9 Art Project Ideas: Painting Projects for Kids

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Letter from the Editor

Hello creative families,

There’s nothing kids love more than getting their messy! Don’t worry, parents; with the right
tools and tutorials, your kids can craft a masterpiece instead of tracking a muddy mess into the
house.

Art projects are always an excellent boredom buster for little ones, especially when paint is
involved! Allowing children to express themselves with arts and crafts is more than just an
opportunity to spend quality time together; it’s an opportunity for your little ones to grow!

From DIY Wall Art to fun and fridge-worthy painting projects, the crafts in this collection will
turn any cries of, “I’m bored!” into an afternoon of fun. Color your world with these amazing
projects, and you’ll never have a dull day again!

You can find even more craft projects, games, and activities at AllFreeKidsCrafts.com.

Our eBooks, like all our kids’ craft projects, are absolutely FREE to members of our kids’ crafts
community. Please feel free to share with family and friends and ask them to sign up at our
website for our free e-mail newsletter.

Happy crafting!

Emily, Editor of AllFreeKidsCrafts

www.AllFreeKidsCrafts.com
9 Art Project Ideas: Painting Projects for Kids
Amazing Ice Painting ..................................... 5
DIY Scratch Art............................................... 6
Nautical Starfish Wall Art .............................. 7
Hawaiian-Inspired Paper Plate Art ................ 9
Paper Plate Fruity Fun ................................. 12
Rain Painting................................................ 14
Funny Faces Portrait Art.............................. 15
Mess-Free Fingerpainting............................ 16
Color Eruption Jars ...................................... 17
Special Thanks ............................................. 18
 Amazing Ice Painting
By: Melissa from Fireflies and Mudpies

Create an incredible piece of artwork with this

unique art project idea. Amazing Ice Painting might
sound simple, but there's a secret to achieving the
gorgeous, glittery effect. Indoor activities like these
are great for any season, so you can make Amazing
Ice Painting all year round. You probably have
everything you need for this sparkly ice painting
project at home, too, so you can start your creative
process right away. So what makes Amazing Ice Painting so amazing? You’ll have to find out!

Materials:

 Small jars or containers  Watercolor paper

 Ice  Paint brushes
 Food coloring or liquid watercolors  Rock salt

Instructions:

1.) To prepare the ice paint, squeeze several drops of food coloring or liquid watercolors into small
containers.

2.) Fill the remainder of the jars with water. Freeze the jars outside (or in the freezer) overnight.

3.) When the paint is ready, sprinkle rock salt over the frozen paint. Once the paint begins to melt,
encourage your children to paint any design they like.
 DIY Scratch Art
By: Molly from Just a Little Creativity

Making your own custom wall art is easy, thanks to this amazing
painting project for kids! DIY Scratch Art uses an amazing reverse
painting technique that allows kids to work backwards from a painted
canvas. Preschoolers and preteens alike will love making DIY wall art
with this cool art project. Want to know the best part? Once you
understand the technique, you can make any design you want!

Materials:
 Wood board  Vinyl stickers (or similar; see
 Paint (black, other colors of choice) instructions)
 Paint brushes

Instructions:

1.) Paint the entire surface of your wood board with a variety of colors.

2.) When the paint is dry, dry, use stickers or vinyl to cover some of the colorful painted area. If you have
a Silhouette machine, you can make your own vinyl cutouts. You can also use Con-Tact paper as a sticker
and create your own design, or purchase vinyl stickers from your local craft store.
3.) Paint the surface of the board with black paint, covering the stickers.

4.) When the black paint is dry, carefully pull off the stickers. The areas that the stickers covered now
pop out against the black.
 Nautical Starfish Wall Art
By: Amanda Formaro for AllFreeKidsCrafts

Create DIY wall art worthy of the high seas with

this charming project. Nautical Starfish Wall Art is
one of the classiest decorative crafts that kids can
make, and it's easier to make than you might
think. Kids will only need a little help from an
adult to complete this beachy craft project. Kids
can make this home decor craft for their
bedroom, or they can make Nautical Starfish Wall
Art to remember the family vacation to the beach.

Materials:

 9 wooden rulers  Americana Paint: Pebble, Toffee and

 2 paint stir sticks Sea Glass
 5 white twigs (You can use twigs from  Wood glue
your yard, strip off the bark and paint  Heavy duty scissors
them white.)  Turbo Tacky Glue
 1 pebble  Paintbrush
 Sandpaper (240 grit)

Instructions:

1.) Paint three of the rulers light brown, three of them tan, and the last three green. To get a more rustic
look, do not clean your paintbrush between colors. A little mixing gives it character.

2.) When dry, use sandpaper to rough up the edges a little and sand off some of the excess paint. This
will allow a bit of the writing to show through from the rulers.

3.) When all nine rules are lined up together to make the plaque, they will measure approximately 9 1/2-
inches. Measure your paint stir sticks to about 9-inches and trim off the excess.
4.) Apply wood glue to the paint sticks and lay them on a flat surface next to each other with about 7-
inches in between them.

