# Puffy Paint Fall Tree Art
> Kids squeeze homemade flour puffy paint onto paper to make a brown tree trunk with dotted fall-color leaves, or any picture they like. An adult then microwaves each picture for a few seconds so the paint puffs up into 3D art.
- URL: https://www.funlittles.com/fall-art-activities-fall-tree-art/
- Ages: 2–6 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: medium
- Time: prep 20 min, activity 30 min
- Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class · one batch serves about 2 kids
- Skills: fine-motor, art, color-sense, creativity
- Cautions: wheat-gluten, ingestion-risk

## Materials (one batch)
- 0.5 cup All-purpose flour
- 2 tsp Baking powder
- Liquid watercolors in fall colors (brown, red/pink, orange, yellow, green)
- Water (household)
- 1 piece Mixing bowl (household)
- 1 piece Whisk (household)
- 1 piece Squeeze bottles
- 1 sheet Regular white paper (household)
- 1 piece Cereal box cardboard, cut into a rectangle (household)
- 1 piece Microwave (household)
- 1 piece Pencil, for a tree outline (optional) (household)

## Substitutions
- Instead of liquid watercolors: Regular food coloring (The author confirmed food colors work too.)
- Instead of squeeze bottles: Paint in a bowl with a paintbrush (Works as more open-ended sensory play and art, but the paint won't rise as much because the brush flattens it.)
- Instead of white paper: Cardstock or cardboard (Thick paper or cardboard is the usual recommendation, but the author found cardstock pricey for the number of pieces kids make.)

## Safety
- Adult does the microwaving. Use short 10-second bursts and stay at the microwave the whole time: paper and cardboard are going in, so stop at once if anything scorches.
- The puffed paint and cardboard can be hot straight out of the microwave. Let the art cool before kids touch it.
- The paint is raw flour, baking powder and paint coloring. It is not food, so don't let kids taste or eat it, and supervise toddlers closely.
- Contains wheat flour. Check for wheat or gluten allergies before using it with a group.
- Liquid watercolors and food color can stain hands, clothes and table covers.
- Finished art can go moldy. The author keeps pieces for about 2 weeks before throwing them out.

## Before you start
- Optional: lightly draw a tree outline in pencil on each sheet of paper.
- Cut a rectangle from a cereal box to use as a microwave tray.

## Steps
1. Whisk 1/2 cup flour, 2 tsp baking powder and liquid watercolor with just enough water to make a smooth batter with no lumps.
2. Pour the paint into a squeeze bottle. Make one batch for each fall color.
3. Lay a sheet of white paper on the table, with a tree outline if you like.
4. Squeeze brown paint to fill in the tree trunk and branches.
5. Dot red, orange, yellow and green paint on and around the branches for leaves.
6. Not into trees? Squeeze out any picture you like, such as a river or a turtle.
7. Adult: slide the paper onto the cereal box cardboard and microwave on high in 10-second bursts, up to about 30 seconds, until it puffs.
8. Adult: let it cool, then slide the sheet off and reuse the cardboard for the next picture.
9. Display the puffy art indoors or out.

## Tips
- Use a whisk or your hand to remove lumps. Lumps just kill the fun.
- Microwave anywhere from 10 to 30 seconds on HIGH, depending on how much paint is on the paper.
- Frugal method: paint on regular white paper and use one cereal-box rectangle to zap each piece in turn, so you don't have to cut lots of cardboard.
- Squeeze bottles give the best 3D rise. A brush flattens the paint.
- When kids ask which colors look nicer together, try answering with "What do you think?" so they decide for themselves.
- These are just invitations. Kids can say no: our toddler skipped the tree and made a puffy river and a puffy turtle instead.
- We keep the art about 2 weeks before throwing it out, because we have seen cases of mold. A couple are even framed.
- The kids really enjoy the puffing part. It instantly gives the art a 3D effect.

## FAQ
**Can I use regular food colors?** Yes, the author says food colors work too.
**How long do I microwave it?** Anywhere from 10 to 30 seconds on HIGH, depending on how much paint you used. The author did it in 10-second intervals.
**Can kids paint it on with a brush from a bowl?** Yes, as more open-ended sensory play and art, but it won't rise as much as paint from squeeze bottles because the brush flattens it.
**Can a 2-year-old do this?** The author's toddler took part, squeezing the bottles to make a puffy river and turtle. Expect free exploration rather than a tree, and supervise closely.
**Do I need cardstock or cardboard?** No. The author paints on regular white paper and slides each sheet onto a cereal-box rectangle to microwave it.

