DIY puffy paint is so much fun. It feels great while painting with it and after, when it’s dry. The best part is that using the shaving cream doubles the amount of paint you get so it extends the length of the project. Are you interested yet? Okay, let’s learn how to make homemade puffy paint!

Materials you’ll need to Make Homemade Puffy Paint:

▪ Washable Paint, liquid watercolor, or food coloring (stains so only use for older kids)

▪ Elmer’s Glue

▪ Non-toxic, sensitive skin shaving cream

▪ Bowls and paint brushes

Directions:

  • Mix 1/4 cup of Elmer’s glue with 1/2 cup of shaving cream. Don’t worry when the shaving cream expands a little over the top of the 1/2 cup.
  • Then if you want color, add 15 to 20 drops of washable paint. If you have liquid watercolor paint on hand or choose to use food coloring (remember it stains), you will only need a few drops to make a bold color.
  • Stir it up until you get stiff peaks.
  • Put out multiple colors and let the kids feel it as they design their work of art. Even though the shaving cream is non-toxic, please don’t let your little ones ingest it.
  • Use up your paint that day. Unfortunately it doesn’t keep because the shaving cream deflates.

Activities to Create with Your DIY Homemade Puffy Paint

  1. Halloween Ghosts: Cut a black ghost out of construction or card-stock paper and offer white puffy paint with googly eyes to decorate your house for Halloween. Here’s a fun Halloween story to add to your afternoon!
  2. Animals: Whenever you have an extra piece of white cardboard hanging around, cut out an animal shape, letter, or anything that your kids are currently interested in. Then when they’re painting, you can extend their learning with the subject, such as discussing letters, shapes, or animal facts. You can incorporate a related book before or after the activity as well!
  3. Ice Cream Cones with Sprinkles: Cut out big circles, as the ice cream scoops, and glue them on top of one another atop of a brown cone. Let the kids choose the “flavor” coloring and at the end offer real sprinkles to drop on top! If your child is old enough ask them to practice drawing three big circles and work on their scissor skills by cutting out the circular scoops and triangular cone. Here is one of my favorite Mo Willems books about sharing ice cream to read while the kids are decorating their ice cream cones with their homemade puffy paint.

Don’t let the pandemic keep you down, learn other ways to have a blast this Halloween! 

 

About The Author

Kelsey Dickson has over 15 years of experience working with children as a nanny, preschool teacher, and now a mother. She has her degree in Early Childhood Education and works for Boston Baby Nurse & Nanny as the eLearning Manager. Check out our online childcare classes, such as Baby Sign Language and Sleep Coaching 101! In her free time she enjoys gardening with her son, going for walks with her husband and dog, and discovering local wineries in New England.