Celebrate the New Year or 4th of July with this fun Fireworks craft.  So simple and easy, kids love how pretty these pictures look.  We created homemade scratch-art sheets to create these pretty firework scenes.  This activity is a fun classroom project or activity to do on New Year’s Eve. 

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What you’ll need:

• Oil pastel sticks

• Heavy-duty white cardstock

• Black acrylic paint & a little water

• Foam paintbrush

• Scratching tools:  Like a bamboo skewer, or a chopstick and a handheld pencil sharpener

 

How to make it:

1. Take your oil pastels and cover the entire white paper, rubbing hard.  You want to leave a nice layer of color all over the paper and not leave any white areas.

2. Next, pour your black acrylic paint into a small bowl and check the consistency.  Acrylic paint varies between brands – some are much thicker or thinner than others.  You want to cover over the entire paper with black paint.  If your paint is too thick, when you go to scratch off your paint it will come off in chunks instead of smooth lines.  If it is too thin, then it won’t cover the colors well.  Stir your paint and add a tiny bit of water until your paint is smooth.

3. Paint over the entire colored side and set it aside to fully dry.

4. Assemble your scratching tools.  I like to use a plain wooden chopstick sharpened at the narrow end with a handheld pencil sharpener.  You can also use a bamboo skewer or even a toothpick.

5. Once your paint is fully dry, use your scratching tool to create a picture.  I like to draw a few houses at the bottom of the page with the fireworks above them.  Use your imagination to create your own pretty scene.  Happy New Year!