Boredom Buster: Suds Painting

There are days during the summer where I want to rip my hair out playing outside isn't an option. Either it is rainy, the air quality is bad for Oldest, road in front of house is being paved, or I feel like staying in my jams. On those days I definitely need some help.

I had first seen this idea on Martha...gotta love her. I have seen it a couple of places since then. On a whim, I decided to give my sweet Little Men something to do one stay-inside-day.

I had everything on hand. Here is what you need-

 acrylic paint

some cups (i prefer disposable, but you can use regular cups) 

liquid dish detergent 

paper (water color paper or heavy craft paper is best...but in a pinch printer paper is just dandy) 

some water 

straws

All you have to do is pour some soap into the bottoms of each cup. I used about 2-3 Tablespoons. Then I squirted several big squirts of paint, different color in each cup. Then I poured 1/4-1/2 cup water. You don't want the solution too diluted. I had to do a trial run. The best way to test it is to blow into the cup, check the amount of bubbles...you want lots...and check the concentration of the color...again you want it darkish.

Once you have the ratio right, put in the straws.

Get a few washrags ready.

And then let your kids go to town.

They will LOVE blowing bubbles in the paint...I mean really it is all I can do to get them to not blow bubbles in their milk, so of course they love this.

Sometimes the blowing got a little carried away. This is where the washrag comes in handy.

One cup at a time is fun.

But if you've got real skills, then you can handle three.

Don't forget to actually have them make their art work. When the bubbles are all frothy at the top. Have the kiddos lightly press a white piece of paper on the bubbles.

They have creative license. They can use all one color. Just a few...or all of them. Once they are done with each sheet of paper. Set it in a flat place to dry.

Hang it in all its glory on the fridge. Your kids will feel like their art is hanging all fancy like in a art gallery, which will make them feel all fancy. You will feel a sense of accomplishment for the 20 minutes you fed their creativity and kept them from their beloved video games. It is pretty much a win-win.

Warning: This will be the gateway to them wanting to do any and every painting craft they can think of.