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| Crystallized German-English Dictionary |
Interest in crystallization was piqued by a maker studio tour in San Francisco, during which I saw artist Alexis Arnold's crystallized books made using 20 Mule Team Borax. They were enchanting and I wanted to know how it was done, but she was charging $400 for a how-to workshop. Upon googling after arriving home I found that the 20 Mule Team Borax website offers the dead-simple instructions for growing crystals absolutely free, and a box of Borax from the local supermarket costs less than $6.
The formula:
- Use a glass or porcelain container large enough to immerse whatever object you want to crystallize.
- Boil water, and make a super saturated solution in your container using 1 cup boiled water per 3 tablespoons Borax.
- Immerse object (and in the case of the book, arrange pages using chopsticks) and wait for crystals to grow.
- When you think it's crystallized enough, remove from solution and dry on drying rack. The book shown took less than 24 hours.
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| Crystallized book on drying rack |
The end result is a fixed object - crystallized and surprisingly heavy.
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| Crystallized book |
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| Close-up |
After crystallizing a book I began to wonder what other objects I could crystallize. Succumbing to my fondness for creating little shoes out of an infinite range of materials (see All My Little Shoes), I tried crystallizing a hand-stitched paper shoe.
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| Crystallized paper shoe |
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| Side view |
Then it occurred to me to experiment with collage. Turns out you can create a collage using a glue stick, immerse it in a super saturated Borax solution minutes later, and the crystals seal in the collage. The assemblage/collage below includes a booklet on the alchemy of quinte essence I got in India about forty years ago, a visa snapshot of me from the same era, and tucked into the booklet a scrap of Bharatanatyam dance notation I was studying at the time. Now they're all a frozen memory.
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| Crystallized assemblage |
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| Close-up of visa photo |
The explorations did not end there. Stay tuned for more experiments in which I start crystallizing everything in sight.
This is amazing - what surreal effects on everyday objects. I will look forward to seeing what you do.
ReplyDeleteHave been trying this. How did you get a large enough glass container and did you suspend it or just lay it flat. Also, did you cover the mixture?
ReplyDeleteUse a large ceramic bowl - visit a local thrift store and you can pick one up cheaply. Hmmm...come to think I'd it, a small used fish tank would really work well. Note with the box above that instead of lying flat it looks like the it is slightly closed. That is because it is following the curve of a large ceramic bowl I used.
DeleteFor books, just lay it in the bowl. Use chopsticks or another implement to artfully arrange the pages once it is immersed. For a small fairy dress I crystallized I did suspend it in a mason jar. Just use your ingenuity and creativity and experiment.
And NO, do not cover it. The process of crystallization depends on evaporation.
Hope this helped.
Rats..spell correction on my iPad changed some of the words above. That's "book," not "box."
DeleteHow long did this take once submerged and then how long did it take to dry? I know you said under 24hours but estimated time would help if you remember. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHow long was it submerged? Also how long did it take to dry? I know you said total time was less than 24hours but if you remember those time that would be helpful. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHmmm...this was from two years ago so your guess is as good as mine. Also, the shape and density of the object you are crystallizing as well as the climate of the place you're working would affect this. Experiment, like I did. Keep an eye on it as it crystallizes, pull it when you think it is crystallized enough, and then it will take however long it takes to dry. How long do you think a soaking wet book would take to dry?
DeleteEven after two years, your “guess” would still be better than theirs, since you’re the one who did it. What a weirdly dismissive thing to say.
DeleteSorry, I was just being honest about not remembering. My work and my blog is all about experimenting and encouraging others to do the same. Each object crystallizes differently. I do NOT have all the answers, I’m just sharing experiments.
DeleteWill this work on bone? If so, do I coat it with polyurethane after its dried?
ReplyDeleteI have no idea, I am experimenting myself and encourage you to do the same. If you look at my crystallization posts you will see it worked very well on seashells, so I imagine it would work with bone also. I never coat mine with anything, but that is another interesting experiment and may help prevent oxidization (slow whitening of the crystals) down the road.
DeleteDo the crystals stay on, or fall out when touched after dry?
ReplyDeleteNope, they don't just spontaneously fall off. The final object will remain as is. Of course it is delicate - if you drop it or knock it against something crystals would fall off.
