Dylan wasn't really into art and painting as a baby and he wasn't very interested in paint brushes. To get his attention and enthusiasm I let him paint with his cars and trains (the cheaper ones). He loved it.
This then inspired me to think of and search for other painting ideas or which i found plenty and I am sure there are many more.
As we use each apparatus to paint with I will update this blog entry with pictures and suggestions.
1. Potato masher: dip the masher into the paint and stamp it onto paper.
2. Drinking straw: tape some straws to a lollipop stick and use as a brush or simply use them as they are.
3. Finger
4. Stacking cups: usually hand size for little ones so ideal to hold and dip into paint and then stamp onto the paper.
5. Sponge: you can use sponges on their own or on a stick. We have also tried sponges attached to pegs.
6. Spaghetti: cooked spaghetti or noddles look really fun to paint with.
7. Popcorn: dip popcorn in paint, you could probably use pegs to hold them but I don't think this will be as fun.
8. Cookie cutter
9. Hand
10. Pine cone: we tried this. We put them pine cones on a paper plate and painted them for using as another craft project and the rolled them around the plate. You can also use them to dip in paint and stamp onto paper.
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| Plate used for painting pine cones on. |
11. Bubble wrap: You make use it to make the end of a brush. Cut out shapes or use it the print by placing paper on top of a piece of painted bubble wrap.
12. Celery
13. Bubble wand: use recycled bubble wands or homemade ones using pipe cleaners.
14. Using fishing rod: use the reel to lower things with paint on down to the piece of paper.
15. Water bead: place the beads into paint and then into a cardboard box with paper in. The roll them around.
16. Syringe: use a syringe to squirt paint.
17. Plastic Easter eggs: You could fill them with paint and drop them to break open or dip them.
18. Body
19. Ketchup bottle: Squirt paint
20. Tooth brush: I would use cheap ones rather than old ones for hygiene reasons.
21. Homemade paint icelolly: using an ice cube tray and lollipop sticks freeze
22. Acorns
23. Pipe cleaner: make pipe cleaner brushes or use them on their own. You can make them into letters, numbers and shapes.
24. Thumb
25.Leaves: paint onto leaves and use them to print or dip into paint.
26. Spatula: use them to add paint and as a brush to move paint.
27. Foot
28. Nail scrubbing brush
29. Feathers: again you could make them into a brush or use them on their own.
30. Slide: roll objects down the slide onto paper or squirt paint down it.
31. Okra: dip and print
32. Elastic bands brush
33. Magnet: using a magnet and something like a paperclip to move paint around.
34.Cotton buds: We have used this for dipping and painting Easter eggs. You can use it to make shapes, numbers and letters onto card and print using them.
35. Flowers: Dylan loved this he dipped flowers in paint and stamped them onto the paper.
36. Party blower: blow into the paint and then onto the painting
37. Tennis ball: dip the balls in paint and roll around a tub with paper in. You could throw them at the paper or attach them to a stick and paint.
38. Elastic snap painting: Use elastic bands over a box, paint the banks and flick them. You could also use them to make a catapult to paint.
39. Potatoes: easy to carve shapes
40. Pumpkins: paint pumpkins and then roll the pumpkin on some paper.
41.Packing peanut: dip and paint (caution with this activity- chocking
42. Scrubbing brush
43. Carrots
44. Marbles
45. Corn cob
46. Bubbles
47. Polystyrene: carve patterns, shapes, numbers etc into it and paint it then print.
48. Egg carton
49. Apples: cut into segments or paint he outside and roll.
50. Pendulum: attach something with paint to the end of some string and swing it into a piece of material you want to paint.
51. Toy cars: Use old or cheap toy cars to roll in paint and then transfer to material. we tried this Dylan loved it and he also enjoyed the carwash after.
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| Painting with toy cars and trains. |
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| Carwash after painting with cars. |
52. udder made from rubber gloves or
balloons
53.Shoes
54. Broccoli and cauliflower: We used left over scraps but you could use actual florets.
55. Cardboard shapes
56. Water balloons: Throw them at the canvas
57: Pipettes: to squirt paint
58:
Fabric: Throwing at a canvas or pulling around a canvas.
59. Shower puff: This could be thrown, attached to a stick or simply used with their hands.
60. Screwed up ball of paper: attach to a stick, throw/drop onto a canvas or use hands
61.Egg cups
62. Fruit mesh: save the mesh/netting from the fruit and paint it and print. Or use it to make a brush.
63. Toilet rolls: If used whole you could roll them or cut them into smaller pieces. You can also squirt paint inside them and let it drip.
64.
Bottle tops: You can use them as they are or add foam shapes to them.
65. Screws, nuts and bolts- dip into paint and transfer. Or place them in a box and roll them.
66.
Balloons: on a stick inflated or at the end
of a brush deflated. You could fill with paint and pop them.
67. Spoons. knives and forks- plastic probably a better idea.
68. Yoghurt pots: You could add foam shapes to the top to print.
69. Hairbrush- again probably better with cheap new one than used.
70.
Colander: pou paint into a colander and let it drip through whilst you turn it
71. With gloves on: put gloves on before painting with your hands. Many different style gloves to try.
72.
Dice- roll dice in paint- not sure what it would look like.
73.CDs: Cd spin art looks great. Could just used form printing
74. Paper plates- use them to do printing
75.
Cotton balls: use pegs to make it easier.
76.
Pasta: lots of different pasta shapes to try printing.
77.
Toy footprints
78. Toy tools- hammer
79. 3D S
hapes
80.
Keys
81. Money
82.
Sticks
83. Rubber ducks: Dip them in paint and stamp them onto the canvas.
84.
Shells: paint and roll them onto the paper.
85. Comb: seen some lovely rainbow design combs.
86.
Socks on
87.
Finger puppets
88. Stones
89.
Old nail varnish brush
90.
Glue applicator sticks
91.
Stuffed gloves and socks
92. Spikey balls
93. Peppers
94. Match sticks
95. Mascara brushes
96. Golf balls
97. Yoyo
98. Pom poms
99. Chop sticks
100. String/wool
Please remember some of these activities pose a risk to small children and babies so choose wisely and do not leave them unattended.
I would definitely be interested in learning how you utilize the same materials or other materials that you use for painting.
