DIY Scratch Art Cards

Have you ever used a scratch art card? They are unbelievably fun! I use to make my own all the time as a kid and completely forgot about them until recently. Then last weekend when my daughter said “Mommy I want to make art with you” (Side note: Omg it’s working! I’m raising an artsy kid!), I knew she would love making these cards.

This craft is super easy even for little kids to do. My daughter is 3 and a half and she participated in every step. The finished scratch cards are super addictive too. Even my husband wanted to try them out.

Here’s what you need to make your own:

– wax crayons

– cardstock or watercolour paper

– black acrylic paint

– paint brush

Start by colouring your paper with wax crayons. Use lots of rainbow colours or chose a small group of your favorite colours. Scribble all over the paper until no white is exposed. You want to press hard with this step to get a nice layer of wax.

Next, paint over the entire paper with black paint. This step confused my daughter but I told her to trust me. Make sure the entire paper is covered with an even layer of paint. You should not see any wax crayon underneath. Allow the paint to dry, or use a hairdryer on a cool setting to speed up the process.

She scratched out an E and a cat.

Once the paint is dry you can start scratching! I cut a wooden skewer to a shorter length for my daughter to use. She had a blast scraping away the paint to reveal the colours underneath!

I did notice the longer the paint had to dry, the more difficult the paint was to scratch away. A few days later when my daughter tried the scratch card again she was a bit frustrated with how much more effort it took. I think for an older child this wouldn’t be an issue, but for younger kids with less hand strength, I suggest drying the card with the hairdryer and letting them scratch asap.

These would make super cute non-candy Valentine’s for school aged kids! Simply cut the paper into a heart shape before painting. Tape a toothpick to the back with some washi tape and write a sweet message.

Want more easy art activities for kids? Check out my Pinterest account and be sure to follow me on Instagram! Happy crafting.