Make Marbled Paper with Shaving Cream
Use shaving cream, food coloring, and a skewer to create colorful marbled paper prints; press, lift, scrape gently, and let them dry.
About this activity
Use shaving cream, food coloring, and a skewer to create colorful marbled paper prints; press, lift, scrape gently, and let them dry.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Cover your work surface with the plastic table cover or newspaper to keep things tidy.
- 2
Step 2
Squirt shaving cream into the tray to make a layer about 1/2 inch deep.
- 3
Step 3
Spread the shaving cream evenly across the tray using a spatula or your finger so the top is flat.
- 4
Step 4
Drop small dots of food coloring onto the shaving cream surface spaced around the tray.
- 5
Step 5
Swirl the food coloring gently with the skewer to make a marbled pattern across the shaving cream.
- 6
Step 6
Gently place one sheet of cardstock face down onto the swirled shaving cream so the whole paper touches the colors.
- 7
Step 7
Slowly lift the paper straight up from one corner to keep the pattern from smudging.
- 8
Step 8
Lay the paper face up and scrape the shaving cream off with the ruler or old credit card until the colorful paper is visible.
- 9
Step 9
Wipe the shaved cream into a paper towel and discard the towel in the trash.
- 10
Step 10
Place your marbled paper flat to dry for several hours or until it is not damp.
- 11
Step 11
Clean the tray and tools with a paper towel and throw the towel away.
- 12
Step 12
Share a photo of your finished marbled paper on DIY.org
Fun facts
How do I make marbled paper with shaving cream?
Spread a thick, even layer of shaving cream in a shallow tray. Drop food coloring or liquid watercolors onto the cream and swirl with a skewer or toothpick to make patterns. Gently press a sheet of cardstock or watercolor paper onto the decorated surface, then lift straight up. Use a ruler or old gift card to scrape off excess cream, revealing the marbled print. Lay prints flat to dry for several hours before handling.
What materials do I need for shaving cream marbled paper?
Youâll need plain shaving cream (unscented or non-menthol is best), liquid food coloring or washable liquid watercolors, a skewer or toothpick for swirling, a shallow tray, heavyweight paper or cardstock, and a ruler or plastic card to scrape. Add disposable gloves, aprons, and paper towels for easy cleanup, and a table cover to protect surfaces. Optional: metallic food colors or small sponges for texture.
What ages are shaving cream marbling suitable for?
This craft suits children about 4 years and up with adult help; ages 6â12 can usually work more independently. Younger preschoolers need close supervision to avoid tasting or smearing materials. The activity builds fine motor control but involves messy materials, so plan supervision and protective coverings. Adjust complexityâsimple swirls for toddlers and intricate patterns for older kids.
What safety tips and variations can I use for shaving cream marbling?
Safety first: use unscented, non-menthol shaving cream, keep away from eyes and mouths, and supervise younger children. Wear gloves and wash hands after. For variations, try different tools (combs, forks) to create patterns, use metallic or neon food colors, marble fabric with textile medium, or press leaves and do double prints. Let prints dry fully and test on a scrap before scaling up.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
I can't find cardstock or shaving creamâwhat can I use instead?
If you don't have cardstock, use heavyweight construction or watercolor paper cut to size for step 6, and if shaving cream is unavailable use liquid starch spread in the tray as the marbling base and continue with steps 3â5 the same.
My design smudged or looks faint after lifting and scrapingâwhat went wrong?
If the pattern smudges when lifting, make sure to gently place the paper face down in step 6 so the whole paper touches the colors and then slowly lift the paper straight up from one corner without sliding, and if colors are faint add more food coloring dots in step 4 before swirling in step 5.
How can I adapt this activity for different ages?
For preschoolers, let them drop dots in step 4 while an adult handles the swirling (step 5) and scraping (step 8), and for older kids encourage finer skewer swirls, layered color drops, or using larger paper sizes in steps 4â6 for more complex marbling.
How can we extend or personalize the marbled paper afterward?
After the paper is dry in step 7, personalize and extend the project by cutting the marbled cardstock into gift tags or greeting cards, adding stamped or handâlettered messages, or laminating sheets to make bookmarks.