Friday, September 23, 2011

Marvelous Marble Painting

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This activity is one that I used back in my teaching days. I have never done it with three year olds but decided my kids might find this art project fun. You will need the following basic supplies: baking pan (got mine at the dollar store), paint, white paper cut to fit inside the pan, tape, and marbles.  Would you believe I had the hardest time finding the marbles?  I thought for sure the dollar store would have them, but they did not.  I looked in lots of different stores and finally found them at Cost Plus World Market when I wasn't even looking.  So if you already have marbles at home, you are ahead of the game!


You will want to tape your paper to the bottom of the pan.  I am sure there are many different ways to paint with the marbles, but here is what I did.  I squirted different colors of paint onto the paper and dropped in some marbles (I believe I used 4 in each tray).  It would be fun at another point to experiment with the number of marbles in a tray and see how it changes the results.  


"A" wanted yellow and blue paint on  her tray.


Once your marbles are dropped in, have your child rock the tray back and forth to get the marbles to move and paint the paper.  


Later, A discovered that she could tilt the tray up and down to get lines going in different directions on her paper.


I love this action shot of B.  Who knew this activity provided such a workout?


A really wanted to work with green paint.  I did not have any out, but explained that we could make green by mixing yellow and blue.  And just like that we are learning about color mixing.  Thanks for the great idea A!  I dropped some yellow and blue paint on her paper and gave her some marbles.  


She was quite proud of the resulting green!


Finished products



My final verdict is that this project was just perfect for three year olds and might even work with two year olds.  But you know your child best. I did not have C participate, because at 20 months, she still puts everything in her mouth and I was concerned that the marbles would be a choking hazard.  

The girls loved discovering a new way to paint and I'm just thankful that I didn't lose my marbles.  

I have linked this project to Smile Monsters, Let Birds Fly, Gluesticks, Preschool Corner, ABC and 123, Tatertots and Jello, Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
-=-
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Posted by Vicky @ Mess For Less at 10:49 AM
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35 comments:

  1. LisaSeptember 23, 2011 at 10:59 AM

    What an awesome hands-on project! Looks like they had a great time! :-)

    Many blessings,
    Lisa

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  2. AnonymousSeptember 23, 2011 at 11:45 AM

    We LOVE to marble paint and babies, toddlers and preschoolers, OH MY! My kiddos get all wild and crazy with this so I actually have saved pizza boxes that way I have a lid so marbles and paint don't go flying!
    You blog ROCKS!
    http://daycaresillies.blogspot.com/

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  3. EmilyMSeptember 23, 2011 at 1:39 PM

    It looks like your girls had fun with this project too. I love the action shot you got. We are going to have to try multiple marbles next time we do this. Thanks for stopping by my blog.

    Emily
    http://puppydogtails.blogspot.com

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  4. VickySeptember 23, 2011 at 4:50 PM

    @ Lisa, Thanks so much, they did!
    @ daycaresillies, sounds like a great excuse for me to order a pizza!
    @ Emily, thanks for stopping by!

    ReplyDelete
  5. PoppySeptember 23, 2011 at 7:09 PM

    Hi Vicky, I remember doing marble painting as a kid... we used to dip plain white T-shirts to get the marble effect on it... used to be a lot of fun... first step in creativity... lol!I bet your three old had oodles of fun with it...what an excellent idea to share with kids as well as inspire them to explore their creative side! I feel so flattered by your endearing comment on my Fall Luminaries. Really enjoyed and appreciated you stopping by.Thank you so much for following me. Will love to have you over anytime. Have a wonderful weekend with your family!Happily following you back~Poppy

    http://withadashofcolor.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  6. JoyceSeptember 23, 2011 at 11:15 PM

    It looks like they had a blast! I love that action shot too. I hear other bloggers complaining about a shortage of marbles as well. I think they are only trully abundant around Christmas, I guess for stocking stuffer usage. Videogames killed the marble star. Or something.

    ReplyDelete
  7. HeidiSeptember 23, 2011 at 11:34 PM

    Can't wait for mine to be this big so I can do this fun stuff with her. Thanks for stoping by my blog. I'm a new follower

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  8. Jessica @ TheCrazyChaoticHouseSeptember 24, 2011 at 8:08 AM

    Looks like they had lots of fun. Thanks for sharing. I will for sure have to try this with my 3 year old;)

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  9. ShoregirlSeptember 24, 2011 at 10:45 AM

    Looks like a lot of fun -- great art lesson too!

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  10. Cricket @ Thrifty Texas PennySeptember 24, 2011 at 5:18 PM

    Such a fabulous idea! I bet my 3 yr old (almost 4) would love it. Now following from the Tiggerific Tuesday hop (yes I know it's already Saturday LOL)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sandra ApplingSeptember 24, 2011 at 5:55 PM

    What a great idea! Painting with little mess and lots of fun!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Daneilia @ Anchors AwaySeptember 24, 2011 at 11:13 PM

    Oh how I remember these days lol. Gosh that just makes me sound old. But this was one of my fave projects when I was young. I may attempt to try this with my 2year old...I think she is capable of having fun w/out eating paint or messing with the marbles lol ("I think", its not a guarantee haha). Love this.

