Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by How.com.vn staff writer, Hannah Madden. Hannah Madden is a writer, editor, and artist currently living in Portland, Oregon. In 2018, she graduated from Portland State University with a B.S. in Environmental Studies. Hannah enjoys writing articles about conservation, sustainability, and eco-friendly products. When she isn’t writing, you can find Hannah working on hand embroidery projects and listening to music.
There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
The How.com.vn Video Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work.
This article has been viewed 221,475 times.
Learn more...
Bouncy balls are a fun craft that almost anyone can do with ingredients you have in your home. Most bouncy balls are made with Borax, but it is dangerous to ingest and can irritate your skin. To make a bouncy ball without using Borax, you can use baking soda, glue, water, and food coloring or cornstarch, water, and food coloring. Simply combine your ingredients to make a bouncy toy that you can play with at home.
Ingredients
- ¼ teaspoon (1.5 g) of baking soda
- 2 teaspoons (9.9 mL) of water
- 3 tablespoons (28 g) of school glue
- 1 drop of food coloring
Makes 1 bouncy ball
- 2 tablespoons (15 g) of cornstarch
- 1⁄8 cup (30 mL) of water
- 1 drop of food coloring
Makes 1 bouncy ball
Steps
Put ¼ teaspoon (1.5 g) of baking soda in a plastic container. Baking soda is the base for your bouncy ball. Put your baking soda in a plastic container. Your mixture won’t stick to plastic so it will be easier to clean.[1]
Add 2 teaspoons (9.9 mL) of water to your baking soda and mix well. Water works to dissolve the baking soda and make it into a paste. Mix up your baking soda and water with a wooden craft stick or a small spoon until it is thick.[2]- Add a few more drops of water to your mixture if it is not dissolving well.
Tip: You can use 2 teaspoons (9.9 mL) of saline mixture instead of water to make sure your bouncy ball isn’t sticky.
Advertisement- Squeeze about 3 tablespoons (28 g) of school glue in a plastic container. Pour enough white school glue to cover the bottom of a separate, medium-sized plastic container. You do not have to measure your glue precisely.[3]
- If you don’t have school glue, you can use silicone instead. Silicone can be found at most hardware stores.
Add 1 drop of food coloring to your glue. Choose whatever color of food coloring you’d like your ball to be. Pour 1 drop of food coloring into your glue and use a wooden craft stick to stir it together. Make sure there isn’t any white left in your mixture.[4]- Add 2 more drops of food coloring if you want your bouncy ball to be darker.
- Add glitter to your glue if you want your bouncy ball to be shiny.
- Stir your water and baking soda mix into the glue. Pour your water and baking soda mix into the glue. Use a wooden craft stick or a metal spoon to mix them together thoroughly for about 5 minutes. You can use your hands to mix if it is easier.[5]
- Your mixture will start to get sticky as you mix it together.
Mold your mixture into a ball shape. Pick up your mixture with your hands and use your fingers to roll your mix into the shape of a ball. Use the palms of your hands to shape your mixture and the tips of your fingers to smooth it out. Make sure there aren’t any cracks or lines in your bouncy ball.[6]- If you are having trouble getting your mixture into a ball shape, add a small round object in the middle, like a marble or a pebble, to mold around it.
- If you want your bouncy ball to light up, add a plastic LED light to the center of your mixture.
Let your bouncy ball dry for 24 hours. Leave your bouncy ball uncovered on a flat surface, like a table or countertop. Make sure it won’t get bumped or dropped. Leave it in the same spot for about 1 day, or until it is hard. Enjoy your new bouncy ball![7]Tip: If you want to reshape your bouncy ball, dab a few drops of water onto it and mold it with your fingers.
-Step-4-Version-2.jpg)
-Step-6-Version-2.jpg)
-Step-7.jpg)
- Put 2 tablespoons (15 g) of cornstarch into a plastic container. Choose a container that is microwave safe. Cornstarch will be the base for your bouncy ball and give it the right texture so that it can stick together.[8]
- You can also use a plastic resealable bag.
- Add 1⁄8 cup (30 mL) of water to the cornstarch and mix well. The water will make the cornstarch into a paste. Add your water and stir the cornstarch into it until it is a sticky consistency. Use a metal spoon or a wooden craft stick.[9]
Mix in 1 drop of food coloring. Choose whatever color of food coloring you’d like. Add 1 drop of it to your mixture and stir it in well. Make sure the color is spread all throughout your mixture evenly.[10]- If you don’t add food coloring, your bouncy ball will just be white.
Microwave your mixture for 30 seconds and let it cool. Adding heat to your ingredients will bond them together. Put your mixture in the microwave for 30 seconds. Let it cool for about 2 minutes before you touch it.[11]Warning: Your mixture will be very hot when it comes out of the microwave. If you try to touch it right away, you could burn your hands.