## The original post by TurkeyMom (2014)

It has been a while since we did any [**art activities**](https://www.funlittles.com/category/art-projects/) around here. Although the kids engage in many forms of open ended art activities almost everyday we haven't done a full-on art project per se. Looking back I guess we were on a [**messy play**](https://www.funlittles.com/category/messy-play-2/) and [**sensory activities**](https://www.funlittles.com/category/sensory-bins/) kick. Since we are doing [**fall crafts and activities**](https://www.funlittles.com/category/season/fall-season/) to welcome the season change, we decided do immerse ourselves *( yes, that's what happens when we do art activities here)* in fall art activities. We LOVE puffy paint! Last fall, we did a puffy paint leaf activity. Since the kids are a bit older we upped the complexity of this fall art activity and did a puffy paint fall tree art. It is great to look back and see how the kids have grown, especially my toddler's development in the [**fine motor skills department.**](https://www.funlittles.com/category/fine-motor-activities/) *Please don't write off this fall art activity as heavily parent-led, cute artsy craft. If you look down the post you will see the kids' exploration. Having said that I have to say that my older child LOVES seasonal activities and loves to create. She takes pride in her creations and enjoys looking at her stuff adoring her room and our house in general. Besides, these art activities are just *invitations*. The kids always have the option of saying "no", just like the way my toddler said on this particular day. "No, mom I don't want to make a tree. Only a river and a turtle". Scroll down to see a toddler's puffy river and puffy turtle.* **Materials:**

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My preschooler jumped at the chance of doing an art project and got on to filling in the trunk with her brown puffy paint. She has developed amazing sense of control while working with materials like these. Doing [**shaving cream drip art activity**](https://www.funlittles.com/art-projects-kids-shaving-cream-drip-art/), [**cotton rounds art activity**](https://www.funlittles.com/art-projects-for-preschoolers-and-toddlers-cotton-rounds-art/) and many art activities like those must have helped. My toddler's control of bottles is getting much better as well.



Just the filled up tree trunk got her excited while she kept repeating "Mom, this trunk looks just like chocolate". This fall art activity is turning into a fun one!



Then she proceeded to use her fall colored puffy paint to create the leaves for the now dubbed" chocolate tree" She did not need any directions and was good with creating small dots as leaves. She even tried to get the leaves realistic as possible. Her art work has gotten very precise and deliberate and she works in stages and chooses her colors. Every now and then she would ask " Does this color look nicer next to this color or the other one" I usually don't answer those questions and gently have her decide on her own with a " What do you think?" She usually makes a decision and goes with a combination. I'm loving her developing color sense!Easy Art Activities like these increases my kid's already present interest in art.



That's my toddler creating a river. Usually she has to do the same art project her sister is doing. This time I was glad that she chose something all by herself!



This is how the fall tree made with puffy paint looks before "puffing it up".



We popped the art in the microwave for 30 seconds in 10 seconds intervals and it came out looking gorgeous like this.



More of the kids' products. I have to say my older daughter and I were on the same track with the trunk. Both of us thought the tree trunk looked VERY REALISTIC! I mean it looks like an actual tree trunk. Don't you think?



The art looked great outdoors.



And indoors. Granted it is a lousy picture in low light conditions. But I think the fall tree art will look stunning in your kids' room.



Oh it was a fun evening for all the three of us.



**Quick Tip:**

For puffy paint projects it is recommended you use thick paper or cardboard. I used to use cardstock paper. But it turned out to be a pricey affair because of the sheer number of art the kids churn out.

Now I present you with my frugal method.

I don't want to cut out many pieces of cardboard. I lay down regular white sheets of paper on an outdoor table we usually use. The paper takes the paint well. Once you are ready to microwave the art, just place them on a cereal box ( cut out a rectangular piece) and zap them in the microwave. Once the art is puffed up remove the sheet and use the same cereal box to zap the next one..This way you can use white sheets to do this art project. I even have a couple of them framed. I keep them for about 2 weeks before throwing them out ( I have seen cases of mold)



Alright so the recipe?

I used a modified version of **Housing A Forest's** **[puffy paint recipe.](http://www.housingaforest.com/microwave-puffy-paint/)**

Check out the original recipe and see all her kids' GORGEOUS art. Tammy is a high-school art teacher and she knows her stuff!

- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- Liquid water colors ( I just love these)
- Water ( Just enough to get a batter like consistency)

Use a whisk or your hand to remove lumps.. Lumps just kill the fun.. I have to say the liquid water colors gave the paint a beautiful color. My fellow liquid water colors "obsessee", **Asia from Fun At Home with kids** has written a killer post on ways to use [**liquid watercolors**](http://www.funathomewithkids.com/2013/08/what-are-liquid-watercolors-and-why.html). Do check it out! You will fall in love with these guys.

**Thanks for reading**