Snowflake Printmaking for Kids

Snowflake printmaking for kids is a fun and creative way to explore Winter art! With just a few simple materials, your kids will enjoy crafting their own snowy masterpieces.

Completed snowflake collagraph prints showing a white snowflake print on blue paper and a colorful foam snowflake design on white paper, displayed on a blue background with foam shapes scattered around.

Snowflake printmaking: A Winter process art project

Get ready to transform your space into a snowy art studio with this snowflake printmaking activity!

This hands-on art project invites kids to design their own foam snowflakes, paint them, and print them onto paper for magical results.

It’s perfect for a preschool winter theme or a cozy indoor winter activity for kids of all ages.

Plus, the process is so simple, it might just become your new favorite winter tradition.

✨ Check out our collection of our favorite printmaking projects!

A young girl in a pink shirt carefully places a colorful foam shape onto a piece of white paper with a black snowflake outline, surrounded by a pile of foam shapes of various sizes and colors on a blue table.

What is snowflake printmaking?

Printmaking is an art technique where a design is created on a surface and then transferred onto another material, like paper or fabric.

In this case, the foam snowflake acts as the “printing plate,” and the paint transfers the design to the blue paper.

It’s a wonderful way for kids to explore textures, patterns, and how materials interact.

Plus, printmaking is a process that can be repeated over and over, making it perfect for experimenting with colors and shapes.

WE LOVE PRINTMAKING. Check out these other faves:

Materials

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Foam shapes (we used this big set) but you can also use foam shape stickers
Glue stick – regular glue works, too, but you’ll have to wait for the snowflake to dry before printing (whereas glue sticks dry almost instantly)
White paint
Paintbrush
Blue paper

A sequence of four photos showing a young girl in a pink shirt, from gluing foam shapes, preparing to print, lifting the foam plate, and holding a completed snowflake print, all at a blue table with bright lighting.

How to do snowflake printmaking

Invite your child to arrange and glue foam shapes to resemble a snowflake. For younger kids, I like drawing a very simple “skeleton” for the snowflake of three lines crossing.
Use a paintbrush to coat the foam snowflake with white paint.
Press the painted foam snowflake onto a piece of blue construction paper.
Gently rub the back of the paper to ensure the paint transfers evenly.
Lift the paper to reveal your snowy masterpiece.

A child’s hand holding a paintbrush applies white paint to a foam snowflake design, with a close-up view of the foam shapes on white paper and a blue table in the background.

More ideas for snowflake printmaking for kids

Use glittery or metallic paint for a sparkly effect.
Make a series of snowflakes and turn them into a winter banner.
Create the CUTEST snowflake cards.
Try using foam snowflakes on fabric to create unique wrapping paper or a tote bag.
Host a “snowflake gallery” and display your class or family prints on the wall.

Three foam snowflake designs glued onto white paper, featuring a variety of colorful foam shapes, along with a pile of unused foam pieces and a glue stick on a blue table.

Symmetry in the snow: Learning through printmaking

Printmaking is a perfect introduction to symmetry and patterns.

Kids will naturally notice how their foam snowflake creates a mirrored effect when printed. This ties in beautifully with early math concepts and even opens the door to a quick lesson on snowflake science.

For older kids, you can also invite them to make symmetrical snowflakes with the foam shapes.