This microwave puffy paint recipe combines art and science for kids. Made of 3 simple ingredients, this paint puffs up in the microwave.
Updated November 2024
If you haven’t tried microwave puffy paint with your kids yet, you must. Of all the puffy paints we make, this one is awesome because you don’t have to wait a day or two for it to dry.
The recipe is simple and only requires 3 household ingredients. Then you cook it in the microwave for 30 seconds! And as it cooks, it puffs up!
Our kids made design after design and every time we opened the microwave, we were amazed at how they looked all puffy!
Microwave Puffy Paint Recipe for Kids
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup water
- Food coloring or liquid watercolor paint
- Squeeze bottles
- Tagboard or thick paper (we’ve also used paper plates and cereal box cardboard)
- Microwave
INSTRUCTIONS
- Whisk ingredients
First, whisk together flour, salt, and water in a medium bowl. Whisk really, really well so that the mixture is smooth and clump free (otherwise your kiddo may have trouble squeezing the paint).
- Add color
Next, divide your flour mixture between 3-4 cups or small bowls (however many different colors you want to make) and add food coloring or liquid watercolors to each. Mix.
Finally, transfer your new puffy paint mixture into squeeze bottles.
- Paint
Squeeze the puffy paint onto your paper/cardboard to create designs, images, or patterns as desired.
- Microwave!
Place puffy paint art in microwave and microwave on high for about 30 seconds. We did a bit more for artworks that had a generous amount of paint and a bit less for artworks that were spare.
Remove, let cool, then touch and admire how the paint puffed up and cooked solid.
Like we said, we love this puffy paint because it requires no dry time. The designs are puffy and touchable as soon as they come out of the microwave!
Printable Puffy Paint Recipe
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How to Make DIY Puffy Paint in the Microwave
Description
Microwave DIY puffy paint combines art and science for kids. Made of 3 simple kitchen ingredients, this paint puffs up in the microwave.
Instructions
- First, whisk together flour, salt, and water in a medium bowl. Whisk really, really well so that the mixture is smooth and clump free.
- Next, divide your flour mixture between 3-4 cups or small bowls (however many different colors you want to make) and add food coloring or liquid watercolors to each. Mix.
- Finally, transfer your new puffy paint mixture into squeeze bottles.
- Squeeze the puffy paint onto your paper/cardboard to create designs, images, or patterns as desired.
- Place puffy paint art in microwave and microwave on high for about 30 seconds.
- Remove from the microwave and let cool.
More Puffy Paint Activities for Kids
- 5 Puffy Paint Ideas for Kids
- How to Make Puffy Paint for Kids
- How to Make Salt Puffy Paint
- How to Make Puffy Snow Paint for Kids
- How to Make Holiday Puffy Paint Art
- How to Do Foam Painting for Kids
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