abloom Posted April 19, 2018 Share Posted April 19, 2018 I'm looking for something I could buy or make that would resemble old fashioned rock candy - the rubble-like rocks of crystalized sugar we used to get when I was little. I thought it would make a cool edible-looking chimney for my Hansel and Gretel witch house. I know there are ways to make crystals out of things like borax, but I don't know how durable thay are. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mineejv Posted April 19, 2018 Share Posted April 19, 2018 I’ve made the borax crystals with my granddaughter. I use the foiled pipe cleaners (picture). You can use string and other thing too. I have lose crystals that I’m going to use in my Christmas House for ice.....(on the list). Not sure how long they last but these I’ve had for 3-4 years. Go on Pinterest to find out how. I would put the link but I don’t know how to do that.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathieB Posted April 19, 2018 Share Posted April 19, 2018 Colored sand? Fish bowl gravel? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted April 19, 2018 Share Posted April 19, 2018 I have seen bags of tiny gemstones for sale on some of the internet shopping & auction sites that look like the rock candy my paternal grandparents used to send me when I was little. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sable Posted April 19, 2018 Share Posted April 19, 2018 For ice cubes, We use the silicone which prevents moisture and comes in the small bags when you purchase a new purse. Maybe you could smash them and make crystals? I don’t know if they would smash, though. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NBQEYTJ/ref=asc_df_B01NBQEYTJ5445230/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395009&creativeASIN=B01NBQEYTJ&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198108511374&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5939987628709737615&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1015116&hvtargid=pla-349818235909 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NellBell Posted April 19, 2018 Share Posted April 19, 2018 Michaels and hobby lobby both carry small glass vase filler. I have the hobby lobby stuff it’s what I used in the Pierce dragon house windows they are color this is a link for a clear one I can’t seem to find the ones I used though https://www.hobbylobby.com/Floral-Wedding/Containers-Fillers/Fillers/Clear-Colorfill/p/95317 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathieB Posted April 19, 2018 Share Posted April 19, 2018 16 minutes ago, Sable said: For ice cubes, We use the silicone which prevents moisture and comes in the small bags when you purchase a new purse. Maybe you could smash them and make crystals? I don’t know if they would smash, though. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NBQEYTJ/ref=asc_df_B01NBQEYTJ5445230/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395009&creativeASIN=B01NBQEYTJ&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198108511374&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5939987628709737615&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1015116&hvtargid=pla-349818235909 It controls moisture in purses, etc., by absorbing ambient moisture. If used in a humid environment, I wonder what the result would be. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sable Posted April 19, 2018 Share Posted April 19, 2018 30 minutes ago, KathieB said: It controls moisture in purses, etc., by absorbing ambient moisture. If used in a humid environment, I wonder what the result would be. I’ll put my “ice cubes” outside for a week here in Florida and see what happens. The humidity is expected to be high this week. Edit: these are 4 years old and have already been subjected to a 5 day power outage due to hurricane Irma when the humidity was unbearable and they still look new. So I think they’d be a good option. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abloom Posted April 19, 2018 Author Share Posted April 19, 2018 Thanks for all the great suggestions! Being lazy, I'll see if I can find the ready-made vase-filler crystals that look right. If not, I'll try the borax and silicone ones. You guys are great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elsbeth Posted April 19, 2018 Share Posted April 19, 2018 I'd definitely check aquarium stores. Many of the little bags of colored rocks are inexpensive, too. They always have a white/clear option. Good luck! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abloom Posted May 21, 2018 Author Share Posted May 21, 2018 So this was the best stuff I could find for rock candy, vase filler at Michael's. There might have been enough of the clear frosted ones to make the whole chimney out of them, but I kind of liked the amber ones, so I used them, too. Is there such a thing as amber rock candy? (maybe maple sugar)? Guess there is now! I still need to make the chimney top. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestPaces Posted May 21, 2018 Share Posted May 21, 2018 Love this! The amber 'candy' looks - to me- like the real deal. I want to lick the roof! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keifer Posted May 21, 2018 Share Posted May 21, 2018 The roof looks really excellent! Is there going to be something hanging from that support under the round window? you’ve really captured the whole essence with this build 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abloom Posted May 21, 2018 Author Share Posted May 21, 2018 1 hour ago, Keifer said: ... Is there going to be something hanging from that support under the round window? ... No, that has to do with the strangest part of this cottage. I was originally thinking of a scratch build, because I wanted space for the built-in beds, and also an upper chamber with a steep roof and a round hole like a birdhouse. (How cool that the Buttercup had both!) Because the fairy tale mentions nice little beds where the children are tucked in, but nothing about where the witch sleeps. Somehow I couldn't picture this cannibal witch with a nice cozy bedroom or even sleeping in a bed. Then I heard a song called The Jealous Crow, about an old ragged crow who's jealous of a young maiden's beauty and casts a spell to steal it from her. Instead the crow changes into an ancient woman and the girl becomes a beautiful bird. That gave me the idea of the H&G witch as sometimes taking a human form and sometimes that of a carnivorous crow. (They do eat nestlings, I've read.) So I'm giving her a nest in the top of the house, and I was going to attach pegs outside the birdholes where she alights when returning from wild night flights. But instead, I had these pendant brackets that look great on the house ... so that's what that's for. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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