
Painting is a fun activity for kids that promotes creativity and fine motor skills. There are many easy and enjoyable crafts that kids can do with paint, such as using non-toxic finger paint, which can be made at home with sugar, water, cornstarch, and food coloring. Kids can also experiment with different canvases like paper plates, foil, and bubble wrap. Other crafts include making painted flower pots, using rolling pins wrapped in yarn as paint printing machines, and creating spin painters with household items. For beginners, wood crafts are a great way to start as kids are often satisfied with the outcome.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Types of paint | Acrylic, craft, tempera, watercolour, finger paint |
| Surfaces | Paper, wood, rocks, canvas, mugs, picture frames, clay, cardboard, foil, flower pots, cups, tape, bubble wrap, gourds, salt dough |
| Tools | Paintbrushes, rollers, putty knives, Q-tips, marbles, sponges, spray bottles, feet, fingers, food colouring, glue, scissors |
| Benefits | Creativity, fine motor skills, colour mixing, sensory activity, exploration, learning |
| Additional elements | Stickers, markers, embellishments, sharpies, string, yarn, food colouring, water |
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What You'll Learn
- Painting with non-traditional tools, such as marbles, feet, or spray bottles
- Painting on non-traditional surfaces, such as foil, bubble wrap, or mugs
- Using paint to decorate useful objects, such as picture frames, telescopes, or flower pots
- Creating 3D art with paint, such as salt dough sculptures or painted clay
- Painting with different textures, such as puffy paint or finger paint

Painting with non-traditional tools, such as marbles, feet, or spray bottles
Painting with non-traditional tools is a fun way to encourage kids to be creative and experiment with art. It's a great way to add unique textures and patterns to their artwork and can be a fun sensory experience too. Here are some ideas for painting with marbles, feet, and spray bottles:
Marbles
Place a few drops of paint onto some marbles and then roll them around inside a cup or mug. Be sure to cover the entire inside surface. This creates a unique, marbled effect. Children can then paint the outside of the mug with their chosen colour and add a design with a marker or leave it as it is.
Feet
Foot painting is a fun sensory experience for kids and can create interesting, textured artwork. Spread out some newspaper or a tarp to protect your surfaces and pour paint onto a plate or tray. Let kids dip their toes or soles into the paint and then make footprints on the paper or canvas. This is a great option for younger children who may not be able to use a paintbrush yet.
Spray Bottles
Fill small, empty spray bottles with watered-down acrylic paint or add paint to a water spray bottle. Children can then spray their paint onto paper or canvas to create fluid, watercolour-like effects. This method can add depth and movement to their artwork. You can also use stencils to create interesting patterns and shapes. Another fun idea is to add food colouring to the water and then spray it onto the canvas.
Other Non-Traditional Tools
There are endless possibilities for painting with non-traditional tools. Kids can use their fingers to scrape off paint and create interesting patterns or use a putty knife for a similar effect. They can also dip paper directly into paint or ink for a vibrant, colourful result. Items with gaps or holes, such as leaves, branches, or lace, can act as stencils to create beautiful, ornate patterns.
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Painting on non-traditional surfaces, such as foil, bubble wrap, or mugs
Foil Painting
Cover a large surface of a table with foil and prepare your paints. The reflective surface of the foil provides an extra fun and unique painting experience for kids. They can use their fingers or paintbrushes to create their art. This activity is simple to set up and requires minimal supplies, making it a quick and easy craft project for kids.
Bubble Wrap Painting
Tape pieces of bubble wrap firmly to a table, or cover the entire table for a collaborative piece. Provide kids with paint, brushes, and foam rollers, and let them spread the paint with their fingers, brushes, or rollers. Using primary colors will allow kids to watch the paint combine into secondary colors, creating a fun and educational color-mixing experience. Before the paint colors get too mixed, place a piece of paper on top of the bubble wrap to capture the print.
Hand-Painted Mugs
This craft project involves using store-bought glazed mugs and acrylic paint pens to create personalized ceramic mugs. This activity is a great way to encourage kids to express their creativity and make unique designs. The painted mugs can be used as gifts for family and friends, promoting a sense of pride and accomplishment.
These craft ideas offer a fun twist to traditional painting, allowing kids to explore their creativity and experiment with different textures and surfaces while also developing their fine motor skills.
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Using paint to decorate useful objects, such as picture frames, telescopes, or flower pots
Painting is a fun activity for kids that promotes creativity and fine motor skills. There are many ways to use paint to decorate useful objects such as picture frames, telescopes, or flower pots. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Picture Frames
Children can paint picture frames in any colour or design they like. Once the paint is dry, they can add stickers or other embellishments to personalise their frames. This craft idea allows kids to express their creativity and add their unique touch to a functional object.