5.) Starting at the bottom, lay a painted ruler onto the paint stir sticks and keep stacking them upward
until all rulers are in place.

6.) Use Turbo Tacky Glue to glue the white sticks in the shape of a starfish to the center of the plaque.
Glue a pebble to the center of the star. Allow everything to dry before displaying.
 Hawaiian-Inspired Paper Plate Art
By: Benetta Strydom for AllFreeKidsCrafts

Feel the ocean breeze with this fun and super thrifty art project
idea. Hawaiian-Inspired Paper Plate Art is a painting project
taken to the next level; once your little ones have painted their
floral design, they can add dimension to their art with a woven
edge. Hang up this design when your kids are done, and it’ll feel
like summer even in the coldest months of the year.

Materials:

 1 paper plate  Leaf green yarn

 Acrylic paint: dark pink, light pink, and  Scissors
light green  Chenille needle used for embroidery
 Flower stamps with wool
 Three thin paintbrushes  Newspaper to protect the working area

Instructions:

1.) Use the needle to punch a circle of evenly distributed holes all around the inner center of the plate.
This step should be done by an adult.

2.) Using a paint brush, apply an even layer of dark pink paint onto your flower stamps. Use another
paintbrush to apply an even layer of light pink paint on the center of the flower stamp. Be careful not to
apply too much or too little paint to the stamp, as you will end up with an uneven effect.
3.) Press the image onto the inner center of the plate, and then carefully lift the stamp so as not to
smudge the stamped flower.

4.) Repeat steps 2 and 3 with the flower stamps until the inner center of the plate is filled.

5.) Allow the stamped images to dry before continuing with the next step.

6.) Use the third paintbrush and the light green paint to add a green background to the plate in-between
the stamped flowers.

7.) Use the yarn to make a frame around the plate. Thread a piece of yarn through the eye of the needle
and make a knot where the two ends of the yarn meet. Push the needle from the back through to the
front. The knot will prevent the yarn from being pulled through completely.

8.) Take the thread across the front of the plate towards the back and push the needle through the next
hole. Continue wrapping the edge of the plate until the yarn runs out. Tie another knot at the back and
trim it neatly, so that it is only visible from the back.
9.) Continue until the whole edge of the plate has been wrapped with the yarn.

10.) Make a loop with the yarn and tie it to strands of yarn at the back of the plate and voila! You are
ready to display your artwork.
 Paper Plate Fruity Fun
By: Amanda Formaro for AllFreeKidsCrafts

With the sunshine of summer comes the juicy and

delicious goodness of fresh fruit, so make Paper
Plate Fruity Fun, to get a taste of summer all year
long. Paper plate crafts are always a hit with
parents and kids alike; they’re incredibly thrifty,
but provide tons of opportunities for fun craft
projects. Choose your favorite fruit, or make them
all!

Materials:
 5 miniature paper plates  Markers: brown, yellow, orange
 Craft paint: red, orange, green, olive  Scissors
green, yellow, white  Glue stick-
 Construction paper: yellow, orange,
green, pink, white

Instructions:

1.) Paint the paper plates, one each: red, orange, olive green, green and yellow. You may need to add a
second coat. Allow to dry. For the kiwi plate (olive green), mix a little olive green with white to lighten it
up and paint the center of the olive green plate.

2.) Using one of the paper plates as a template, draw a circle onto each piece of construction paper.
Follow the directions for each piece of fruit below:
Apple- Cut the circle from the white paper, trimming off about 1/2-inch all the way around. Use glue
stick to attach the white circle to the red paper plate. Cut the paper plate in half and use the brown
marker to draw seeds.

Orange- Cut the circle from the orange paper, trimming off about 1/2-inch all the way around. Fold the
orange circle in half, then in half again and finally in half again. Unfold once. use scissors to cut out the
center sections of each triangle, cut through several layers of paper at once. Unfold and attach the circle
(which should look like a wagon wheel) to the orange plate using a glue stick. Use an orange marker to
draw a few seeds in the center.

Lemon- Repeat the steps as with the orange above using yellow paper and a yellow marker.

Kiwi- Cut the circle from the green paper, trimming off about 1/2-inch all the way around. Fold the
green circle in half and cut an oval from the center at the fold. Unfold and draw seeds on the green
paper around the center hole using a brown marker. Attach to the olive green plate using a glue stick.

Watermelon- Cut the circle from the pink paper, trimming away enough paper to only cover the center
of the green plate. Attach to the center of the green plate using a glue stick then cut the plate in half.
Draw seeds using a brown marker.
 Rain Painting
By: Shelly from Dolen Diaries

When it rains, it pours, but that doesn't mean you

and the kids have to be stuck inside. Grab your art
supplies and try Rain Painting! All you have to do is
wait for a rainy day, let the kids paint, and then go
outside and wait for the magic to happen. This fun
art project for kids doubles as no-cost, no-effort
entertainment, since kids will love watching their
paint shift and blend into a whole new masterpiece as the rain falls.

