Summer is the perfect season to dive into fun and creative projects with your kids. Ocean-themed crafts bring the magic of the beach right to your kitchen table.
Our new paint splat dolphin craft is a wonderful way to spend a sunny afternoon indoors. It combines easy art techniques with cute sea creatures to create a beautiful masterpiece your little ones will proudly display.
This project uses a highly engaging “smoosh” painting method. It is practically mess-free and provides an exciting reveal for kids of all ages.
Craft Supplies:
To get started on this underwater adventure, gather the following supplies:
- Dolphin Printable – on box.com – password is GLUEDTOMYCRAFTS2026
- White Cardstock Paper
- Crayons, Markers or Coloring Pencils
- Scissors
- Light Cardstock Paper
- Blue Tulip Puffy Paint
- School Glue
- Small Googly Eyes
Directions:
- First print the free DOLPHIN printable listed above on a single sheet of white cardstock paper.
- Color in and cut out one of the dolphin designs from the printable. Set it aside.
- Now grab your blue cardstock paper.
- Fold it in half {either direction works!}
- Now unfold and squirt some light blue & dark blue fabric paint on one side of the paper. Just a few squiggles will do. Just be sure to keep the paint inside the paper and not to close to the open edge. Also, less is more!
- Once the paint is down, go ahead and carefully fold up/squish your piece of paper together again.
- Rub your hand all over the folded piece, so the paint will make a symmetrical splat inside.
- Now carefully unfold your piece to reveal your “water” design.
- If desired, sprinkle some loose craft glitter on top of the wet puffy paint design.
- To finish the swimming dolphin craft – glue the dolphin cutout in place, on top of the paint splatter design. It should now look like the dolphin is swimming in the water.
- When you are done crafting, set aside to let it dry completely before displaying proudly.
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