Home > Crafts for and with Kids > Shaving Foam Marbling – Fun Art Activity for Toddlers and Preschoolers
ByCerys ParkerPublished on
Arts and crafts are one of our favourite ways to explore different themes with our toddlers and preschoolers here on Rainy Day Mum. We like getting creative and making easy toddler crafts that are great for preschoolers as well. But sometimes we want to explore painting techniques instead of actually making something. One of my favourite painting techniques to explore is Marbling and although using the traditional method is great it can be expensive buying the specialist paints. You can, however, use this simple marble painting technique with materials you have at home to do with your toddlers and preschoolers.
What You'll Find on This Page
Shaving Cream Marbeling Art for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Marbling traditionally uses water with oil-based paint. The oil paint floats on top of the water and when a piece of paper is immersed into the water the pattern shows up on the paper.
It’s a technique I have always loved and remember being introduced to it at an Art Gallery when I was 10 or 11.
Over time I’ve tried using nail polish and achieved the same effect. BUT…
Oil paints and young kids don’t exactly mix so instead this easy paper marbling activity for kids is ideal as you can use washable paints or food colouring that can be removed easily.
How to Marbel Paper with Shaving Foam
In the UK it is very expensive to get hold of liquid water colours so instead of using these which would prevent the staining of the hands we used liquid food colouring.
However, if you have access to liquid water colours they are a much better “paint” to use with your toddlers and preschoolers!
Supplies for Shaving Cream Marble Art for Toddlers and Preschoolers
- Shaving Foam – not the gel you want the one that quirts out as a foam
- Liquid food colouring in assorted papers
- Paper (I would recommend children’s art paper or water colour paper not printer paper for this activity)
Tools Needed for Shaving Foam Marbling
- Tray
- Ruler
- Skewer, pencil, toothpick or stick to stir the colour together
Time needed:15 minutes
A simple art activity for toddlers and preschoolers to produce marble paper using shaving foam.
- Spray the tray
Cover your tray in shaving foam so that there are no gaps.
- Drop the colours
Using the dropper provided with the food colouring drop the colours you have chosen over your shaving foam in a random pattern.
- Swirl to create a pattern
With your chosen tool swirl the food colouring around in the shaving foam to produce interesting patterns and effects.
- Transfer to the pattern to the paper
Place your piece of paper carefully on top of your colourful shaving foam pattern and press lightly so that it is all covered.
- Carefully remove the paper
Peel the paper off of the shaving foam and place to the side.
- Remove the shaving foam from the paper
Scrape off the shaving foam using a ruler to reveal the image that you have transferred to the paper.
- Leave to Dry!
Set aside to allow your marbled painted paper to dry.
You can now use your Mable Art Paper in other projects or keep it as it is.
More Shaving Cream Art for Toddlers and Preschoolers
This homemade puffy paint is ideal for creating a 3D moon inspired by the book If you Decided to Go to the Moon by Faith McNulty.
More Ideas for Activities to do with your Preschoolers
As summer approaches we are always on the look out for more ideas to do with our toddlers and pleased to join together with lots of other fun bloggers to share ideas to do with our littles ones this year.
So we’re very happy to introduce you to the DIY Summer Camp. Four weeks of fun ideas to do with Art, Animals, Science and Bugs! You can find out everything you need to know about the DIY Summer Camp over on Preschool Powol Packets as well as other ideas for you and your tots to do this summer.
