Lessons Learned on the Farm

• Nov. 17, 2008 - Plop, plop, fizz, fizz...

Looking for a fun gift idea for the little people on your gift list?

I always like to make our buddy Matt-Matt something special for his birthday. Two years ago we did a personalized memory game, but this year it's Fizzy Stones!

I got the idea from Kid Concoctions of Biblical Proportions. It's a great book full of hands-on activities that actually teach spiritual truths. If you check out that link at Amazon, they have lots of other neat titles too. Jon is really into "making concoctions" these days.

Anyway, it was really easy and lots of fun to make AND give!

We bought a big box of baking soda, one of those disposable GladWare boxes, a few little plastic treasures to hide in the stones (over in the party favor section, and a bottle of vinegar that I could send along so they could get busy watching those stones disappear!

You just mix 1/4 cup of baking soda, with 4 Tbs. water, and a few drops of food coloring into a dough. Put your little treasure in it and roll into a ball so that it looks like a stone. That's all. Just let them sit in the open air to dry overnight.

The next morning you can just put the fizzy stones all in the GladWare box, and put it in a gift bag along with your bottle of vinegar. (It makes for a nice heavy gift. heh heh.)

The kids had such a great time watching them fizz and seeing what little treasure was inside.

You'll want to have a clear measuring cup or bowl handy so that you can pour the vinegar in and watch the magic happen.

The vinegar does lose its potency fairly quickly though so after doing a stone or two, you need to dump out that vinegar and get more before adding another stone.

Even the big guys get a kick out of it when the fizz starts to overflow!

This one was definitely a winner!

If you've got little people on your gift list for Christmas, this is one gift that they (and their parents) are sure to love! It's not too noisy and it's only a little messy, but the fun makes it all worth it. Just make plenty of fizzy stones, the cousins of all ages will want to join in the fun!

Comments

• Nov. 17, 2008 - That was really fun.

Posted by Candace

I'll have to concur that this was a hit--for everyone! Who doesn't love something fizzy and a surprise inside to boot? You might want to open this present last because the kids don't want to move on after they start concocting!!
Candace

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• Nov. 17, 2008 - That's brilliant!

Posted by Heidi

I think we'll have to use that here. :D

Thank you so much for sharing those pictures, too. I can't believe Baby Genius and S are being allowed to grow up as fast as everyone else, though. That's just not right. It won't be long and they won't look little at all anymore. (sniff)

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• Nov. 17, 2008 - Neat Idea!!!!

Posted by Allison24

Neat idea!
Oh, and thanks for the comment on my blog. I might do a scrapbook page of him, if I get the time too!
~Allison

Edited by Allison24 on Nov. 17, 2008 at 8:19 PM

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• Nov. 17, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

what a very cool idea! I'm going to do this with my littles class at co-op. Good stuff!
ej

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• Nov. 17, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by westward

What a totally GREAT idea! I'll be stealing this one for my own sons and a nephew!! :o)

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• Nov. 18, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

VERY NEAT!

Nikowa
knowledgehouseacademy.com

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• Nov. 19, 2008 - Fun!

Posted by Suzanne0612

This is a great craft! I think Ethan would like it too. Great picture of the Boys too!

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• Nov. 19, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Juliestew

What a cool looking thing to do. Talked with the Tman last night and he's a go for the Bday in KY. Will let you know when they plan to come. Not sure if the weekend before Christmas for sometime after. Will know as the time approaches. Think they may stay with Bib N.
Praying you have a great day.
j......

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• Nov. 20, 2008 - Cool!

Posted by ltjewel

I was just visiting the blogs of fellow crew members, and I love this idea. What fun for all the cousins at Christmas!

Thanks,

Amy B (http://bowofbronze.com/blogs)

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• Nov. 20, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by SandBetweenMyToes

What a great fun project. I might get my girls to help makes some to give to their cousins for Christmas. Thanks for sharing it.
Letitia

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• Nov. 22, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by sagerats

Cool idea! I learned about baking soda and vinegar when I was a child in school. I promptly went home, set up my lab, found a spider, popped him into the baking soda, and poured vinegar on him. 1 dead spider and 1 child who probably needs mental therapy later, you get the Senior Editor of HSB! Kinda scary, isn't it?

Abiding in the Vine!

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• Oct. 14, 2009 - Long lasting?

Posted by SuzanneHelps

Will the baking soda rocks last for a little while? We're stationed overseas so our Christmas and birthday boxes take a while to get to people. Will they still fizz after sitting for, say, a month or so? Thank you for sharing this fun idea!

Blessings,
Suzanne

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• Oct. 14, 2009 - How long will they keep?

Posted by tn3jcarter

Suzanne, that was a great question. I honestly don't know. The best thing that I could suggest would be just to test it. That's the great thing about starting NOW and this being an inexpensive thing to make. I suspect that the baking soda would stay good, BUT I wonder if they would begin to dry out and start to crumble.

If this idea won't work for you, you might consider something like the homemade ISpy bottles on this page - http://zakkalife.blogspot.com/2008/06/creative-uses-for-tchotchkes.html.

Let me know how it goes!

~Nancy

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