Puffy Strawberry Craft for Kids

We made a strawberry craft for kids and it’s everything—bright, poofy, and full of texture. The black bean seeds are our favorite part.

Table of Contents:

1. It’s the perfect day to make this strawberry craft for kids
2. This strawberry craft stays puffy when dry
3. Materials
4. How to make a puffy strawberry craft
5. What to do if your mixture is too runny
6. Why cardboard and watercolor paper work best for puffy strawberry art
7. Puffy paint tips from a preschool pro
8. Frequently Asked Questions

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It’s the perfect day to make this strawberry craft for kids

There’s just something irresistible about puffy art—especially when it’s homemade, foamy, and swirled with bright berry colors.

This strawberry craft for kids uses a simple mix of shaving cream, school glue, and paint to create a textured masterpiece that stays raised and soft even after it dries.

Add in some dried black beans to represent strawberry seeds, and you’ve got an extra sensory bonus that preschool kids love sticking their fingers into.

It’s a classic shaving cream and glue craft with a fruity twist, and the results are “berry” cute.

✨ Check out our ultimate collection of the best process art projects for kids!

This strawberry craft stays puffy when dry

Ever wonder why this shaving cream and glue craft doesn’t flatten out once it’s dry?

The secret’s in the mix: the shaving cream gives the paint its airy, whipped texture, while the glue helps it harden in place.

As the water in the mixture evaporates, the glue locks those tiny bubbles in place, leaving you with soft, raised strawberry art that stays puffy to the touch.

🍓 Want to whip up more shaving cream fun?

• Epic shaving cream potions
• Shaving cream STEM block building
• Ooey gooey shaving cream finger painting
• Shaving cream ice cream water table

Materials

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• 2 small bowls
• Shaving cream
• White school glue
• Red and green paint
• 2 spoons
• Watercolor paper, cardstock, or cardboard
• Dried black beans

How to make a puffy strawberry craft

1. Grab two bowls—one for red paint, one for green.
2. In each bowl, squirt in shaving cream and white school glue. There’s no exact science or measurement to it – just eyeball 1 cup-ish of shaving cream then add in 1 or 2 tablespoons-ish of glue.
3. Add a small squirt red paint to one bowl and green paint to the other, then mix both with spoons until well combined and fluffy.
4. On a sturdy sheet of watercolor paper or cardboard, use a spoon to scoop the red mixture into a triangle-ish shape for your strawberry.
5. Scoop a bit of the green mixture on top to form the leafy greenery.
6. While everything is still wet, press dried black beans into the red puff paint to represent the strawberry seeds.
7. Let the whole thing dry flat to dry.

💡 Teacher Tip: We are using spoons instead of paintbrushes because we want to keep it thick and puffy.

What to do if your mixture is too runny

Sometimes the puff paint comes out a little too gloopy—no problem!

If your red or green mixture looks thin or runny, just add a squirt more glue or a dollop more shaving cream to thicken it back up.

You’re looking for a soft, meringue-like consistency that holds its shape when spooned onto paper.

Remember, every shaving cream and glue craft is a little different depending on your paint, glue, and even the humidity—so adjust as needed and have fun experimenting.

Why cardboard and watercolor paper work best for puffy strawberry art

This is not the time for flimsy printer paper—this strawberry art needs a strong foundation.

Because the mixture is thick and holds moisture, thinner paper tends to curl or collapse under the weight.

Watercolor paper, cardstock, or even a piece of recycled cardboard is perfect because it supports the paint and keeps the cute strawberry drawing looking clean and crisp.

Plus, sturdy paper makes it easier to hang up or display once it’s dry and ready to show off.

Puffy paint tips from a preschool pro

Want to make this strawberry craft for kids as smooth as strawberry jam? (lol)

Here are a few quick tips:

• Mix gently to keep it airy—don’t over-stir or it’ll lose fluff.
• Use a spoon to scoop and swirl, not spread. Spreading flattens it.
• Make the strawberry shape first, then add the greenery.
• Press the beans in lightly—just enough to stick, not sink.
• Let it dry completely before moving it. This isn’t the craft to rush.

Frequently Asked Questions