How to Panel Line your Bandai Model Kits

What panel lining does


  -Makes molded lines on Gunpla stand out more


Panel lining best practices


  -Take model apart so you have separate body parts (ex.  head, chest, arms, leg) that are easier to
  work with.

  -Have q-tips, eraser, and 70% rubbing alcohol on hand to correct mistakes and to give a "cleaner"
  appearance after finished panel lining with markers.


Advantages of panel lining over painting model


  -Easier to fix mistakes because Gundam markers come off easily with q-tips, erasers, or rubbing
  alcohol when compared to painting entire model parts.

  -Panel lining does not take the skill or time that painting does.  This is a great, cheap, easy way for
  beginners to add more detail to their plastic model kits.

How to apply Dry Transfer Decals

Materials needed


-Dry decals

-Hobby knife

-Tweezers

-Masking tape

-Coin (we used a dime)



How can you tell it's a Dry Transfer Decal?


-It has 2 sheets.  A top layer and a bottom layer that feels waxy.

-IMPORTANT:  Always keep both layers together because if they come apart, your dry decal will stick to the first thing it can.  This means you will not have your decals to apply to your model.



How to Apply Dry Decals to Your Gundam Toys

-Cut out your decal with a hobby knife.  Make sure to keep the layers together to keep your decal safe from loss.

-Use tweezers to remove decal from rest of the dry transfer sheet.

-Take off the part of the model you are applying the dry transfer to (in our 1st example, we take the arm because we are applying it to the shoulder).

-Secure decal with masking tape on the top and the bottom of the decal.

-Use the coin to rub on the decal like it's a lottery ticket.  You will see a slight color change to let you know the decal has been transferred to your plastic model.

-Remove the bottom layer of masking tape to check to see if decal is all the way in place.  If it is, you can take off top layer of masking tape and check to see if it has rubbed on the model completely.  If it has, you are done.  If it has not, simply replace the masking tape and continue rubbing the decal with your coin until it is completely transferred to your plastic model kit.

How to apply waterslide decals

What you need to apply waterslide decals


  -Waterslide decal paper

  -Small medicine cup filled with water

  -Tweezers

  -Q-tip (one side wet and one side dry)

  -Toothpick (optional)


How to apply waterslide decals


  -Cut out decal with a hobby knife (this is better than using scissors because the hobby knife moves
  more easily)

  -Hold waterslide decal with tweezers under water for 5-7 seconds until there is a slight color change
  (a slightly darker blue) and it will wilt.

  -Use the wet side of the q-tip to move it off of the paper to the plastic model location that you want
  it on.

  -Once the waterslide decal is in the correct place, swith q-tip to the dry side to remove excess water
  and to secure the decal into place.


Tips to remember


  -Do not move the waterslide decal a lot because they can easily tear and are hard to repair because
  they are so small.

  -Do not spill your water

How To Make A Hurricane Storm: Simple Experiment

How Hurricanes Form

 -Bodies of air formed over water. As warm water evaporates into the air, it swirls around and gets stronger over water.


 Materials you will need


 -Water

 -Hand soap that must have the ingredient glycol stearate. You also want your soap to be non-transparent.

-Glass jar

 -Food coloring

 How to make your HURRICANE Storm

 -Fill the glass jar 3/4 full with the hand soap

 -Fill the remaining space with water

-Place 3-4 drops of blue food coloring

 -Place lid back on tightly

 -Swirl the jar


Now you should be left with your own homemade Hurricane soap you can use so your materials do not go to waste!

How to Apply Stickers

How to apply stickers:

1.  The parts you are applying the stickers to.
2.  Sticker sheet.
3.  Tweezers.
4.  Steady hands.

Differences between sticker sheets, water slides, and dry transfer decals
1.  Stickers have a border around the actual sticker and a blank back.
2.  Dry transfers are a see-through paper that feels waxy.
3.  Water slides are on blue paper and have writing on the back of the sheet.

How to wash Bandai model kits.

PSA:  Do Not put your Gunpla in washing machines, dishwashers, or dryers.

