Long rainy days with kids call for enjoyable crafts, and what’s better than rainbow painting ideas? Instead of waiting for the real rainbow to show up after the storm, you and your kids can paint a beautiful one at home.
We’ve made a list of 27 easy and enjoyable ideas that you can try out over the rainy weekend. So prepare your brush and paper, and jump in!
1. Rainbow Rainy Day Art
Want to get through a long rainy day with a fun activity? Let your kids use rainbow watercolors to paint randomly on a piece of paper. Then, leave the paper out in the rain, and watch as the water droplets spontaneously mix the colors.
The result may not be as pretty as you’d expect, but it’ll be a fun experience for the little ones. You can get more rainy day craft ideas on craftwhack.com.
Learn more about the rainbow rainy day art on Rhythms of Play.
2. Rainbow Sponge Painting
Sponge painting is a fun technique that requires no skills and is endlessly fun. We have to warn you, though; it might cause quite the colorful mess around your place. First, pour the rainbow colors on a sponge and give it to your child with a large piece of paper. Then, let them go wild and color the entire paper with their sponge.
Get the instructions for rainbow sponge painting on Teaching 2 and 3 Years Old.
3. Rainbows Car Painting
Painting rainbows with toy cars might sound unconventional, but it’s a fun art activity for kids. First, give them pieces of paper, toy cars, and rainbow colors. Then, encourage them to dip the wheels in the colors and pass them on paper to leave colorful skid marks behind. This activity might sound silly for older kids, but preschoolers will have a blast with it.
Check the tutorial for rainbows car painting on Coffee Cups and Crayons.
4. Oil Pastels and Watercolors Rainbow Art
Painting with oil pastels and watercolors will introduce your children to new materials and get them excited about painting. In this art activity, they’ll paint a rainbow using oil pastels and the background using watercolors. After they finish, give them small balls of cotton to glue to each side of the rainbow. This way, it’ll look surrounded by clouds.
Learn more about the oil pastels and watercolors rainbow art on Buggy and Buddy.
5. Rainbow Heart Art
Rainbows come in one shape, but you can add a dash of creativity to your art project and change it. For this idea, you’ll use acrylic rainbow colors to paint a heart-shaped paper or wooden board. It’ll look dashing by the time you’re done with it, and it’s easier than many other craft ideas on our list.
Head over to Color Made Happy to learn how to paint a rainbow heart.
6. String Rainbows Painting Art
String painting is an easy and enjoyable technique that you can teach to your little kids. Letting them explore such techniques and experiment with them will improve their fine motor development, and they’ll gain a new passion for art. Luckily for you, you won’t need more than a string, rainbow colors, and paper for this painting idea.
Get the tutorial for string rainbows painting art on Twichetts.
7. Handprint Rainbow Art
Painting with handprints might be messy, but it’s an ideal technique for children who aren’t old enough to hold a brush. More so, it’s a beneficial sensory experience that’ll improve their creativity skills. All you have to do is provide rainbow colors and paper and watch them have a go at it.
Read more about the handprint rainbow art here, Kids Craft Room.
8. Straw-Blowing Rainbow Art
Out of the many rainbow crafts and painting ideas on our list, this idea is the most creative. Your kids will first paint a rainbow using color squeeze bottles, and they’ll line each color on the paper in the right order. Then, they can use a straw to blow air on each line of color so that it expands spontaneously.
Check the instructions for straw-blowing rainbow art on Arty Crafty Kids.
9. Cotton Ball Rainbow Art
Painting with a cotton ball is like sponge painting but more fun because you can use each color on its own. Give little cotton balls to your little children, and let them dip each one in a different color. Then, they can smear the paper with their cotton balls to make the shape of a rainbow.
Get the tutorial for cotton ball rainbow art on Easy Peasy and Fun.
10. Rainbow Resist Art
Resist art breeds fascinating results, and you can use it in this project to paint a beautiful rainbow with the help of your children. First, cut a thin piece of paper in the shape of a rainbow and stick it in the middle of a larger paper.
Next, let your kids paint the entire paper using rainbow watercolors or acrylic colors. Finally, remove the rainbow paper in the middle, and watch as they marvel at the rainbow sky they just painted.
Learn more about rainbow resist art on Learn Play Imagine.
11. Abstract Rainbow Painting
This idea is more suitable for adults than children, and you’ll have a blast painting it. First, you’ll need a blank canvas, acrylic colors, and a paintbrush. Then, you can create a masterpiece by painting color strokes on paper in the order of rainbow colors.
Head over to Smiling Colors to read more about abstract rainbow painting.
12. Paper Plate Pot of Gold and Rainbow Craft
Kids love handmade crafts, and rainbow crafts are the ideal distraction on a long rainy day. In this project, they’ll cut paper plates in the shapes of a pot and a rainbow. Then, they’ll use colorful markers to paint the rainbow part. They can also add glitter and glue a cotton ball cloud as final decorative touches.
Get the tutorial for this rainbow craft on I Heart Crafty Things.
13. Rainbow Salt Crystals Painting
Instead of using colors to paint a rainbow, you’ll use salt crystals for this idea. You can use rock salt and food coloring to make the salt crystals first. Then, your kids can glue the colorful crystals on paper in the shape of a beautiful rainbow. Don’t forget to add cotton balls at the end to resemble clouds.
Check the instructions for rainbow salt crystals painting on hello, Wonderful.
