Sparkly Mermaid Slime Sensory Play (with Video)
We’re in full-on Mermaid obsession over here.
After the wild success of the Mermaid Teepee, I wanted to try out a Mermaid Sensory Play idea as a kick-off to a full-out Mermaid Study, which I’m hoping will create some new interests in sea life, folk lore, and …
After finding these awesome mermaid sequins, I knew I had to make Mermaid Slime!
Mermaid Slime Recipe
The mermaid slime was more teal in colour than these pictures show (I blame the Canadian winter sun), but as you can see, it was sparkly, beautiful, and inviting — what more could you ask from a sensory play material?
A good slime should not be sticky, but rather thick, stretchy, and oozy. For my kids who will get upset if the slime sticks to them a bit (it comes off very easily if you rub your hands), I just wet down their hands before they play and keep some water ready to keep their hands moist, which stops the slime from sticking.
My kids love spreading the slime out all over the table and squishing their hands in it.
And stretching the slime which is a great little work-out!
Slime is pleasantly cool to the touch and is wondrous and exciting, without being too gross or making an actual mess. The worse that we get is sometimes it sticks to the bare patches on the table where the varnish has worn off, or a bit of slime on clothing which is easily dissolved with a bit of vinegar.
Side note: Vinegar also works to remove slime from hair…
Slime can require a bit of experimentation and patience, especially if you’re still new to it. If you run into any slime fails, check out this troubleshooting post to help fix your slime.
Before we get to the recipe, I had to tell you that it’s finally here! I wrote The (Ultimate) Slime Book oozing with over 50 pages of stretchable, squishy sensory fun – including a year of seasonal slimes, edible slimes and unique ways to play with slime. Click here to get more details.
You can purchase The Slime Book on Amazon, Book Depository, or at your local bookstore!
Check out our video on how to make mermaid slime – and how much fun it is to play with – then don’t forget to scroll down to grab your free printable instructions:
How to Make Sparkly Mermaid Slime
Materials to Make Sparkly Mermaid Slime:
- Clear Glue
- Liquid Starch
- Water
- Teal food coloring <– this set of food coloring has lasted me forever and I love that it creates highly saturated colors with just a drop
- Fine Glitter
- Mermaid Confetti
Or, if you prefer saline solution slime:
- Clear Glue
- Baking soda
- Contact solution <– this is the brand we use, it must contain boric acid to work as a slime activator
- Water
Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.
Mix the glue, 3 T of liquid starch, and water together to start. Mix and knead, checking consistency and balancing with more glue or more liquid starch as you go. Asia’s guide above is irreplaceable if you are new to making slime.
After you have a cohesive slime, add any optional colouring, glitter, sequins, and scent.
I hope you enjoyed our Mermaid Slime, and I hope you will be brave enough to join me in my love of slime! We have several other slime recipes on our Sensory Play page, and we share a new Sensory Play idea or recipe nearly every week, so if you’d like to not miss out, please consider subscribing to our free weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your e-mail.
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Sparkly Mermaid Slime Sensory Play
Best ever sparkling mermaid slime - two different ways to make! This is the perfect slime for a mermaid birthday party or a Little Mermaid Movie Night!
Materials
- 2 5oz. bottles clear glue
- 3+ Tablespoons of Liquid Starch
- 2 Tablespoons water
- 1/4 teaspoon Wilton Teal gel food colouring
- Generous shake teal glitter
- Mermaid glitter
Tools
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing bowl
- Spatula
Instructions
- Mix the glue, 3 T of liquid starch, and water together to start.
- Mix and knead, checking consistency and balancing with more glue or more liquid starch as you go. Asia's guide above is irreplaceable if you are new to making slime.
- After you have a cohesive slime, add any optional colouring, glitter, sequins, and scent.
