Bottled Snowflakes

You will need:

• 1 white pipe cleaner
• 1 length of twine
• scissors
• 1 quart jar with a wide mouth
• 2 cups boiling water
• 6 tablespoons borax
• 1 pencil

Cut a white pipe cleaner into 3 equal lengths, twist them together in the center, then arrange the six legs so that they are equidistant from each other. Tie one end of the twine to a leg, and the other end to the middle of a pencil. (For a more ornate flake, tie the twine around the end of each leg in a continuous motion to make a center wheel).

Set aside. Pour boiling water into the jar, then add the borax one tablespoon at a time, stirring to dissolve. (if a little borax settles to the bottom, there's no need to worry, just go on to the next step.)

Submerge the pipe cleaner form in the solution and let the pencil rest on top of the jar. Leave the snowflake in the solution overnight. The next morning, you'll find it covered with tiny, sparkling crystals. Remove it from the jar, and hang it from the window to catch the sun