Salt Painted Hearts
This activity will have your students jumping for joy!! They will love creating salt painted hearts!
If you’re looking for a creative and fun Valentine’s Day activity to do with your students, you’re in the right place! Salt painting is the perfect mix of art and science that’s easy to set up and absolutely captivating. Follow these simple steps to create beautiful, textured salt painted hearts that are sure to impress!
Materials Needed:
- White card stock or heavy paper
- Heart-shaped cookie cutters or a stencil
- Pencil
- Clear school glue
- Table salt
- Watercolor paints
- Paintbrush
- Bowl of water
Instructions:
1. Draw the Hearts
Use heart-shaped cookie cutters or a stencil to lightly trace hearts onto a piece of card stock. If you feel confident, you can also freehand the hearts directly onto the paper.
2. Apply the Glue
Carefully trace over the pencil outlines with white school glue. Make sure to squeeze out a steady stream of glue to create bold, defined lines.
(Tip: Younger kids may need a little help with this step to keep the lines neat.)
3. Sprinkle with Salt
While the glue is still wet, generously sprinkle table salt over the outlines. Shake off the excess salt by gently tapping the paper over a trash can or tray. Allow the glue and salt to dry completely before moving on to the next step.
(Pro Tip: Work on a tray or large sheet of paper to catch the excess salt for easy cleanup.)
4. Add Color
Once the glue and salt are dry, it’s time to paint! Dip your paintbrush into water and load it with watercolor paint. Gently touch the paintbrush to the salted lines, and watch as the color spreads and blends beautifully along the salt.
Try to avoid over-saturating the salt with water to prevent the glue from softening.
5. Let It Dry
After painting, let the artwork sit undisturbed until it is completely dry. Once dry, you’ll have a stunning piece of textured, colorful art to display or give as a gift!
Why Kids Love This Activity
Salt painting combines the magic of art with a little science. Watching the watercolor spread through the salt feels like an experiment and keeps kids engaged. Plus, it’s a great way to practice fine motor skills and creativity.
Clean-Up Tips
- Use a damp paper towel to wipe up any salt spills.
- Make sure paintbrushes are rinsed thoroughly to remove any salt residue.
- Allow the artwork to dry completely before handling to avoid smudging.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sweep or vacuum up the visible salt, then wipe the area with a damp cloth or mop using a solution of warm water and a small amount of white vinegar to remove any remaining residue.
Besides watercolors you can also use food coloring. To get good color, add a lot of food coloring to small amounts of water. You can also water down acrylic paints.
Allow 12 hours for the hearts to dry.
Try this salt painting activity and bring a little extra creativity and fun into your classroom or home this Valentine’s Day!
I love salt painting projects! I’ve tried letting the designs completely dry and having the glue still damp and both work. BUT, the salt tends to all fall off soon after the project is dry, making a mess to send home and to clean up. Any way to keep that from happening?
I’m sorry! Yes, there’s always going to salt that falls off. I’m not sure of a way to avoid this!