Yarn paintings are a fun and tactile art activity for kids involving glue-soaked yarn and paint. And the results are strikingly three-dimensional!
Here’s a video showing Yarn Paintings in action! And don’t forget to scroll down to get the step-by-step instructions.
MATERIALS
- Mat board (tagboard, card stock, poster board, or cardboard would work as well)
- Yarn
- Scissors
- White glue
- Tempera paint
INSTRUCTIONS
- Prepare your materials
Pour some glue into a bowl for easy dipping. Then cut your yarn into shorter pieces.
- Create your image
Dip the yarn pieces into the bowl of glue and arrange them on a piece of tag board in the design of your choosing.
Let dry overnight. - Add paint to your image
The glue-soaked yarn dries hard to create a really neat textural base for your painting. Paint over and between the yarn lines with tempera paint.
Maia tried painting with two paint brushes at once to mix the colors.
And then she moved on to painting with her hands over and between the yarn lines. (And then taking her paint-covered hands over to the easel to make hand prints.)
- Let dry and display!
Allow your yarn painting to dry thoroughly before finding a special place to display it.
We both loved this yarn project! I highly recommend it!
More yarn art ideas for kids
- Yarn Painting and Printing with Liquid Watercolors
- String Blots with the Toddler Art Group
- Action Painting Wrapping Paper with Yarn
- Yarn and Ribbon Suncatchers
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9 Comments
Victoria
February 25, 2013 at 8:24 amThanks for the idea! I’ve got to try this with my daughter :)
Karrie Zylstra
February 25, 2013 at 8:54 amI like the doo dads for your paint and brushes, Jean. What are those called so I can find them?
Amy Osborn
February 25, 2013 at 12:42 pmWhat a great idea! But, I too am interested in the paint holders that keep the paint separated. I have never seen those before-Please let me know where I can order them! Thank You.
Julie
February 25, 2013 at 10:02 pmThis looks like so much fun! I love the texture. Might need to try with my daughter and her friend tomorrow. We could do the yarn part this week, then paint next week once they are dry! Love it!
Jean Van't Hul
February 25, 2013 at 5:38 pmOh, yes! Those divided paint cups are awesome!! I bought them from Discount School Supply. Here’s the link: https://www.discountschoolsupply.com/Product/ProductDetail.aspx?product=7528&keyword=divided%20paint%20cups&scategoryid=0&CategorySearch=&Brand=&Price=
Jean Van't Hul
February 25, 2013 at 5:38 pmDiscount School Supply Double Dip paint cups! See the link above… They are great for when the kiddos want more colors.
Jean Van't Hul
February 25, 2013 at 5:38 pmEnjoy!!
Deborah
February 26, 2013 at 10:06 pmThis rocks!!
Karrie Zylstra
February 27, 2013 at 9:31 amThanks, Jean, for the name and the link:)