# Just Add Water Art > Kids tear bright crepe paper into bits, wet them on white paper with a brush, spray bottle or dropper, and watch the color bleed. Once it's dry they peel the paper off to reveal soft, watercolor-like art. - URL: https://www.funlittles.com/easy-art-project-for-kids-just-add-water-art/ - Ages: 2–6 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: low - Time: prep 10 min, activity 30 min - Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class · one batch serves about 1 kids - Skills: fine-motor, brush-control, colors, shapes, creativity - Cautions: ingestion-risk ## Materials (one batch) - Crepe paper sheets or streamers in bright colors - 1 sheet White paper or card stock - Water (household) - 1 piece Small tub or bowl for water (household) - 1 piece Paint brush - 1 piece Spray bottle (optional) (household) - 1 piece Medicine dropper (optional) (household) - 1 piece Scissors (optional) (household) - 1 piece Black marker (optional) (household) ## Substitutions - Instead of crepe paper: Bleeding tissue paper (made for crafts) (Some ordinary tissue paper doesn't bleed at all. Tissue paper sold as 'bleeding tissue' releases color well.) - Instead of paint brush: Spray bottle or medicine dropper (A spray bottle suits toddlers. A dropper suits preschoolers and older kids.) ## Safety - Supervise toddlers closely. Small bits of crepe paper can be mouthed, and the dye that bleeds out is not food. - Wet crepe paper releases dye that can stain hands, clothes and surfaces. Cover the table and wear old clothes. - If you cut shapes for a scene, an adult handles the scissors or closely supervises. ## Before you start - Test your crepe paper: wet a scrap on white paper to make sure the color bleeds. One reader's first brand didn't bleed at all. - Optional: draw a large number outline on the white paper, or cut crepe paper shapes for a scene. ## Steps 1. Tear the crepe paper into small bits. 2. Toddlers: spray or brush water onto the white paper, then stick the colored bits on. 3. Preschoolers: arrange the bits in small groups of 4 or 5, then dab them with water using a brush or drench them with a medicine dropper. 4. Watch the color bleed out of the crepe paper onto the white paper. 5. Keep adding bits until the paper is covered. Use just enough water to wet them. 6. Let the whole paper dry completely. 7. Peel off the crepe paper bits to reveal the colors left behind. 8. Display your finished art. ## Tips - The first step was the best since it involved lots of tearing. We loved tearing up the bright colorful crepe paper. - Watch out for those too eager 'water pourers'. We got over-zealous with the water in our garden scene, and the paper soaked and eventually ripped. - Dabbing small groups of bits with a brush is great practice for brush control. - My toddler had a great time painting with water and even more fun sticking the colored bits. Good fine motor practice. - Card stock works well as the base paper. - Not all tissue paper bleeds. If you use tissue, look for 'bleeding tissue paper' made for crafting. - Do a trial run the day before. One reader's first crepe paper didn't bleed at all, but a different brand did. (from readers) ## FAQ **Why didn't my colors bleed?** Not all paper bleeds. The author says crepe paper generally does, but some tissue paper doesn't. One reader found one crepe paper brand that didn't bleed at all while another did, so test your paper first. **Where can I find crepe paper that bleeds?** The author says most crepe papers and regular streamers cut into pieces will bleed. Crepe paper sheets are sold on Amazon, and you can also buy 'bleeding tissue paper' made for crafts. **Does tissue paper work?** Some tissue paper bleeds and some doesn't. Tissue paper sold as 'bleeding tissue' releases color well. **Can I use this on Easter eggs?** The author hasn't tried it. She suggests water may not be enough on eggs, and bleeding tissue paper with vinegar may release color better. Craft paper dyes aren't food-safe, so treat such eggs as decorations only. **Can kids make cards with this?** Yes. The author agreed it works well for cards, such as Valentine's Day cards. ## The original post by TurkeyMom (2013) This is a very easy to set up water art project for kids ages 2 and above. All you need are crepe paper ( streamer paper) and water. I had crepe paper which come in sheets. But you could easily use streamer paper bits in various colors of your choice. First step was the best since it involved lots of tearing. We loved ed tearing up the bright colorful crepe paper. With a paint brush the kids “painted” the paper with water. Now here there are numerous ways to do this crepe paper art project activity. 1. Spray water on a white paper and stick the colored paper bits- Good for a toddler 2. Use a brush and paint with water and then stick the colored bits – Good for a toddler 3. Arrange the bits in groups of 4/5 and use a medicine dropper to drench them with water – Good for a pre schooler and above 4. Arrange the bits in small groups and then dab them with water using a brush ( great practice for brush control) – Good for a pre schooler The kids arranged the bits, moistened the bits with water and waited for it to dry. As soon as the water hits the crepe paper you will see the color bleeding out on to the white paper. >Here is one of the completed crepe paper art collage. Isn't this water art project super fun and easy? ### Once the entire paper is dry, the kids had a fun time peeling off the paper and we were left these beautiful pieces. ### This activity is very toddler-friendly since it is very simple and doesn't involve too many complicated steps. My toddler had a great time painting with water and had even more fun time sticking the colored bits. Good fine motor pratice. As I had previously shown in our [math series](https://www.funlittles.com/abcs-of-math-activities-k-o/), we also used the bleeding art technique for a fun number recognition exercise here. ### We created many open ended collage type water art work. However my pre schooler is in a “scene phase” now where anything short of a particular order is frowned upon! As she grows up her mind is being conditioned to think a certain way! So by her request we made a garden theme since her original jungle theme did not materialize due to lack of colors. Notice how the color from the crepe paper is starting to bleed on to the paper creating this beautiful water crepe paper art. ### She designed the scene and we both cut out the shapes needed. This was a great shapes and visualization exercise. However we got over-zealous with the water in the garden scene and the paper soaked and eventually ripped. So watch out for those too eager “water pourers”. ### I really love how each arrangement is so unique in its own right. Here are our open ended creations by my toddler and pre schooler. Added bonus is that it is virtually no mess art activity kids will enjoy. ### This was done on a card stock paper. ### ### Fun water art project that every one should try. ### Here are some art projects for kids we have done in the past.We have [painted with mud](https://www.funlittles.com/of-dirt-and-dots/), [Kool-aid art projects](https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-make-your-own-colored-sand/), we have used [animal images](https://www.funlittles.com/animal-resist-painting/) to create fantastic animal resist art and even used [spaghetti paint brushes to paint](https://www.funlittles.com/paint-with-spaghetti-brooms/). Thanks for stopping by our little space here. Hope you liked our water art project. We encourage you to stick around and take a look at [**couple of**](https://www.funlittles.com/paint-with-spaghetti-brooms/) our [**popular posts.**](https://www.funlittles.com/animal-resist-painting/) --- ---