A bright bucket filled with artsy bathtime supplies will thrill suds Impressionists, while parents are bound to appreciate their kids' speedy leap into the tub. This is one of Ben's all-time favorite presents to make: the easy alchemy of turning plain soap and food coloring into vivid bath paints delights him so extravagantly, you'd think we were making gold. While we're at it, we always make a few extra colors to enhance our own tubside studio.
Materials
- Small, lidded plastic containers
- Creamy liquid body soap
- Toothpick
- Food coloring
- Paint-mixing bucket (available at hardware stores)
- Plastic palette
- Foam brushes
- Sponge shapes
Instructions
Fill small, lidded plastic containers half full with a creamy liquid body soap (we like the natural brand Kiss My Face). Use a toothpick to stir a few drops of food coloring into each container. (Gel icing makes gloriously bright colors, but use only a drop or two, or the colors might stain.)
Arrange these paints in a paint-mixing bucket, along with a plastic palette for color mixing, foam brushes, and some sponge shapes for printing. Have your child design a label: "Rub-a-dub-dub, make art in the tub" or simply "Nat's Bath Paints."
Crafts
