# Painted Foil 3D Rainbow
> Scrunch seven sheets of foil into tubes, bend them into arches, stand the ends in matching play dough and paint each band a rainbow color. A simple 3D rainbow craft for St. Patrick's Day.
- URL: https://www.funlittles.com/kids-crafts-rainbow-craft-using-painted-foil/
- Ages: 3–6 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: medium
- Time: prep 10 min, activity 30 min
- Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class · one batch serves about 1 kids
- Skills: fine-motor, colors, sequencing, creativity
- Cautions: wheat-gluten

## Materials (one batch)
- 7 sheet Aluminum foil (household)
- 14 piece Rainbow play dough
- 7 piece Washable kids paint, one bottle per rainbow color
- Paint brushes
- 1 piece Scissors (optional) (household)

## Substitutions
- Instead of play dough: Homemade rainbow play dough (The author used play dough from her earlier rainbow play dough activity.)

## Safety
- Torn foil edges can be sharp. An adult can tear the sheets for younger kids.
- Supervise scissors use if you use them.
- Play dough and paint are not food. Keep them out of mouths and wash hands after painting.

## Steps
1. Tear off 7 sheets of foil, each one a little bigger than the last. These will be the 7 bands of the rainbow.
2. Roll each sheet into a tube. Pinch the foil and scrunch it as you go.
3. Keep scrunching until you have a long, thin foil tube.
4. Bend each tube into an arch and arrange the arches from biggest to smallest.
5. Set out the washable paints, one color for each arch.
6. Press both ends of each arch into a ball of play dough in the matching color so it stands up.
7. Paint each arch its rainbow color.
8. Help hold the arch steady while your child fills in every bit of foil with color.
9. Let the paint dry.
10. Arrange the arches in order and enjoy your bright 3D rainbow.

## Tips
- It is easier to simply pinch the sheet of foil and kind of scrunch it along the way than to roll it neatly.
- Standing the ends in play dough gives proper leverage, so the kids can easily paint the colors of the rainbow.
- My kid was very particular about getting every single part of the foil filled with color, so you may have to help by holding the rainbow while they paint.
- Sing the Cat in the Hat Rainbow Song REALLY loud while you paint!
- The paint doesn't take that long to dry.

## The original post by TurkeyMom (2015)

Simple *rainbow crafts kids* can do with foil, paint and playdough.

We have been exploring and having fun with [rainbow play dough](https://www.funlittles.com/fine-motor-activities-rainbow-pasta-playdough/) and [rainbow pasta](https://www.funlittles.com/engineering-for-kids-build-with-pasta/)! Today we are simply using the rainbow play dough to create a fab 3d painted rainbow for St.Patrick's Day. { Did you see our [Fizzing Shamrock Art](https://www.funlittles.com/st-patricks-day-art-fizzing-color-mixing-shamrock-art/)?} **Materials**

- **[Aluminum Foil](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002M7XV8C/?tag=blmemo-20)**
- **[Play-Doh Rainbow Starter Pack](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IGNX226/?tag=blmemo-20)**
- **[Crayola Washable Kids Paint](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004UBH3/?tag=blmemo-20)**
- **[Art and Craft Brush Set](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001M04T0E/?tag=blmemo-20)**
- Scissors { optional}



### Simple Rainbow Craft for Kids : How to make a 3d rainbow with foil

{ all [St.Patrick's Day Crafts for kids](https://www.funlittles.com/category/holidays/st-patricks-day-holidays/) here} First tear off 7 sheets of your foil in increasing size { they will be the 7 colored bands of the rainbow} Then start rolling the foil. It is easier to simply pinch the the sheet of foil and kind of scrunching it along the way  Once you have the foil tube like this  Start bending them and create the rainbow.  Once you are done crafting the rainbow, set out washable kids paint to create the colors!  To turn this kids craft into a 3 rainbow press the ends of the foil into corresponding play dough color.  With proper leverage the kids can easily paint the colors of the rainbow now, while singing the Cat in the Hat Rainbow Song REALLY loud!  My kid was very particular to get every single part of the foil filled with color. So you may have to help them with holding the rainbow while they paint.  The paint doesn't take that long to dry.  Arrange them in order and enjoy the brightly colored rainbow craft. 

Thanks for reading

All our [Rainbow Activities for kids](https://www.funlittles.com/tag/rainbow/) here