This DIY puffy paint recipe is simple to make in holiday colors and so much fun for kids to make and paint with.
Updated November 2024
This is a fun holiday twist on our favorite DIY microwave puffy paint. Simply whip up a batch of this easy paint and use food coloring or liquid watercolors to dye it holiday colors (and be sure to leave plenty of it white for all the snowflakes and snowmen!)
Holiday puffy paint is fun because you can mix bright, festive colors and watch your designs puff up like magic in the microwave. It’s a simple, hands-on activity that turns holiday art into an exciting and creative experience!
How to Make DIY Puffy Paint for the Holidays
MATERIALS
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Red and green food coloring or liquid watercolor paint
- Squeeze bottles
- Tagboard or thick paper (we’ve also used paper plates and cereal box cardboard)
- Microwave
INSTRUCTIONS
- Make puffy paint
First, whisk together flour, salt, and water in a medium bowl. Whisk really well so that the mixture is smooth and clump free (otherwise your kiddo may have trouble squeezing the paint).
- Add to squeeze bottles
Pour the white puffy paint directly from the bowl into squeeze bottles, reserving about half of the plain puffy paint to color red and green.
- Dye your puffy paint
Pour half of the remaining puffy paint mixture into another bowl. Dye the paint in one bowl red and the other green. Or if you’d like to do other colors, feel free! Mix well then pour into squeeze bottles.
Now that you have your puffy paint, you are ready to make some puffy paint art!
- Make puffy paint art
Squeeze the puffy paint out onto the sturdy paper as desired to make winter scenes, Christmas art, abstract designs, or words.
- Puff it up!
Then, cook on high for 30 seconds in the microwave and watch it puff up! The artworks with a lot of puffy paint may need to double that time.
Now it’s dry to the touch, so no more waiting around for hours or days for a painting to dry.
Note: You could do this with just white for the snow flakes and snow scenes and it would be even quicker and easier to set up. We liked having the additional colors, though, especially for adding details. Plus they make it look so festive!
Printable DIY Puffy Paint Recipe
Print
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 Christmas Arts and Crafts for Kids
- 20 Homemade Christmas Ornaments the Whole Family Can Make
- 10 Salt Dough Decoration Ideas for Christmas
- Potato Printmaking for a Handmade Christmas
- 12 Easy Christmas Crafts for Toddlers
- How To Make a DIY Christmas Garland
- 5 Natural Christmas Decorations for Kids
Want even more creative ideas?
Check out our Holiday Creativity pack!
Let’s celebrate the holidays with all things crafty! Here are 53 pages full of our favorite drawing prompts, creative play ideas, art activities, and more!
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