Make your own invisible ink and watch your invisible creation re-appear again when heated, as if by magic. Be a secret agent for the day and write top secret messages to friends or create an 'invisible' treasure map.
Warning: the paper can get very hot so adult supervision is needed.
Time: 30 minutes
Age: 5-10's, Over 10's
Level: Medium
Materials
Nib to write with - try a blunt wooden skewer, cotton bud or even the hard tip of a feather
Toaster and tongs to reveal your message
Squeeze the lemon juice into a bowl and add a few drops of water
Dip your nib into the 'ink' and write your secret message on a piece of paper, dipping more 'ink' onto the nib as often as you need.
We had fun using the hard tip of a feather for our nib
Leave the paper to dry. Your 'ink' should dry clear so that your drawing or message becomes invisible.
Ink drying on the paper
You could choose to add some 'decoy' writing with a ballpoint pen on your invisible ink paper.
When you want to reveal your secret message, hold the paper over the top of a toaster switched on for a few minutes. The paper can get very hot so be sure to use tongs
The lemon juice will turn brown and your invisible message will appear as if by magic!
Hold the paper over a toaster using tongs
Watch your message magically appear
You could also tear round the edges of a sheet of paper and make a secret treasure map.
Invisible treasure map
Younger children can also enjoy just painting with the 'ink' and watching their artwork disappear and re-appear again, as if by magic.
Younger children will enjoy watching their drawings magically re-appear
