Contained Chaos: Bubble Wrap Painting

Today’s craft was much more about the process than the final product. The unusual texture of bubble wrap is fun to touch and this activity gives little ones an excuse to do it for hours at a time. Abs would have stayed there all day if we didn’t have to make room for soon to arrive groceries (not to mention we were running low on paper).

Supplies

Bubble wrap (we used the small bubbles, but I think the medium bubbles would have been easier for her to pop)

Paint (washable tempura paint)

Paper (colored or not, it really doesn’t matter)

Directions
There really are no real directions on this craft, which is what makes it so great for the very little. You simply add the paint to the bubble wrap and let them go crazy. I gave Abby multiple colors, so she had fun mixing them together (good way to teach how colors mix to make new colors).

When all the paints are mixed and squished around, have the kids press paper on the bubble wrap. It makes a neat print the kids will admire for about half a second before they start squishing the paint around again. The prints make good paper to cut cool shapes out of – this would make a great Valentine’s Day Craft if you use pink paint and cut hearts out from the paper.

Warning: if you don’t like messes, stay away from this activity. We used lots of newspaper and I still had a significant amount to clean up off the counter, Abby’s tower, and her hair (not to mention how the house smelled like paint for the rest of the day). Lucky for Abs, I love a giant mess as much as the next 2 year old :)