DIY bath bombs

Fizzling and fun collide with these super simple bath bombs that you can make at home. Then drop them into hot water for an epic explosion of colour!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

½ cup cornfour (Maizena)

1 cup baking soda

½ cup citric acid

½ cup fne sea salt or Epsom salts

2 tablespoons water

2½ tablespoons melted coconut oil

Food colouring

Round bath bomb moulds

Mixing bowls and a jug

A spoon and whisk

I f you want to make bathtime more fun or need a unique gift, then this cool DIY project is just for you. You won’t need to go to the store to buy bath bombs after learning how to make them on your own –and children will love learning how to make magic...

How To Make It

1

Mix the cornflour, baking soda, citric acid and salt in a bowl. Use a spoon to break up any chunky bits, then whisk everything together.

4Now add in your colouring. You can add one colour or more. If you want to make a variety of differentcolour bath bombs, divide your mixture up into separate bowls. Add a few drops of food colouring to each bowl and mix well. Be careful not to stain your clothing or skin.

7Leave to dry overnight in a safe spot. Once dry, you can store them in sealed plastic bags in a cool, dry place.

When you’re ready for some fun, drop your bomb in a bath of warm water and watch the fizzling start.

5

Fill one half of the bath bomb mould with the mixture. Then fill the other half. Both should be heaped full. Press the two sides of the bath bomb mould together and set aside for a few minutes. (See ‘Added Fun’, right.)

Added Fun

For a hidden surprise, place a small toy inside one half of the mould before pressing both sides closed and leaving to dry.

Give the outside of the mould a tap with your spoon, then slowly remove the bath bomb from the mould. You should end up with a ball.

6

SAFETY FIRST!

> Adults should be around to supervise this project.

2

Mix the water and oil in a jug. Then, very slowly, start mixing all your dry and wet ingredients together. Pour in the wet ingredients as slowly as possible so that you don’t cause too much fizzing.

> Keep ingredients away from mouth and eyes.

> Wash your hands when you’re done.

3 juicy watermelon when the fox lifted his nose to the sky and gave a howl.

Once your mixture feels like wet sand, it is fully mixed. If it feels too dry, add some more water to the mix.

> Rinse the bathtub and your body thoroughly after using – bath bombs are not a substitute for soap at bathtime!

> Do not use if you have allergies or sensitive skin .

The farmer was having his lunch when he heard the fox howling. He ran outside with his big stick.

When Giraffe eventually escaped, he was bruised all over his body and furious with Fox.

GET CREATIVE!

The giraffe put his head under the water and used it to lift the fox back onto his neck. The fox coughed and choked and held on to the giraffe for dear life.

He limped over to the river where the fox was snoozing under a bush.

“Some friend you are!” shouted the giraffe, waking the fox. “Thanks to your singing I have been beaten black and blue.”

“Don’t be angry,” said Fox. “I told you I always sing once I have finished my food. Now let’s cross the river and go back home.”

The fox held onto the giraffe’s neck and they swam out into the river. When Giraffe reached the deepest part of the river, he said to the fox, “I am going to take a bath now. I feel all hot and bothered after that beating.”

“You can’t!” said the fox, staring at the giraffe with bulging eyes. “If you go under the water, I will drown! I cannot swim!”

“But I must bath,” said Giraffe. “It’s my custom.” With that, he ducked under the water.

The fox sputtered and thrashed his paws. “Help! Help! I’m drowning!” he cried.

Giraffe was cross about the beating but he felt terrible watching Fox splash around in the water. The fox was his friend, after all.

When they reached the other side of the river, Fox thought about what he had done to his friend. “Giraffe?” he said quietly.

“Yes, Fox,” answered the giraffe.

“I’m sorry for treating you badly. I see that what you did to me was because of the bad way that I treated you earlier,” said Fox.

Giraffe nodded. “It was,” he said. “I was paying you back for what you did to me.”

“Sorry,” said the fox.

So, Fox and Giraffe had learnt that it is important to treat others the way we want to be treated, and from that day on, they always did so. And, to this day, they are still the best of friends.

Nal’ibali – it starts with a story! This story was provided courtesy of the Nal’ibali reading-for-enjoyment campaign. For more information and to access children’s stories in all South African languages, visit www.nalibali.org or WhatsApp “stories” to 060 044 2254. You can also fnd Nal’ibali on Facebook (nalibaliSA) and Twitter (@nalibaliSA).