Nothing goes together quite as well as little ones and bubbles!

There's just something magical about watching those little spheres glisten in the sunlight and float away on the breeze. It never quite loses its appeal, no matter how big you grow.

Want to recreate that magic right at home? Today, we're helping you get creative and bust boredom with a simple DIY bubble-making recipe you'll turn to again and again!

Step 1: Gather your ingredients

Sure, you can make homemade bubbles with just soap and water. Ask any child who's created a makeshift bubble beard in the tub!

Yet, there are a few special ingredients that take this recipe to the next level. Here's what you'll need:

• One bottle of liquid dish soap (like Dawn)
• Warm water (preferably distilled)
• One bottle of glycerin or light corn syrup
• Straws or homemade bubble wands (instructions below)
• One clean container with a lid

There are no hard rules on this ingredients list, but try to find dish soap that doesn't contain the words "Ultra" if possible. 

Step 2: Measure everything out

Once your ingredients are in place, it's time to measure. Invite your little ones to help in this process, and take it outside if you need to! While you're making an organized mess, this is a great time to try our DIY slime recipe, too!

First, measure out six cups of warm water and add them to your container. Then, measure one cup of liquid dish soap and pour it into the water. Slowly stir the two liquids together gently until everything looks to be combined.

If your children are stirring, remind them to go slow. You don't want to create bubbles just yet, but it's coming!

Next, measure out your glycerin or light corn syrup. If you're using glycerin, you'll only need about one tablespoon. If you're using the corn syrup, measure out 1/4 of a cup. One important adjustment: If you opted to use "Ultra" dish soap, you'll need to double these quantities.

That's it! Now, all you need to do is add this last bit of liquid to your water/dish soap mixture and continue to stir slowly.

Step 3: Wait a few hours

This might be the most difficult part of the whole recipe: Now it's time to wait!

If you're in a time crunch or if everyone is begging to try it out right away, you can go ahead and create bubbles with this mixture. However, we recommend waiting just a little while to allow everything to meld together and thicken up just a bit. The glycerin or corn syrup needs a little time to mix thoroughly with the soap.

Pop the container in the fridge for a few hours or overnight. 

Step 4: Enjoy and play!

When it's finally time to enjoy your bubbles, take the lid off the container and insert the tip of your straw or bubble wand. Rather than blowing right away, wait a few seconds and then give it a good burst of air. 

Children will enjoy seeing who can make the biggest bubble in the bunch!

If you waited for a few hours until blowing yours, you'll notice that by now, the glycerin has thickened up a little. This helps make the liquid stronger and less susceptible to popping as soon as you blow it!

A fun accessory: Homemade Bubble Wand

While any plastic straw will work for your DIY bubbles, the event is made all the more memorable when each child has their own special bubble wand!

To make one, you'll need the following supplies:

• A few long pieces of colorful craft wire (one piece per wand)
• Beads

Making Your Wand

To make each wand, start by taking one end of the wire and twisting it into a circle. If you want to make giant bubbles, make your circle extra-large! Otherwise, around three inches in diameter is just right. Twist the end of the circle around the wire to close it.

Next, pull the other end of the wire straight down to form a basic handle. Once it's as long as you prefer, you can go ahead and snip off the end. 

If your children are old enough, they can string the beads on the handle by themselves. Encourage them to use their imagination, spelling out words or phrases, or repeating patterns for a colorful touch. If they're younger, you can do this step for them, and let them point to the beads they want to use.

Either way, remember that the end of the wire can be sharp, so remind your little ones to be careful as they perform this step!

When you're done, twist the bottom of the handle end to form a small circle. This is where your child will hold the wand, and twisting it helps prevent the edges from being sharp. It also holds the beads in place so they don't go anywhere!

Finish by cutting off any extra wire at the bottom of your smaller loop and you're all set! You can dip this wand straight into the bubble mixture and simply wave it around or blow gently to create mesmerizing bubbles.

Get creative with these DIY bubble ideas

There's never a wrong time to explore with your children! While they're getting their hands a little messy and creating a super fun project, you're making memories to last a lifetime.

Want to weave in a short science lesson while you make your at-home bubbles? This video explains the simple physics behind how bubbles form, using kid-friendly concepts that are easy to understand. 

As you get creative at home, you'll discover plenty of other ways to learn and grow alongside your little ones. If you need a little inspiration along the way, we're here to help. Check out our DIY crafts and projects and choose your new favorite.

Then, sign up for one of our upcoming online art classes! From preschool programs to computer animation courses, there's something for every artist in your family.