14. Tissue Paper Rainbow
If you want rainbow-themed craft ideas to keep your children busy for a while, you’ll love this project. It includes coloring tissue paper in rainbow colors and gluing them on a blank canvas. By the time they finish, they’ll have a beautiful work of art that they can brag about to their friends.
Read more about tissue paper rainbow on Craftidly.
15. Rainbow Sponge Painting Art
Here’s another rainbow sponge painting idea because we simply can’t get enough. First, pour acrylic colors on the sponge in the order of rainbow colors. Then, give the sponge to your kids and encourage them to swipe it gently across the canvas. Make sure they don’t swipe back and forth to avoid ending up with odd colors.
Get the tutorial for rainbow sponge painting art on Messy Little Monster.
16. Melting Crayon Rainbow Art
This unconventional painting idea will send your kids over the moon. You’ll need a large canvas, rainbow crayons, and a blow dryer. Ideally, you should implement this idea in an outdoor place to avoid splashing colors around your house. Then, after you finish, you’ll have a beautiful piece of art that you can showcase in your kids’ room.
Learn more about melting crayon rainbow art on Meg Duerksen.
17. Rainbow Shaving Cream Marbled Art
Kids love all things messy, and we have just the perfect rainbow painting idea for them. You’ll need shaving cream, a pan, colors in squeeze bottles, and paper. First, fill the pan with shaving cream and squeeze the colors in the correct order. Then, let your kids print their papers on the colorful shaving cream and see what shape they make.
Check the instructions for rainbow shaving cream marbled art on hello, Wonderful.
18. Rainbow-Painted Rocks
Painting rainbows on small rocks might be challenging for children, but it’s a perfect rainbow art idea for adults. You’ll need smooth stones, acrylic colors, and small brushes. Painting on such a small object will require focus and patience, but you’ll enjoy it, nevertheless.
Find out more about rainbow-painted rocks on Made With Happy.
19. Watercolor Splash Rainbow Art
You’ll use watercolor pencils to draw a large rainbow on paper in this project. Then, you’ll use water to create random splashes. You can let your kids join in on the fun in this part, but beware of the mess that follows!
Get the tutorial for watercolor splash rainbow art on Drawn Together Art Collective.
20. Rainbow Footprint Butterfly
Painting a rainbow butterfly using footprints definitely falls among our most enjoyable painting ideas. It’ll be fun for both you and your kids, and the result will be a lovely souvenir to keep from their childhood. For this project, you’ll need acrylic colors, a blank canvas, and a foot!
Check the instructions for the rainbow footprint butterfly on Messy Little Monster.
21. Rainbow Watercolor Salt Paint Shamrock
Shamrocks and rainbows symbolize hope and good luck, and you can use them both as inspiration for your upcoming art project. First, you’ll glue salt crystals on a paper in the shape of a shamrock. Then, you’ll use rainbow watercolors to paint it. This way, you’ll create a beautiful piece of art in a short time and with minimum effort.
Learn more about the rainbow watercolor salt paint shamrock on Rhythms of Play.
22. Rainbow Scrape Painting
Scrape painting is one of the kids’ favorite painting ideas. It’s pretty easy, doesn’t require any skills, and is extremely fun to try. First, pour large drops of each rainbow color on a piece of paper.
Then, give your kids a piece of scrap paper, and encourage them to swipe it over the colors. This technique somewhat resembles rainbow sponge painting and will breed similar results.
Find out more about rainbow scrape painting on Arty Crafty Kids.
23. Cotton Ball Rainbow
Instead of using cotton balls to paint a rainbow, you’ll use them as your canvas in this project. It’s one of the easiest rainbow crafts on our list, and your kids will have ultimate fun painting on the fluffy balls. You can either give them watercolors or acrylic paints.
Check the instructions for the cotton ball rainbow on Fireflies and Mud Pies.
24. Neutral-Colored Rainbow Painting
Natural rainbows are bright and colorful, but you can add a unique touch to your painting and use neutral colors instead. Ideally, you should use different shades of the same color. This way, the shades will complement each other nicely, and your rainbow will look beautiful.
Learn more about the neutral-colored rainbow painting on Drawn Together Art Collective.
25. Puffy Paints Rainbow
Using puffy paints to draw a rainbow should be number one on your kids’ to-do list this weekend. They’re insanely fun to color with, and the project won’t take them much time. Once the paints dry, the artwork will have an exciting 3D texture.
Get the tutorial for puffy paints rainbow on One Little Project.
26. Fingerprint Rainbow Kids’ Craft
If you teach a young grade and want to give your students fun rainbow crafts to attempt in class, here’s a perfect idea. First, get a large piece of paper, rainbow colors, and a few cotton balls. Then, encourage each student to contribute by dipping their finger in colors and printing it on paper.
Repeat this step will all the kids till you have a complete rainbow. Finally, add pieces of cotton on each side of the rainbow to resemble clouds.
Find out more about the fingerprint rainbow kids’ craft on DLTK Kids.
27. Painting Rainbows with Q-Tips
Our final idea consists of using Q-tips and bright colors to paint multiple rainbows. By the end of this project, you’ll have many colorful paintings to show off. You can also sprinkle glitter over your artwork after finishing it for extra glam.
Check the instructions for painting rainbows with Q-tips on Make and Takes.
Now that you have many rainbow painting and craft ideas to try out, we hope you have a fun time with your kids over the weekend!
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