The Best Cloud Slime Recipe

Instant snow isn’t just for your winter craft activities! It’s now an AWESOME mix-in for any of our base slime recipes. We are going to show you how to make our cloud slime with instant snow that the kids will go crazy for!  Homemade slime is all about experimenting with basic slime recipes and coming up with new slime creations, like this cool instant snow slime!

HOW TO MAKE CLOUD SLIME WITH INSTANT SNOW!

CLOUD SLIME WITH INSTANT SNOW

How many different mix-ins have you tried with our basic slime recipes? From gold leaf to crunchy beads to soft clay to chalkboard paint and now instant snow, there are a gazillion ways to make super cool and satisfying slime recipes with the kiddos.  This new slime recipe will be sure to please!

If you want to see what else you can mix into slime and how to make awesome slime all year round, check out our Ultimate Slime Guide Book. It’s the perfect accessory and comes with some great slime freebies as well!

 

OUR BASIC SLIME RECIPES 

All of our holiday, seasonal, and everyday slimes use one of five basic slime recipes that are super easy to make! We make slime all the time, and these have become our go-to favorite slime recipes!

I will always let you know which basic slime recipe we used in our photographs, but I will also tell you which of the other basic recipes will work too!  Usually you can interchange several of the ingredients depending on what you have on hand for slime supplies.

Here we use our Liquid Starch Slime  recipe.  Slime with liquid starch is one of our favorite sensory play recipes!  We make it ALL the time because it is so quick and easy to whip up.   Three simple ingredients {one is water} are all you need.  Add color, glitter, sequins, and then you are done!

Where do I buy liquid starch?

We pick up our liquid starch in the grocery store! Check the laundry detergent aisle and look for the bottles marked starch. Ours is Linit Starch (brand). You might also see Sta-Flo as a popular option. You can also find it on Amazon, Walmart, Target, and even craft stores.

But what if I don’t have liquid starch available to me?

This is a pretty common question from those who live outside of the United States, and we do have some alternatives to share with you.  Click on the link to see if any of these will work! Our saline solution slime recipe also works well for Australian, Canadian and UK readers.

Now if you don’t want to use liquid starch, you can absolutely test out one of our other basic recipes using saline solution or borax powder. We have tested all these recipes with equal success!

NOTE: We have found that Elmer’s specialty glues tend to be a bit stickier than Elmer’s regular clear or white glue, and so for this type of glue we always prefer our 2 ingredient basic glitter slime recipe.

HOST A SLIME MAKING PARTY AT HOME OR SCHOOL!

I always thought slime was too difficult to make, but then I tried it! Now we are hooked on it. Grab some liquid starch and PVA glue and get started! We have even made slime with a small group of kids for a slime party!  This slime recipe below also makes a great slime to use in the classroom! 

No more having to print out a WHOLE blog post for just one recipe!

Get our basic slime recipes in an easy to print format so you can knock out the activities!

—>>>  FREE SLIME RECIPE CARDS

THE SCIENCE OF CLOUD SLIME

We always like to include a bit of homemade slime science around here!  Slime is an excellent chemistry demonstration and kids love it too!   Mixtures, substances, polymers, cross linking, states of matter, elasticity, and viscosity are just a few of the science concepts that can be explored with homemade slime!

What’s slime science all about?  The borate ions in the slime activators (sodium borate, borax powder, or boric acid) mix with the PVA (polyvinyl acetate) glue and forms this cool stretchy substance. This is called cross-linking!

The glue is a polymer and is made up of long, repeating, and identical strands or molecules. These molecules with flow past one another keeping the glue in a liquid state. Until…

You add the borate ions to the mixture,  and it then starts to connect these long strands together. They begin to tangle and mix until the substance is less like the liquid you started with and thicker and rubbery like slime! Slime is a polymer.

Picture the difference between wet spaghetti and leftover spaghetti the next day. As the slime forms, the tangled molecule strands are much like the clump of spaghetti!

Is slime a liquid or solid?

We call it a Non-Newtonian fluid because it’s a little bit of both!  Experiment with making the slime more or less viscous with varying amounts of foam beads. Can you change the density?

Did you know that slime aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)? 

