Things You'll Need
Tray
Borax
Newspaper
Acrylic paint
Toothpicks
Straw
Paper
Whether you are looking for new and interesting crafts for children or hoping for an imaginative and inexpensive material to wrap your holiday gifts with, marbleized paper is ideal. The ingredients can be purchased easily and the project is simple enough to be completed by a preschooler with proper supervision. Make marbleized paper from different-sized sheets and frame them for a dramatic display or have your child use them for his thank you notes.
Step 1
Fill a shallow tray with tepid water. Stir 1 tbsp. of borax in the water, then allow it to sit for about half an hour. Cut a sheet of newspaper so that it is slightly larger than your tray and lightly press it down until it sits on top of the water. Gently slide the newspaper off the tray to remove any dust from the water.
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Step 2
Sprinkle a few drops of acrylic paint on the water. If they float on the surface, you are ready to start the project. If not, add another teaspoon of borax. Dip a toothpick in your paint and lightly touch it to the water's surface. Keep adding more color across the entire surface. You can use one color or several different shades depending on your taste.
Step 3
Use a straw to gently blow the water. This will create a pattern in the color. Hold your paper by the two corners, one on each end of the paper. This should create a small dip in the middle of the sheet. Gently lower the center of the paper into the water. Let the entire sheet fall into the water for a few seconds, then lift it out by holding onto the two opposite corners.
Step 4
Hold the paper over the tray so the extra water drips back into the pan. Allow the paper to dry by laying it on a pile of discarded newspaper. If the edges of the paper curl up, place it under a stack of books for a day to flatten it out.
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