Learn how to turn paper into fun swirling designs with Shaving Cream Marbling, just in time for Easter! This craft for kids uses shaving cream and food coloring to create cool paper patterns, perfect for card making and other craft projects. Check out the free printable for cutting out Easter egg shapes and cards!
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Cute Craft Alert!
I have to tell you this was one of the most delightful activities I've done for quite a while. This craft is a Nana's favorite! Shaving Cream Marbling is a unique printing process and I'm excited to use it to create crafting paper for all kinds of crafts.
I think your kids are going to love spraying the shaving cream, dripping and swirling the food coloring, and dipping paper into the mixture. We've used this technique for dying Easter eggs too - it was so cool.
Once the kids are finished with their swirly paper designs, it's time to use the paper in all kinds of crafts! As an easy first craft, you'll find a downloadable template pattern for drawing Easter eggs or making Easter egg shaped cards.
Please share this with your friends, take pictures of what you create, and let me know what you think in the comments!
Supplies
Here are a few quick notes about the supplies you will need to make marbled paper with shaving cream!
- Free template- Print a copy of the Easter Egg Free Pattern to make Easter cards or decorations.
- White cardstock paper- The white card stock paper makes it easy to marble and get wet.
- Colored paper- Bring out colored cardstock and scrapbooking paper to make cards.
- Shaving cream- The star of marbling with shaving foam is the shaving cream (any brand)!
- Food coloring/dye- I used liquid food coloring but you can also use liquid water colors.
- Baking cake pan- Use a baking pan that has sides and is large enough to hold your paper flat.
- Large flat pan- A sheet cake pan or cookie sheet with sides will work well.
- Swirling tool- A rubber spatula or plastic knife works well to level and swirl the foam.
- Paper towels- Have paper towels handy to wipe off hands and utensils.
- Cardboard- You will need a piece of cardboard with a straight edge to wipe foam off the paper.
- Plastic gloves- Gloves are optional but keep your hands from touching the food coloring.
- Ribbon- Ribbon is an optional supply but you can use it to make a garland.
Steps to Make Shaving Cream and Food Coloring Art
Swirl your ingredients
Place the cake pan in front of you. Shake the shaving cream can and then fill the bottom of the pan with about an inch of the foam. Use a spatula or plastic knife to level out the layer of shaving cream.
Take the bottles of liquid food coloring and sprinkle dots of the colors across the top of the shaving cream.
Using the plastic knife, run the blade back and forth through the foam. The point is to swirl the color through the shaving cream, not mix it all into one blended color.
Add the paper
Place a piece of white cardstock paper on top the foam and pat it gently. Until the entire surface of the paper has contact with the shaving cream and food coloring.
Lift the paper out of the shaving cream and place it (foam side up) onto a sheet cake pan.
Clean off shaving cream
Use the flat edge of the cardboard and move it across the paper like a squeegee. Then scrape off the shaving cream onto the edge of the pan. The cardboard will clean off all the foam.
The foam removal leaves the paper dry and designed!
Make some Easter eggs!
Use the Easter Egg Free Printable to cut egg shapes from the marbled paper. Use the shaving cream painting and colored cardstock paper to make cards in two sizes. Or cut out small, medium, or large Easter eggs for decorations (tape to a ribbon for a garland).
You will find many ways to use this paper in shaving cream art.
Craft Tips
These tips help make shaving cream marbling even easier!
- Plastic gloves- Use plastic gloves to protect the hands from getting stained by the dye.
- Protect clothing- Wear old clothes in case dye is spilled or splashes.
- Soap and water- The dye will come off with several washings with soap and water.
- Repeat the marbling- Put the paper back down in the foam again to get complete paper contact.
- Repeat use- Keep using the shaving cream and food dye for marbling several pieces of paper. You can add more foam and more dye if it gets low or too stirred up.
- Squeegee- Use a squeegee or old credit card instead of the cardboard.
- Leftover shaving cream- The leftover foam can be rinsed down the sink. Be sure to rinse the sink so it doesn't stain.
Craft Variations
Want to switch things up? Here are a few ways you can customize and play with this shaving cream food coloring art.
- Liquid watercolor- Liquid watercolors can be used instead of food coloring. It comes in lots of colors!
- Other uses- The designed paper can be used for any art project, holiday or event, not just Easter. How about using the paper to make a creative pop up card for Mother's Day?
- Envelopes- Make envelopes for your cards using this tutorial: Three Ways to Make Envelopes.
FAQ
Make shaving cream marble paper by squirting shaving cream into a pan. Drip food coloring over the foam then swirl with a knife. Dip the paper into the foam, place it on a cookie sheet and squeegee it off with a piece of cardboard. Use it in crafts and card making for Easter or any occasion!
The marble effect is made by dipping a paper into shaving cream with food coloring swirled into it. Take it out, squeegee it off with a piece of cardboard and you have made art with shaving cream and food colors! Use it in any type of craft. So pretty!
Food coloring or liquid watercolor paint work well for marbling paper in shaving cream.
Cardstock or watercolor paper work well as they are a bit heavier and take the moisture and dye without falling apart.
More DIY Easter Crafts for Kids
Looking for more great Easter DIY's for kids? Here are a few favorites for you to try:
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Shaving Cream Marbling on Paper for Easter
Equipment
- none needed
Items Required
- a copy of the Easter Egg Free Pattern
- white card stock paper
- colored cardstock and/or scrapbooking paper
- the shaving cream
- liquid food coloring
- baking pan that has sides paper should fit flat in it
- sheet cake pan or cookie sheet with sides
- rubber spatula or plastic knife
- paper towels
- piece of cardboard with a straight edge
- Gloves are optional
- Ribbon is an optional supply
Instructions
- Place the cake pan in front of you. Shake the shaving cream can and then fill the bottom of the pan with about an inch of the foam. Use a spatula or plastic knife to level out the layer of shaving cream.
- Take the bottles of liquid food coloring and sprinkle dots of the colors across the top of the shaving cream.Using the plastic knife, run the blade back and forth through the foam. The point is to swirl the color through the shaving cream, not mix it all into one blended color.
- Place a piece of white cardstock paper on top the foam and pat it gently. Until the entire surface of the paper has contact with the shaving cream and food coloring.Lift the paper out of the shaving cream and place it (foam side up) onto a sheet cake pan.
- Use the flat edge of the cardboard and move it across the paper like a squeegee. Then scrape off the shaving cream onto the edge of the pan. The cardboard will clean off all the foam.The foam removal leaves the paper dry and designed!
- Use the Easter Egg Free Printable to cut egg shapes from the marbled paper. Use the shaving cream painting and colored cardstock paper to make cards in two sizes. Or cut out small, medium, or large Easter eggs for decorations (tape to a ribbon for a garland).You will find many ways to use this paper in shaving cream art.
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