In today’s post: Learn how kids can make gorgeous “modern” art with this fun tissue paper art technique.
My younger kids and I have had so much fun today with a new art project: easy tissue paper art. It’s a really simple process that even my 5-year-old could do all on her own, but you end up with a final product that looks like a beautiful art piece! Click here for more cool art ideas for kids.
Doesn’t this look like something you could buy to decorate your home with?
It’s so easy that my five year old daughter was able to do the entire process all by herself!
Tissue Paper Art Supplies
Cool, right? All you need to make tissue transfer art is tissue paper, a canvas, and a spray bottle.
I first tried this project with tissue paper from the dollar store and it didn’t work AT ALL. So I turned to Amazon and found this Bleeding Art Tissue (affiliate link). It bleeds through onto the canvas beautifully! We made three 11×14 canvases and have TONS of tissue paper left, so it will last us through lots of projects.
I found the flat canvas panels at Walmart for $5 for three 11×14 panels which I thought was really reasonable. The flat panels are nice because you can pop them into an inexpensive frame if you want. You can find canvas panels on Amazon – get twelve 8×10 panels for $13 here. If you want to do tissue paper art over and over (and we will!), you can also use watercolor paper.
Tissue Paper Art Instructions
The process for tissue paper art is simple: use the spray bottle to get the canvas fairly wet. Cut tissue paper into desired shapes (we used triangles) and place them on the canvas. You can put them in a single layer or overlap them for more color mix. Spray a little more water on top of the tissue paper, then wait 20 minutes. Remove the wet tissue paper and let the canvas dry completely.
The colors will bleed from the tissue paper onto the canvas, creating a pretty watercolor effect.
We found that the colors continue to blend and seep into the canvas for a little while after the tissue paper is removed, so the final project looks even cooler when it’s completely dry. I love the texture of the canvas panel – it really makes this look like a work of art! My daughter is thrilled with her artwork.
Here’s a video to show just how easy it is:
Tissue Paper Art Tips
- We didn’t use the 2 or 3 darkest colors in the tissue paper pack because I found they bled too much and overtook other colors, and we didn’t use the 2 lightest colors because they didn’t transfer very well.
- The color will bleed onto anything the wet tissue paper touches, so be sure to protect your work surface and realize you’ll end up with colored fingertips for a day or so.
For more kid art, check out these posts:
20 kid art projects pretty enough to frame
cleaning says
Great post, what you said is really helpful to me.
LEANNA MORRIS says
This is so neat even small children could do this. I’m planning this for one of the crafts we will do on vacation with my grandkids!
Thank you for the post!
karen Criner says
Okay, you guys! This is for all the adults out there who can only draw “stick people,” just like me. This article should be named for kids and adults who draw stick people! LOL! LOL! Really, I am so serious. Going to pin this and label it, wall art. This project is so simple but the outcome is awesome. You can pick your own colors and make the art work any size your heart desires. What a good idea and how fun!
Deb says
Going to try this with my Grandkids. ages 4, 6, and 8. they will create a “masterpiece” for their mom’s office for Mother’s Day.
I just ordered the tissue from Amazon, couldn’t find any store that carried it in stock.
Kathie Yancy-Sleeth says
Thanks for the idea. I am a preschool teacher and we will be creating this project for our mothers for Mother’s Day. Needing to find the bleeding tissue paper quickly and on a preschool teacher’s salary, I searched the web and found our local craft chain (Michaels) said they carried it. Upon visiting the store, they in fact did not carry Bleeding Art. However, a helpful sales accociate checked the item number for that brand and the exact number came up under another name…”Celebrate It”. I bought it and it works. Have your readers request help in their local stores to check the item number. May save shipping costs.
Courtney says
Thinking of using this as a vbs project with our three year olds in childcare.
Thanks for sharing!
Amy P says
Thanks for the tip about the Michaels brand working – their coupons are great too!
annette says
Walmart carries it in stock.
Wendy says
I found it works with regular tissue paper if you use spray rubbing alcohol. The fumes could be rough though so be sure to do it in a well ventilated area.
Alicia Holman says
Wendy, Did the rubbing alcohol hurt the canvas at all?