Fun Littles

Fun and easy kids activities

Fizzing Apple Art

Aug 9, 2016217,275 views
Art Projects
Ages3–7 yrs
Prep25 min
Activity30 min
Leveleasy
MessMedium
Works for1:1 · Small group · Class

Paint paper apple cut-outs with baking soda "paint", then dab on colored citric acid, Fun Dip or vinegar solution and watch them fizz into vibrant, textured art. A simple science experiment and art project in one.

⚠️ Safety first

  • Citric acid stings eyes and cuts — use small amounts and wash hands after.
  • Fun Dip is candy; the solution is for painting, not eating.

Before the kids arrive

  • Cut apple shapes from paper.
  • Mix the colored citric acid solutions in separate cups.

Steps

  1. Mix 2 tbsp baking soda with water, a little at a time, into a paint that isn't too watery.

  2. Mix 1 tbsp citric acid, 2.5 tbsp water and 1–2 drops of food color in a cup. Make one cup for each color.

  3. Paint an apple cut-out all over with the baking soda paint — just wet enough.

  4. While the paint is still wet, dip your brush in a colored acid solution and gently touch it to the apple.

  5. Watch the tiny fizzes, then try another color on the same apple.

  6. Lay the finished apples flat to dry.

Tips

  • Keep the baking soda paint wet enough to react — touch the acid on before it dries.from the author
  • The fizzy spots dry with lots of texture and dimension, and the colors stay vibrant.from the author
  • We taped a few to the window and were surprised that they made decent sun catchers.from the author
  • You're painting with a base (baking soda) and adding a weak acid to make the reaction happen.from readers

Make it your own

  • Tape the dry apples to a sunny window as sun catchers.
  • String the apples on twine and hang them as a fall garland.
  • Use shamrock shapes for a St. Patrick's Day version.

Questions readers asked

What makes it fizz?

The acid (citric acid, Fun Dip solution or vinegar) reacting with the still-wet baking soda paint.

Where does the Fun Dip come in?

After the baking soda paint, use either the Fun Dip solution, the citric acid solution or vinegar to create the fizz — any one of them works.

The story behind it

By TurkeyMom · August 2016
apple art supplies
We kick off the season with apple activities. All you need is citric acid, apple Fun Dip, food color, baking soda and apple cut-outs.
1 / 10

Fizzing Apple Art: the original post

Ready for some cool & crisp air? Can’t wait for warm soups and fragrant cloves and cinnamon. Fall is its own kind of fun. Try some our great fall activities for kids ranging from fall sensory jars, fall maracas, fall art project to making cardamom playdough. We of course kick of the season with apple activities. This fall activity is a simple science and art project rolled in one.

All our apple crafts and art activities here.

Prep Time: 15 Minutes

Materials

apple art supplies

The idea is the one we used in our Fizzing Shamrock Art. Since kids activities based on acid-base reactions pretty much rocks any child’s world we try to turn that science experiment into art by basically doing the experiment on a sheet of paper.

apple crafts with fizzing apples

The process is amazing and the kids were familiar with it from our fizzing shamrock art.

Fall Activities for Kids: Fizzing Apples Art Project

  • Make Baking Soda “Paint” { 1 TBSP Baking soda mixed with about 2-3 tsp of water to make a paintable solution}

  • Make Apple Flavored Fun Dip solution

  • Make Citric Acid Solution in red and yellow colors { Citric Acid + water + food coloring} We always use the Now brand Citric Acid.

  • You can always use colored vinegar instead of citric acid solution. We just happen to like lemon eruptions a lot better

apple art and craft

Apple Art Activity Process

The child first coats the apple cut outs with baking soda “paint” Then either the Fun dip solution, citric acid solution or vinegar is used to gently touch the baking soda to enjoy the tiny fizzes.

fizzing art

We have done so many baking soda vinegar experiments that the kids now know what to expect. The multi colored apple fizzes were a treat to watch and photograph.

fizzinf apple crafts for kids

Once all the apples are done we let them dry for a while.

Fall Activities for Kids : Fizzing Apple Art

The colors turned out so vibrant and the place where the fizzes were created gave the art so much texture and dimension.

apple art projects

We took a few of them and tried taping them to the window and they shone brilliantly against the sun.

window suncatcher apple crats

We were surprised that they made decent sun catchers.

apple kids art

art activities for kids apples

Another option is to string all the apples on a twine and hang them as a garland. See all the themed garlands we have done before.

appls craft on the

I have received many emails asking me to explain the process even further. Here is the step by step rundown

  1. I would start by making some baking soda paint which is just water mixed with baking soda. {add 2 TBSP of baking soda and slowly add water until you get a solution that is not too watery}

  2. Paint the cutouts with this paint { don’t make it too watery but just wet enough}

  3. Make several cups of colored citric acid solution { 1 TBSP of citric acid + 2.5 TBSP of water + 1-2 drops of food color}

  4. When the baking soda paint is still wet, dip your paint brush in colored vinegar and place it on the apple cut. It will start to fizz.

  5. Experiment with multiple colors.

Check out Lemon Suds Eruptions activity

apple art that fizzes

What readers say

💬 5 comments ✍️ 1 answered by the author

Answered by the author

“Where does the Fun Dip come in? Do we paint with it or with the citric acid?” · Sarah DeNeve

Author After the baking soda paint, use either the Fun Dip solution, the citric acid solution or vinegar to make the fizz. You paint with a base and add a weak acid.

🛠️ Troubleshooting

Any weak acid makes the fizz

The author clarifies that after the baking soda paint you use Fun Dip solution, citric acid solution or vinegar: a weak acid reacting with a base.

“You are painting with a basic solution and using a weak acid to create a chemical reaction.”
TurkeyMom, Mar 2020

🛠️ Troubleshooting

Readers ask how to make it fizz

A reader wasn't sure what triggers the fizz. It happens when the acid solution touches the baking soda paint while it is still wet.

“SO WHAT DO WE DO TO MAKE IT FIZZ?”
KELLY, Feb 2019

🛠️ Troubleshooting

Open question: leftover baking soda

A reader asked whether to shake off excess baking soda once the fizzing is done. The post doesn't say, and no answer was posted.

“When we are done with all the fizziness do we shake off any excess baking soda?”
Nenia, Oct 2021

Tried it?

Reviewed before it appears. No links, and please no children's names.

Read all 5 comments
  1. Nenia · Oct 2021

    When we are done with all the fizziness do we shake off any excess baking soda?

  2. TurkeyMomAuthor · Mar 2020 · replying to Sarah DeNeve

    After the baking soda paint is used, use either the fun dip solution or citric acid solution or vinegar to create the fizz. You are painting with a basic solution and using a weak acid to create a chemical reaction.

  3. Sarah DeNeve · Sep 2019

    Where does the apple dip stuff come in? Do we paint with wither that OR the citric acid? what is the solution break down for the apple dip?

  4. KELLY · Feb 2019

    SO WHAT DO WE DO TO MAKE IT FIZZ?

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🛒 Materials