter added… Your slime looks AMAZING! I’m definitely trying this again the “proper” way 😉 Thanks for leaving such an informative comment!

      1. I need help because I used Elmer’s Classic Glue and after mixing it with Borax it didn’t turn out like some more like rubbery breakable slime. 😭😭😞😞👎👎👎

  2. Always nice when a “fail” turns into a “win”! So many of our sensory recipes don’t work out like their supposed to. We did a corn starch slime that didn’t work, but my 4-year-old enjoyed it all the same. Kids don’t care as long as it’s fun to play with!

    1. Very very true! It’s just us grown-ups who get hung up on how it was “supposed to work”. Just one of the many valuable lessons our kids teach us 🙂

  3. Alexis VanAuken says:

    Actually, I think your error was putting in the starch before the glue. Always mix the glue first, and then add in small amounts of starch or activator until you get the slime consistency you’re looking for. You can mix your glues as long as its done before the activator and as long as its mixed well. Hope this helps!

    1. Alexis VanAuken says:

      Also, I realize how late this comment is haha hope I was still able to help someone out!