An incredibly simple painting activity for kids (especially those interested in space!)
The finished picture makes a great piece of artwork for a child’s bedroom.
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I am always looking for simple painting activities for kids – easy enough for a 3 and (almost) 2 year old to do and this was a hit with both my boys. It’s so easy to create something beautiful with liquid watercolors
– they just blend together easily and the colours are really vibrant.
To make a liquid watercolour galaxy, you will need:
- liquid watercolours (we used blue, pink and purple)
- watercolour paper (you don’t have to use this, but it does give a prettier effect and doesn’t go soggy!)
- sparkly or holographic sticker dots/stars
COST: a few quid
AGE: toddlers & young children
TIME: 10 minutes or less (plus time to dry)
How-to make a liquid watercolour galaxy:
- Take a piece of watercolour paper and paint it with 2 or 3 liquid watercolours. Cover the whole paper, leaving no gaps. You could also use some extra water to help the colours mingle (this was Pickle’s favourite bit).
- Leave the paper to dry completely (nap time is perfect for this)!
- Stick lots of sparkly stars and dots on your paper to make a ‘galaxy’. Chops loved peeling the backing paper off and sticking the stars on top of each other.
Older kids could stick their stars/dots to form constellations. - You could use this to make a birthday card, or frame it and hang it on the wall!
Are your kids interested in astronomy?
Have you done any space-themed crafts together? Do please share below!
'Liquid watercolour galaxy (craft ideas for kids)' have 60 comments
March 13, 2014 @ 10:00 am Keri-Anne
What an amazing idea!!!! x
March 13, 2014 @ 12:33 pm Hodge Podge
Thanks Keri-Anne!
March 13, 2014 @ 10:28 am Kara
I’m going to have to get brave and buy paint!
March 13, 2014 @ 12:33 pm Hodge Podge
Kara – the great thing about watercolour is that it washes off and cleans up REALLY easily!
March 13, 2014 @ 10:58 am 40 Year Old Domestic Goddess
What a totally brilliant idea. My kids would have loved this when they were little xx
March 13, 2014 @ 12:36 pm Hodge Podge
Thank you! 🙂
March 13, 2014 @ 11:43 am Sonya Cisco
Ooh that is so pretty, and doesnt cound too complicated either- which is good, as I am hopeless!
March 13, 2014 @ 1:18 pm Hodge Podge
It really couldn’t be simpler Sonya – perfect for toddlers (and beginners)! 😉
March 13, 2014 @ 12:03 pm Kate Thompson
That looks really impressive- simple, fun and brilliant results.
March 13, 2014 @ 1:19 pm Hodge Podge
Thanks Kate – simple is usually best with my little ones!
March 13, 2014 @ 12:42 pm Angela Spicer
Great idea, will have to keep this in mind
March 13, 2014 @ 1:20 pm Hodge Podge
Thanks Angela!
March 13, 2014 @ 2:53 pm Carolynne @ Mummy Endeavours
Ooh looks nice and easy and lots of fun! I don’t craft any where near enough with mine… must change that 🙂
March 13, 2014 @ 4:16 pm Hodge Podge
I find with really little ones, it’s far more about the process than the end result. Having said that, Pickle was very proud of his finished picture and it is still in pride of place on the staircase!
Enjoy your crafting 🙂
March 13, 2014 @ 3:37 pm ninjacat
What a beautiful idea
March 15, 2014 @ 8:44 pm Hodge Podge
Thank you! 🙂
March 13, 2014 @ 3:40 pm Rachel @ activities4kidz
These look gorgeous. We will be doing start theme over next few weeks to link with a book I’ve got for a giveaway, so may have a go at this if I can find liquid watercolours!
March 15, 2014 @ 8:49 pm Hodge Podge
Thanks Rachel! Oooh – I’m excited to see what you do with them (we got ours from Amazon). They work really well with resist art too (white crayon/masking tape) x
March 13, 2014 @ 3:42 pm Lucie Aiston
This looks amazing! … and so simple! Love it! My daughter is into arts and crafts! She’s 11!
March 16, 2014 @ 9:14 pm Hodge Podge
Yippee! Start ’em young Lucie… 😉
March 13, 2014 @ 4:20 pm Mammasaurus
Nice idea! Kitty is obsessed with stars so this is right up her street!
March 16, 2014 @ 9:14 pm Hodge Podge
I love stars too – you can’t have too many IMO!