You will need:
1.  A toothbrush you aren't using for your mouth
2.  Any dish soap you have on hand.

Items that are helpful:
1.  Shoebox size plastic containers to hold runners and gundam parts in.  This way, if any small parts come off, they will stay in the container.

Why wash your Gunpla:
1.  It is easier for the following items to stick to Gundam toys:
        a.  Stickers
        b.  Decals
        c.  Dry transfers
        d.  Water slides
        e.   Paint

2.  Nothing will interact with anything else
         a.  Some older model kits have a chemical from the plastic injection that would linger so if you
              paint it, the model itself would crumble because of the chemical reaction.

How to wash
1.  Use a drain stopper so small pieces don't fall down the drain.
2.  Brush with toothbrush using soapy water.
3.  Rinse with water.
4.  Air dry on towels once soap is rinsed off.

How to Remove Nub Marks

3 Ways to Smooth out Nub Marks

1.  Nail Files.  Use small rocking back and forth motions.  DO NOT "Cheese-Grate"  your Gunpla.

2.  Hobby Knives.  It is best to point the knives away from you when cutting until you get used to the pressure needed to "peel"  the layers away like an onion.    Use the curved blade, especially on plastic, because it is more durable since it has more surface area than just a straight edge, which will provide a more rugged cut.  This is ION doll's preferred method to use.

3.  Sand Paper.  This is the best method to use to get things like paint to glide on easily and stay on after it is applied.  This method is very time consuming.  If this is what you want to do use 400 grit, then 600 grit, then 1000 grit progressively.  Always remember:  DO NOT Cheese-Grate your Gundam Toys.

How to Cut Gundam Toys

There are 3 types of cutters (nippers) within everyone's price range: 

1.  Lower Class and cheapest can be found at your neighborhood tool stores.  You can also use nail clippers.

2.  Middle Class are the Gundam Planet nippers. 

3.  High class nippers, aka the Godhand nippers, can be found on Hobbylink Japan or Amazon.

Cutting Tips

1.  Give enough space between the actual part and the gate (tree or spruce).  

2.  Have a small cup to catch small pieces that you cut off once they are out of the gate.

3.  Use the flat side of the nipper to cut against the part.  That way, you get the least amount of nub marks.

LEGO STAR WARS MILLENNIUM FALCON REVIEW

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Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon is a man's toy, as well as a fun lego set for kids!  Once built (yes, if you have a 6 year-old girl like us, you will be building this set, mainly alone and trust us, it's much easier that way), this space ship is super awesome!  The entire ION Doll  team agrees that the red laser shooter on the falcon, plus Chewbacca's shooting crossbow, are the coolest parts of this set!  Men and children with guns and lasers that actually fire bullets and arrows, can be captivated for hours, which makes this a stellar lego set, since this type of feature is mainly seen in larger sets only.

In addition to weapons that fire ammo, the set also includes Rey, Finn, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Tasu Leech and a Kanjiklub Gang Member, plus a BB-8 Astromech Droid.  Weapons include a blaster pistol, silver-colored blaster pistol, blaster, gang pistol, gang rifle and a bowcaster.  Did I mention, none of the hand-held weapons are as cool as Chewbacca's firing crossbow?  Remember this as you play with the arsonal of guns and bowcasters.

The vast interior holds a more detailed hyperdrive, holochess board, secret compartment (we stored the guns here when not in use), extra boxes and cables, and storage for spring-loaded shooter ammo.

Overall this set allows star wars fans another piece of the action when building and playing with this remarkable toy!  We defininely recommend this be added to every Star Wars fans' Christmas list, but don't just take our word for it.  Other reviews are displayed below.

Nice re-make.

5/14/2017

Average rating:  5 out of 5 stars, based on reviews

by BoDacious

Overall, this set was a pleasure to put together. It is well constructed with technic pieces holding it all together. The ship is sturdy enough for play, if that's a prioirty. Pros: This model has much better detail than the original build. Although there was some repetition, Lego did a great job breaking up the building instructions to minimize the the feel of repition. Mini figures are nice and have great detail. Cons: the gunner section is less detailed than the original, which is unfortunate. I could have gone without the two gang member minifigures.