Materials:
 Paper  Paint brushes
 Paint (colors of your choice)  A rainy day

Instructions:

1.) Place paint on paper, in any design you want.

2.) Bring your paper outside and let the rain do the work!
 Funny Faces Portrait Art
By: Benetta Strydom for AllFreeKidsCrafts

Funny Faces Portrait Art is an entertaining painting project for kids

to capture their families, friends, or classmates in a personal way.
After your little ones learn how to make a potato stamp, they can
customize this art project idea in any way they want. When they're
finished, kids can turn their Funny Faces Portrait Art into a
customized homemade teacher gift or a whimsical homemade gift
for a family member. No matter how your kids choose to make this
stamp art project, they're sure to love adding the personal touches
to make it unique.

Materials:
 A4 sheet of ordinary printer paper  Paintbrush
 Acrylic paint: flesh, powder blue and  Pair of standard scissors
white  Quick drying glue
 Curly brown and blonde synthetic doll  One potato
hair (optional)  Paper towels
 Small pieces of felt in the following  Small round cookie cutter
colors: red, yellow and pink  Knife
 Colored felt-tip pens

Instructions:

1.) Start by making a potato stamp. (Note: this step should be done by an adult.) Slice the potato
lengthwise in half. Place the cookie cutter on the cut side of the one potato half. Push the cookie cutter
into the potato and use the knife to gently cut away any excess potato around the cutter. Remove the
cookie cutter and blot the potato stamp on a paper towel. Now it is ready for printing!

2.) Paint a layer of flesh acrylic paint onto the potato and print it onto the A4 sheet of printer paper.

3.) Repeat step 2 until you have stamped ten circles onto the paper. You can adjust the number of
circles you want to stamp based on how you choose to use this project. Allow the stamped circles to dry
thoroughly.

4.) When your circles are dry, you can customize your Funny Faces Portrait Art. Use the colored felt-tip
pens to add smiley faces to the stamped circles. Add rosy cheeks and freckles to some of the faces. Use
the paint brush and the white acrylic paint to add a small white spot to the eyes. Glue hair onto some of
the circles, or use felt-tip pens to draw hair onto others. Cut small half circles from the felt to make hats
for some of the faces.

5.) Use the paint brush and the powder blue acrylic paint to add some color to the background.
 Mess-Free Fingerpainting
By: Michelle from Muffin Tin Mom

A painting project without the mess might sound

too good to be true, but once you try this art
project idea, you’ll be a believer. Mess-Free
Fingerpainting is both a fun, hands-on art project
for little ones and a brilliant parenting hack for
Moms. Preschoolers will love squishing and
blending the paint colors, which give parents and
teachers a perfect opportunity to teach kids about
color mixing. Once your little ones have tried this
project, they’ll want to make it again and again!

Materials:
 White paper  Newspaper to lay down underneath you
 Different colors of finger paint as you work.
 Wax paper

Instructions:

1.) Drop spoonfuls of fingerpaint on white paper.

2.) Cover the paper and paint with wax paper.

3.) Working on top of the wax paper, spread out the paint with their fingertips, working from the inside
out. Hold the edges of the wax paper if it begins to slide around.

4.) When your child is finished, peel the wax paper away from the fingerpaint to reveal a stunning
masterpiece.
 Color Eruption Jars
By: Kathy Cano-Murillo for I Love to Create

Add a burst of color to any room with surprisingly

simple decorative crafts. Color Eruption Jars can be
made by little hands, which is shocking, considering
how amazing they look. These simple crafts for kids
can also be completed in just minutes. All you have
to do is wait for them to dry, and then you can
display your Mason jar crafts for all to see. Use any
type of recycled container that you have to bring
this stunning piece of art into your home.

Materials:

 Puffy® Paint Value Packs  Wax paper

 Glass bottles/Mason jars

Instructions:

1.) Wash and dry the bottles. Cover work area with wax paper.

2.) Choose four colors in the color same family such as dark red, red, orange and yellow.

3.) Take the darkest color and squeeze a generous amount around the bottle, about a third of the way
up from the bottom of the bottle.

4.) Repeat with the next color, about ½” above the first color. Note: You want to squeeze enough paint
around the bottle to get a “dripping” effect.

5.) Continue until you’ve layered all the colors.

6.) Add black or white dots around the top ridge of bottle. Let dry completely.

7.) Repeat with other color schemes on other bottles.

Variations: Use black and white and a little bit of color between the layers. You can also add the paint
inside the bottle for a marbled look.
 Special Thanks

Thank you to everyone included in this eBook:

Benetta Strydom

Amanda from Crafts by Amanda

Shelly from Dolen Diaries

Melissa from Fireflies and Mudpies

Molly from Just a Little Creativity

 Michelle from Muffin Tin Mom

I Love to Create

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