Get Messy, Get Creative: Top 12 Paint Ideas for Girl Scouts

This isn't your average flat paper painting! 

To create textured paper art, provide each Girl Scout with a sheet of paper – construction paper, watercolor paper, or even just printer paper works well. 

How to make:

1. The magic begins by having them crumple the paper into a tight ball. Encourage them to really scrunch it up, creating lots of wrinkles and folds. 

2. Then, have them carefully un-crumple it, smoothing it out just enough so it lies relatively flat, but still retains all those wonderful creases. Now, the paper is ready for painting! 

3. Using liquid watercolors girls can brush or dab paint onto the textured surface. The paint will settle into the creases and flow over the raised areas differently, creating unique patterns, shadows, and a sense of depth that a flat surface simply can't achieve. 

Combine art with a dash of science in this mesmerizing activity. 

For each girl, you'll need a shallow tray or plate (like a disposable aluminum pie plate or even a sturdy paper plate), water, liquid watercolors, and a small amount of vegetable oil. 

How to make:

1. Fill the tray with a thin layer of water.

2.  Next, have the girls add drops of their chosen colors of paint into the water.

3.  They'll immediately see the paint disperse and create beautiful, swirling patterns. 

4. The real magic happens when they add a few drops of oil. Because oil and water don't mix, the oil droplets will push the paint away, creating clear circles or intriguing, amoeba-like shapes. 

5. They can gently swirl the tray to move the oil and paint around, watching the colors shift and separate. 

6. Once they're happy with their design, they can carefully lay a piece of paper (cardstock) on top of the water to "print" their design. The resulting art will have fascinating, layered effects that highlight the properties of liquids.

Get ready for some effervescent fun! This project turns a simple chemical reaction into a vibrant work of art. 

You'll need baking soda, liquid watercolors or tempera paint, small containers for mixing colors, and white vinegar in squeeze bottles or droppers. 

How to make:

1. First, mix baking soda into each color of paint until it forms a thick, paste-like consistency (like a very thick milkshake).

2.  Have the girls spread these "baking soda paints" onto a piece of paper, creating a colorful design. 

3. Then, using the squeeze bottles or droppers, they can apply drops or streams of white vinegar directly onto the paint. The vinegar will react with the baking soda, causing the paint to fizz and bubble! This creates unique textures and patterns as the paint moves and changes. It's a visually exciting and sensory-rich experience that will delight girls of all ages.

This tactile painting experience creates art with a wonderful, glossy, three-dimensional quality. The core idea is to paint on a wet, adhesive surface. 

How to make:

1. Start by having the girls apply a layer of school glue (white or clear) onto their paper. It doesn't need to be thick, just enough to cover the desired area. 

2. While the glue is still wet, they can begin to paint directly onto it using liquid watercolors. The paint will flow and spread differently on the wet glue than on plain paper, creating a unique, almost stained-glass effect. 

3. As the glue dries, it will trap the pigment and harden, leaving a raised, shiny surface where the paint was applied. This method is great for creating outlines, patterns, or even abstract designs where the texture is a key element.

Step aside, paintbrushes! 

For this project, the girls will use string or yarn as their primary painting tool. You'll need shallow dishes of liquid paint (tempera thinned slightly with water works well) and various lengths of string or yarn. 

How to make:

1. Have the girls dip a piece of string into a color of paint, making sure it's fully saturated but not dripping excessively.

2. Then, they can lay the string onto a piece of paper and pull it, drag it, swirl it, or lift it to create lines, loops, and abstract patterns. They can layer different colors and lengths of string to build up complex designs. This process encourages spontaneity and an understanding of how lines and movement create visual interest. It's a fun, less-structured approach to painting that often yields surprisingly sophisticated results.

Imagine art that literally pops off the page! 

Making your own puffy paint is surprisingly simple and incredibly fun. The basic recipe involves mixing equal parts white school glue, shaving cream, and liquid watercolors or food coloring for color. 

How to make:

1. Stir gently to combine, trying not to deflate the shaving cream too much. 

2. Once mixed, the paint can be put into squeeze bottles. Girls can then draw designs or create abstract art directly onto cardstock. 

3. The magic happens when the finished artwork is placed in the microwave for 10-30 seconds (keep a close eye on it, as microwave wattages vary). The heat causes the shaving cream to expand, creating a wonderful, textured, puffy effect. It's a delightful sensory experience and a unique way to add dimension to their creations.

This project adds a touch of enchantment to watercolor painting. 

Provide each Girl Scout with watercolor paper and a set of watercolors. 

How to make: 

1. Begin by having them paint a design or simply fill areas with their chosen watercolor paints. The key is to apply enough water so the paper is visibly wet and the colors are vibrant. 

2. While the paint is still wet, have them sprinkle a generous amount of regular table salt onto the painted areas. 

3. As the paint dries, the salt crystals absorb the water and pigment, pushing the color away and creating beautiful, starburst-like or feathery crystalline patterns. 

4. Once completely dry (this might take several hours), the salt can be gently brushed off, revealing the intricate texture. 

This technique is especially effective for creating snowy landscapes, starry skies, or abstract compositions.

This ingenious technique creates stunning metallic effects and intricate patterns without needing special metallic paints.

 You'll need sheets of aluminum foil, liquid paints (tempera or thinned acrylics work well), and paper (cardstock or heavier paper is best). 

How to make:

1. Have the girls crinkle the aluminum foil slightly to create texture, then smooth it out. 

2. They should then apply paint directly onto the foil, creating colorful designs or abstract patterns. The foil acts as a non-absorbent canvas, keeping the paint wet and vibrant. 

3. While the paint is still wet on the foil, carefully lay a piece of paper on top and gently rub the back of the paper. 

4. Then, peel the paper away to reveal a transferred print! The metallic sheen of the foil will subtly transfer along with the paint, giving the artwork a unique, shimmery quality. This method is fantastic for experimenting with monoprinting and creates surprising results every time.

Get ready for some high-energy art! This is a fantastic project for older girls who enjoy a bit of controlled chaos and impressive results. This activity requires adult supervision due to the use of a power tool.

You'll need an electric drill, a cardboard box (the larger, the better, to contain paint splatters), a piece of cardboard or a paper plate to attach to the drill (for the canvas), and liquid paints. 

How to make:

1. Securely attach the paper plate or cardboard piece to the drill bit so it spins evenly. 

2. Place the entire setup inside the cardboard box. As the drill spins the "canvas" at high speed, girls can carefully drizzle or drop paint onto the rotating surface. The centrifugal force will push the paint outwards, creating mesmerizing, swirling patterns and unique color blends. 

The faster the spin and the more varied the paint application, the more dynamic the art. This is a truly unforgettable experience that results in vibrant, abstract masterpieces.

Journey to the stars with this breathtaking project that harnesses the soft beauty of chalk pastels. 

Provide black or dark blue paper, a set of chalk pastels, and blending tools (cotton swabs, paper stumps, or even fingers).

How to make:

1. Girls can begin by selecting vibrant colors like blues, purples, pinks, and yellows to create the swirling clouds and nebulae of a galaxy. 

2. They should apply the pastels directly to the paper and then use their blending tools to smudge and mix the colors seamlessly, creating a soft, ethereal glow. 

3. To add stars, they can use a white pastel for larger stars or even dip a stiff brush in white acrylic paint and lightly flick it over the paper to create a starry spray.

This project encourages an understanding of color blending, shading, and perspective, allowing older girls to create truly cosmic works of art.