Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Tuesday 27 June 2017
Summer of Slime: DIY goo takes over tweens’ lives

By TAMARA LUSH significantly since the slime
Associated Press trend took off,” Elmer’s
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) spokeswoman Caitlin Wat-
— Call this The Summer of kins wrote in an email.
Slime. Because of the increased
The slime trend is probably demand, the Elmer’s team
happening right now in boosted production of var-
your home, if you live with ious glues. Many parents
a tween girl. Or maybe it’s feel the need to purchase
on your phone, in endless glue in gallon jugs online
video loops that crackle because of shortages in
and pop on Instagram and brick-and-mortar stores.
YouTube. At least one teacher re-
For Boomers and Gen X-ers ports that tubs of glue have
who aren’t aware, slime is been stolen from schools
like modern-day Silly Putty. for at-home slime-making.
Or Play-Doh. But instead of “It’s really the most basic
being able to copy news- science recipe that you
print on the gooey sub- can have. You can put
stance (remember news- basic ingredients together
print?) or sculpt a grubby, and you get to be a little
avocado-green animal scientific and a little cre-
that resembles a Picasso ative at the same time,
nightmare, 21st century and I think people enjoy
slime is slick and pretty. that,” said Amy Anderson,
It’s DIY and social media a blogger at Mod Podge
ready. In this June 21, 2017 photo, Astrid Rubens demonstrates the elasticity of homemade slime in her Rocks, who is planning on
It’s bright and fluffy, kitchen in St. Paul, Minn. Glue, baking soda and contact lens solution are all it takes to make sat- showcasing slime recipes
crunchy and glittery. Like isfyingly stretchy slime. this summer. The goo has
unicorn poop would be, Associated Press become something of a
if unicorns existed and cottage industry for tweens
pooped. too wet, not too sticky, Toronto, whose Instagram questions such as “Is there who want to earn a bit of
“It’s just really soothing to stretchy and malleable. slime videos have hundreds any way to revive old, pocket money, or at least
touch and stuff,” observes When squooshed by hand, of thousands of views. “Es- hardened slime?” (Try add- cover the cost of supplies.
Stella Templin, a 13-year- it emits satisfying pops and pecially people with anxi- ing water and kneading Alyssa has an Etsy store,
old from Northampton, bubbles, sounds that are ety. My followers have said with your hands) and “Can and Stella and her friend
Massachusetts. “And the part of the allure. Some it helps them sleep.” slime be used on furniture sell on another site.
noises it makes are really, fans watch videos of peo- Elmer’s, the venerable or walls?” (Absolutely not.) “Slime has been one of our
really satisfying.” ple playing with slime be- childhood glue, has pages “It takes one bottle of El- top search items since last
Full disclosure: this reporter cause they find the noises of slime recipes on its web- mer’s glue to make one October,” said Dayna Isom
purchased a 4-oz jelly jar relaxing. site. Colored slime, glitter batch of slime, and many Johnson, a trend expert at
of Cherry Bomb Slime from “The videos are satisfying slime, galaxy slime. Large, consumers are making Etsy. Slime can be annoy-
Stella who, with a friend, because they help people jumbo and extra-large multiple batches or ‘extra- ing to parents, which could
has a slime-making busi- calm down,” said Alyssa slime. It also has a helpful large’ batches of slime — be part of its lure, as well.
ness that sells the concoc- Jagan, a 15-year-old from FAQ on slime, with pressing so demand in glue is up Stella’s mom, Naomi Shul-
tions for $8 each. man, says that a batch of
Yes, they are slime-trepre- pink-dyed slime has left
neurs. streaks in the family’s up-
More on that in a minute. stairs bathroom sink that
Let’s back up and explain might not come out.
these blobs that have tak- It’s also a way to connect
en America by storm. It’s with others. Slime is tailor-
mostly girls who make it, made for social media
video it and sell it. because it’s so pretty — es-
Slime is easy to create with pecially when it contains
a bit of a mad-scientist rainbow-colored beads or
feel to the process. Sure, shimmery blue glitter.
there’s pre-made slime, Since March 1, Elmer’s has
but there’s not much ex- received nearly 200,000
citement in that. social media mentions
Glue, baking soda and about slime. And Alyssa,
contact lens solution are the 15-year-old in Can-
all it takes to make satisfy- ada, has nearly 650,000
ingly stretchy slime. Some fans on Instagram, all be-
recipes call for Borax (al- cause of her slime videos.
though concerns over Her book, “Ultimate Slime:
chemical burns have led DIY Tutorials for Crunchy
some goo-makers to sub- Slime, Fluffy Slime, Fishbowl
stitute other ingredients), Slime, and 50 Other Oddly
shaving cream or Tide In this June 21, 2017 combination photo, Astrid Rubens demonstrates the elasticity of homemade Satisfying Recipes--Totally
laundry detergent. slime in her kitchen in St. Paul, Minn. Borax Free!” comes out in
The optimal slime is not Associated Press November.q