DIY GIANT BACKYARD BUBBLES

Well, maybe not giant, but they were big!   I love bubbles.  I admit it.  I saw a video of people blowing giant bubbles and I couldn’t wait to try it for myself!  But could I make a giant bubble maker just for me?  Wasn’t that a little … odd?  But then I remembered my nephew was turning 11 and I suddenly had a great excuse to make and play with gigantic bubbles!  There was not one single child or adult that did not try the bubble sticks that day!

Easy to make, inexpensive (or free if you already have everything you need!), and tons of fun!

TO MAKE THE BUBBLE SOLUTION:

• 12 cups of water
• 5 cups of liquid dish soap
• 1/2 cup glycerine
• Upright 21 cup capacity container

Add the water, then slowly add the soap and then the glycerine.  Stir gently and try not to make any suds.  The solution works best if it is allowed to sit in a cool location overnight.  

TO MAKE TWO SETS OF STICKS:
(Trust me, you want at least two sets....or more!)

• 2 - 48" x 1/2" dowel rods 
  
• 4 - #10 screw eyes
  
• 17.5' of 1/8" cotton cord
  
• 2 nuts (for weight on the longer cord)
  
• Scissors
• Drill
• Saw

Cut the two rods in half so that you have four 24" rods. Drill a small hole in one end of each of the four rods and screw in an eye hook. Cut two 70" and two 35" lengths of cotton cord.  Tie the ends of one 35" cord to the eye hooks on two of the sticks.   Next, tie one end of a 70" cord to one of those same eye hooks and then slide the  nut onto the cord. Finish by attaching the other end of the 70" cord to the opposite eye hook.  Your first set of bubble sticks should look like the picture to the right. Make the second set of sticks they are ready!  You can even paint and decorate them if you want....

TO MAKE GIANT BUBBLES:

• Holding the sticks together, submerge them into the bubble solution.   Be sure that the ends of the sticks and all of the cord is covered.
• Remove and keep sicks 'closed' until you are ready to make a bubble.
• Separate sticks and slowly step backwards to allow the soap to be stretched into a bubble.  
• To 'close' the bubble gently bring the tips of the sticks together.  You may even want to cross the tips.

Enjoy!  If you give it a try, please let me know how it works out :-)

Printable Label that can be taped onto the container:
Right click and save to your desktop or computer, then print, cut, and tape onto container!

Potential Problems:

• Too much wind sometimes causes the bubbles to pop, so calmer days are best!
  
• If the solution is not holding a bubble good, allow it to sit for a while (you could also try adding a little more glycerine or soap).
• Sometimes if there are too many suds a good bubble does not form.  If this happens just give the suds time to settle.  

The best prices I could find for the glycerine and the container were on Amazon.  
The other materials are more cost effective to purchase at Home Depot, however I have supplied links to all of them below for the simplicity of being able to see what is needed.

Sources:
http://www.amomknows.com/2012/03/how-to-make-a-bubble-wand-and-homemade-bubbles/
http://www.designdazzle.com/2011/07/summer-camp-giant-bubbles-kit-tutorial-with-free-printables/
http://rhondas3boys.blogspot.com/2010/07/bubbles-bubbles-everywhere.html
http://tatertotsandjello.com/2010/08/summer-project-make-giant-bubbles.html