It does and you can use slime making to explore states of matter and its interactions. Find out more below…

• NGSS Kindergarten
• NGSS First Grade
• NGSS Second Grade

CLOUD SLIME RECIPE

This recipe makes a single batch.  If you want to make a larger amount of slime you can easily double or triple the recipe.

CLOUD SLIME INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 Cup of Clear or White PVA School Glue
• 1/4 Cup of Liquid Starch
• 1/2 Cup of Water
• Food coloring
• Instant Snow

HOW TO MAKE CLOUD SLIME

STEP 1: Add 1/2 cup of White Washable School Glue to your bowl (add food coloring now or later when you make the snow).

STEP 2: Slowly mix in 1/4 cup of liquid starch and stir until slime forms.

Add in your slime activator, the liquid starch, to complete the chemical reaction to make slime. Add the activator slowly. For a single batch of slime, 1/4 cup of starch does the trick. If you think it’s still too sticky, continue to add a few drops at a time until you find the consistency you want.

SLIME MAKING TIP:

If your cloud slime still feels too sticky, you need more activator or liquid starch.  Be careful, and add just a little at a time until you get the consistency you want. If you add too much liquid starch your slime will become stiff and rubbery. You can always add, but you can’t take away.

The first time you make slime usually needs some experimentation to find the slimy consistency that’s right for you. Slime making can be a bit like Goldilocks finding the right bed or the right porridge. Some kids like it messier and some kids like it firmer.

STEP 3: Make your instant snow by following the instructions on the package (see below). Add food coloring if desired to the water.

STEP 4: Add about 1/2 cup of instant snow to your base slime and enjoy the satisfying mix!

DIY INSTANT SNOW FOR CLOUD SLIME!

Now it’s time to make your instant snow!  Since brands may vary in instructions, follow what’s written on your container.  Making instant snow is crazy cool so make sure the kids get to see the process. I guarantee it will create quite a stir!

Add food coloring for fun colors!

Instant snow is fun to play with all by itself and is all cool science. Take a few minutes and enjoy the snow before mixing it into your cloud slime!

Now for the fun part of slime recipe and the most satisfying part too! It’s time for you to add the instant snow to your slime! Go ahead and add a few handfuls. I usually stick with about a 1/2 a cup, but that’s up to you.

My son has enjoyed adding more and more until we have a crazy thick cloud dough.  Again, slime making is science and it’s all about experimenting with the process and the ingredients.

Mix it up and enjoy the slimy fun!

Cloud slime has a signature look which is seen in the texture and appearance of the slime.

Your slime may become less firm as you add more and more snow!  You can go ahead and add a few drops of activator (liquid starch) to reach your desired slime consistency if you would like!

HOW DO YOU STORE SLIME?

Slime lasts quite a while! I get a lot of questions regarding how I store my slime. We use reusable containers in either plastic or glass. Make sure to keep your slime clean and it will last for several weeks. I love the deli-style containers I have listed in my recommended slime supplies list.

If you want to send kids home with a bit of slime from a camp, party, or classroom project, I would suggest packages of reusable containers from the dollar store or grocery store or even Amazon. For large groups, we have used condiment containers and labels as seen here.

We have the best resources to look through before, during, and after making your cloud slime! Make sure to go back and read the slime science above too!

MORE SLIME MAKING RESOURCES!

Everything you need to know about making slime is below! Did you know we also have fun with science activities too?

• SLIME FOR BEGINNERS!
• HOW DO I FIX MY SLIME?
• HOW TO GET SLIME OUT OF CLOTHES!
• SAFE SLIME MAKING TIPS!
• SLIME SCIENCE KIDS CAN UNDERSTAND!
• READER QUESTIONS ANSWERED!
• BEST INGREDIENTS FOR MAKING SLIME! 
• THE AMAZING BENEFITS THAT COME OUT OF SLIME MAKING WITH KIDS!

COOL CLOUD SLIME RECIPE FOR SLIME MAKING FUN FOR KIDS!

Try more fun homemade slime recipes right here. Click on the link or on the image below.

No more having to print out a WHOLE blog post for just one recipe!

Get our basic slime recipes in an easy to print format so you can knock out the activities!

—>>>  FREE SLIME RECIPE CARDS