colorful bubble painting on paper

The boys and I were looking for something new and fun to do on a particularly windy and overcast morning this past week. I was finishing up the breakfast dishes and remembered that bubble painting with dish soap was on our project to-do list, and I figured it would be the perfect day for it.

HOW TO PAINT BUBBLES

two boys at a table

The first thing I did (beside gathering up my eager project testers and covering them up in painting aprons) was to cover my countertop – we like to use shower curtains from the dollar store because they clean up nicely, they are reusable, and they are a bit thicker than your typical plastic tablecloth. I also put a couple of paper towels underneath each kiddo, because this project has some seriously messy potential!

supplies for making cups of paint

Supplies needed: Dish soap, paint (we used washable tempera paint), cups, straws and paper. We used white construction paper, but watercolor paper would be especially good if you have some handy.

4 cups of paint on a table

Pretty! Mix half a cup of water with a generous squirt of both dish soap and paint. Make sure you keep an eye on little ones who might want to drink through the straws. All of the ingredients we used were non-toxic, but I’m sure that a mouthful of paint-and-soap-water wouldn’t be too much fun!

child blowing bubbles into cup of blue paint

Let the kids go crazy blowing mountains of colored bubbles – they can consider this their payback for all the times you’ve told them not to blow bubbles in their milk!

child blowing bubbles into cup of purple paint

Really talented kids can even blow multiple cups of bubbles at the same time 😉

child with cup of paint

Lay your sheet of paper over the top of the bubbles to create the imprint. Repeat over and over and over again with different colored bubbles until you come up with something like this:

close up of multi color bubble painting

Love it! We actually didn’t stop here, and we created something else out of all of our bubble paintings…a birthday present for a special someone…so, we’ll share Phase Two in a bit after the recipient has gotten their gift! 🙂

Image of text that says Heidi

Check Out These Other Crafts for Kids!

Pin This Bubble Painting Tutorial for Later!

how to make bubble paintings

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17 Comments

  1. I was really happy when i was searching for a background for my arabic calligraphy. Thank you so much for this idea. ❤️❤️😍

    Reply

  3. I enjoyed reading your articles. This is truly a great read for me. I have bookmarked it and I am looking forward to reading new articles.

    Reply

  4. how cute! my kids would love this! And with the nasty weather outside, they are asking for crafts all.the.time. Thanks for sharing!

    Leanne @ because (i think) i can

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  5. thanks so much for sharing! i did this at a library when i was a kid. thanks for reminding me of this fun memory. i will share with little ones in the future.

    Reply

  6. Love it! I work in a preschool and we’ve always used food coloring (it doesn’t appear to work as well as the tempra paint). Thanks for the tip!!! I can’t wait to make our Blue Bubble “B’s”

    Reply

  8. Wonderful! It’s one of my favorite activities. I have a little tip for you 😉 I figured out the last time we did this that if you cut a small hole in the straw near the top, that you actually CAN’T suck. You can only blow so no chance of a mouth full of soap!

    Reply

  9. I love this idea! The painting process looks like it’ll be a blast for the kids and the finished piece is so pretty. This is definitely going on my to-do list.

    Thanks for linking up to my Summer Fun party!

    Laura @ Come Together Kids

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    1. This is such a cool idea! This will be perfect for mother’s day! Do you think I could do it on a canvas?

      Reply

  10. I love bubble painting! How fun!

    Thanks so much for sharing this at For the Kids Friday at Sun Scholars! I’ll be posting the next link party tonight, so be sure to stop by. I can’t wait to see what you have to share this week!

    🙂 rachel @ SunScholars.blogspot.com

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  12. This is fantastic! I’ve never done bubble painting this way! (We’ve always set the paper on the floor and used bubble wands to blow bubbles and let them land and pop on the paper.) I’m inspired, and can’t wait to try! (I’m a new follower of your blog)

    Reply