Ready to try a colorful, totally mesmerizing art activity that’s actually fun for kids and adults? Say hello to bubble painting—a playful mix of science, art, and sensory magic all rolled into one. If you’ve got bubble mix and food coloring, you’re halfway there. Add in some straws, paper, and a bowl or two, and you’ve got yourself a paint party that will wow your kids from the very first pop!
Why You’ll Love This Bubble Painting Activity
- No fancy supplies required. If you’ve got bubbles and paint or food coloring, you’re good to go.
- Perfect for summer art outside. (But works just as well indoors on a rainy day!)
- Process art at its best. The final picture is cool, but the how is even cooler.
- Great for all ages. Toddlers love the messy fun, big kids love experimenting with color, and parents love how easy it is to set up and clean.
Materials You’ll Need
- Store-bought or homemade bubble mix
- Food coloring or liquid watercolors (more vibrant colors = better results)
- White cardstock or watercolor paper
- Plastic bowls or cups (1 per color)
- Straws (paper or reusable)
- Pipe cleaners (optional, for blowing bubbles)
- Tray or drop cloth (to keep the mess contained)
How to Set Up Bubble Painting
- Mix your bubble colors.
Pour a small amount of bubble mix into each bowl (about ¼ to ½ cup depending on bowl size). Add a few drops of food coloring or liquid watercolor to each one. Stir gently so the color combines without making the bubbles frothy.
- Choose your bubble blower.
You can use regular bubble wands, pipe cleaner wands, or even straws to blow the bubbles. For younger kids, pipe cleaners bent into loops are a fun way to customize the experience. - Get your paper ready.
Place your cardstock or watercolor paper flat on a tray, baking sheet, or plastic-covered surface. You can also clip it to a clipboard if you’re doing this outside on the grass or patio.
- Blow the bubbles onto the paper.
Dip your wand or straw into the colored bubble solution and blow bubbles directly onto the paper. As the bubbles land and pop, they’ll leave behind cool rings of color. Try layering colors or using multiple bowls at once! - Let dry and display.
Once your masterpiece is covered in colorful pops and swirls, set it aside to dry completely. Then hang it up or cut it into shapes for DIY cards, bookmarks, or wrapping paper.
Tips for Success
- Use thick paper. Cardstock or watercolor paper works best and won’t get soggy from the bubbles.
- Don’t drink through the straw! Remind little ones to blow out, not suck in. You can also poke a small hole near the top of the straw as a safety precaution.
- Do it outside if possible. This is such a great messy art project for the patio, deck, or driveway.
Bubble painting is more than just a fun afternoon activity—it’s also a sneaky way to get kids exploring color mixing, air pressure, and fine motor skills, all while having a blast.
Plus, you’ll end up with one-of-a-kind art that looks like something from an abstract gallery (and no two creations ever look the same!).
So go grab those bubbles, mix up your favorite colors, and get ready to blow your kids’ minds—literally!
Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers
There is no limit to your toddler’s energy and curiosity. That energy and curiosity although a joy can be challenging at times. Their interest in just about everything around them is what makes them great learners. One and two year olds can soak up so much just from their senses!
But as a teacher or parent that thirst for learning can be exhausting. That is why I created this toddler and preschooler program. To help you get the most out of this time with your curious toddler without having to come up with creative ways to play and interact with them.
Play2Learn for Toddlers includes 20 Units for toddlers. Each 2-week toddler unit has 20 super easy to set up and engaging activities for toddlers 18 months to 3 years.
Play2Learn Preschool which includes 20 Units for preschoolers. Each 2-week preschoolers unit has 20 unique and easy to set up and engaging activities for preschoolers 3 years to 5 years. That’s over 800 learning activities for your toddler and preschooler at your fingertips! So many ideas you and your child will never be bored again!
These toddler and preschool lesson plans and activities will definitely keep you and your toddler and preschooler busy playing and learning!
Click here for more information: Play2Learn
Book: Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids
Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon.
Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.
Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.
Book: Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids
Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more.
Find out more and grab your copy here.
Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.
Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids
Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast? The Big Riddle Book for Kids, of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles tha. t show them how to think outside the box.
- 350 riddles for kids—Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
- Level up their skills—Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
- Double-check their work—Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.
Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!
Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.
TV Show: Curious Crafting
I’m so excited to share my crafting TV show Curious Crafting which launched in July 2022 on TVOkids and TVOkids YouTube! Season 2 aired in August 2023! My show was also nominated in 2023 for Best Live Action Preschool Series by the Youth Media Alliance Awards of Excellence.
Curious Crafting Season 1 is also now airing in Australia on ABC! Watch it here!
Set in the ultimate crafting space, Curious Crafting is a short form pre-school age series about the joy of making crafts. I lead a rotating cast of adorable little preschoolers (including my own) making magic out of common household objects.
In each episode we transform recycled items into magical crafts like a milk carton school bus, paper bag puppet or cotton pad turtle. The crafters learn and laugh their way through each activity while demonstrating what their young imaginations can create.
Curious Crafting shares the adventure and joy of making art with takeaway lessons for creating crafts at home.
This show designed for toddlers and preschoolers 2.5 years old and up.
