Discover the fun of blow painting! Learn to create unique art with straws, food coloring, and water – a fun and easy craft for all ages.
Skills Required: None. Even if you’ve never crafted before, you’ll be able to accomplish this project. The overlapping colors and “chaos” of the finished piece are absolutely part of the charm.
Imagine transforming a simple straw into a magic wand that splashes color in the most whimsical patterns! That’s exactly what we’re doing today on DIY Candy.
I’m excited to introduce you to the fun and fascinating world of blow painting, a vibrant craft that’s not just for kids but equally enthralling for adults. This isn’t just any craft project; it’s an adventure in color and creativity, where your breath becomes the brush!
Blow painting, or as some like to call it, painting with straws, is a very simple method to create abstract art that’s as unique as a fingerprint.
All you need are a few basic supplies – food coloring, water, straws, and a dash of imagination. With these in hand, you’re ready to breathe life into the paper, turning splashes and blobs into expansive, intricate designs.
Why try blow painting, you ask? Well, besides being a blast, it’s a fantastic way to experiment with colors and fluid dynamics without any need for traditional artistic skills.
Whether you’re a toddler, a teen, or somewhere several decades beyond, this craft promises fun and a gorgeous payoff, with each artwork as unpredictable as the wind.
Whether you’re looking for a rainy day activity or a unique party craft, blow painting is a surefire hit. AND you or the kids can add a splash of color to your home decor if you so choose!
So grab your straws (and maybe a few friends and family members), roll up your sleeves, and prepare to be amazed by the dazzling designs you can create with nothing but a little puff of air.
Ready to start? Let’s unleash those colors and see where the wind takes us!
Gather These Supplies
- White cardstock
- Food coloring
- Straw
- Small dishes (one per color)
- Water
- Spoon
- Iron (optional)
- Parchment paper (optional)
- Frame (optional)
- Scissors (optional)
Tips and Thoughts for This Project
Yes, you can use craft paint for blow painting. The drops you put on the paper with food coloring are essentially water. You’ll need to thin the paint out enough to be able to blow it across the paper, so one or two drops of paint is fine.
Before you create your final piece, perfect your technique on scrap paper first.
Another extension of this project is to take (removable) sticker letters, put a phrase down (smooth thoroughly), and then do the ink blowing on top. After the art dries, the stickers are removed to leave the word.
Get the printable how to card below:
Blow Painting
Try painting with straws, a unique way to make a piece of art with only your breath. It's SO easy for any age.
Materials
- White cardstock
- Food coloring
- Straw
- Water
Tools
- Small dishes (one per color)
- Spoon
- Iron (optional)
- Parchment paper (optional)
- Frame (optional)
- Scissors (optional)
Instructions
- Place the cardstock down on your work surface. You’ll want to use a thicker paper like cardstock or watercolor paper so that the food coloring and water don’t bleed through and create a mess.
- Grab a small dish and add a little bit of water. Add ten drops of food coloring and stir with a spoon until combined.
- Repeat with other colors in separate dishes until you have the desired amount of colors you’d like to use for your art.
- Use the spoon to place some of the food coloring mixture onto the paper in one area – around 4 to 5 drops to make one big drop.
- Grab the straw and blow directly into the color gently, watching it spread across the paper. Continue applying dots around the paper, blowing into them with the straw to make them spread. Do this a few times and let dry.
- Repeat with as many colors as you like, feeling free to layer colors. Let dry between colors.
- When the piece is finished, let it dry completely. If the paper is wrinkled, you can place on an ironing board with a piece of parchment paper on top. Iron on low heat (no steam) to smooth out the wrinkles.
- If desired, place in a frame to finish - or tack onto the fridge with a magnet!
If you enjoyed this painting with straws, let me know in the comments! I’d also love for you to check out these other unique ideas: