If you’re new to the world of puffy paint (AKA no drip paint), you’re in for a treat! Made with glue, shaving cream, and a little food coloring, this fun and squishy craft material can add texture and dimension to any project. Kids (and parents) love it because not only is it colorful, but it’s a tactical experience that little ones can touch, feel, and see.

As much as children love to paint, there can be too many close calls to make it a worthwhile activity at times. With puffy paint, you can bring back painting activities without the stress! It’s a game-changer for sensory play, adding a whole new level of creativity to projects.

In this post, I’m sharing a round-up of fun and engaging crafts for kids with puffy paint. These projects are easy to make, enjoyable to play with, and can aid in developing fine motor skills. Ready to put a fun spin on sensory play? Follow my step-by-step guide on how to make puffy paint, and let’s get started!

8 Crafts for Kids with Puffy Paint: Fun Ways to Turn Art into a Sensory Experience

Window Painting with Puffy Paint

Window painting with puffy paint is a fantastic activity for introducing boundaries. If your little one hasn’t quite yet grasped the concept of staying inside the lines, this visual activity can be super helpful.

Using painters tape, make a square on the window low enough for your little one to reach. Separate your puffy paint into different bowls so it’s easy for them to dip into, and then hand over a small paintbrush to your little one to let their creativity run wild!

Even if your kid wants to paint outside of the lines at times, they’ll begin to understand the concept. This activity doesn’t just explore creative expression; it’s excellent for developing hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills!

Rainbow Cake Layers with Puffy Paint

Another fun activity that teaches little ones to stay within lines is painting layers of a cake! I have the perfect printable sheet in my Rainbow Colors Activity Pack for you to use, along with a handful of other colorfully engaging activities.

Print the sheet, set up your play area with puffy paint and a few paintbrushes, and let the fun begin! This is an exciting way to teach kids about color recognition and artistic expression while working on fine motor skills and cognitive development.

Puffy Paint Ice Cream Cones

This craft is the perfect dessert-themed treat. There are tons of ways to get creative and make each cone unique!

Start by using a piece of brown construction paper to trace your cone and ice cream scoops. Then, cut those shapes out and use hot glue or white school glue to attach them. Finally, place the puffy paint into separate bowls (I recommend creating a pretty generous amount for this activity) and let your little one create their cone.

If you want a more interactive approach, trade out the paintbrushes for ice cream scoops! You can also use glitter and Pom Poms for “sprinkles.” Keep your hawk eyes out during this activity as yummy as it looks, puffy paint isn’t taste-safe or edible.

Puffy Paint Flowers

Making puffy paint flowers is just as easy as it is fun. Before you know it, your little one will have created a garden of unique puffy paint flowers that “pop” off the page.

Trace your flowers onto white paper, or have your little one do it to add a sense of control to the craft. Now, using puffy paint, they can fill in the petals and stems and even paint the grass underneath!

This is another super fun activity that aids in visual expression and spatial intelligence. Not only will your little one love crafting their own garden, but they’ll also love the bumpy, textured petals after they dry!

Puffy Paint Rainbow

Here on the Mothercould blog, I love creating rainbow activities and crafts as much as I can the more colorful an activity is, the more little ones will want to join in on the fun.

Start by drawing a simple rainbow shape, and let your kiddos use puffy paint to fill in each color. This is a fantastic time to teach them about the colors of the rainbow and their correct order. The puffy paint adds a magical, textured twist to the craft, making it all the more exciting!

Handprint Animals with Puffy Paint

As much as we’d love to keep every craft our little ones make, we know we can't hold onto them all. That's why this handprint animal is the perfect keepsake to cherish forever!

Put your puffy paint onto a large plate and gently dip your child’s hand into it. If it’s easier, you can also apply the paint directly! Now, press the handprint onto a piece of paper to form an animal.

For the younger ones, things like a fish or crab will be easier to create. For the older kids, they may be able to make their animals a bit more intricate like giraffes or tigers! The puffy paint works wonders, really helping the details of each animal pop out.

Puffy Paint Stamps

When you just want a simple activity that lets your kiddos explore different textures, this puffy paint stamp activity is a fantastic choice. It’s simple to create and will entertain for hours!

Pull out some sponges you no longer use and trace a few different shapes onto the sponge with a marker or pen (no permanent markers!). Cut out your shapes, gluing in a popsicle stick in the center so your little ones can easily grip the stamps. Now, grab a few sheets of white paper and separate your puffy paint into bowls!

We’re basically taking this DIY sponge stamp activity I posted a while back and adding a fun, tactical twist. Your little ones will love the feeling of the puffy paint both wet and dry!

Ocean-Themed Puffy Paint Exploration

For this craft, we’re creating an underwater exploration with puffy paint. The raised texture of this craft will make your littles feel like the fish are really on the page!

Trace different sea creatures (or print them off) and lay them on a white piece of paper. Use regular blue paint (or a blue marker) to color the paper, making sure to go around the fish you placed on the page. Now, have your little ones use their puffy paint to color in the fish, draw seaweed, add sand the possibilities are endless!

This is an excellent opportunity to introduce kids to different marine species while bringing them to life on the page. This craft can also encourage self-expression and strengthen hand-eye coordination it’s a win-win!

How To Make Puffy Paint Dry Faster for Kids Crafts

When using puffy paint, it’s no surprise that your little ones will want to get their hands on the finished product as quickly as possible. Fortunately, there are many helpful ways to get puffy paint to dry quicker when doing kids’ crafts!

Place the craft in front of a fan: Fan circulation is the most common method for speeding up drying time. It helps move out all the moist air, making sure the paint dries quickly and evenly. Luckily, the paint won’t drip off as it dries!
Use thin layers: This tip can be tricky with little ones since they can get messy with paint, but applying thin, even layers helps your paint dry quicker, section by section. You won’t have to worry about a big, clumpy, puffy paint mess that may take hours to dry!
Use a hairdryer: If you’re working on a craft with several different steps, use a hairdryer on a low setting! Just wave the hair dryer over the entire craft for a few minutes, and the paint will dry in no time.

How do you get puffy paint to dry faster for kids’ crafts? I’d love to hear your tips in the comments so I can try them out myself!

Using puffy paint for kids’ crafts is fun, engaging, and exciting!

When you’re tired of using regular paint (or cleaning up the stains from the mess it leaves behind), try switching to puffy paint! Not only is it fantastic for avoiding a colorful disaster, but it’s also engaging for little ones!

If you do find yourself trying to scrub out old paint stains, I’ve got the perfect stain remover just click here!

For more fun and imaginative independent play, pre-order our new book, Playful by Design! It’s a guide to transforming your home into a place of creativity and connection, igniting kids’ imagination and fostering independence.

Check out the Mothercould blog for more engaging sensory play recipes! And, for more in-depth tutorials, helpful cleaning tips, and exciting activity packs, download the Mothercould in Your Pocket resource.

8 CRAFTS FOR KIDS WITH PUFFY PAINT: FUN WAYS TO TURN ART INTO A SENSORY EXPERIENCE