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    Bubbling Shell Craft

    Published: Aug 17, 2015 · Modified: Jun 8, 2022 by Vicky · This post contains affiliate links.

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    I have been on a shell craft kick as of late. We recently made this cool sand Sea Shell Craft and even made some yummy Clam Shell Cookies. If you have been doing some beach trips this summer, it is time to break out your bag of shells and paint them in a new and exciting way. I found that flat, porous (not shiny) shells work better for this Bubbling Shell Craft. This kids activity combines craft with science as kids get to explore what happens when vinegar is added to baking soda.

    This bubbling shell craft is a great way to decorate shells saved from beach trips and a fun art and science activity for kids as well!.

    Bubbling Shell Craft

    You will need:

    • Baking soda
    • White vinegar
    • Various colors of powdered tempera
    • Plastic cups
    • Shells
    • Spoon
    • Paper towels
    • Condiment squirt bottle (optional)
    shell craft supplies

    Mix equal parts baking soda and tempera paint in a small plastic cup. If you have never used powdered tempera before, it is just powdered paint that you add to water to make paint. For more fun water activities check out our Duck Tape Boat Races..

    powdered tempera

    Add one shell to the center.

    shell in powdered tempera

    I filled up a condiment squirt bottle with vinegar to make it easier for my kids to add it to the baking soda. Now it was time for the magic to happen. My daughter squirted some vinegar into the cup to start the painting process.

    exploding painting

    She was thrilled when the concoction started bubbling and errupting! While all that was going on, the shell was getting painted in the cup. When the bubbling subsided, we used a spoon to fish out the colorful shell.

    baking-soda-experiments

    We repeated this process with different colored powdered tempera paint. Place the shells to dry on some paper towels. We left ours overnight and were greeted in the morning with some beautiful and vibrant shells!

    shell-art

    For more baking soda and vinegar reactions, check out:

    Baking Soda Experiments                 

    Baking Soda Easter Eggs

                                 

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kristie Sumner

      June 22, 2019 at 10:47 am

      Hi, I cannot find powdered paint very easily. Will holi powdered paint work?

    2. denise welch

      August 13, 2018 at 2:20 pm

      Help, this didn't work for me at all! What did I do wrong? i mixed powdered tempera with the baking soda, added the shell, then vinegar and it bubbled nicely but did not color the shell!

    3. Vicky

      May 28, 2016 at 12:58 pm

      Hi Devon, I don't know if it would work with liquid paint. Since the powdered paint easily mixes with the baking soda it works well with the reaction. If you try it out with regular paint please let me know how it works. Thanks and have a great day!

    4. devon

      May 28, 2016 at 11:15 am

      Will it works with regular tempura paint? Or is it only powdered that would work?

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    Hi, I'm Vicky, the founder and content creator at Mess For Less. If you are looking for family-friendly recipes, recipes that kids can make, and play and learning activities for kids, you will find them at Mess For Less. I invite you to learn more about me. Thanks for stopping by!

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