Notes
Or, if you prefer saline solution slime:
- 2 5oz. bottles clear glue
- 1 Tablespoon baking soda
- 2 Tablespoons contact solution (that contains boric acid --> we use this brand)
- Water, optional - as needed
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
-
Arm & Hammer Pure Baking Soda, 5 lb
-
Equate Saline Solution for Sensitive Eyes Twin Pack, 12 fl oz, 4 count
-
Purex Sta-Flo Concentrated Liquid Starch, 64 oz Bottle by Sta-Flo (1) (Original Version) (Original Version)
-
ELMERS 2024691 Elmer's Liquid School Glue, Clear, Washable, 32 Ounces - Great for Making Slime
-
Fine Slime Glitter, Set of 32 Colors, LEOBRO Multi Purpose Glitter Powder for Arts, Crafts, Epoxy Tumblers, Decoration Weddings Cards Flowers, Scrapbooking, Body, Face, Nail, Glitter Slime Making
-
Amscan 361620 Confetti Disney Ariel Dream Big Collection 1 pack Party Accessory
And, as part of a monthly hop, I bring you some more sparkly play recipes from some of the top kids’ activity bloggers:
Calming Glitter Slime | Lemon Lime Adventures
Constellation Dough | It’s A Long Story
Sparkly Shamrock Dough | Preschool Powol Packets
Taste Safe Strawberry Lemonade Sparkle Dough | Bare Feet on the Dashboard
Twilight Sparkle Dough | Creative World of Varya
Glitter Oobleck from Still Playing School
Metallic Sparkle Crayon Play Dough | Sugar Aunts
Sparkling Ocean Play Dough | Stir the Wonder
DIY Taste Safe Glitter and Rainbow Playdough | Powerful Mothering
Also, be sure to check out our other Mermaid Crafts for Kids:
I have a big box of Borax that I bought just to make slime. I wish I bought starch instead 🙁 And I wish Elmer’s clear glue isn’t so expensive in Canada!! White glue doesn’t turn out as nice (IMO). The first batch I made I didn’t mix enough water, and so it’s become more “bouncy” than slimy, but still loads of fun 🙂
Bouncy sounds fun to me!
How cute! I bet any girl would love to play with some of this!
Thanks, Stephanie! I’d be hard-pressed to find one around here that could refuse it 😉
That looks like fabulous sensory play! I need to find somewhere that sells Elmers glue and liquid starch here in Scotland! 🙂 x
Hi Jenny!
Fun at Home with Kids has a great slime recipe that you could use for the base of this that was written for places that don’t have liquid starch or borax! (Liquid starch isn’t sold in Canada either, but we’re close enough to the American border to nip over every once in awhile!)
http://www.funathomewithkids.com/2014/07/make-slime-with-laundry-detergent.html
This is super cool! I’m cohosting a new link party, Idea Box and would love to see you link up! It goes live tomorrow. 🙂
Here is a link to last weeks party: http://sundaesandspaghetti.blogspot.com/2015/03/idea-box-linkup-1.html
Thanks, Danielle – I’ve joined!
I’ve seen slime, but THIS is SLIME! I love how stretchy and strong it is; the mermaids don’t hurt it at all, heehee. I featured it on my fb page. Thank you for bringing it to the WW Blog Hop. I hope you will be back next week with more amazing link-ups. Carrie, A Mother’s Shadow
Thank you, Carrie!
Yay! Thanks so much for linking up with us for Idea Box! This is def. something I hope my little one will enjoy! Hope to see you back here in the future!
I hope she does! Thanks for stopping by!
I’ve never seen Little Mermaid Confetti before, that would blow my girls minds in slime! I just might see if I can find some for them. Thanks for sharing 🙂 Stopping by from the Mommy Monday Blog Hop.
Ashley – I am such an airhead sometimes! LOL I forgot to include a link to the confetti so everyone else could find it — I’ve added it now. 🙂 I hope your girls love it!
I was glad to see you joined our link party! I will be featuring this post tomorrow on Idea Box! Thanks again for checking us out! 🙂
Of course – thanks for hosting!
Thanks for sharing with us at Mommy Monday!
xoxo
Thanks for hosting!
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can I use regular, not clear, elmer’s glue?
Absolutely – it will just be a bit more opaque and possibly a slightly different colour than ours 🙂 But the slime will still work.
Mine needed way more of the liquid starch to get the right consisrency, but turned out great. I made triple batch for party favors!
Hi Nancy,
I’ve noticed that clear glue and school glue need different amounts, but it also is affected by humidity – I need more starch in the summer than in the winter. Weird, huh?
I love the idea to pass these out as party favors!
Here I’m also going to share with you about slime with laundry detergent makeing ideas and ways to make at home.
Hi, Is there a Step 3 that is missing from the printable recipe? Thanks!
Nope, that’s the whole recipe! (I just transferred all of my recipes from one recipe card plugin to another and the other didn’t have numbered steps so I think there was just a space that this card interpreted this way.)
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This is so cute! I love sensory play and this looks like a lot of fun!
I’m so glad you liked it!