You only need to try this bubble print process art activity once to get hooked! Your kids will have a ball making these (and we have a straw trick that will blow your mind).
Kids (and adults) LOVE bubble print process art
There’s nothing not to love!
It uses simple supplies that you already have on hand, makes the funniest sound, and each final piece is just beautiful.
Some people get nervous when they see the straw and worry their kids might suck up the colorful bubbles, but don’t worry because we’ve got just the trick for that.
✨ Check out our ultimate collection of the best process art projects for kids!
How process art helps children grow
Process art is a love of my life and one of the greatest tools for developing creativity, artistic skills, artistic appreciation, personal expression, and joy.
One of the most essential pieces of process art is how each piece will always look different.
Even if you do the same activity twice (like bubble prints), both final pieces will be unique and different.
I have made hundreds of bubble print pieces with my students over the years, and the squeals of excitement over each work of art never get old.
Process art holds the magic.
🧡 Looking for more process art activities? These are all 10/10s:
Materials
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- Water
- Shallow bowls
- Dish soap _ I suppose you could try any soap, but I have only used dish soap
- Coloring – liquid watercolors or food dye
- Straws – 1 per artist
- Paper – I use watercolor paper, but use the thickest paper you have on hand
- Scissors
How to make bubble print process art
- Step 1: Fill your shallow bowls with water, leaving about ½ – 1” room at the top. Add in generous amounts of coloring and soap, swirling to mix.
- Step 2: Invite your child to dip their straw into one bowl of colorful, soapy solution and to blow lots and lots (and lots!) of bubbles.
💡 Wait! You HAVE to do the straw trick. Cut a notch into the side of your straw. Once you have a hole, your child will be able to blow air down through the straw, but they will not be able to suck anything up through the straw. Try it with a cup of plain water to see how it works. First, try blowing through your straw into the water, then try sucking some of the water up.
- Step 3: Once the bowl is overflowing with bubbles, lay your paper on top, leave for a few seconds, then lift to reveal your bubble prints.
Repeat with other colors.
These dry quickly, are absolutely beautiful, and can be left as is or turned into cards, art backgrounds, garlands, or fun paper shape cut-outs.
Bubble print process art tips and tricks
“I am not getting enough color on the paper.”
Solution: Easy fix – add more color to your solution (you can’t really add too much).
“We aren’t getting enough bubbles.”
Solution: It’s also an easy fix – just mix in a little more soap.
“I am worried about my child sucking up the solution.”
Solution: Make sure to do the straw trick (under step 2), but if you’re still uncomfortable, you can have an adult do the blowing bubbles part, and the child can do the printing part.
If you love bubbles, make sure to check out our DIY pipe cleaner bubble wands!
Frequently Asked Questions
Any that can safely use and enjoy the materials.
Process art has loose guidance and each piece looks different. Product art has step-by-step directions and each final piece looks the same.
I used liquid watercolors here, but food coloring works just as well (I have used food coloring in the past).
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