If you’re on the lookout for a fun and only slightly messy art activity that you and your little one can enjoy together this Valentines season, let me share a recent hit at our home—bouncy ball painting made with our free printable “Love Bug” template.
First things first, snag the template from our blog (I’ll link it at the end of this post). It’s a cute little bug that’s just waiting for some color.
Now, the fun part – bouncy ball painting. Think of it as marble painting’s cooler cousin. All you’ll need to get started is a tray, our printable love bug template, some paint, and, you guessed it, a bouncy ball.
We used a bouncy ball we had left over from a party bag, and once you’ve finished with this art project you can just wash off the paint from the ball and it’s ready to play with again.
You can also use marbles for this project if that’s what you have on hand and it will give a very similar effect.
You can pick any colors of paint that you like. For Valentines, you may want to look at red, pink, purple… we also made one with gold and silver because my daughter likes those colors, and white paint always works well for this type of activity too.
Pop the paper into the tray, squeeze out a few dollops of paint and let your kiddo tilt and tip the tray to roll the ball across the template.
Adjust the amount of paint as needed. The amounts my daughter squeezed out at first was a little too much – if this happens, just take a 2nd copy of the template and try again, so we would recommend printing a couple to make the process smoother.
It’s a blast watching the ball zip around, leaving a colorful trail in its wake.
My daughter was all giggles and gasps, her eyes wide with excitement as the ball created a beautiful mess. It’s not just fun; it’s a sneaky way to work on coordination and control, plus it gets some of that boundless energy out!
The tray we used for this craft is from Ikea, I believe this exact one is discontinued as we had it for years but something similar would definitely be worth buying if you don’t have as we use it for so many different projects.
Although there is plenty of paint rolling around inside the tray, kids actually don’t tend to get themselves or their hands messy or painted while doing this activity. This is great for those times when you don’t want a huge clean up, or if your child doesn’t love getting their hands dirty which my daughter doesn’t.
After the masterpiece has dried completely (we left this for the next day), you’ll need some colored card stock for the next step.
Cut out the painted “Love Bug” and stick it onto some colored cardstock. This enables you to turn this love bug art activity into an easy love bug Valentines card craft (or Mother’s Day card, which also works for the love bug theme)
We used pink and red cardstock for this but again you can use any color you like best.
A regular glue stick like pritt-stick works fine for this.
Then, hand over a pen to your little artist to add a personal touch—a message for a Valentine or a sweet note for Mother’s Day.
Not only did we have a ball (pun intended!), but we also ended up with a special, handmade piece that’s fridge-worthy or perfect as a heartfelt gift.
Download Free Printable Love Bug Template
Ready to give it a whirl? Head over to this blog post to grab your “Love Bug” template and get rolling!
FREE PRINTABLE LOVE BUG TEMPLATE
With a versatile template like our “Love Bug,” the possibilities for crafty fun are truly endless!
Beyond bouncy ball painting, why not dive into the bubbly world of bubble wrap printing? Imagine the giggles as you press painted bubble wrap onto the template for a pop of texture.
Or embrace the magic of blowing bubbles mixed with paint onto the paper for a dreamy, airy effect. Get a little quirky and bring the kitchen into the art room by stamping with fruits and veggies—picture the perfect circles of okra printing or the star shapes from apple slices.
And for the little ones who love their toy cars, dip those wheels in paint and let them ‘drive’ across the template for some vroom-vroom vibrancy with toy car painting. You could also try potato masher painting.
Each method brings its own unique flair to the “Love Bug,” turning it into a delightful art adventure.
More Valentine’s Crafts
We’ve got even more Valentine’s Day crafts that are sure to spark joy and spread love. From handprint cards that capture a moment in time to DIY heart strings that brighten up any space, these crafts are not just activities; they’re keepsakes. We’ve linked all these ideas on our blog, each with its own twist and tale, perfect for making memories this Valentine’s season.
- Easy Heart Headband Craft for Valentines Day
- Valentines Popsicle Stick Cupcake Craft
- Pom Pom Valentine Love Monster Craft
- Valentine Octopus Toilet Paper Roll Craft
- Pipe Cleaner Beading Heart Decorations for Valentines Day
- Rainbow Heart Perler Bead Patterns (Free Printable)
- Valentines Thumbprint Heart Bookmark
We adore sharing our family’s crafty escapades with you, and we’d be thrilled if you’d spread the love too.
If you found some inspiration or a new activity to enjoy with your little ones, please share this blog post with your friends or pin it on Pinterest.
Your support means the world to us, and who knows, it might just spark another family’s Valentine’s Day adventure! Happy crafting, and don’t forget to show us your “Love Bugs” by tagging us on your creations.
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