How to Make DIY Scratch Art for Kids
This post may contain affiliate links – please read my disclosure statement.
Learn how to make your own scratch art for kids using crayons, black paint, and dish soap. Color the paper, paint over it, and scratch a design to reveal bright rainbow colors underneath!
All activities, recipes, crafts, and games with children should be supervised by an adult. Small parts are a choking hazard.
This homemade scratch art paper is a colorful craft and drawing activity in one. Once the black coating is completely dry, kids can scratch their own pictures into the paper.
I have been looking for a way to make DIY scratch art with the kids, and I finally found it. My daughter found a craft book at the library, and there it was – how to make your own scratch art. It’s so easy. Why didn’t I think of it sooner?
Why Kids Love This DIY Scratch Art Craft
- The kids will enjoy drawing their creative ideas onto their own scratch art paper
- It is a craft and an activity all rolled into one fun project
- Younger kids will enjoy seeing their designs shine through from under the black paint
Supplies for Homemade Scratch Art Paper
- White card stock – I have used both construction paper and cardstock for this scratch art craft. Cardstock is my preferred paper. It definitely stands up to the scratching tool better and the crayons go on more smoothly.
- Crayons – a variety of colors are best for this activity. In my experience, bold, thick, and vertical lines make the best scratch art, but you can make designs like hearts, diagonal, and dotted colors.
- Black acrylic paint – If you only have tempera paint you can replace it with that. It is a bit thinner than acrylic, but it should do the job
- Dish soap – mixing it with the black paint helps the paint glide over the waxy crayon surface. See the printable craft card for the tested equal-parts ratio.
Tools for Making DIY Scratch Art
- bowl or disposable cup for mixing paint
- foam brush
- Rounded-end chopstick or wooden skewer with its sharp point removed, for scratching designs without poking holes in the paper
- newspaper to place under the cardstock for painting
How to Make DIY Scratch Art Paper
Safety: Adult supervision is recommended. Remove the sharp point from any skewer before giving it to children.
Step 1: Color the paper. Press firmly with bright wax crayons to cover the white cardstock in thick bands of color, leaving as few white gaps as possible. Bold, vertical rainbow bands worked especially well for me.
Step 2: Mix the coating. Combine equal amounts of black paint and dish soap in a small bowl or disposable cup. The exact tested ratio is also in the printable craft card below.
Protect the work surface with newspaper before painting.
Step 3: Paint over the crayons. Use a foam brush to cover the colored paper with the black paint mixture. If the wax resists the paint in some spots, cover as well as you can; some areas may need a second coat.
Step 4: Let the paper dry completely. Set the painted cardstock aside until the black coating is completely dry before scratching.
Step 5: Scratch your design. Use a rounded-end chopstick or wooden skewer with its sharp point removed to scratch into the dry coating and reveal the crayon colors.
My DIY Scratch Art Tips
I’ve used both construction paper and cardstock, and prefer cardstock because it holds up better and the crayons go on more smoothly. Press firmly with the crayons and leave minimal white gaps. Use a rounded-end chopstick or remove the sharp tip from a bamboo skewer.
How to Display Scratch Art for Kids
Frame the paper, and attach a ribbon to the back so you can hang the piece of art! So fun!
Scratch Art Ideas for School Holiday Parties
For a classroom or holiday party, prepare the colored and painted paper ahead of time so it is completely dry when the kids arrive. Try snowmen, handprint turkeys, pumpkins, ghosts, bats, or spiderwebs for Halloween scratch art. Everyday scratch art ideas include hearts, stars, flowers, rainbows, and names.
DIY Scratch Art FAQs
Why add dish soap to DIY scratch art paint?
In my experience, mixing dish soap into the black paint helps it glide across the waxy crayon surface more smoothly.
Does scratch art paint need to dry before scratching?
Yes. Let the black coating dry completely before scratching designs into the paper.
Do I need dish soap for homemade scratch art?
I recommend dish soap for this method. It helps the paint glide on smoothly and makes the coating easier to scratch. I use equal amounts of paint and dish soap.
Can I use tempera paint for crayon scratch art?
Yes. I have used both black acrylic and black tempera paint for this scratch art craft.
More DIY Art Crafts for Kids Who Love Scratch Art
For more creative activities, try rolling beeswax candles, making a marble run, or making a dragon sock puppet.
Printable DIY Scratch Art Instructions
How to Make Your Own Scratch Art
Equipment
- bowl for mixing paint
- foam paint brush
- wooden skewer
- newspaper to place under the cardstock for painting
Materials
- white cardstock
- crayons – a variety of colors
- black acrylic paint
- dish soap
Instructions
- **Color the cardstock.** Use bright wax crayons to cover the white cardstock in thick bands of color. Press firmly to create a heavy layer of wax, leaving as few white gaps as possible. I found that bold, vertical rainbow bands worked especially well.
- **Mix the paint.** In a small bowl or disposable cup, combine equal amounts of black paint and dish soap. About 1/4 cup of the combined mixture should be enough for four sheets of paper.
- **Protect your work surface.** Spread newspaper over the table before painting.
- **Paint the paper.** Use a foam brush to cover the colored cardstock with the black paint mixture. If the wax resists the paint in some areas, do your best to cover those spots. You can go back with a second coat if needed.
- **Let it dry completely.** Set the painted cardstock aside until the black coating is completely dry.
- **Create your scratch art.** Use a rounded-end chopstick or a wooden skewer with the sharp tip removed to scratch designs into the black coating, revealing the colorful crayons underneath.
Notes
- Cardstock works best. I’ve tried both construction paper and cardstock. I prefer cardstock because it holds up better to scratching and the crayons go on more smoothly.
- Use plenty of crayon. Press firmly and cover the paper thoroughly so the colors show through when scratched.
- Paint options: I’ve used both black acrylic and black tempera paint for this project.
- Safety: Adult supervision is recommended. Remove the pointed tip of a wooden skewer before letting children use it.
Adult supervision is required for each step of activities, recipes, crafts, and games with children. Small parts are a choking hazard.
~Melissa – KidFriendlyThingsToDo.Com
My grandmother taught me how to do this scratch art when I was 15 (I am now 60)! We just did a tiny little picture with the black over white and it created the cutest little keepsake! Thank you for this, now I can pass this on to my own grandchildren!
I love scratch art! It’s so much fun. I am so happy that you are passing it along to the kids. Love this!