From lego.com

Great looking kit and fun to build

9/28/2016

Average rating:  5 out of 5 stars, based on reviews

by Kenjara

I build this over a few evenings and had great fun doing so. The build is interesting and unlike anything else I have made so far. This is mainly because of the way the circular structure of the ship is made. There are lots of interesting ideas at play in this kit and it was fun seeing how it goes together. The kit comes with plenty of figures including a good chunk of the key Force Awakens characters. The ship looks great on the outside but also has a detailed interior. There is also plenty of space to stand figures inside the ship. I plan to use it to store all of my star wars advent calendar figures. I think this is certainly a centre piece of the star wars sets and is big enough to give a someone plenty to play with. The only thing I wished this kit to had would be some led lighting for the cockpit and exhaust.

Written by a customer while visiting shop.LEGO.com

Chewie, where home.

1/4/2016

Average rating:  5 out of 5 stars, based on reviews

by ChrisH604

This is by far the biggest and best LEGO Star Wars set I have had the pleasure to build and as an avid Star Wars fan I'm so glad to own this set. Got it for Christmas but didn't get to build it until the 30th, needless to say I was itching to get started for days. It's a challenging build but I managed to tackle it in about 5 hours with almost non stop building. I can't really comment on the build other than to say I was impressed by the LEGO designers use of materials to reproduce the classic falcon shape but they have had a couple of opportunities practice in the past. The mini figures are about right but I would perhaps not have included the Kanji Klub gang members. The best LEGO Star Wars set in my collection by far. LEGO, well done!

Written by a customer while visiting shop.LEGO.com

LEGO Friends Sunshine Catamaran Building Kit Review

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The Lego Friends Sunshine Catamaran features a lovely sun deck with 2 lounge chairs that Lego Friends Olivia, Stephanie, and Liam can share to relax or sunbathe. There is also a pool, bridge with steering controls and a comfortable seating area, slide into and spiral stairs up from the water. Helper Doll loved putting all the figures in the water, especially the dolphin figures Sheen and Sapphire!

More accessory elements include an inflatable ring, life preservers, flippers, ice creams, popsicle, baskets, newspaper, smartphone and an MP3 player to play lots of fun beach tunes for the summer! The banana boat life preserver was the funnest life preserver for Helper Doll to play with.

 Further there are 2 tubes of lipstick that Helper Doll had fun storing in the inflatable ring and flipper. This endless set also includes a brush, so there is fun playing pretend beauty shop as well!

This amazing yacht, as we like to call it, comes with 2 cozy beds, a shower, kitchen, complete with an oven with pizza cooking, a poolside bar with fun soda drinks with cherries in them.The sliding doors from the back deck are fun to open and close and putting Sapphire and sheen, as well as Lego Friends, Stephanie, Olivia, and Liam through them again and again, provides endless fun!

All in all, this is a dream boat and set and literally is any little girls dream summer vacation to last a lifetime. Our Helper Doll cannot get enough of this set! It is an instant classic for any school age little girl! Other reviews include:

 Fun 8/7/2017 Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars, based on reviews by TripleTFarms
 The catamaran offers places to lounge and play, imaginations can enjoy the countless hours of play time with this Lego. The jet ski, tube and slide are engaging . Fun filled lego From walmart.com

Great set, but.... 5/29/2017 Average rating: 4 out of 5 stars, based on reviews by daisy2125
I love this set! It is sort of a new improved version of the dolphin cruise and it seems everything that could have been better with the dolphin cruise seems to be better with this. There are two separate areas for the beds which means more space for each individual Lego character. There is a cool see-through floor and a Hammock on the boat. My one complaint is that most of the accessories are old, for example the lego newspaper has been used in almost every legos set along with the make up accessories, bag and phone. I do like the new addition of a colorful camera and the beautiful sail. I also love how the bathroom is a separate space, which is a improvement from the dolphin cruise. I also love the addition of the glass sliding doors and the pool on the boat! Overall I think this set is great and I hope to see these few changes to make it perfect. Read more Written by a customer while visiting shop.LEGO.com

