The Second Week in March is Bubble Week!

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So I have mixed emotions about bubbles. There’s that sweet nostalgic feeling that overcomes me when I think of sitting on my porch on a bright sunny day, leisurely blowing delicate circles into the air. Then there’s that one part in Dumbo…you know the elephant bubble nightmare sequence…that kept me from sleeping for 2 weeks when I was 7. For a while, I refused to blow bubbles before bed. Elephants is certainly not the worst thing they could turn into. Shiver.

(if you have never heard and/or seen the song of which I speak check it out here)

But let’s focus on the first one, shall we? Ever since becoming a mother, I have been on a quest to find a good bubble recipe. I mean, sure, the big bottles in the store are great for everyday use…but what about those days you want to make really big bubbles?

Here are some recipes I found for homemade bubble solution, including one that’s supposed be to be great for big bubbles that need lots of surface tension to keep them together (from http://www.coolest-kid-birthday-parties.com)

*Note: The author of the website comments that AGED bubble solution blows better.

Recipe 1

• Dawn Ultra or Joy Ultra - 1 part
• Distilled Water - 15 parts
• Glycerine or White Karo Syrup - 1/4 part

Recipe 2

• Joy - 2/3 cup
• Water - one gallon
• Glycerine - three tablespoons

Recipe 3

• Regular Dawn or Joy - 1 part
• Distilled Water - 10 parts
• Glycerine or White Karo Syrup - 1/4 parts

And here’s the best part. Get creative with what you are using to make the bubbles. Don’t have any wands? No biggie…use anything with a hole in the middle (okay maybe not donuts or bagels). ideas include:

• Twisted wire hangers
• The plastic holder things off of 6 packs
• String or pipe cleaners formed into a loop
• Cookie cutters
• A can with both ends cut off (check ends for sharpness)
• Your hands made into a circle and dipped in solution.

This web page also has some great ideas for bubble games…even bubble art! (you add food coloring and then catch the bubbles on paper…easy!)

Or, make your ownBUBBLE MACHINE. These are “wind powered”, which means you can use natural wind or even fake wind generated by a fan. This how to came from windbubbles.com. They have instruction to make a fairly easy wind bubble machine using things you have around…mostly improvising and making do with what you have.

Or you can buy their version (the refined over time kind!) for $7.95 each.

I think that sounds very reasonable!

Another idea (if you are not the outdoorsy type)…play a bubble game online.

Bubblegame.org offers 6 different bubble based games; Bubble Trouble, Bubble Bobble, Bubbels, the plain old Bubble Game (like shooting little bubbles into rows and when there are there of the same color they pop) or Soap Bubble (a surprisingly difficult game where you guide a little soap bubble through a maze without popping…kind of the virtual version of that game where you have to keep the beach ball or the balloon up in the air and never let it touch the ground).

Super Simple.