Make a Bouncing Polymer Ball

Make a Bouncing Polymer Ball by Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

Who doesn't love a bouncy ball?  As a kid, and even into adulthood, I love these things.  When I saw that I could make my own!! Save money!! Impress my son!! Game on, let's do it.  I couldn't wait.  How much fun this would be as something that my son and I could do to give as gifts.

Wrong.

This recipe for making a Polymer Bouncing Ball was one big flopping disappointment.  As far as the picture, in the upper left, is concerned, mine didn't come any where near to looking like that!

Let's just say, there is always room for error when working with an experiment.  So, that said, if anyone else tried this and had success, please comment and let me know.  Especially, if you were able to replicate the picture at the top.  Because, the picture, below this paragraph, is what mine looked like.  We made several different colors.  None of them turned out like the picture above advertises them to.

As you can see, from the picture below, they could be stretched.  They did not hold their shape, at all.  

Despite the failure to replicate the picture, my son did love this, and he did have fun, and they do bounce.  They just have to be thrown, with a good amount of force.  The "ball" will bounce once, but because it flattens upon impact, it will not bounce again.  My son played with these all day, and for days, until, they ultimately dried up and became useless.  

I left some out to dry, thinking maybe they just needed to harden up a bit.  This rendered them into a hard, ball of nothing.  We put the dried up ones, in File 13.  The others, were kept in a zip lock baggy to keep them from drying out so quickly. 

Pinterest Pin Test Rating: Pintiful

Make a Bouncing Polymer Ball

List of supplies needed: 

Bouncing Polymer Ball Materials

Here's a list of materials you need to gather to make bouncing polymer balls:

• borax (found in the laundry section of the store)
• cornstarch (found in the baking section of the store)
• white glue (e.g., Elmer's glue - makes an opaque ball) or blue or clear school glue (makes a translucent ball)
• warm water
• food coloring (optional)
• measuring spoons
• spoon or craft stick to stir the mixture
• 2 small plastic cups or other containers for mixing
• marking pen
• watch with a second hand
• metric ruler
• zip-lock plastic baggie

Let's make bouncing polymer balls......

Follow the link for the detailed instructions.  And PLEASE, if you have better luck, let me know!  

Rosemary Olive Oil Bread by "A Hint of Honey"

Rosemary Olive Oil Bread by A Hint of Honey

A Hint of Honey picture

I found this recipe on Pinterest last year.  I am not a huge fan of Rosemary flavor, I think it can be a bit overwhelming.  I just had to try it, it looked too good.  I am glad I did.  In fact, I just made another loaf of it tonight.  Although, I suppose it would be, another "round" of it tonight.  

I don't own a proper loaf pan.  So most of my breads are shaped, then baked.  I was so pleased that I only had to roll this into a ball and lay on parchment paper, in order to bake it.  

I did make a change.  I have a trace allergy to wheat, so I substituted Spelt flour for the wheat flour. Usually, spelt flour does not bother me like pure wheat flour does.  For some reason, this spelt flour did cause me to have some issues.  In the spelt flour's defense, I was already sick with bronchitis, so my immune system was not up to par.  Otherwise, I don't think I would have had any problems.  That is not the recipe's fault, just letting you know, you can substitute spelt flour for the wheat flour.  I also used the entire packet, of yeast, instead of measuring it.   My bread was light and oh so good. 

This bread, made my house smell SO good! It was wonderful.  I made it in the fall, which made walking into my house, like walking into a cashmere sweater.  Warm, inviting, and oh so comforting.  This bread is NOT overwhelming.  The taste is earthy, with just the right amount of seasoning.  You must try this bread with your next meal.  

Pinterest Pin Test Rating: Pintastic!!!

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My first attempt at the bread

Rosemary Olive Oil Bread

INGREDIENTS
1 cup warm water (100-110 F)
1 Tbsp. organic cane sugar
2 tsp. active dry yeast
1 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. fresh rosemary, chopped (or 2 tsp. dried)
1/4 tsp. Italian seasoning (or pinch of each ground garlic, dried oregano, and dried basil)
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
1/2 cup bread flour + extra for kneading
1 egg, whisked + 1 Tbsp. water, for egg wash
dried rosemary, for sprinkling

DIRECTIONS
1. In a large bowl, combine the warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let sit 10 minutes to proof.

2. Stir in the salt, rosemary, seasonings, olive oil, and whole wheat flour. Add the bread flour and stir until the dough forms a ball. Knead on a lightly floured surface for about 5 minutes, adding more flour as necessary to prevent sticking, until smooth.

3. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl; cover; and let rise until doubled in size, about1 hour.

4. Punch down the dough and form it into a round loaf. Place it on a cornmeal dusted pizza peel or parchment paper; cover; and let rise until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.

5. Meanwhile, preheat oven (and pizza stone) to 400 F. Once the dough has risen, gently brush the top with egg wash and sprinkle with dried rosemary.

6. Bake on preheated stone for 20-25 minutes until the top is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.

Makes 1 round loaf.

(Adapted from Laura A. and All Recipes)

Below is a picture of how my first loaf turned out. 

I am addicted to Pinterest, as most people I know are.  I love trying the recipes, crafts, home made cleaners, and the list goes on and on and on.......
I have tried many and thought it would be helpful to log them on a blog so others can comment or learn from my own experience.  Please feel free to comment, and submit your own experiences.
So lets get testing.......

Oh, one more thing.  The name Pinterest is not owned by me.  This blog is for fun.  I use the name Pinterest, only to identify what I am testing.  If I were testing Tweets, I would be the Twitter Tester......It's all for fun and information.  I don't make any money on this, just trying to be helpful!

NOW, let's get testing.......