Summer is here and we have no time to lose, we have to get out there and Summer-It-Up while we can. One of the best ways to celebrate the sun and the heat is to have a bubble party! What could be a more fun and beautiful way to cool down?
With a few easy-to-find at-home materials, you can mix up your own bubble solution and customize a bubble wand for yourself or a friend. Play some music and watch the bubbles float away.
Let’s get started!
Dance Bubble Solution
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A large and shallow dish or bucket
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Dish Soap (we used Sunlight)
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Glycerin (Available at pharmacies)
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Distilled or tap water (the distilled water has no minerals in it which makes stronger bubbles)
Use the following ratios to mix your solution: 10 parts water: 2 parts dish soap: 1-2 parts glycerin
NOTE: The bubble solution will keep for another day so it is okay to make a lot.
Giant Bubble Wand
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Approximately 3 m of rope or sturdy cord
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Two dowels or sticks about 1/2 m long
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Hot Glue to reinforce the knots onto the dowel
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Sandpaper to smooth out sharp edges or pointy bits
To make the bubble wand:
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Cut one meter of cotton rope and attach it to one end of each dowel. Tie it tight! Secure the knots in place with hot glue (if using).
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With the remaining rope, tie 3 or 4 knots in the middle of the rope, this provides extra weight. The rope should still be a tad longer then the first rope. Tie/glue the rope to the other ends of the dowels.
Bubble Dance Party
Alright now it is time to get yourselves moving!
Put on some warm-up music and experiment with your bubble making technique, try different types of motion, notice how the wind is blowing. Can the wind blow your bubbles or do you need to twirl around with your wand and make your own wind?
When you feel like you are getting the hang of bubble making turn on some more upbeat music and let yourself go with the music!!
Music Suggestions:
Daft Punk - Lose Yourself to Dance
Pharrell Williams - Happy
Sly and the Family Stone - Everyday People
Bubble Art
Now that you have the hang of making large bubbles while dancing or moving your whole body, let’s try making some art!
Gather the following materials from around the house:
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Bubble makers such as a colander, straws, a funnel (or cut plastic drink container used the same way), slotted spoons,netting, empty thread bobbins, pipe cleaners, craft wire, anything with holes
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Yogurt or cottage cheese containers, tin pie plates or pans etc to hold your bubble solution.
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Paper, old fabric or sheets, t-shirts*, etc.
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Food colouring or non-toxic tempera paint
To make bubble art:
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Find a nice spot outside and lay out your paper, fabric or t-shirt
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Pour some bubble solution into your yogurt containers and add some food colouring or paint until you have your desired colour and saturation.
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Dip in your experimental bubble wands and blow or wave them around so they will land on your paper or fabric. Once the bubble lands, it will pop and leave behind the mark on your surface. Keep adding more and more marks until you are happy with the result.
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When your surface is dry, you can choose to colour them in with paint or add other details, maybe you can make some cards or a gift for a loved one.
* Both the food colouring and tempera paint will run or wash out completely when washed. Use a fabric paint or ink, following the directions on the package, to have a more permanent result or embrace the temporary nature of this method and resuse your materials to make another bubble art masterpiece.