Puffy Paint Recipe Shaving Cream: Easy DIY Craft Guide

Updated On: October 18, 2025

Are you looking for a fun, easy, and creative craft project that brings vibrant color and texture to your artwork? Making your own puffy paint using shaving cream is a fantastic way to add a fluffy, raised effect to your paintings and drawings.

This DIY puffy paint recipe is perfect for both kids and adults who want to explore an exciting twist on traditional painting techniques. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a paint that puffs up when heated or dries with a delightful 3D texture, making your art truly stand out.

Not only is this recipe incredibly straightforward, but it’s also budget-friendly and uses common household items. Whether you’re planning an afternoon craft session, a classroom activity, or looking for a unique gift idea, this puffy paint recipe is sure to inspire creativity and smiles.

Let’s dive into how you can whip up your own colorful and fluffy masterpiece!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This puffy paint recipe with shaving cream is a fantastic blend of simplicity and fun. You don’t need any specialized art supplies, which makes it accessible for everyone.

The texture you get is soft, airy, and visually appealing, giving your artwork a playful touch that flat paints just can’t achieve.

It dries quickly and can be customized with any color you like—think vibrant reds, blues, greens, or even glittery additions to make your art sparkle. Plus, it’s a great sensory activity for kids, encouraging them to experiment with textures and colors while improving their fine motor skills.

Best of all, it’s safe and non-toxic, making it perfect for little hands. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or DIY enthusiast, this recipe is a must-try for your next creative project!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of shaving cream (foam type, not gel)
  • 1 cup of white school glue (PVA glue works best)
  • Food coloring or liquid watercolors (choose your favorite colors)
  • Optional: glitter or sequins for extra sparkle

Equipment

  • Mixing bowl (medium size)
  • Spoon or spatula for stirring
  • Measuring cups
  • Plastic squeeze bottles or paintbrushes for application
  • Baking sheet or parchment paper (if you want to bake the paint for puffiness)
  • Oven (optional, for puffing effect)
  • Paper or canvas for painting

Instructions

  1. Combine the glue and shaving cream: In your mixing bowl, pour 1 cup of white school glue. Slowly add 1 cup of shaving cream to the glue. Gently fold the ingredients together using a spatula or spoon until you get a smooth, fluffy mixture. Avoid stirring too vigorously to keep the fluffiness.
  2. Add color: Drop in a few drops of food coloring or liquid watercolors. Start with 3-4 drops and mix thoroughly. Add more color if you desire a richer hue. If you want to make multiple colors, divide the mixture into separate bowls before coloring.
  3. Add glitter (optional): If you want some sparkle, sprinkle in glitter or sequins now and gently mix them into the paint.
  4. Prepare your painting surface: Lay down parchment paper or use thick paper or canvas to apply your paint. This paint works great on cardstock, cardboard, or canvas boards.
  5. Apply the puffy paint: Use squeeze bottles for precise application or paintbrushes for a more traditional approach. Create shapes, letters, or any design you like. The paint will look wet and fluffy on your surface.
  6. Drying options: You can let the paint air dry for several hours or overnight. For an extra puffy effect, place your artwork on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 3-5 minutes. Watch carefully to avoid burning—the paint will puff up and dry quickly.
  7. Cool and enjoy: After baking, allow the paint to cool completely before touching. Your puffy paint masterpiece is now ready to display or gift!

Tips & Variations

Tip: Use gel food coloring instead of liquid for more vibrant colors without thinning the paint.

Variation: For a scented version, add a few drops of essential oils like lavender or peppermint to the paint mixture.

Tip: If your paint mixture feels too runny, add a little more shaving cream to thicken it up.

Variation: Try mixing in a teaspoon of cornstarch to create a slightly different texture that dries firmer.

Tip: Experiment with different painting tools like cotton swabs, sponges, or even your fingers for unique textures.

Nutrition Facts

Since this is a craft recipe and not intended for consumption, it doesn’t contain traditional nutrition facts. However, it is made with non-toxic, child-safe ingredients to ensure safety during crafting.

Always supervise children during use and discourage ingestion of any craft materials.

Serving Suggestions

This puffy paint is perfect for:

  • Decorating greeting cards and invitations with a tactile twist
  • Creating vibrant, textured artwork to frame or gift
  • Classroom activities to teach color mixing and textures
  • Holiday crafts like Christmas ornaments or Easter decorations
  • Fun sensory projects for kids who love hands-on creativity

Conclusion

Making puffy paint with shaving cream is an enjoyable and easy way to add a new dimension to your art projects. This recipe requires minimal materials and time, yet delivers fantastic results that are sure to impress.

Whether you’re crafting with children, exploring new artistic techniques, or simply looking for a creative outlet, this puffy paint recipe is a wonderful tool to have in your creative arsenal.

With endless possibilities for color combinations and designs, your only limit is your imagination. Try out the baking method for an extra puff or keep it simple with air drying.

Either way, you’ll end up with fun, colorful, and textured art that’s as delightful to make as it is to display. Happy crafting!

📖 Recipe Card: Puffy Paint Recipe with Shaving Cream

Description: Create fun, fluffy paint using simple household ingredients. This puffy paint is perfect for kids' crafts and dries with a raised texture.

Prep Time: PT10M
Cook Time: PT0M
Total Time: PT10M

Servings: 1 cup of puffy paint

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup shaving cream
  • 1/2 cup white school glue
  • 1 tablespoon baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • Food coloring (6-8 drops, various colors)
  • Optional: glitter (1 teaspoon)

Instructions

  1. In a bowl, mix shaving cream and white glue until smooth.
  2. Add baking soda and water, then stir well.
  3. Divide mixture into smaller bowls for each color.
  4. Add food coloring to each bowl and mix until color is even.
  5. Optionally, add glitter to each colored mixture and stir.
  6. Use immediately to paint on paper or cardstock.
  7. Allow painted art to dry for several hours.

Nutrition: Calories: 50 | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Carbs: 12g

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Photo of author

Marta K

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