Children of all ages love getting creative and expressing themselves through art, so why not host a DIY paint party for your little one and their friends?
Not only are painting parties a great way to keep them entertained, but it’s also a fantastic opportunity for them to unleash their creativity and have fun with their peers.
The best part? You can do host it in the comfort of your own home, without any exorbitant expenses.
As a parent of three kids, I’ve hosted my fair share of birthday parties. While it’s quite an undertaking to host a kids birthday party, it definitely doesn’t have to be stressful.
In this post, we’ll share with you the steps to host a successful DIY kids painting party and provide some pro tips to make it a memorable event.
Want more ideas? Here are 50 DIY kids’ parties to choose from >>
Step 1: Make it unique
First things first, you need to make your painting party unique and special. There are many different themes you can decide so that the party will be fun-filled and memorable for the kids.
Look through these options and decide on the theme of the party based on what you think would be the most fun for your child and their friends:
- Themed Painting: Choose a specific theme for the painting party such as a favorite cartoon character, animals, or landscapes. Does your kid love donuts? Make it a donut painting party! Crazy about basketball? There’s your theme. Having a specific theme will give the children a more focused direction for their artwork, making it more cohesive and fun.
- Paint and Sip Party: For an older kids, you can make the painting party a little more sophisticated. After all. paint and sip parties don’t have to be just for adults! Offer non-alcoholic drinks like sparkling juice or soda and provide some snacks while they paint.
- Collaborative Painting: Instead of having each child paint their own individual painting, consider creating a collaborative painting where everyone contributes to the same artwork. This can be a fun way to encourage teamwork and creativity among the children.
- Outdoor Painting Party: Take the painting party outside for a change of scenery. Set up easels or use large cardboard boxes as canvases, and let the children paint under the blue sky. This variation is perfect for a summer or spring party.
- Glow-in-the-dark Painting Party: Turn off the lights and let the fun begin with a glow-in-the-dark painting party. Provide glow-in-the-dark paint and let the children create unique and fun designs that will glow in the dark.
- Paint Your Own Pottery Party: Instead of canvas or paper, provide each child with their own piece of pottery to paint. It could be a mug, bowl, or plate, and the children can take their creation home after the party. Lots of cities have paint your own pottery studies if you don’t want to host this at home.
- Paint a Rain Barrel: Choose a large object like rain barrel that the kids can decorate. This is a great way to promote cooperation and teamwork.
- Water Balloon Painting: For a summer party, consider water balloon painting! Dip the water balloons in washable paint and press them onto your canvas for a truly unique masterpiece.
Step 2: Send the Invites
Time to let your favorite people know about your art party!
Set a date, time, location, and guest list. Send out an art-themed invite with the basic party info and a number or email for guest to RSVP to. Use bright colors to set the tone for a fun party.
Ask the kids to bring an old t-shirt, art smock, or apron to wear so their clothes don’t get too dirty.
Here are some fun phrases for your art party invite:
- Let’s get creative!
- It’s time to paint the town (or canvas) red!
- Grab your paintbrushes and let’s make some art!
- Art is calling, will you answer?
- Get ready to unleash your inner artist!
- A stroke of genius is just a paintbrush away!
- Let’s paint the day away!
- Join us for a colorful celebration!
Step 3: Gather Materials
Now that the RSVP’s are rolling in, it’s time to gather the materials and basic supplies needed for the painting session.
Here are some supplies you’ll definitely want to have on-hand: non-toxic acrylic paint, tempera paint, or craft paint, paint brushes, paper plates, a blank canvas or paper for each child, water cups, and paper towels. You could also consider table-top easels.
If you budget allows, it might be fun to provide the kids with aprons or art smocks as a party favor.
Step 4: Setup
Choose a good location: Set up the painting area in a location that is easy to clean, such as a backyard or an area with tile or hardwood flooring. Avoid carpeted or upholstered areas, which can be harder to clean if paint spills or splatters. Set the birthday boy or birthday girl up at the head of the table so they feel like a VIP.
Cover the work area: Use a plastic table cloth or old newspapers to protect the surface from paint spills and splatters. You can also use plastic drop cloths or shower curtains to protect floors and furniture. This will make for easy cleanup after the party.
Organize painting supplies: Set up the painting supplies in an organized manner, such as a designated table for paint and brushes, and another table for the canvases or paper. This will help prevent spills and make it easier for children to access their supplies
Provide wipes and paper towels: Have wipes and paper towels readily available to clean up any spills or messes quickly.
Limit the amount of paint: Provide small amounts of paint to the children to minimize spills and wastage. You can always refill the paint cups as needed.