 5.0 out of 5 starsWonderful design, clear instructions, great play value
 By Unity Dieneson August 23, 2017
Vine Customer Review of Free Product( What's this? )
My third-grade daughter is new to Lego, and this was the first project she's tried. She has claimed in the past that she "hates Legos" but this one looked so enticing that she decided to give it a shot. It was a massive success by all accounts. The instructions were clear and the pieces well-organized. She made a few mistakes and needed help a couple of times, but even an absolute newbie was able to complete the project virtually alone. It took her several hours over several sittings to complete it, and her sense of accomplishment was wonderful. She loved the detail and the girl-appeal is huge. After completing it, the project went immediately into her play area where I saw her telling little stories with the meeples and playing with the tiny details of the boat. There's enough play-interest to this set to keep it interesting even after the construction is complete, especially since it's so well designed and the top can come right off, allowing for play on the inside of the craft. I really recommend this to Lego lovers and also for beginners. It's a great set! From Amazon.com

HASBRO TRANSFORMERS EXCLUSIVE OPTIMUS PRIME MP-10 MASTERPIECE CONVOY 2.0 2012

Give Me Instant Access NOW http://amzn.to/2vY4LkY Optimus Prime is the leader of the Autobots and he is a massive, tough-built truck. About 2/3 the size of the original G1 Masterpiece Convoy, in scale with Masterpiece Grimlock. Comes with his trailer and Roller, a translucent energy axe, and laser blaster. Optimus Prime can hold this blaster in both hands, which folds away to store in his back, and a human driver figure of Generation 1 Spike Witwicky. The Matrix of Leadership is also present in Optimus' chest, which is made of a heavy, durable die-cast metal with light piping. ION Doll marvels at the painting, sculpting, and proportions of the coolest Optimus Prime Transformer he has had the pleasure to explore! This toy has great transforms easily, and has 360 degree shoulder rotation, as well as, shoulder extension and swivel abilities so Optimus can easily fight with his energy axe or laser gun! Further, Optimus Prime has wrist swivel, no thumb, an index finger capable of pointing and the other 3 fingers are stuck together. Moving down to the waist, Optimus Prime has waist, thigh, and knee swivel, with legs capable of kicking front and back. Further this strong toy has toy bend and pivot functionality. Who knows where one would end up, if Optimus was forced into a fight for justice of the Autobots. Optimus Prime also has swag abilities and can dab if you want to pose him that way. Going to his trailer, it is made of heavy plastic with molded detail to behold. There is a repair drone ship attached with a scanner with an arm that moves and has a claw as well. Inside the ship, a faceless Spike Witwicky is at the helm. The trailer base is sturdy and can hold up this solid Optimus Prime. You can lie Optimus and his trailer on its side and play Transformer Operation if you want to! Roller has 12 wheels and can hook up Optimus Prime's laser blaster in the back. Spike can ride in roller. The coolest thing roller can do is roll away with Optimus Prime's trailer! In truck mode, Optimus has rubber tires and is solid. The trailer easily hooks on to the back of the truck. Side by side, the trailer is a good bit taller and thicker than Optimus Prime. Overall, the name masterpiece is fitting. Beautiful painting, nicely done sculpting, amazing attention to detail, and very good posing abilities. Get one! Further reviews below: Autobots, Roll Out! 13 days ago by Roccoajr 5 out of 5 stars Verified Buyer Comments about the Product This is quite possibly the best incarnation of the Masterpiece line. The main guy, Optimus, in all his glory. This figure has been one that I have wanted for a long time. Comes complete with original colors, axe, blaster, and of course... the trailer! This figure looks great in either mode and a MUST for Transformers fans. Highly recommended. You wont be disappointed! Comments about the Service Product arrived on time, but condition is something that shipping needs to work out. Figure is great, but packaging was not the best. I recommend buying in store. Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend to a friend From toysrus.com Best version of MP Prime! 23 days ago by B the collector 5 out of 5 stars Verified Buyer Comments about the Product I purchased this as a collectors piece. I'm very satisfied with it. Comments about the Service Delivery was fast and tracking was available from day one. Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend to a friend From toysrus.com Great piece of childhood...!!! 20 days ago by koven163 5 out of 5 stars Verified Buyer My first transformer masterpiece, it's awesome one of great pieces of childhood, excellent toy really accurate with TV character optimus prime. Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend to a friend From toysrus.com

