How to Make Homemade Bubble Wands

Making everything from homemade crayons to scented play dough to sidewalk chalk saves you cash, gives you a creative outlet, and best of all the kids love playing with them! You are always on the lookout for a new idea to combat the “Mom-I’m-Bored’s,” especially if it’s something the kids can help with. You’ve probably made bubble solution a hundred times, but how about bubble wands? Here are some ideas using items around the house.

A fly swatter will produce plenty of itty-bitty bubbles. Simply dunk it into the liquid and spin around. No clean, unused swatter on hand? The little plastic baskets that berries come in work great as well. Plunge the basket into your bubble solution and wave it around. Or cut the basket into several squares or other shapes. Older kids may enjoy trimming their initials or a paddle out of the grid-like plastic.

Remember your grandpa’s pipe cleaners? They’re still around! And they are ideal for constructing bubble blowers. Twist two together into a circle and wind on another for a handle. Help your little ones bend the wire into fun shapes like hearts, diamonds, or even stars.

Of course, there’s always the durable yet pliable wire clothes hanger. Unwind the hanger and straighten out the wire, loop a small section at one end and use the length as a handle. Or for bigger bubbles leave the hanger intact and simply stretch the opening into your favorite shape. Use the uncurled top as a grip. For safety’s sake wrap the ends with duct tape to cover sharp edges. Cotton twine wound around the wand will act as a wick, helping you make better bubbles.

The kitchen is a gold mine of ideas. Sure your kids have used cookie cutters with play dough. They’ll have a blast dunking metal cutters into bubble stuff and waving them around. Or try slicing a circle or delightful daisy in the center of a margarine lid. Tack on a pencil or ruler for a simple handle. Another kitchen find is drinking straws. Thread two with a long string or length of yarn and tie the ends together. Using the straws as handles, stretch the thread into interesting shapes and immerse. Or simply dip a straw, pull it out, and blow. Just remember not to inhale!

For a grand finale create bubbles bigger than your kids (or you!). You will need plenty of room and lots of bubble stuff. This is definitely an outside undertaking. Set something sizeable and sturdy enough for your child to stand on such as a wooden board or small stool into your empty kiddie pool. Fill the pool with a few inches of your bubble mixture and place a hula-hoop in it. Then while standing on the board, slowly and carefully lift the hoop for a giant, kid-sized bubble. If you are feeling really industrious, design a pulley system by tying pieces of rope to four sides of the hoop and fastening them to another length of rope long enough to toss over a tree branch. Kids can then hoist the hoop over their heads.

Take a look around your house and see what other ideas you can come up with. Then spend the day out in the sun having a ball making bubbles and memories.