Emma recently developed an obsession with all forms of glue. She will happily spend hours gluing sheets of paper to each other. Sometimes she considers her final creation worthy of nothing better than the recycling bin, and sometimes she describes it as an elaborate work of art. This past week she decided she wanted to pour glue on single sheets of paper. In a bid to make this activity a little more exciting and to get her to stop pouring glue without making a scene, I added a couple drops of food coloring to the glue on her paper and handed her a toothpick. Emma loved swirling the food coloring into the glue, and she got some interesting results.
I figure it’s a good creative exercise; plus she gets some practice in fine motor skills. You can water down the glue a little if you want to make it last longer. This activity could be expanded by adding other colors and seeing how they mix, or by doing the activity in a plastic container and dipping sheets of paper into the solution to create a print-type effect.
MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.
great idea of incorporating glue into painting
This is a great idea. Sunnyboy has just got into glue and tends to pour huge amounts on the paper so I will try this :)
@Cindy – great idea with the liquid water color paint, food coloring can stain…
C is really into color mixing and glitter glue lately – this is a great way to do it!
Emily seems to have an endless obsession with glue too. It's probably her favorite craft supply! I love how you added a little food coloring to it… what a great idea!
Oh thats a great idea! We have just discovered glue. Thanks.
Great solution!
This looks like fun. I would maybe try liquid water color paint instead of food coloring because then there is no worry about stains.
Those are so cool!
Love it! I'm trying it this afternoon :)