painting

Spin Painting Butterflies

May 19, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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There are few art projects that are more exciting and fun than spin painting. And using a salad spinner is an easy and low mess way to create spin art. I’ve featured this painting technique in a few projects on my blog. In this post, I feature spin painting butterflies.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Gather the following supplies for this art x science painting activity:

salad spinner
butterfly template
cardstock paper
pipe cleaners
tempera paint
paint pots
spoons
tape
white glue or glue gun

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Creating Spin Painting Butterflies

To create the spin art butterflies, design a butterfly template and trace it onto cardstock paper in the color of your choice. It is optimal for the butterflies to be the size of the bottom of the salad spinner. To help figure out the correct size, trace the bottom of the salad spinner basket onto a piece of paper. Lay the butterfly template on the circle and adjust its size if needed.

Then add a little piece of rolled-up tape to the bottom of one paper butterfly, and position it securely in the salad spinner basket.

Next, pour tempera paint colors of choice into paint pots. Add a little white or yellow paint to brighten up the colors if desired.

Afterward, spoon blobs of paint in a variety of colors onto the butterfly.

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Then spin the salad spinner at a moderate rate. It is ideal for the butterfly to remain on the bottom of the spinner. Spinning it super fast may loosen the butterfly resulting in it sticking to the side of the basket. This will smudge up the paint.

Next, open the spinner and carefully lift out the butterfly. Remove the tape and let it dry.

Finally, cut out a one-piece butterfly head, thorax, and abdomen from a complementary piece of sturdy paper, and bend a pipe cleaner length into antennae. Glue both to the center of the butterfly using white glue or a glue gun.

Oh-so-fun salad spinner butterfly art activity. An easy-to-do, all-ages art activity.

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Invite each person participating in this activity to create one or two spin art butterflies.

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Spin Painting Butterfly Variations

After spinning the salad spinner the first time, you can choose to drop in more paint and spin again.

Create this spin painting butterfly in a few easy steps. This is a process art activity everyone in the family will love.

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After the first spin cycle, the butterfly in the above picture turned out mostly yellow. With a little more paint added and another round or two of spinning, the butterfly is more colorful.

If the butterfly does stick to the side and the paint is smudged, make a print with it on a new piece of paper. Cut the butterfly out and use doubled sided tape to secure it onto a new piece of paper for a 3D effect. Add a cardstock frame for a finishing touch.

Butterfly paint prints look stunning when displayed on a cardstock background.

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And gluing a painted butterfly, ribbon, and bead garland to a dowel makes an awesome butterfly wand.

Beautiful spin painitng butterfly wand craft your little learners will love. An all-ages process art project.

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The Science Behind Salad Spinner Art

Centrifugal force is used in creating salad spinner art. When the salad spinner is spun around, centrifugal force pushes the paint away from the center to the edges of the butterfly.

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How to create beautiful spin painting butterflies with a salad spinner. This is a super fun process art activity everyone will enjoy.

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Related:

Spin Painting Maple Leaf Art

Salad Spinner Heart Art

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[Read more…]

Ombre Bunny Art

March 25, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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When doing a similar bunny art project year after year it’s nice to vary the color scheme. In this spring painting activity, shades of teal and blue are used to create ombre bunny art.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Shades of blue tempera paint are used to decorate this ombre bunny, This is an easy-to-do art project that you are sure to love.

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For this simple painting project, gather the following supplies:

teal and deep blue tempera paint
white tempera paint
paint pots
paintbrush
paint palette
bunny template
manilla tag paper
wiggly eyes
black pipe cleaner
blue button
cotton balls
spoons
scissors and pencil
white glue or glue gun

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The Ombre Bunny Art Project

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To start off, pick a bunny template to trace and cut out from manila tag paper, or another sturdy kind. My bunny design was traced from a dollar store wall plaque.

Then select a deep color of teal paint and add it to three paint pots. In two of the pots, stir in varying amounts of white paint. Pour dark blue paint into a fourth paint pot and mix in some white.

Afterward, spoon the blue paint shades and a little white into a paint palette.

Set the paint palette, bunny template, and paintbrush on an art table protected with newspapers or a disposable tablecloth.

Brushing on blue shades from dark to light or light to dark will create an ombre effect.

When the painting is dry, use a glue stick or glue gun to adhere two wiggly eyes, a button nose, and a bent pipe cleaner mouth to create a bunny face.

Wiggly eyes, a button nose, and a pipe cleaner mouth create a bunny face.

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Or glue one or more cotton balls to the bottom of the bunny to fashion a bunny tail.

A cotton ball tail accents this easy-to-do ombre-painted spring bunny art project you are sure to love.

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A pink, purple, or green color palette would also look pretty on this ombre bunny art project.

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More Bunny Art

Spring Bunny Canvas Art

Bunny Rolling Pin Art

Silhouette Bunny Art

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[Read more…]

Squeegee Painting Heart Art

March 10, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This super fun squeegee painting heart art project is bound to be one of your children’s favorites. Using a squeegee instead of a paintbrush offers participants a new way to move paint around a canvas.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Gather the following supplies for this abstract art project:

tempera paints in a variety of colors
paint pots and spoons
cardstock paper
squeegee
heart template
pencil and scissors
newspapers or a plastic tablecloth

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Preparing The Squeegee Painting Heart Art Activity

How to paint with a squeegee to create beautiful heart art. This is an all-ages process art activity with collaborative possibilities.

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To prepare this unique process art activity, trace and cut hearts from sturdy cardstock paper.

Then cover an art table with newspapers or a plastic tablecloth.

Next, set out a workstation for each participant with tempera-filled paint pots. Add a teaspoon to scoop paint into each one.