Use aprons or old clothes: Provide each child with an apron or an old t-shirt to wear over their clothes to protect them from paint stains. You can also ask the children to wear clothes that can get messy.
Step 5: Time to Paint!
It’s time to get the party started!
Let the children start painting and encourage them to be creative as they paint their own masterpiece. and experiment with colors and different painting techniques.
Play some fun music in the background to add to the party’s ambiance.
Step 6: Snacks and Drinks
When you’re finished painting, it’s time to eat!
No party is complete without snacks and drinks. It’s a good idea to set up a snack table with healthy options such as fruit, vegetables, and cheese to keep the little artists energized the whole time. Also, provide some treats such as cupcakes or cookies for the kids to enjoy. Offer water and juice boxes for drinks.
Here are some art themed snacks you can serve:
- Paint Palette Fruit Tray: A colorful fruit tray in the shape of a paint palette is a great option for a themed party snack. Arranging different types of fruit in circular patterns on a large platter. Use a dollop of whipped cream in the center as the “paint” and provide small cups for dipping.
- Cheese and Cracker Mosaics: Cut different types of cheese and crackers into small squares or triangles and provide the children with toothpicks to create their own edible mosaics.
- Rainbow Veggie Skewers: Thread colorful veggies like cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, and cucumbers onto skewers to create a rainbow effect. Serve with a creamy dip for added flavor.
- Cupcake Decorating Station: Set up a cupcake decorating station with plain cupcakes and various colored frostings and toppings, such as sprinkles and candy. Let the children decorate their own cupcakes with different designs and patterns.
- Pretzel Paintbrushes: Dip pretzel sticks into melted chocolate or candy melts and let them dry. Once hardened, use different colored frosting to create the bristles of the “paintbrush.”
- Chocolate Dipped Strawberries: Dip strawberries into melted white chocolate or candy melts and decorate them with colorful edible markers to create fun and artistic designs.
- Paint Can Popcorn: Serve popcorn in small paint cans for a fun and creative presentation. You can decorate the cans with paintbrushes or splattered paint designs to make them look even more artistic.
- Popcorn Art Mix: Mix plain popcorn with colorful M&M’s or Skittles to create a colorful and tasty snack mix.
If it’s a painting birthday party, you’ll want to get a cake or cupcakes with an art theme. Consider a cake in the shape of a paintbrush or art palette, or cupcakes with paintbrush toppers.
Step 7: Party Favors
Party favors are a great way to thank your guests for attending your DIY kids painting party and to give them a little something to take home as a memento.
Here are some ideas for art-inspired party favors that your guests will love:
- Mini Painting Kits: Provide each child with a small paint set or watercolors that includes a few colors and a brush. You can find small paint sets at craft stores or online.
- Personalized Aprons: Get small aprons or t-shirts and personalize them with each child’s name using fabric paint or markers. This will not only make them feel special but also protect their clothes during the party.
- Art Supplies Kit: Put together a small art supplies kit that includes a sketchbook, colored pencils, markers, and stickers. You can also include a personalized note thanking each child for attending the party.
- DIY Art Party Kits: Create a DIY art kit by including materials for a specific project, such as a tie-dye kit, friendship bracelet kit, or a beading kit. You can find these kits at craft stores or create your own.
- Art-themed Treat Bags: Fill small treat bags with art-themed goodies such as crayons, stickers, mini coloring books, or small canvases.
- Personalized Water Bottles: Give each child a personalized water bottle that they can decorate with stickers, markers, or paint. This will also help keep them hydrated during the party.
By giving your guests an art-inspired party favor, you can help them continue their creative journey and remember the fun they had at your DIY kids painting party.
Pro Tips:
- Make sure to provide enough space for the kids to paint comfortably.
- Consider hiring a professional painter or art teacher to lead the party and provide painting tips.
- Provide some inspiration for the children and get their creative juices flowing by displaying some examples of paintings or images to spark their imagination.
- If you’re not up for hosting it at your house, look for a local art studio that offers party packages.
- Take lots of pictures and capture the fun moments to share with the parents afterward.
A DIY kids painting party is a fun and engaging way to keep the little ones entertained and boost their creativity. Your little artist is sure to love it!
By following these easy steps and pro tips outlined in this post, you can host a successful and memorable event that the children will love.
Remember to have so much fun, be creative, and let the kids express themselves through their artwork. From all of us here at Milwaukee WIth Kids, we hope you party is a huge success.
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Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.
Her decade-long teaching career in Milwaukee Public Schools and academic background, including a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual B.A.s in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, fuel her passion for inclusive and engaging family content.
Calie is also a recognized voice in local media, contributing to WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.
Discover more about Calie’s journey and editorial approach on her About Page and Editorial Policy Page.