Realistic Stuffed Pet Cat: Kids Toy Review

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We found these cats because our very own Helper Doll, Gabby has allergies to cats and dogs, plus she has asthma.  This makes having a traditional pet somewhat dangerous because of Gabby's conditions.  These cats seem to only target the elderly, who cannot have pets in nursing homes or are unable to care for a pet themselves.  We believe these cats are also a wonderful option with people of all ages with health conditions preventing them from owning their own pets.  

Helper Doll also wanted to include a pet in our ION Doll videos, and we all thought that was a great idea.  Upon internet exploring, mainly on AMAZON because most of our shopping is done on that incredible site, Hasbro's JOY FOR ALL silver cat with white mitts, seemed the perfect choice for our family!  The Hasbro brand seems to be the only affordable option just under $100, that combines the life-like sounds, looks, and motions of a real cat.  

We are not the only ones who love our realistic, stuffed pet cat.  Here are some other helpful reviews:

"When [my mom] started petting that cat, [she] said that it felt like love. That just touched my heart, because she's so full of love, and it's nice that she can have some in her life. - Phyllis F. "

Very life like, stress relieving

11/16/2016

Average rating:4out of5stars, based on reviews

by Miranda

When stressed at work, this is the perfect non-allergic pet to reduce my anxiety. It is also an attention grabber and a great conversation starter! Adorable when petting because it closes its eyes. It also travels well.

Life like and great companion

11/9/2016

Average rating:5out of5stars, based on reviews

by HelloCat

I was impressed by how life like it is! It purrs and meows like a real cat. Comes with a brush for grooming. This is the perfect gift or stand-in pet for those who cannot have a real pet of their own.


For more information on Joy For All Companions Cat:  Give Me Instant Access NOW

S'mores for The Fourth: Cooking with Kids

 

With the fourth of July holiday fast approaching, we decided to make a DIY flag out of our favorite summer treat, s’mores.  You will need the following items:

-Hershey’s milk chocolate candy bars.  Depending on the size of pan you use, the amount of chocolate you use will also vary.    We used a 13 x 9 pan, so we used 4 Hershey bars.

-Marshmallows.  We used 20 marshmallows cut in half.

-Graham crackers.  You can use these to make s’mores with the dip or dip directly into the smores dip.

-Blue sugar sprinkles.  The amount of each of the sprinkles will vary.  We poured sprinkles in a bowl to cover the bottom with a small layer.  You may have to add more if you run out.

-Red sugar sprinkles.

-White sugar sprinkles.

-Pyrex pan and bowls.

-Bowl of water.  Dip marshmallows in water before coating with sprinkles so the sprinkles will stick to the marshmallows.

-BBQ skewers.  Put marshmallows on the stick before dipping in water and sprinkles.

We hope you enjoyed our tasty treat for the fourth!  We can’t wait to see you next time!

Poop Slime: Simple Experiment

Welcome back to ION Doll’s channel.  We are making our first DIY sticky slime today.   Poopslime is what we ended up with when we made Nutella slime.  Stay tuned for all the fun!

What you need for this FunnySlime experiment:

-Glass mixing bowls & 13 x 9 glass Pyrex pan.  You can use plastic or glass bowls and pans for this experiment.  Stay away from metal bowls because you use a microwave to melt marshmallows.

-Marshmallows.  We used 12 regular sized marshmallows for this experiment.

-Nutella.  We used 4 tablespoonfuls of Nutella.

-Rubber spatulas.  The spatulas are used for mixing the marshmallows and Nutella.

-Tablespoon measuring spoon.  

-Microwave.  This is used to melt the marshmallows.  We needed about 30 seconds to melt 12 marshmallows.  *Be careful not to overcook marshmallows because they get hard and yucky if you overcook them.

