DIY squishy recipes
Do you want to make some toys? It’s easy with science!
Safety precautions
Warning! Only under adult supervision.
Equipment
- candle gel;
- aromatic dye;
- sand molds;
- calcium chloride;
- sodium alginate;
- water;
- food coloring;
- silicone sealant;
- baby oil;
- silicone ice mold;
- protective wax spray.
Step-by-step instructions
Melt some candle gel and mix it with aromatic dye. Pour the mixture in a sand mold and let sit for 30 minutes. It turns into a soft elastic toy called a squishy, which keeps its shape perfectly.
Let’s make one more squishy – prepare solutions of sodium alginate and calcium chloride. Dip the former in the latter – this forms elastic toys with liquid inside!
Now mix baby oil with a silicone sealant. Cover a silicone mold with a protective wax spray. Leave the silicone mix in the mold for several hours. Your new squishy is ready!
Process description
A squishy is a type of soft, elastic toy that stretches and contracts easily and always returns to its original shape. These properties are considered to relieve stress. You can easily make your own squishies with science!
Candle gel contains mineral oils and gellants, the long molecules of which tend to curl up, leading to the squishy’s elastic structure.
Once dipped in the calcium chloride, the sodium alginate solution is covered with a thick elastic film of calcium alginate. This seals the liquid inside, resulting in a soft toy.
Moisture in the air forces the silicone’s components to combine. This forms long, branchy molecules. Oil permeates between these molecules, making the whole structure more elastic.
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