    ReplyDelete
  13. TiffanySeptember 24, 2011 at 11:27 PM

    Great idea, I four kids who would love this! Thanks for stopping by my blog. : )

    ReplyDelete
  14. Jessica @ Nuchey's MommySeptember 25, 2011 at 4:19 AM

    Hi Vicky! what a great idea, my son who is 5 would even love this :) Anything to make a mess & have it contained in a dish works for me! Thanks for sharing & thank you for visiting my site & barn doors!

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  15. TheophanieSeptember 25, 2011 at 8:53 AM

    My 2 year old loves you!

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  16. learning tableSeptember 25, 2011 at 9:27 AM

    This looks like fun! Next time we head outside, we'll have to try this project. Thanks for visiting my blog, and I'm following you back.
    :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Lori @ La-La's Home DaycareSeptember 25, 2011 at 10:22 AM

    Whoo Hoo that was fun! We haven't tried this out yet! I have the marbles finally, just haven't done it! Cute Cute!

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  18. MonicaSeptember 26, 2011 at 3:08 AM

    Looks like such fun! I love projects like this.

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  19. JeanetteSeptember 26, 2011 at 8:57 AM

    Such messy fun! Thanks for visiting My Own Four Corners, I am following you back and enjoying your site very much! Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  20. TJ @ MeasuringFlower.comSeptember 26, 2011 at 10:30 AM

    Hi! New follower from Measuring Flower. Cute idea! My first son's only 14 months now, so he's too little, but I'll definitely keep this one in mind to do, er, for him to do when he's older. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  21. JamieSeptember 26, 2011 at 5:38 PM

    I LOVE marble paintings! Very good post!!

    Thank you so much for joining in the Make Yourself Monday blog hop!

    Jamie
    For Love of Cupcakes

    ReplyDelete
  22. mmbearSeptember 26, 2011 at 10:02 PM

    Now that is what I call original! Hi! I am from the blog hop and now a new follower thru GFC, Facebook and RSS Reader. I would love a follow back on all three when you get a free moment. Thanks so much for your help and have a blessed week!

    Mary@http://www.mmbearcupoftea.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. NikoSeptember 27, 2011 at 5:31 AM

    I am just following you back, but WOW! I love this idea. I might have to try it once BL gets a little older. I can't wait to do fun projects like this.

    --Niko
    http://wishfulstargazer.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Cupcakes and CutlerySeptember 27, 2011 at 5:10 PM

    So fun!!! I wonder if my dad would let us take some of the marbles he hasn't used in 50 years to do art??? :) My kids would LOVE this!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Kierna CSeptember 28, 2011 at 10:02 AM

    Hey Vicky, this is one of my favourite art activities - but I love the idea of the foil tray, as we use a plastic tray & then have to wash it out - thanks for saving me some time!

    ReplyDelete
  26. VickySeptember 29, 2011 at 3:14 PM

    @ Poppy, thanks for the thoughtful comment. Hope you are having a joy filled Thursday!
    @ Joyce, who knew about the marble shortage?
    @ Heidi, it will happen before you know it.
    @ Jessica, I think the 3 year old will love it.
    @ Shoregirl, thanks so much!
    @ Cricket, hope you guys have fun with it.
    @ Sandra, thank you for stopping in.
    @ Jeanette, so happy to have you following
    @ TJ, this is great for when he gets older.
    @
    @ Daneilia, brings back memories huh? I feel old too. :-)
    @ Tiffany, hope your kiddies love it.
    @ Learning table, thanks for following back
    @ Lori, you must try it! Super fun.
    @ Theophanie, I love your 2 year old! :-)
    @ Monica, they are so fun aren't they?
    @ Jamie, thanks so much for the kind words.
    @ mmbear, will do!
    @ Niko, thanks so much!
    @ Cupcakes, I have a dad like that too! :-)
    @ Kierna, thanks for the comment.

    ReplyDelete
  27. KatieOctober 1, 2011 at 4:25 AM

    Such a cool idea! I had forgotten all about marble painting. Thanks for visiting- I'm following back :)

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  28. Mom to 2 Posh Lil DivasOctober 1, 2011 at 4:33 PM

    I LOVE marble painting! It is just so much fun & how great that you added in come color mixing too!

    Thanks for lining to the Sunday Showcase & sure hope to see you this week!

    Bern
    http://momto2poshlildivas.blogspot.com/search/label/Sunday%20Showcase

    ReplyDelete
  29. AmandaOctober 23, 2011 at 6:16 PM

    Great pictures! We love marble painting too =) I linked back to this post on my most recent acorn marble painting post! http://theeducatorsspinonit.blogspot.com/2011/10/acorn-marble-painting-acorn-counting.html

    ReplyDelete
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