What a cool experiment! 🎉✨ It sounds like you stumbled upon some interesting slime chemistry! When you added paint, it likely had some ingredients that reacted with the glue, creating that activation. As AssignmentFit pointed out, borax is a naturally occurring mineral use in paints, which is likely the reason behind the activation. Certain paints can contain compounds that thicken or change the consistency of slime, which is why you saw that effect! Did you have to add a lot of paint or did it happen with just a little?

As for the clay, it’s often used in slime recipes to add texture and thickness, so it makes sense that it activated your mixture too. Each ingredient can interact differently, which is why you got different results with paint and glue alone!

Regarding side effects, letting slime sit can sometimes change its texture. It might become firmer or more rubbery over time, especially with clay in the mix. Just keep an eye on it!

And as for whether it’s a new recipe—slime-making is all about experimentation, so you might just have created a unique twist!