Note: I feature paints in red, pink, magenta, and white hues. Any color scheme would work wonderfully with this art project.

Afterward, add a paper heart canvas and squeegee to each workspace.

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The Squeegee Painting Heart Art Process

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Invite participants to spoon blobs of paint on different areas of their hearts. The blobs can be large or small. They can be dotted randomly or placed strategically around a heart.

Note: Paint can be squirted from paint bottles instead of spooned from paint pots. Smaller-sized bottles work best for this method.

Afterward, have them use a squeegee to move the paint around. You can suggest sliding the squeegee downward or from side to side. Using the squeegee in random motions is just fine too.

A super fun squeegee painting technique to create a hombre heart. This is an a;ll-ages process art project.

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Note: The longer the squeegee scrapes over the paper, the more the colors will blend.

An oh-so-fun squeegee painting activity that offers participants a new way to spread the paint. It is a top ten process art project.

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After participants have had a chance to paint one or more heart-shaped canvases, set out large sheets of sturdy paper for them to work on.

Squeegee painting on huge sheets of paper is a great process art project to take outdoors. The canvases can be set out on a flat ground surface or tacked to a fence. Large canvases also lend themselves to collaborative art projects.

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What do you think about this squeegee painting project? Do you think it is a top ten process art activity for children? Let me know in a comment below.

This super fun squeegee painting heart art activity offers participants a chance to spread paint with a squeegee instead of a paintbrush. This is an all-ages process art project.

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Related:

Salad Spinner Heart Art

Eye Dropper Heart Art

Valentine’s Day Process Art

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[Read more…]

Salad Spinner Heart Art

February 27, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This salad spinner heart art activity is so easy, and it’s super fun to do. From dripping paint into the basket to turning the spinner to taking the lid off to view the interesting heart designs, the project is fascinating for little learners from start to finish.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Salad Spinner Heart Art Supplies To Collect

A must-try easy and fun salad spinner heart art activity your little learners will love, This is process art at its best.

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Gather the following supplies for this exciting process art invitation.

salad spinner
tempera paints
paint pots
spoons
white cardstock paper
heart template
scissors
pencil
old newspapers or plastic tablecloth

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Preparing The Salad Spinner Heart Art Project

Super fun salad spinner heart art that results in unique process art projects every time. Pick your tempera paint colors and have fun spinning.

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To set up this art activity, first, select a salad spinner. It’s a good idea to have one set aside just for process art projects. I promise it will get well used.

Then draw heart shapes that just fit into the basket on white cardstock paper, and cut them out. Prepare enough paper hearts so that each participant can use at least two as a canvas.

Tip: Trace the bottom of the salad spinner basket on a piece of paper first to figure out the right size for the heart shape. Then save it for future activities.

Next, select tempera paint colors and pour them into paint pots. I feature turquoise, magenta, green, and pink hues, but the color possibilities are endless.

Then cover a table with old newspapers or a plastic tablecloth. Set out the salad spinner and paper hearts, as well as the paint pots with a spoon in each one.

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Creating Salad Spinner Painted Hearts

Gorgeous spin art heart created with a salad spinner and tempera paints. It's a process art activity your little learners will love.

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Invite a little learner to place a paper heart in the spinner and spoon a variety of paint colors on the heart.

Note: As an alternative, paint can be squeezed directly from paint bottles. Smaller tempera paint bottles are a good size for little ones to work with.

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Afterward, fit the lid snugly on the salad spinner and invite the little artist to turn the knob to spin the basket around. The faster the salad spinner spins, the better.

Now comes the most exciting part. Lift the lid off the spinner and view the painted heart together. You’ll discover a stunning and unique spin art project.

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Carefully take out the spun-painted heart and let it dry on a flat surface. The salad spinner is now ready to be used for more spin art heart paintings.

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Spin Painting Maple Leaf Art

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[Read more…]

Eye Dropper Heart Art

February 26, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This eye dropper heart art project is bound to put a smile on the face and joy in the heart of each of your little learners. It works well for a Valentine’s Day theme but would be a hit any time of the year.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Easy to set up eye dropper heart art that will bring a smile to the face and joy in the heart of each participant.

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There are just a few supplies to gather for this art project and you probably have them around your home. You will need:

eye droppers or pipettes
paint jars
neon pink and purple food coloring
red food coloring
paper towel roll
heart template
spoons
scissors
pencil
plastic tablecloth or newsprint paper

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The Eye Dropper Heart Art Project

Super pretty eye dropper heart art that will bring a smile to the face and joy in the heart of each participant.

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To prepare this art project, trace and cut out large hearts from a roll of paper towel. Make sure you have at least two paper towel hearts for each little learner participating.

Next, add water to small paint jars. Baby food jars work well for this art activity.

Mix a few drops of food coloring in each jar. I feature watercolor paints made with red and neon pink and purple food coloring.

A fabulous eye dropper painting process art activity with food coloring paint and paper towel hearts.

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Then stick an eye dropper or pipette in each jar of colored water.

Afterward, cover a table with newsprint paper or a plastic tablecloth and set up art stations.

Invite participants to use the eye droppers or pipettes to drop paint colors onto their paper towel hearts. They will absolutely love this process art invitation and will want to make a few eye dropper heart art projects.

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Note: It looks like turquoise paint was included on these hearts, a color I was thinking of adding to the mix. But the turquoise color appeared after neon purple bled into the paper towel shapes. This was a delightful surprise.

If little learners have had a chance to drop paint on a few paper towel hearts and there are paint colors left over, roll out long paper towel pieces across the table to allow them to paint large scale.