DeleteI was wondering if I had crystalized the book covers of a sketchbook, if i would be able to open the book still? I want to do it before so I don't mess up my class project!
ReplyDeleteMy knee jerk reaction would be no - crystal won't flex and bend like a leather or paper cover. On the other hand, if the front and back cover pieces were separate, individual pieces, and you were going to rebound the whole thing with larger than normal spiral binding, it just might work.
Deletehey! i'd like to do this to a photo. do you think the photographic paper is too smooth/ slippery so the crystalls might just fall off?
ReplyDeleteNo, in fact I have done it with photos. Just click on crystallization in the sidebar, or enter the words photo crystallization in the search bar at the top of the page. Have fun!
Deletehow exactly do you use chopsticks to arrange the pages? dont the chopsticks get stuck to the book? does the book get stuck to the container?
ReplyDeleteThe chopsticks are just an implement. I used them to turn a page under, shove pages together a bit more, separate pages slightly - whatever is needed. And you use them the way you always use chopsticks: just hold them in your hand and use them to grasp or manipulate things. I don't leave them in the bowl. If I did, they'd grow crystals themselves. So no, they don't get stuck to the book. And because the bowl is glass the book doesn't stick to the bowl.
ReplyDeleteIs there any reason why I could be getting small thin crystals on the surface instead of big chunky ones? I am doing everything right it seems and have been waiting like 15 hours by now. Also, does the book need to float in the solution aka does the bowl need to be filled to the absolute top?
ReplyDeleteUpdate: I was reading more about this and noticed one person made it seem like the crystals don't fully develop until out of the water and drying. Is this correct?
ReplyDeleteAll I can advise is experimentation - I'm not a crystal expert. But no, the book doesn't need to float and probably couldn't, given physics and all. And no, in my experience crystals form while the object is in the crystal solution, not when out of the water. Are you moving the book or agitating the water? That could slow/prevent crystal growth. Is your book or object made of natural materials? Crystals don't grow well on plastic or synthetics. Other than that, just keep trying. Good luck!
DeleteWill the container get cover in crystals too? Will crystals grow on the sides and bottom of the container. If I use a ceramic cooking pot then after i clean it out can i still cook with it.
ReplyDeleteKahlyn, the crystals shouldn’t grow on ceramic, unless it is old and worn with a rough surface. But even if they should, yes you can just wash it out thoroughly and cook with it. The borax is a cleaning agent to begin with. Have fun!
DeleteHave you tries this on metal objects? Your book is stunning.
ReplyDeleteHaven’t tried this on metal, but you have made me think, and what I am thinking is that the crystallized object needs to be organic somehow. But I am frankly not certain.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'll give it a go, and let you know what happens!
DeleteIt would be so cool to see you do this with a guitar or ukulele!
ReplyDeleteHo fatto un tentativo lo scorso anno ed il libro era venuto benissimo, però dopo un anno adesso è diventato tutta polvere😩. Cosa di potrebbe fare per evitare questo?
ReplyDeletemmm... non ne ho idea. ho fatto diventare i cristalli opachi, ma non in polvere. vorrei avere una risposta per te compralo no.
DeleteGrazie. Vorrei sapere che proporzioni hai usato?
ReplyDeletecome si dice sopra, una tazza d'acqua per tre cucchiai di Borax
DeleteDo you put the book in while the water is still boiling or do you wait for it stop boiling then put it in?
ReplyDeleteHmm, you’re right, that isn’t clear in my directions. Once you have booked the borax and water and have created a totally dissolved, super-saturated solution (and this can be done in any pot), you THEN pour that solution into a ceramic or enameled or glass container. You can carefully arrange the object in the container and gently add the solution, or you can use a tall vertical container and figure out how to suspend the object. Chopsticks are useful to tweak your arrangement while the solution is still hot. Then leave it alone!
DeleteI put my book in the water and it immediately fell apart. Is my water to hot?
Deletewhat could you use other than borax as it's not available in the UK
ReplyDeletei havent tried this yet, but i understand many substances make crystals, like salt , epsom salt, sugar, baking soda..
