How to Make Homemade Invisible Ink

Writing with invisible ink is a fun activity for kids.  Did you know that lemon juice can be used as invisible ink?  It can!  Messages that you write with lemon juice can only be read when the paper you wrote on is exposed to heat.  If you let certain friends know this secret, you can write top-secret messages and notes that only those particular friends can read.

Step 1:  Pour lemon juice into a small container.  A good container to use is the little plastic tub that drink mixes, like Crystal Light, come in (start saving those plastic tubs because they come in handy for crafts).

Step 2:  Soak the end of a Q-Tip cotton swab in the lemon juice and use the cotton swap as your pen.  You can also try using a pointed stick to write with.

Step 3:  Write your message on a white piece of paper.  Then put the paper aside and let it dry.

Step 4:  Hold the paper up to a hot light bulb (an adult may need to do this step) and the heat of the light bulb will slowly turn the invisible ink brown and the message will be revealed!

Tips:  Some fun ways you can use invisible ink is to make a fun greeting card.  You can write write a visible message that says something like "hold this card up to a light bulb to see how I feel" then the secret message can say "I love you" or whatever message you want to appear.  Just don't use card stock to make the card because it might be too thick to heat up properly. 

You can also use invisible ink to draw secret drawings like a treasure map.  Then give the map to a friend and let them try to find the treasure!  Another fun way to use invisible ink is to write secret messages on slips of paper then put all the messages in a hat or a bag.  Then let a group of children take turns picking out a slip of paper and reveling the message.  Just remember, children will need to be supervised.  Never let them hold the paper too close to the light bulb.

Please see some of my other articles:

Crafts for Kids - Homemade Bubble Paint

Activity for Kids - Homemade Creepy Crawlers

Craft Project for Kids - Homemade Feather Quill Pen

Comments (2)

Margie Lynn said:

	... I will have to try this with my grandkids. Thanks for sharing.
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July 02, 2010
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carmen357 said:

	... This some thing fun to do with kids thanks!
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September 09, 2010
Votes: +0