Normally, blowing bubbles with a drinking straw is
taboo for kids. Not this time! In fact, that's half the thrill of making these marbleized prints.

Materials

• Store-bought or homemade bubble solution (see Step 2 for homemade recipe)
• Copier paper or light-colored construction paper
• Plastic drinking straws

• Newspaper or plastic tablecloth
• Several shallow disposable containers, such as aluminum pie tins

Instructions

1. Cover your work surface with a thick layer of newspaper or a plastic tablecloth.

2. Gather several shallow disposable containers, such as aluminum pie tins. In each, blend 1 cup of store-bought or homemade bubble solution with 1/2 cup of tempera paint. (To make your own bubble solution, mix 3 cups of water, 1 cup of dish soap, and 1/4 cup of corn syrup.)

3. Set out your paper (try copier paper or light-colored construction paper) and several plastic drinking straws. For younger children, pierce a small hole halfway up the straw with a pin; this will help prevent accidental swallowing of the paint but won't interfere with the bubble-blowing process.

4. Now for the fun. With one end of the straw submerged in the bubble solution, the kids blow until bubbles mound up in the container. The best time to take a print is just as the bubbles begin to overflow.

5. Gently touch the paper to the bubbles and then lift to see your print, repeating until the paper is sufficiently covered. Blow more bubbles as needed. For a different effect, try printing one color over another.

6. Blow more bubbles as needed. For a different effect, try printing one color over another.

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Find more about:

• 1 Hour |
• Painting Projects |
• Preschooler |
• School Age |
• Soap Crafts

Related Categories:

• Painting Projects |
• Preschool |
• February 2004