# Red, White and Blue Splatter Art Star Bunting
> Splatter red, white and blue kids paint onto black paper with an old toothbrush in three ways, from thumb-flicking to Pollock-style flinging, and add glitter. Once dry, cut stars from the art and string them on twine for a July 4th bunting.
- URL: https://www.funlittles.com/july-4th-crafts-splatter-art-display-craft/
- Ages: 2–6 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: high
- Time: prep 15 min, activity 20 min
- Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class
- Skills: fine-motor, colors, process-art, cause-and-effect, holidays
- Cautions: ingestion-risk

## Materials (one batch)
- 1 sheet Black construction paper
- Kids paint in red, white and blue
- 1 piece Old toothbrush (household)
- 1 piece Craft stick (popsicle stick)
- Water in a small cup (household)
- Red and blue glitter (optional)
- Paper to cover the outdoor table (household)
- 1 piece Scissors (household)
- Twine

## Safety
- Do this outside on a well-covered surface. The author found that paint splatters all around the paper.
- Keep splattering aimed down at the paper and away from faces and eyes.
- Glitter and paint are not for eating. Supervise toddlers closely so they don't put brushes, paint or glitter in their mouths.
- An adult cuts out the stars with scissors.
- Use old toothbrushes kept only for crafts, never for teeth again.

## Before you start
- Cover your outdoor table with paper.
- Set out red, white and blue paint, a cup of water, an old toothbrush and a craft stick for each child.

## Steps
1. Lay a sheet of black construction paper on the covered outdoor table, and wet it lightly if you like.
2. Dip the toothbrush in a bit of water, then in white paint first.
3. Technique 1: Face the bristles to the paper and push them down top to bottom with your thumb to splatter.
4. Technique 2: Hold the toothbrush in one hand and push the bristles down with a craft stick. Or hold the stick still and move the brush.
5. Technique 3: Flick the paint-dipped toothbrush at the paper, Pollock style, for big globs and speckles.
6. Add red and blue paint over the white using any technique.
7. Sprinkle red and blue glitter over the wet paint.
8. Let the art dry completely.
9. Adult: cut stars from the dry art, with the artist's permission.
10. String the stars on twine and hang your bunting.

## Tips
- Start off with the white paint first. The splattering red and blue have a much better effect if they land on the white paint.
- Try to wet the paper before splattering. The colors are more vibrant and the kids let out many "ooohs and aaahs".
- A water spill on the black paper turned out to be a good thing. The colors were vibrant.
- The thumb technique was the hardest for my toddler. My 4-year-old found it easier to hold the craft stick still and move the brush.
- Check that your child is OK with you making something out of their work. I once got the stink eye from my older one. After all, it is their product.
- Use the simple activity as a chance to talk about what July 4th and independence mean.

## The original post by TurkeyMom (2013)

We have been hearing fireworks for a good week now and the previous year my family and I enjoyed the fireworks display. Can't wait to hit the beach this time! While talking about the significance of July 4th my preschooler instantly posed this question " Huh mom, countries can be independent? I thought only kids HAVE to be independent" The sassy question obviously stemmed from the very many mom talks about not screaming " Mooooom for every.small. thing" Since my kids are on the younger side I planned on doing a simple July4th art activity to give us an opportunity to talk about the holiday. If you have been following the blog you will have read our recent two large-scale splatter painting art activity. We [**painted with balls**](https://www.funlittles.com/art-activity-throw-ball-painting/) and more recently had a blast [**painting with squirt guns.**](https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-with-squirt-guns/) Today we are exploring Pollock style splatter painting in reds, whites and blues. All you need are red, white and blue kids paint, black construction paper and an old toothbrush. 

### July 4th Art: Splatter painting 3 ways and display idea.

This simple art technique was which was so much fun and was met with many giggles and silly tricks. Both the girls tried all the 3 techniques. Here is my toddler trying the most hardest of the 3. We dipped the toothbrush in a bit of water and then in kids paint. I showed her to use her left the thumb to push down the bristles of the toothbrush top to bottom while facing the paper. She tried and did good although paint splattered all around the paper. *It is very important to do this art activity outside on a surface well covered. Just cover your outdoor table with paper and try this one.*



The second technique involves using a craft stick. Holding the toothbrush in one hand use your craft stick to push down the bristles and splatter paint on the paper. My 4 year old however found that holding the stick and moving the brush was easier.



The final one was true Pollock Style . Holding the paint dipped toothbrush, my preschooler just flicked the brush on to the paper and got big globs of paint on it with many speckles all around it to create a beautiful effect.

We adorned the product with copious amounts of red and blue glitter.



*Quick tips:*

*While creating this July 4th art try to start off with the white paint first. The splattering red and blue have a much better effect if they land on the white paint.*

*Try to wet the paper before splattering. The colors are more vibrant and the kids let out may "ooohs and aaahss".*



That's the end of the July 4th art session. You can let the art work be and enjoy them as is. I wanted to display it- for once and this time painter's tape display on the wall is not going to cut it. So once the paint dried I quickly cut out stars from the art work and strung them through a twine and made a simple bunting of sorts.

Remember our [**Easter Clay ornaments?**](https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-cornstarch-clay/)



I like the way our fireplace looks. But please make sure if your child is ok with you making something out of their work. One time I got the stink eye from my older for creating something with her art work . Please check with your little ladies and gents after all it is their product.