March 13, 2014 @ 4:36 pm Kirsty Hijacked By Twins
Wow this looks great and something for the younger ones to do 🙂
March 16, 2014 @ 9:15 pm Hodge Podge
Thanks Kirsty 🙂
March 13, 2014 @ 5:23 pm You Baby Me Mummy
Such a brilliant idea and look so lovely x
March 16, 2014 @ 9:49 pm Hodge Podge
Thank you! 🙂
March 13, 2014 @ 6:02 pm intheplayroom
These look great! I have seen such lovely things with liquid water colours they are definitely on my need to buy list at the moment
March 16, 2014 @ 10:00 pm Hodge Podge
They are SO easy to use. Definitely my best buy recently!
March 13, 2014 @ 7:25 pm wendy
What a great idea. Clever xx
March 16, 2014 @ 10:06 pm Hodge Podge
Thanks Wendy 🙂
March 13, 2014 @ 7:36 pm Kirsty
We bought a simple palette of watercolours last week as I am itching to do some watercolours. You get such a stunning effect and it is a great motivator for little ones to see what can be achieved with a little effort. Your galaxy is beautiful and something we would definitely try for ourselves x
March 16, 2014 @ 10:12 pm Hodge Podge
Totally agree Kirsty! Enjoy your watercolouring x
March 13, 2014 @ 7:53 pm Model Mummy
I have just started to do crafts with my toddler so we will be trying this one. Her Daddy is in to astronomy, he is much cleverer than me!
March 16, 2014 @ 10:13 pm Hodge Podge
Aaaw – maybe he could teach her the constellations..?
March 13, 2014 @ 8:15 pm Hellie's Corner
I love watercolours, so easy to use and they wash out (of clothes) easily. I love the colours you have used, great end result.
March 16, 2014 @ 10:14 pm Hodge Podge
You are so right! Thank you 🙂
March 13, 2014 @ 8:26 pm Jenny
I’ve never tried watercolours with the children before but this looks fun!
March 16, 2014 @ 10:15 pm Hodge Podge
It IS fun Jenny – couldn’t be easier either!
March 13, 2014 @ 8:27 pm [email protected]
Love this idea – I’m going to Pin it to my school holiday board x x
March 16, 2014 @ 10:15 pm Hodge Podge
Thanks Cass 😀
March 13, 2014 @ 8:58 pm Pixee
these are really pretty, such a lovely idea!
xx
March 16, 2014 @ 10:16 pm Hodge Podge
Thank you 🙂
March 16, 2014 @ 6:26 pm Fritha Strickland
great idea i love the shades of watercolours used! x
March 16, 2014 @ 10:16 pm Hodge Podge
Thanks Fritha!
March 16, 2014 @ 7:59 pm agatapokutycka
Great idea.
I like the fact that it is fairly quick… our kids get bored sometimes even before they finish the project.
March 16, 2014 @ 10:17 pm Hodge Podge
Mine too! That’s toddlers for you I guess… 😉
March 24, 2014 @ 9:33 am Emily @amummytoo
That’s a lovely ideas and definitely the sort of thing that can go on the wall when finished 🙂
March 25, 2014 @ 9:45 pm Hodge Podge
I quite fancy doing a really huge one now actually! 😉
April 8, 2014 @ 6:32 pm Anthea
I love water colour painting and those colours look so pretty. This could so easily be adapted to make an underwater picture too! #pintorials
April 8, 2014 @ 7:12 pm Hodge Podge
Oh Anthea, you are SO right (future post alert)! 😀
April 9, 2014 @ 9:25 am Karly - Pullingers
These look great! It can be difficult to find activities to occupy the kids and this is a really fun and simply craft to keep their creative minds flowing, and cheap too!
April 17, 2014 @ 9:33 pm Hodge Podge
Thanks Karly! 🙂
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September 1, 2014 @ 6:44 pm [email protected]
What a beautiful idea! My friend’s just had a baby – this will be perfect for making her a card from my two.
September 2, 2014 @ 1:44 pm Hodge Podge
Thanks Nell – I hope they enjoy it as much as mine did! 🙂
April 14, 2015 @ 7:50 am Tarana Khan
This looks so pretty! It’s perfect to hang up on the wall too.
May 2, 2015 @ 3:07 pm Hodge Podge
Thank you Tarana – I would love to do a huge one for the boy’s bedroom – great idea!
July 25, 2015 @ 12:34 am Eileen Teo
Love this ideas! So pretty!
July 27, 2015 @ 12:08 pm Hodge Podge
Thanks Eileen! x