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Indoor activity

Bubble Art Prints

Blow colourful bubbles in paint and press paper onto them to capture beautiful circular patterns. Every print is a totally unique piece of art!

Ages 3-6 0-1 hours Education 5/10

Materials

  • Paper
  • Poster Paint
  • Small Containers
  • Straws
  • Washing-up Liquid

Illustrated Steps

1

Mix Your Bubble Paint

Stir poster paint, washing-up liquid, and water in a small container until the colour is fully dissolved. Make one container per colour.

2

Blow a Bubble Mountain

Place a straw into the mixture and blow steadily until a dome of colourful bubbles rises above the container rim.

3

Capture the Print

Press a sheet of paper flat onto the bubble dome, hold for two seconds, then lift to reveal a circular print pattern.

4

Build Your Gallery

Rinse and swap colours. Try overlapping prints from different colours for a layered rainbow effect.

What You’ll Create

Imagine dipping your finger in a rainbow and leaving its mark on paper! 🫧✨ In this activity you’ll mix runny paint with washing-up liquid, blow until a colourful mountain of bubbles forms, then gently press paper over the top to capture a totally unique circular print. No two bubble prints are ever the same — and that’s the magic!

How to Set It Up

Step 1: Mix Your Bubble Paint

Squirt a generous blob of poster paint into a small container — about a tablespoon’s worth. Add one teaspoon of washing-up liquid and three tablespoons of water. Stir gently until the paint is completely dissolved and the liquid looks like coloured water. Make a separate container for each colour you want to use.

Step 2: Blow a Bubble Mountain

Place one end of a straw into the coloured paint mixture, then blow gently and steadily. ⚠️ Adult Helper Needed — remind younger children to only blow OUT through the straw and never suck in. Keep blowing until a dome of colourful bubbles rises above the rim of the container.

Step 3: Capture the Print

While the bubbles are still standing tall, pick up a sheet of paper and press it flat onto the top of the bubble dome. Hold it there for two seconds, then lift it straight up. You’ll see dozens of perfect circles where each bubble burst! Let it dry flat on the table.

Rinse the straw, clean the container, and repeat with a different colour — try overlapping prints for a layered rainbow effect! 🌈 Once everything is dry, hold each sheet up to the window — the circles glow like stained glass.

Have fun!

  • 🎨 Mix red and yellow paint into the same container — what colour do your bubbles make?
  • 🌈 Overlap two prints with different colours for a totally unique pattern.
  • 📸 Take a photo of each print before it dries — compare the circles!
  • 🖼️ Cut out the best circles and use them as wrapping paper for a gift.

Why It’s Amazing

  • Colour Science: Children discover how colours blend and change when mixed — real chemistry! 🔬
  • Breath Control: Blowing steadily through a straw builds the breathing muscles used in speech and music. 🎵
  • Fine Motor Skills: Pressing the paper flat without popping the bubbles requires gentle hand control. ✋
  • Creative Confidence: Every print is different and beautiful — there are no mistakes in bubble art! 🌟

Pro Tips

For ages 3–4: Mix the paint for them and supervise the straw closely. Use shallow containers so bubbles are easier to reach with paper.

For ages 4–6: Let them mix their own colours from primary paints. Ask: “What will happen if we add more washing-up liquid?”

Supervision note: Always remind children to blow OUT only — never suck in — through the straw.