Arts and crafts can feel daunting with kids. The mess, the fuss, the uncertain results. But luckily there are a few ways to make craft time fun and relatively mess free. We’ve been crafting in a whole new way since I discovered watercolor stamping!
My two year old is working through some sensory bits and pieces, so texture tolerance is a big thing for us. Most paint projects end in frustration or tears because they’re sticky and slimy. Two things he most certainly does not like.
But watercolor stamping is different. The liquid is thinner. The process is quick and simple. And, the results are AMAZING!
Ready to give it a try?
Here’s what you need:
1 sheet white cardstock, small paper cups or bowls, cheap acrylic craft paint, water, foil lined baking sheet, paper towels
- Cut the cardstock into various sizes and styles of pumpkins. Here I did large and wide, mediums, smalls and tall and skinny. (If you have a Cricut machine, you could also cut your shapes that way!)
- In each cup, place 1/2 teaspoon paint (don’t measure, just eyeball) and 1 tablespoon water. Stir with a straw. Choose paints that vary, but coordinate. For this project, we used a burnt orange, golden yellow and pale blue.
- Using the straw as suction (submerge in liquid, place finger over end and pull out), drop paint on foil lined baking sheet. This is where it gets fun! Be free! Get creative! Watch how the paint swirls when you drop different colors on top of each other vs next to each other.
- Once your paint covers an area as large as your paper pumpkins, let your kids “stamp” each pumpkin by placing it directly in the paint. My little guy liked to move it around and it still turned out great!
- Press down then peel up within a couple seconds – you don’t want the water to bleed all the way through the cardstock. Place painted side up on a paper towel to dry. They will curl at first but flatten as they dry.
- Once fully dry, attach them to a store-bought or homemade card with a glue stick. Your toddlers can do this part too! Add a greeting with marker and you’re set!
So easy, right!? We’ve had fun experimenting with different colors and shapes.
We will definitely be using this painting technique for EVERY holiday and special times in between.
Happy Making!