DeleteSo I know whether to be carful or not bc I’ve made crystals before this way but can’t remember and have never made something this big. Once all down and dried off there isn’t any reason why it can’t come in contact with liquids right like if I spill water by accident it should be fine
ReplyDeletecan you use a big plastic bucket?
ReplyDeletePlastic will grow crystals itself, so ceramic or glass is best. But depending on what you’re doing you may get away with it - just be prepared to have to yank/pry/hack your crystallized object away from the crystals that are growing on sides and bottom of bucket. My rule of thumb is experiment, experiment, experiment.
ReplyDeleteO borax é vendido em farmácias ou noutro sÃtio? Estou interessada em experimentar em conchas. Obrigada.
ReplyDeleteNos EUA é vendido em supermercados. É usado para limpar roupas, por isso seria vendido onde quer que você compre sabão em pó para lavar roupas.
DeleteCan you put dye in it to make the crystals colorful?
ReplyDeleteYes I’ve tried it, you can use regular food coloring.
DeleteI’m really confused can you send me step by step instructions. I’ve boiled the water then added the borax to the boiling water I then added the book I then transferred it into a container. It looks like it’s not doing anything
ReplyDeleteCatherine McEver responding to March 14, 2023 comment above: You have to leave the book in the container with the super solution of water and borax - for as long as 24 hours, or until you see crystals form and they reach the amount of crystallization you want. Then remove it. You don't just dip it in the Borax solution!
DeleteI'm having an issues with my books turning white(the crystals) after it dries. How do I stop that?
ReplyDeleteHi- Catherine McEver here responding to the above (Blogger won't let me comment under "reply"). I have had the "crystals turning white" issue also, and this has come up before in this comment stream. Some objects turn, others don't, and I don't know why. An earlier commenter suggested sealing the piece somehow. I haven't tried that, but I encourage experimentation!
ReplyDeleteHi can I reuse the solution again once I’ve taken the book out?
ReplyDeleteCan you add food coloring if you want the crystals to be a certain color? Will it even take, or will it mess the whole process up?
ReplyDeleteRe can I reuse solution again? No, you would have to reboil it to recreate a super-saturated solution first.
ReplyDeleteRe adding food coloring: I've never tried it, but can't think why it wouldn't work. Experiment and report back!
ReplyDeleteI have cats will it effect them if per chance they lick it ??
ReplyDeleteI just tried my first book and I’m pretty happy with the results. I’m definitely going to try more.
ReplyDeleteI crystallized two books & I have ppl online that asked to buy. Does anyone know what I could put on the book once it’s done to seal the crystals in place so I could ship it off if someone were to purchase it online? I gifted a book and some of the crystals fell off when picked up. There has to be something u can spray on it to keep them in place and not fall off.
ReplyDeleteWhat can u seal the book with so the crystals do not come off? I have done a couple books and I have ppl that want to buy them. So if I’m shipping the book I don’t want the crystals to come off when it’s being shipped off. (UPS and fedex are rough with the packages sometimes) there has to be something to seal it with that way the crystals don’t come off. Any suggestions?
ReplyDeleteSpray enamel
DeleteCan anyone answer how you’ve gotten your books to stay together in the boiling water? My husband planned a day date and this was the adventure we went on. Bought the book, supplies etc. thankfully I said I wanted to do a test run on a spare book I had. It completely fell apart when it went into the water. I plan to to try again but just looking for some advice before I make another attempt. TIA!!
ReplyDeleteYou don’t put the object into actively boiling water. You remove the super saturated borax solution from the stove and put it into a glass or ceramic container. Then you put the object in.
DeleteCan you do hard cover book
ReplyDeleteYes, the book in this blog post is a hard cover book.
DeleteCan you move the bucket from one place to another while the crystal is forming?
ReplyDeleteFirst , I want to thank you for offering the steps to making this beautiful crystallized book! I have been looking for some different type of crystal creations , due to the fact , that I always want to create things that are beautiful, difficult to accomplish and that most people either don’t know about , or maybe do but don’t want to diy it ! Also that people don’t own . I mean so many are creating borax crystals on stuff , but are they all creating cool looking artsy crystal books?? .. plus I am soooo picky ! So Your book came out beautifully and can’t wait to give this one a try!! ❤️❤️❤️
ReplyDelete