Let's make it
Instructions.
- 1
Print the ghost, jack-o'-lantern, and candy corn templates on cardstock. Regular printer paper works in a pinch, but thicker paper holds the wet paint better.
- 2
Add your desired amount of shaving cream to a bowl. Cover it with a good coating of white school glue and gently mix. No exact measurements needed. If the mixture seems too runny, add more shaving cream. If it isn’t holding together well, add a little more glue. You’re looking for a thick, fluffy consistency that holds its shape.
- 3
Divide the mixture into bowls and add a small amount of food coloring or washable paint to make white, orange, and yellow. Start with less color than you think you need; you can always add more.
- 4
Let kids paint with a brush, spoon, craft stick, or their fingers. The bumps, swirls, peaks, and little imperfections are what make puffy paint fun.
- 5
Add the details: layer white, orange, and yellow on the candy corn; cover the ghost in fluffy white while leaving the face visible; spread orange over the pumpkin and add yellow face details.
- 6
Set the finished artwork somewhere flat and leave it undisturbed. Puffy paint takes longer to dry than regular paint; once it does, the picture will be soft-looking, raised, and fun to feel.
Safety tip
- Puffy paint made with shaving cream and glue is not taste-safe. This activity is best for children who are past the stage of putting materials in their mouths and should always be done with adult supervision. For younger children, choose a taste-safe sensory activity instead.
Field Notes
- Parent tip: Kids don't have to follow the traditional colors. Make a purple ghost, give the pumpkin a green face, or turn the candy corn rainbow.
- Parent tip: Skip brushes and offer craft sticks, cotton swabs, sponges, or other painting tools. Different tools create different textures.
- Setup takes about 5–10 minutes, and some adult help is needed. Through play, this activity supports fine motor strength, bilateral coordination, visual-motor skills, sensory exploration, and creativity.