We hope you had as much fun as we did with this DIY Nutella Slime!  We will be back soon with another Fun Summer DIY!

DIY Fidget Spinner Without Bearings and Fidget Tricks!

In this handspinner experiment, we will make a fidget spinner without bearings.  Also, you will learn some fun hand spinner tricks like spinning a fidget spinner on your knee!  Make sure you have a parent or guardian present to help you the entire time for this experiment.

 The supplies you will need to make your own fidget spinner are:

-Cardboard.  We used a flap off an old cardboard box to cut out our fidget spinner body.

-Pencil.  We used a pencil to trace our fidget spinner parts.

-Box cutter.  You will need a parent or guardian to cut out the frame and spinner sections for you.  Be very careful and take your time!


-Hammer multi-tool.  We used our best multi-tool hammer to cut off pieces of chopstick to use for our diy spinner.  

-Chopstick.  We used a chopstick to use as the spinner portion of our hand spinner.  You can also use a straw for this section if you don’t have a sturdier chopstick.

-Glue gun.  Your parent or guardian can use the hot glue gun to paste on the cardboard bearings to the chopstick (glue gun diys.)

-Stickers.  Gabby used stickers she had at home to decorate her cardboard fidget spinner.  You can also use crayons or markers to draw your own designs on your hand spinner or any other decoration that you like.

We hope you enjoyed our diy fidget spinner video.  We hope to see you in the next video!

Super Soft & Squishy Slime: Simple Experiment

In our latest ION Doll science video, we made super soft & squishy slime without borax or glue.  I looked up several slime videos to see which experiment we wanted to try and this fast & easy cleanup recipe looked like a fun slime diy to try!  In addition to being clean and smelling great from the conditioner you use, your hands also become moisturized & soft (great for teachers & moms who have little time to clean & moisturize themselves or their kiddos!)

You will need:

-Clear glass bowls.  You don’t have to use clear or glass bowls, we did so it is easier for everyone to see what we are doing to make the slime.

-Forks or spatula.  This part isn’t necessary.  The best mixing is done with your hands and Gabby loved to mix with her hands.  It gives kids more squishy slime play time, plus it smells great so not so much worry about messy kids.

-Hair conditioner of your choice.  You can use whatever you have on hand, but I recommend a white conditioner so you can easily add food coloring to color your slime to your liking (cheap too-we used Suave brand)!  The conditioner makes a great scented slime, that also leaves your skin super soft!

-Corn starch.  The corn starch helps thicken the conditioner into a manageable soft & squishy slime to play with.

-Food coloring.  The food coloring lets the kids experiment with assorted colors of slime.  If you don’t have any on hand and still want to make slime, you can!

*Note:  The order of mixing didn’t seem to matter (we thought conditioner & food coloring together first, would make things easier to mix together.  It did not.)

We hope you had as much fun as we did making this super soft & squishy slime!  We can’t wait to see you next time!

Make Kinetic Sand: Simple Experiment

Gabby LOVES playing with sand, especially kinetic sand!  We found a video on YouTube and thought she would love making her own kinetic sand.  Here’s what you need:

-1 cup of sand.

-1 &1/2 teaspoonful of corn starch.

-1 Tablespoonful of dish soap.

-a little water to get excess dish soap out of measuring spoon

-Food coloring of your choice.  You will need many drops of food coloring.  Do not stop adding food coloring until the color you want is reached.  We thought there would be color change overnight, but there was not.

Mix everything well.  Let sit overnight to dry out some so it is more like dry kinetic sand.  In our case, our sand was still a little wet after sitting overnight, so we put it in the microwave for 30 seconds.  The corn starch that we added keeps the magic sand from drying out.  You can easily store this in a gallon plastic Ziploc bag like we did.

We hope you enjoyed our latest science experiment, DIY KINETIC Sand!  CRAZY Sand!  Fun & Easy, Super Soft & Squishy Science Experiment.  We will see you again soon!

Facts About The Octopus

The Octopus is our next area of exploration.  Some fun and exciting facts about the octopus are:

-Octopus have 3 hearts

            -One systemic heart pumps blood throughout its body.

            -Two brachial hearts send blood through each gill of the octopus.

-Octopus have 8 arms, usually having suction cups.

-Camouflage is the octopuses most commonly used defense.


To explore the octopus along with us you will need:


-1 Frozen octopus (Buy Frozen Octopus:  http://amzn.to/2tkBoGc).

-1 Pyrex pan

-1 pair of stainless steel tongs

We hope you enjoyed the ION Doll Science Video about the OCTOPUS.  We will see you in the next lesson!

St. Patrick's Day: Simple Experiment

We are EXCITED to share our St. Patrick’s Day Borax RAINBOW Experiment with everyone!  This is a super fun and easy experiment to explore a little science!  Always get parental permission before beginning any experiment.  Always use a towel over your workspace to avoid as much clean up later.

You will need:

-Rainbow colored pipe cleaners.

-A glass jar.

-Borax powder.  Use 3 tablespoonsfuls of borax powder/cup of boiling water.  We should note, that we used water run through our coffee pot instead to lessen the chances of getting burned.  The water doesn’t boil in a coffee pot, but comes close and from what we found, works the same as boiling water for this experiment.  Only adult should work with the boiling or hot water.

-String

-Popsicle stick

-Boiling, or very hot water as explained above.

Directions:

-Link pipe cleaners into rainbow shape, twisting ends together on both sides.

-Attach about 1 foot of string to popsicle stick.

-Attach rainbow to string.

-Suspend in glass jar with borax powder solution mixed as instructed above.

-***Make sure to leave the lid off the jar overnight.  The room air is needed to help the borax solution crystallize on the rainbow in the jar.

We hope you enjoyed our fun Borax RAINBOW experiment!  We look forward to working with you next time!

How To Cook Lobster With Kids

Ion Doll had a blast cooking lobster and teaching Gabby some of the biology and anatomy as well.  Some basic lobster facts are:

-Lobsters have a crusher claw (larger claw) and a pincer claw (smaller claw).  The crusher claw can be either on the right or left claw.

-Lobsters can weigh up to 40 pounds & grow up to 4 feet in length.

-Lobster meat is high in protein, up to 28 grams of protein per cup.

-Lobsters are a good source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.

-Lobsters can live up to 100 years.

For the lobster boil, make sure you have a parent cooking for you.  You will need:

-1 8 qt. pot.

-Stainless steel tongs.

-1 Pyrex pan.

-1 live lobster (Buy Live Lobster:  http://amzn.to/2rJ70YG).

-2 tablespoons (tbsp.) of OLD BAY Seasoning.

-BOIL for 10-12 minutes.  Make sure water is BOILING before adding lobster to water so you do not OVERCOOK it.

-Vent & stir

We hope you enjoyed learning some basic facts about lobsters, as well as how to boil a lobster.  We look forward to seeing everyone in our next episode!

Cooking Crabs With Kids

This is our first Biology Science Experiment.  We are super excited because ION Doll loves to explore and cook sea creatures.  We will start by listing a few crab facts.

-Crabs skeleton or bones are called an exoskeleton, which is the outermost layer of their bodies.  The inside of the crabs’ bodies is soft & squishy.

-The front 2 legs of crabs are most often referred to as claws and are NOT used for movement.

-Many crabs can carry & lay a million eggs at a time.

-Unlike a lobster, which has its stomach on its back, a crab has its stomach under its main shell.

To perform this experiment with us you will need:

-1 Bag of frozen crabs (Buy Frozen Crabs:  http://amzn.to/2sL4r8M).

-1 8 qt. pot.

-1 pair of stainless steel tongs.

-1 pyrex pan.

- 1 Tablespoonful of Old Bay Seasoning.

Boiling Crab Recipe

-Remember to have a parent do this part for you.

-Make sure the water is BOILING before placing crabs in the water.  If crabs are put in the water before it comes to a boil, the crabs will overcook.

-Add crabs to boiling water.