Flower Pots
Flower pots can be transformed into vibrant works of art with paint. Kids can create rainbow ombre designs or experiment with different colours to make unique patterns. They can also try using rolling pins wrapped in yarn as paint printing machines for a fun twist. Flower pot painting is an easy craft that both children and adults can enjoy, bringing a touch of creativity to your garden or indoor space.
Telescopes
A simple paper towel roll can be turned into a telescope with a little paint and creativity. Kids can decorate the roll with colourful paints, stickers, or other craft supplies. This craft idea encourages kids to explore their surroundings differently and develop an interest in birdwatching or stargazing. It's a fun way to combine art with a functional object that enhances their exploration of the world around them.
Other Ideas
In addition to the above, kids can also decorate useful objects like mugs by placing a few drops of paint on marbles and rolling them inside the mug. They can also create their own unique artwork on rocks or stones and use them as paperweights or garden decorations. For a more seasonal craft, try painting and printing bubble wrap ice-creams during the summer. Kids can also experiment with different painting techniques like scrape painting, splatter painting, or using non-toxic finger paint for a sensory experience.
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Creating 3D art with paint, such as salt dough sculptures or painted clay
Salt dough sculptures are a fun and easy way to create 3D art with paint. To make the salt dough, simply mix salt and flour together, adding water gradually until you have a stiff mixture. Then, knead the dough with your hands to form a firm dough. You can even mix paint and water into the dough to minimize the painting required after the dough dries. Once you have your dough, you can create anything you wish, from a garden bunny to an apple tree. When you're happy with your sculpture, bake it in the oven at a very low temperature to harden the dough.
Another fun 3D art project is to create painted clay sculptures. Air-dry clay is a great option for kids as it doesn't require a kiln. They can create anything from decorative tiles to clay coil hearts, fairy houses, or even a nature mobile with painted clay beads. For a fun twist, use doilies or lace to create unique textures in the clay before shaping it into ornaments or magnets.
There are many types of paint suitable for these projects. Acrylic paints are inexpensive and can be found in the kids' section of a craft store. Craft paints are typically sold as individual bottles in the paint section of a craft store. Tempera paints are thinner and more liquid than acrylic paints, making them harder to control but still a good option for kids as they are usually washable. Watercolor paints are the thinnest option and are very budget-friendly.
In addition to salt dough and clay sculptures, there are many other ways for kids to create 3D art with paint. For example, they can use disposable cups to create bold paintings or paint flower pots with rainbow ombre. They can even use rolling pins wrapped in yarn as paint printing machines!
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Painting with different textures, such as puffy paint or finger paint
Painting with different textures is a fun way to add interest to kids' artwork. Puffy paint is one way to do this. Squirt some puffy paint onto a piece of paper and let children create their own designs. They can make dots, swirls, lines, or any other shapes they can think of.
Finger painting is another great option for kids to experiment with different textures. Homemade finger paints are easy to make with sugar, water, cornstarch, and food coloring. This sensory activity allows kids to explore their artistic side while experimenting with colors and textures. Finger paints usually have a thick and opaque consistency and are best used on paper and wood surfaces.
Bubble wrap is another fun way to create textured artwork. Paint the bubble wrap, then press it down on paper and lift to create a unique pattern. This is a great way to teach kids about texture and recycle bubble wrap from packages.
For a simple art process that encourages color mixing, try scrape painting. Using red, yellow, and blue paint, kids can create vibrant works of art with simple tools like a putty knife and canvas. They can spread the paint onto the canvas with the knife and then use the back of the blade or their fingers to scrape off the paint, forming interesting patterns.
Kids can also get creative with rollers and a variety of paints to make textured marks on oversized paper or a canvas.
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Frequently asked questions
There are plenty of easy crafts kids can do with paint. For younger kids, Q-tip paintings are perfect as they can easily control the amount of paint they use. Sponge painting is another great option for kids who enjoy getting messy. Kids can also try painting with their fingers or toes, or even using a spin painter made from household items.
Kids can paint on a variety of materials besides paper, such as foil, wood, or even rocks. They can also try painting on flower pots, paper plates, or paper towels.
Tempera paint is a common choice for kids' crafts as it is inexpensive and typically washable. Craft paint and acrylic paint are also suitable for kids, but may be harder to wash off. Finger paints are another option that is safe for kids and can be easily made at home using sugar, water, cornstarch, and food coloring.
Besides painting, kids can decorate their creations with stickers, glitter, or foam shapes. They can also try block printing by cutting shapes out of foam and stamping them onto paper. Adding elements like food coloring or bubble wrap can make their paintings more unique and interesting.









































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