Making slime has become an unexpected hobby for many people in the last few years.
With satisfying videos popping up online of people making and playing with slimes of all colors and textures, some crafters released that people will pay good money to buy this strange product, so opened online stores to cater to these people.
Whether you want to make slime to sell or just as a fun craft to make with your kids on a Saturday afternoon, you can’t do anything without first making a slime activator. Slime activator is, after all, what gives slime its characteristic slimy texture.
The majority of slimes, with the exception of edible slime, call for the addition of an activator in order to transform the individual components into the elastic and sticky substance that slime is famous for.
Once you have made the slime activator, you can then make almost any kind of slime you want, like the traditional green slime, see-through crystal transparent slime, some metallic gold or silver slime, or even fluffy slime color-changing slime, cloud slime, and snow slime.
You have the option of purchasing a slime activator or creating your own at home. It might be more worth it for you to create your own, as it’s super easy to make and only requires two ingredients.
Another benefit of making your own slime activator is that the whole process takes less than a minute in total!
Keep reading to learn what a slime activator is, the different kinds of slime activators, and how to make a slime activator so that you can start making your own slimes at home in no time at all!
What Is A Slime Activator?
A slime activator is a liquid solution that, when combined with glue or one of the other slime bases, causes the mixture to transform into slime. The activator combines with the components to produce a substance that is elastic and slimy in consistency.
When making slime, glue is almost always required as an ingredient. The reason for this is that PVA, or polyvinyl alcohol, is the primary component of basic glue, which is why it is more commonly referred to as PVA glue.
Although the PVA is necessary for the production of slime, it is not enough to produce slime on its own. PVA is nothing more than a solution; in order to build a slime that can stretch, you need to add something else to it so that the bonds may be formed.
At this point, a slime activator is necessary to create perfect slime. This mixture produces slime by reacting with the PVA found in glue.
When borax is added, what is happening within the PVA is that cross-bonds are being formed. Boron is a component of borax, and it is this element that is responsible for the reaction when it is exposed to water.
As a result, the quantities of borax included within an activator or the various fillers will result in slightly distinct chemical reactions and so different types of slime.
Didn’t think you were going to gain some sort of educational experience through making slime, did you?
But if you actually know the science behind making slime, or any other craft for that matter, it helps you choose the best resources and make the greatest item you possibly can!
Types Of Slime Activators
There are a few different types of slime activators, and you can either make your own activators for slime or purchase them already made.
Slime can be activated in a variety of ways. The appearance and consistency of the slime you create will be entirely dependent on the sort of activator for the slime that you use. This is because various activators have a variety of different components within them.
You can use common activators such as contact lens solutions, borax solutions, laundry detergent, fabric softener, liquid starch, or products that are expressly referred to as “slime activators.” Boron is present in each of these products.
While you are shopping for an activator or producing one at home, be on the lookout for substances that start with “bor,” such as boric acid, sodium borate, or borax.
A fun fact about borax is that it may be put to use in a wide variety of craft projects, so you may want to think about buying this product in bulk to see what you can make.
Slime Activator Recipe
This recipe makes enough activators for up to four batches of slime, but the exact number you get will depend on how much you use for each batch.
You Will Need
- 1 teaspoon of Borax
- 1 cup of water
Method
- In a bowl, mix the water and PVA glue together.
- Slowly pour in the slime activator while stirring constantly with a spoon. Stop mixing once clumps begin to develop in the mixture.
- Using your hands, stretch and mix the solution until you have made stretchy slime.
- You’ll notice that the liquid looks cloudy right now, which is because of the air bubbles that formed through mixing.
To get rid of the air bubbles, let the slime sit in a container that seals tightly overnight. The next day, you will be left with crystal-clear slime!
And just like that, you’re all done! We told you it would be simple! In less than a minute, you now have enough activated slime for all of your slimy needs.
How Do I Use Slime Activator?
Once you have made the slime activator, you are free to incorporate the activator into any slime recipe of your choosing. This is true for all recipes except those for edible slime, as this activator is not safe for consumption.
So what kind of slime should you make first with your brand-new slime activator? Well, you can never go wrong with a classic, so keep reading to find out how to make green slime!
Making Green Slime
Add the slime activator to your base, which will be made from PVA glue, coloring, and maybe even some green glitter if you want to add a bit of sparkle! When adding the activator, you should only include a little at a time. As little as one teaspoon of activator at a time is enough for you to manage the constancy.
When the slime begins to pull away from the borders of the container, you will know that you have added the appropriate amount of activator. Stir the mixture and you should be left with stretchy green slime!
Where Can I Buy Activator?
If you need a lot of slime activators for a big project, you might prefer to buy them rather than make them. Luckily, there are many places to buy this product, including online, at a grocery shop, or at a craft store. Not every location will sell all types of slime activators though, so you may have to do a bit of shopping around.
Here are some places where you can get specific types of activators:
Amazon
Amazon is your best bet for finding everything you need, from the actual activator to several products that you could also use as activators as they contain borax.
Craft Stores Like Joann’s, Blick Art Materials, Or Michael’s
these craft stores have ones that are considered to be “official,” such as Elmer’s Magical Liquid Slime Activator and Scented ones, as well as the Nickelodeon Slime Activator.
Other Slime Recipies
Now that you know how to make a slime activator, the slime-making possibilities are endless. Here are some fun slime crafts to try.
Clear Slime
This recipe for clear slime calls for just a few simple components and creates perfectly transparent slime in just 5 minutes!
You Will Need
- Slime activator
- 1/2 cup of water
- 1/2 cup of clear PVA glue
- Airtight container
- Spoon
- Bowl
Method
- In a bowl, mix the water and PVA glue together.
- Slowly pour in the slime activator while stirring constantly with a spoon. Stop mixing once clumps begin to develop in the mixture.
- Using your hands, stretch and mix the solution until you have made stretchy slime.
- You’ll notice that the liquid looks cloudy right now, which is because of the air bubbles that formed through mixing. To get rid of the air bubbles, let the slime sit in a container that seals tightly overnight. The next day, you will be left with crystal-clear slime!
Fluffy Slime
This recipe for fluffy slime takes about two minutes to make and results in the puffiest, fluffiest, and most pillowy slime possible.
You Will Need
- 1 cup of shaving cream
- 1/4 of a cup of white glue
- Slime activator
- A few drops of food coloring of your choice
- Spoon
- Bowl
Method
- Place the glue in a bowl, and then add a few drops of food coloring to the mixture.
- Add around 1/4 to 1/2 of the cup of shaving cream to the solution and mix.
- Add more drops of food coloring until you get a shade that is slightly darker than what you want the final color to be.
- Add the slime activator in little increments, about a teaspoon at a time.
- Mix the whole solution together, and keep adding the activator in small amounts until the slime begins to peel away from the sides of the container. After that, you should stretch it out with your hands.
- At this stage, you can add the rest of the shaving cream This should be added gradually, a little at a time. To combine the ingredients, fold and stretch the mixture.
- Continue adding additional shaving cream see also “How To Make Colored Shaving Cream And Glue Paint“) until you have a beautiful and fluffy slime that is soft to the touch . Now, your slime is ready to play with!
Summary
Once you have made the slime activator, there is an endless amount of slime recipes that you can try out. Give some of the ones above a go, or get creative and try to make your very own unique slime recipe!
In an effort to get them to avoid excessive screen time ( and arguing! ) I turned to more creative avenues that we have all since grown to love.
I created this website in the hopes of inspiring more families out there to enjoy crafting and enjoy a shared bonding experience over it.
Please enjoy it and hopefully, you’ll find something to make that you can display proudly forever!
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