-Add 1 tablespoonful of OLD BAY Seasoning

-Cook for 5 minutes

-Vent & Stir

You should now have cooked and seasoned crab to enjoy with your family & friends.  See you all in the next experiment!

How to FAIL at Science

Our latest experiment of the Liquid RAINBOW, failed miserably.  We followed the experiment:
Easy Water Stacking Sugar Density Experiment ~ DIY Incredible Science
https://youtu.be/H78Xd3ToxP4

We tried the experiment a few times and never got it to work.  All we ended up with was a greenish-black liquid that was the same color throughout the cup.  However, we still included our video to show that, yes, experiments can fail.  It is part of learning and becoming a better student and scientist that EVERYONE will fail at something at some point. especially the higher trained scientists.  It's just a reason to try again.  

You will need:

4 plastic cups 
4 colors of food coloring 

1 plastic spatula
1 cup of sugar
1 measuring cup
2 cups water 
1 10 ml medicine syringe


I would recommend following the experiment we followed.  My daughter didn't like the experiment not working.  Little kids don't have as much patience as adults and don't want to fail at anything.  But I think the important lesson for them to learn is that just because one experiment fails, does not mean they should stop experimenting or stop having fun learning science.  Forge ahead!  Until next time!

Valentine's CANDY: Fun Experiments

VALENTINE’S Day Candy:  Candy Hearts and Soda

Who doesn’t at least recognize candy hearts as one of the staples of Valentine’s day?  My daughter gets so excited for holidays and the idea of making Valentines for her friends at school is one of her favorite things to do.   We decided to use these beloved candies to explore a little science with ION Doll for VALENTINE’S Day. 

What you will need:

1 Clear Plastic Cup.

1 2 liter of off Brand Sprite.

1 Bag of Candy Hearts.

We poured the Soda in the cup about halfway.  Then we proceeded to add 12-15 candy hearts.  The carbon dioxide in the soda whizzes the candies to the top of the soda.  Once the bubbles burst around the hearts, they dance back to the bottom of the glass where they started.

Valentine’s Day Candy:  M & M’s and Gobstoppers

What you will need: 

2 white glass plates

1 pitcher of water

1 bag of Valentine’s M & M’s.

1 box of Gobstoppers.

We adapted both experiments from one’s we found on SpanglerScienceTV episode, “Valentine’s Candy Science-Cool Science Experiment.”  With this second set of experiments, we used way too many M & M candies and Gobstoppers, to observe the neat color patterns observed in the SpanglerScienceTV episode. 

We ended up with a M & M plate of hot pinkish water and a brown poop color for our Gobstopper plate.  Not many colors can be observed with an excess amount of candy in these experiments.  Using 4 pieces of candy per plate, spacing out the candies, and waiting longer yields more fascinating, measurable results.

How To Make A Bouncy Egg: Simple Experiment

ION Doll and Gabby absolutely love all the science experiments they have been performing the last several weeks!  The Bouncy Egg experiment was very fun, seeing how a regular egg can easily have its shell removed and be turned into a bouncy ball.  Before starting any experiment, always have teacher or parental permission and supervision.



Supplies needed:

-White Vinegar.

-2 Glass Jars

-2 Eggs.

-Food Coloring, which is optional.

-Glass Pyrex Pan.

-Paper Towels.


Soaking a few eggs in white vinegar overnight (one egg with no food coloring, one egg with food coloring) slowly dissolves the shell.  The egg shell is made of calcium carbonate which reacts with the weak acid (vinegar).  The calcium carbonate turns into carbon dioxide, which is why bubbles are seen on the surface of the egg shell as it dissolves.  You can use your hands and a paper towel to  wipe off excess egg shell.  You can rinse the egg off with cold water, but this step isn't always needed.

Now, feel free to bounce the egg lightly, similar to a ball like ION Doll & Gabby.  Be careful not to bounce the egg too hard or it can break and the yolks can still spill out like normal.

Always clean up with parental help and supervision and always remember to wash your hands with soap and water once experiment is complete.

We hope you enjoyed turning regular eggs into bouncy eggs with us today!  We  hope you tune in for our other experiments!



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