Raised Salt Painted Rainbow Snowflakes: Part art, part experiment, this easy Winter craft is a fun and engaging way to combine art and science.
Children get to play with paint, salt and glue and explore texture and color, whilst learning at the same time, making it the perfect activity for school or home.
Encourage younger children to describe what they see, as the salt soaks up the water and helps the paint to travel and blend. And with older children, you can start to introduce the concept of the chemical reaction that makes it all happen.
Once their arty experiments are complete, kids can cut them out and hang them on the Christmas tree – or why not make a few, and make a pretty festive snowy display?
How to Make Salt Painted Rainbow Snowflakes:
Supplies:
Squeeze Bottle of PVA Glue
Salt
Liquid Watercolor Paint
How to Download the Snowflake Templates:
The collection of 4 snowflake templates are available to members of the Arty Crafty Kids Club. Members can access the template here (remember to login!): https://www.artycraftykids.com/product/salted-painted-snowflakes/
Members will need to log in to access the templates!
Not A Member?
Let’s Make the Salt Painted Snowflakes:
Create Gluey Lines within the Snowflake
Using your bottle of PVA glue, carefully squeeze thin lines of glue inside the snowflake template. Try to keep them inside the lines and as straight as possible.
Cover with Fine Salt
Then shake over lots of fine table salt: make sure to cover all of the lines of glue.
Remove the Excess and Fill the Gaps
Gently knock off the excess salt by tapping the sheet of card into a tub – don’t be tempted to touch it with your fingers, it’s easy to smudge the wet glue!
If you spot any gaps once the excess has fallen off, you can cover with another layer of salt to make sure all the lines of glue are covered.
Dab Small Amounts of Liquid Watercolor
Then start to dab little bits of watercolor paint onto the raised salty glue. You might want to use a fine brush to help you stay on the lines.
Do you see anything special starting to happen?
The Science Behind Raised Salt Painting
This activity might seem just like art, but there’s also a lot of science in it too!
Salt is a very special mineral – it is hygroscopic, which means that it can absorb water in its liquid form, as well as water vapor that is in the air. So as you dab the liquid watercolor paint onto the salt, a chemical action happens and the salt soaks up the water.
This means that you will actually be able to see the paint spread across the salt as it soaks it up. Watch it merge with other colors and create patterns and textures within the salt as you continue to add more watery paint.
Isn’t it amazing?
What colors and patterns will you choose? You could make snowflakes inspired by Frozen, with shades of blue, or go really colorful with a rainbow like ours!
Continue Filling the Snowflake
Keep adding paint until the whole snowflake is filled with color, pattern and texture. Why not cut it out and hang it up to make a beautiful homemade decoration?
Don’t forget to share and tag us on social media – we’d love to see your science meets art creations!
More Winter Crafts for Kids:
Looking for more fun and engaging Winter crafts to try with your children? Take a look at these popular ideas!
Bobble Head Polar Bear Craft:
It’s wobbly head and 3D effect adds a playful element to the creative process that kids will love.
Arty Crafty Kids will need to use their problem solving skills to assemble the shapes, considering measurement and space during the creative process.
https://www.artycraftykids.com/craft/3d-polar-bear-winter-craft/
Moving Penguin Craft:
This little bundle of penguin cuteness dances and moves on the snowy floor; adding an interactive dynamic that enhances the creative process. In simple terms, this is a penguin craft that inspires children to play!
https://www.artycraftykids.com/craft/interactive-paper-penguin-craft-inspired-by-happy-feet/
Melting Snowman Craft:
This snowman will stretch, wobble and melt into a big white blob, bringing joy and fun to the creativite process.
https://www.artycraftykids.com/craft/melting-snowman-paper-craft/