- Form your mixture into a ball. Use the palms of your hands to roll your dough into a ball shape. Flatten out any lumps or cracks with the tips of your fingers.[12]
- If your bouncy ball isn’t perfectly circular, it will still bounce, but it might fly off in different directions.
Let your bouncy ball dry for at least 10 hours. Leave your bouncy ball on a table or countertop where it won’t get bumped around. Let it dry for at least 10 hours without touching it. Before you use it, touch it with your fingers to see if it is hard.[13]- These bouncy balls will eventually break down and biodegrade. You can throw them in your compost or yard debris bin when you are done with them.
-Step-10.jpg)
-Step-11.jpg)
-Step-13.jpg)
Community Q&A
- Question"One tablespoon" of what?
Community AnswerIt's a typo -- you need one tablespoon plus one teaspoon of water. You also need another 1.5 teaspoons of water later on. - QuestionWhat do I do if it breaks or crack a few days later?
Community AnswerJust put a little more water on it so you can reshape it, then redo the microwave tip. - QuestionCan I use flour instead of cornstarch?Community AnswerYes, you can. The consistency will be less smooth when it is molded, but it will bounce some.
Tips
- If your bouncy ball isn’t bouncy, try letting it dry for another 24 hours.Thanks
- Besides making a bouncy ball, you can be creative and make balls out of things like fabric, rubber bands, etc.Thanks
Things You’ll Need
Making a Bouncy Ball with Baking Soda
- 2 plastic containers
- 1 wooden craft stick or spoon
Using Cornstarch for Your Bouncy Ball
- 1 microwave-safe container
- 1 wooden craft stick or spoon
References
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VYRr7qxk54&feature=youtu.be&t=42
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VYRr7qxk54&feature=youtu.be&t=146
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VYRr7qxk54&feature=youtu.be&t=224
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VYRr7qxk54&feature=youtu.be&t=253
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kD0P1PS4IZI&feature=youtu.be&t=114
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WflYpT_Ickw&feature=youtu.be&t=52
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VYRr7qxk54&feature=youtu.be&t=597
- ↑ https://www.themountaineagle.com/articles/make-your-own-bouncy-ball/#targetText=Place%20two%20tablespoons%20of%20cornstarch,the%20cornstarch%2F%20corn%20oil%20mixture.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFDjSxrVgKM&feature=youtu.be&t=37
- ↑ https://www.themountaineagle.com/articles/make-your-own-bouncy-ball/#targetText=Place%20two%20tablespoons%20of%20cornstarch,the%20cornstarch%2F%20corn%20oil%20mixture.
- ↑ https://www.themountaineagle.com/articles/make-your-own-bouncy-ball/#targetText=Place%20two%20tablespoons%20of%20cornstarch,the%20cornstarch%2F%20corn%20oil%20mixture.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFDjSxrVgKM&feature=youtu.be&t=192
- ↑ https://www.themountaineagle.com/articles/make-your-own-bouncy-ball/#targetText=Place%20two%20tablespoons%20of%20cornstarch,the%20cornstarch%2F%20corn%20oil%20mixture.
About This Article
To make a bouncy ball, all you’ll need is 2 tablespoons of cornstarch, 1/8 cup of water, and a food coloring of your choice. Start by mixing the cornstarch and water in a microwave-safe bowl. Stir the mixture until it forms a sticky paste. Then, add 1 drop of food coloring and mix it in. Once you’ve mixed in the food coloring, microwave the mixture for 30 seconds. This helps bond the ingredients together and make them bouncy. Let the mixture cool for 2 minutes before you touch it. Then, roll it into a ball with your hands. Finally, leave your bouncy ball to dry for at least 10 hours so it turns hard. For more tips, including how to make a bouncy ball with baking soda and school glue, read on!
Reader Success Stories
"This is a great website to know how to do lots of fun things if you're having a rainy day or a boring weekend. It even has stuff to make outside, like kites, playgrounds, pools and so much other stuff."..." more
Did this article help you?
⚠️ Disclaimer:
Content from Wiki How English language website. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License; additional terms may apply.
Wiki How does not encourage the violation of any laws, and cannot be responsible for any violations of such laws, should you link to this domain, or use, reproduce, or republish the information contained herein.
- - A few of these subjects are frequently censored by educational, governmental, corporate, parental and other filtering schemes.
- - Some articles may contain names, images, artworks or descriptions of events that some cultures restrict access to
- - Please note: Wiki How does not give you opinion about the law, or advice about medical. If you need specific advice (for example, medical, legal, financial or risk management), please seek a professional who is licensed or knowledgeable in that area.
- - Readers should not judge the importance of topics based on their coverage on Wiki How, nor think a topic is important just because it is the subject of a Wiki article.
