Are you looking for an activity that will really WOW your kids?
Then you need to try this COOL (pun intended) art and science activity. Keep reading to learn how you can create magic stencils for ice painting using salt!
It is easy, fun for all ages (adults included) and best of all it is inexpensive to create! Your kids will ask for this activity again and again and there are so many different variations and themes you can use for your stencils it will never get old.
MATERIALS FOR MAGIC ICE STENCILS
- IKEA Trofast Bin or other tray of water (frozen solid)
- Salt
- Wax paper stencil (we cut ours into paper snowflakes)
- Watercolor paints
- Paintbrush
HOW TO MAKE MAGIC ICE STENCILS
- Fill up a bin or a pan with water and freeze in either your freezer or outside if it is cold enough.
- Cut out a stencil from waxed paper or lay objects down on the ice. We used paper snowflakes and some small felt snowflakes from a leftover craft project.
- Sprinkle salt all over the ice and stencil.
- Remove stencil(s).
- Paint the ice to reveal your hidden stencil images just like magic!
HOW DO THE MAGIC ICE STENCILS WORK?
We learned this fun science trick from our Instagram friend @cara_florance. The salt starts to melt the ice that wasn't covered with the stencil creating a more textured surface to hold onto the pigment of the paint. The paint has a harder time sticking to the slick icy areas that were underneath the stencil so those will appear clear/white. Try this activity again and again with different size/shape stencils to create different fun results!
MORE IDEAS
Looking for more winter and snow activities for preschoolers? Check out our WINTER HOLIDAY ACTIVITY PACKET , our list of 10 SNOW-THEMED ACTIVITIES , the 16 best SNOW SENSORY BIN FILLERS. For some literary connections check out our list of 10 WINTER PICTURE BOOKS FOR KIDS.
DID YOU TRY IT?
Let us know what your little one thought of this magic ice stencil painting activty in the comment section or show us your play by sharing your photos on Facebook or instagram and tagging @ureadyteddy or #ureadyteddy
We'll share our favorites in our stories!
