DIY Marbling Paper With Kids

Recreate the look of marble stone with shaving cream.

Marbling paper with kids is a do-it-yourself craft with roots all the way back in ancient Japan. According to Suminagashi, in 12th-century Japan, artists would blow onto inks dripped in water to form smoke-like patterns on paper. Marbling spread to Europe by the 17th century, but artisans kept their marbling techniques highly secretive. Craft your own simple marbled paper by using inexpensive and easy-to-find shaving foam. The foam has a viscosity, or thickness, that the pigment colors swirl in.

Things You'll Need

• Shaving foam
• Shallow tray
• Spatula
• Food coloring set
• Fork
• Paper
• Paper towels

Instructions

1. Spray shaving foam evenly into a shallow tray until it is approximately 2 inches deep. Spread it smooth with a spatula.

2. Drop different colors of food coloring randomly over the foam. Pull the tines of a fork through the colors in a swirl pattern.

3. Press paper into the foam. Use your fingers to press the paper evenly into the entire mixture. Lift the paper straight up so you do not smear any of the colors.

4. Place the paper, with the foam facing up, onto a paper towel. Blot the paper with a clean paper towel to remove the shaving cream. Allow the paper to dry completely.

5. Drop more drops of food coloring into the remaining foam. Swirl with your fork and add another piece of paper. Remove and blot.

Tips & Warnings

• Use card stock if you want to create a greeting card with the marbleized paper.

• Instead of food coloring, liquid inks or thinned paints can be substituted.

• Experiment with different color combinations, and use different tools to swirl the food coloring.

References

• HGTV; Shaving Cream Marbled Card; Dee Gruenig
• Love Paper Paint: DIY Marbled Paper
• Sumiamgashi: History