It’s that time of year again folks. Time to thank the dozen different day care providers, half of which I don’t even know the names of, for putting up with my darling children 2 days each week.

This year I decided to make something that all the kids could help with, as last years gift required minimal effort from the kids.  So we made Bath Bombs and I am happy to report they were a success (we tested one out last night!) 

I used 2 different recipes, the first one was here

Dry ingredients: 

• Baking Soda – 8 ounces
• Citric Acid – 4 ounces
• Corn Starch – 4 ounces
• Salts – 4 ounces

Wet Ingredients:

• Water – .75 tbsp
• Essential or Fragrance Oil – 2 tsp (I used peppermint, as it is Christmassy)
• Oil – 2.5 tbsp
• Food coloring – 1 or 2 drops
• .

For the pink lot, I used this recipe

You’ll need:

• 1 1/2 cups bicarbonate of soda
• 1/2 cup citric acid powder (use fine grade, available from chemists or pool supply shops)
• Sieve
• Potpourri or herbal teabags such as chamomile, lemon, rosehip or peppermint
• An essential oil such as peppermint, lavender, geranium
• Sweet almond oil (I just used vegetable oil)
• Food colouring
• Rubber gloves
• Moulds from craft shops

Which came from here

The method I used for both was the same though.  Mixed all dry ingredients in a large bowl, then had Mr8 ever so slowly pour in the wet ingredients while I stirred like a mad woman.  With the second recipe, it doesn’t actually call for corn flour (starch) but I decided to throw a handful in just to make the recipe go further.  The second lot stuck together better than the first recipe while wet, but they have both dried lovely and firm and both fizz wonderfully in the bath tub.

We made the round ones in some empty plastic Christmas ornaments like the blogger in the first link did, as well as some smaller ones in some Aldi silicone trays.  If I was to make them again, I think I’d find a mould that was spherical, but a bit smaller, so you end up with more bombs from your mix.  I left the silicone tray ones to dry over night, and they popped out easily the next day.

It is summer here right now, and humid, which can destroy the bombs.  So before putting them in the little draw strings bags ($2 for 5 at the cheap shop) I wrapped them in cling wrap to protect them from moisture.

Added a little thank you note and Merry Christmas tag to the bags and we are ready to drop them off.

Mr8 weighing out the Bi Carb,

Mr 8 adding dry ingredients

Ms4 with the important job of mixing the dry ingredients,

We used this pink salt as I thought it would look cool through the green bombs, but normal salt would have been fine too

Mr8 measuring out the wet ingredients into a separate bowl

Stirring very quickly while wet ingredients are being added, so a reaction does not occur.

Press firmly into moulds.

Mr9 and Mr8 making the bombs

Drying out

Wrap with cling wrap to protect from moisture

Small bombs

Teacher gift,