Tape Resist Watercolor Snowflake Art

Last Updated on January 24, 2023 by Sheryl Cooper

Inside: This tape resist watercolor snowflake art activity is perfect with the snow and ice theme. Process art that is fun to hang in the classroom!

During your snow and ice theme, bring some snowflakes inside!

Well, watercolor snowflakes, that is.

This is such a simple activity that even toddlers can do.

A fun idea to add to your winter art collection!

CLICK HERE for winter-themed fine motor activities!

One of the first themes we explore after Christmas is snow and ice.

We don’t get much snow in our area – maybe a couple of snow days each year. (It really varies – some years we get nothing; other years we get it for a week.)

I think this is why I love adding as much winter art to the inside of our classroom during the month of January as possible.

Here are some winter crafts we’ve enjoyed over the years:

• Winter Collages 
• Wooden Snowflakes (Small and Large)
• Marble Painted Mittens
• Alphabet Snowmen
• Spool Stamped Snowmen
• Watercolor Tissue Paper Snowflakes

They’ve all added winter touches to our environment!

(You can see even more ways we have used the children’s art to decorate our classroom here.)

So when I put together this watercolor snowflake art, I just knew they’d be fun to hang in our classroom window!

Tape Resist Watercolor Snowflake Art

I love to recycle, so when I cut out paper plates for our fall wreaths, I saved the centers, just knowing I’d find good use for them.

(Please tell me I’m not alone. Do you save scraps of paper and other recycled goods, too?)

Turns out, those paper plate centers were perfect for this activity. I loved the weight!

What We Used

Centers of paper plates (we love the cheap, flimsy ones)

• Liquid watercolors
• Brushes
• Containers for watercolors
• Painters tape
• Hole punch
• String

Liquid Watercolors

First, let me talk a moment about liquid watercolors.

We use them year-round and a little goes a long ways! I usually dilute ours so it’s equal parts liquid watercolor and tap water. However, it just depends on what strength you are looking for.

We’ve always used the Colorations brand liquid watercolors and the bottles last us years! The other brands might be equally as nice, but I haven’t used them.

I use small cups to hold the mixture of liquid watercolors and tap water. Super simple!

Setting Up This Activity

First, you will want to apply the Painters Tape to the paper plate circle.

I did a super simple design. If you’d like to make one that looks more like a “real” snowflake, go for it!

Older preschoolers could actually do this part on their own.

See? That’s pretty basic! Yours will probably look a bit fancier! 🤣

Make at least one for each of your children.

I say “at least” because sometimes there are those who would love to make more than one. But, that’s up to you!

Place Everything On The Table

Place the paper plate snowflakes, diluted liquid watercolors, and brushes at the table.

Invitation to Create

Once everything is set up, invite your children to the art table.

Explain that they are going to brush the watercolors on the paper plate, even on top of the tape.

In fact, our toddlers first painted on top of the tape. I had to encourage them to move the paint all over.

Note: I normally use trays when working with liquid watercolors so that the run-off of paint has a place to go. (These are our current trays.)

Watercolors are hands-down a favorite for our toddlers and preschoolers to paint with. If we aren’t using liquid watercolors, we are using watercolor pans.

In fact, we usually start the school year using watercolor pans because they are easy and loved.

Then, I introduce them to liquid watercolors, as we are using in this activity.

Here’s another tidbit: Don’t be surprised if toddlers don’t cover the entire piece. They have shorter attention spans and after awhile they are ready to move on.

This is their work, after all.

Removing the Painters Tape

After the paint has been applied to the cardboard, the tape can be lifted right away, or you can let the paint dry first.

Yes, there still might be some tearing. I am asked this question a lot, and I will honestly say that I haven’t perfected this step.

I said this same thing in our tape resist spider web activity.

No matter which method I use, I still have some tears. I just go with it.

Preparing to Hang Your Snowflakes

I have a long piece of jute twine that hangs at the top of our longest classroom window, from one end to the other.

I use clothespins to attach artwork and it varies from month to month (approximately).

I punched a hole in each snowflake and attached a piece of twine.

As you can see in the photo, I then attached the twine to the clothespin.

Next time I will make the twine longer so that the snowflakes hang lower.

They looked awesome with our curtain lights!

If you want to add even more to your window, take a look at our sticky winter collage!

Circle Time Props for Your Winter Theme

Mitten Props

Five Little Snowmen Props

Snowflake Props