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Our Puffy Paint recipe is so fun for kids of all ages! This fluffy paint mixture has a fun texture that stays puffy as it dries. It is made with household ingredients like shaving cream and glue and keeps kiddos busy for hours!
Puffy Paint
Use paintbrushes to glob it onto your paper. Or, transfer the puffy paint to plastic squeeze bottles or ziplock bags and go nuts. Looking for a more dynamic mix of textures? Use a combination of both methods. Use a fork, a spoon, or even Q-tips (cotton swabs).
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Puffy Paint Ingredients:
This wonderfully simple craft only requires 3 easy to find ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need. Have a look at the printable recipe card at the very end of this post for exact measurements.
- Glue – such as Elmer’s white glue or school glue
- Shaving cream – Barbasol or any brand
- Food coloring – I chose Pink, Blue, Green, Yellow, and Red but feel free to swap any of these out for a different color. Note that you will have to have ½ cup shaving cream and glue for each of your chosen colors. Gel food coloring or liquid both work.
Supplies:
Before starting, take a quick inventory and make sure you have the following supplies.
- Cups – You will need one cup per color. I suggest plastic cups for easier cleanup but the choice is yours! Small bowls work too.
- Spoons (to mix)
- Paint brushes and/or squeeze bottles
- A surface to paint on! I used colored construction paper but you can paint on any disposable surface (like paper plates)
Instructions:
Place ½ cup of Elmer’s glue and ½ cup shaving cream into cups. Then, add a couple of drops of food coloring to each cup. Stir the shaving cream, glue, and food coloring together until smooth.
What does DIY puffy paint texture feel like when dry?
Once it is applied onto a surface, it will dry just as normal paint would except, instead of lying flat against the paper, it will be raised with tiny air bubbles. So fun!
Creative Tips
Using paper is the most obvious but, if you have some clothes that you don’t mind sacrificing in the name of art, consider decorating them. Whatever canvas you choose, have fun, and get creative!
Can I make more?
Yes! All you have to do is scale the recipe up using equal parts shaving cream and glue. This is a great option if you want to use more colors or if you want to make puffy paint for a group art project.
Storage
Store the puffy paint in an airtight container for up to 24 hours. Unfortunately, the shaving cream won’t stay puffy for longer than that and the top layer of paint get a bit stiff the longer it sits.
More Crafts for Kids
Puffy Paint Recipe
Puffy Paint
Supplies
- Cups – You will need one cup per color. I suggest plastic cups for easier cleanup but the choice is yours!
- Spoons to mix
- Paint brushes and/or squeeze bottles to apply your puffy paint
- A surface to paint on! I used colored construction paper but you can paint on any disposable surface.
Ingredients
- ½ cup glue
- ½ cup shaving cream
- Food coloring
Instructions
- Place ½ cup glue and ½ cup shaving cream into cups, the number of cups will depend on how many colors you'd like to make.
- Add a couple of drops of food coloring to each cup (red in one, green in another, and so on) and mix the shaving cream, glue, and food coloring together. Mix until smooth and the color is dispersed throughout the cup.
- Paint or squirt the puffy paint onto paper to make designs.
