It’s bubble season at our house. The snow clothes are put away, yet it’s not quite warm enough for the pool, so out come the bubbles. We recently made homemade bubbles, and then found household items to blow the bubbles through.
Bubble Solution
1 cup water
2 tablespoons light karo syrup or 2 tablespoons glycerin
4 tablespoons dishwashing liquid
Mix together.
Fancy Homemade Bubbles
1 cup water
2 tablespoons liquid detergent
1 tablespoon glycerin
1 teaspoon sugar
Mix all ingredients together until sugar dissolves.
• Wire Hangers
Wire hangers can be manipulated (by a safety-conscious adult, of course) into a variety of shapes and sizes.  Just use pliers to straighten the wire first. Then bend a large loop at one end leaving room for a handle.  Close the loop off by wrapping a bit of the end around the handle.  Plastic-coated wire hangers work best for this, though any stiff but flexible wire will work.
• Pipe Cleaners
The principle here is not unlike using a wire hanger, it’s just smaller and fuzzier. That fuzz comes in handy, too, as it helps these little bubble-blowing wonders soak up a lot of soapy solution. Pipe cleaners (also known as chenille stems) are also a lot easier to handle and manipulate than hangers and can be used to satisfy a large number of bubble-blowers at one time. With a little help, toddlers and younger kids can even have a go at making their own bubble wands and can learn from what works and what doesn’t. Since pipe cleaners aren’t expensive and they’re plentiful, kids get many chances to experiment. To make different shapes, use cookie cutters as guides.
• Straws and String
Straws and string make the most beautiful pairing since chocolate and peanut butter. At least for making bubbles, anyway. You need two straws (that serve as handles) and string in a length at least four times that of one of the straws. The string must be thin enough to be threaded through the straws. You can use a longer length to make really huge bubbles but keep in mind that younger kids will probably have a hard time getting the hang of blowing bubbles this way. It’s mostly for adults to make giant, impressive bubbles that kids and dogs can chase and pop in the yard.