Sometimes you just want crafts that are not messy, and we totally get it. Let’s face it – kids love to paint, and we love watching them create. But the mess? Not always our favourite part. Luckily, there are plenty of clever ways to let little ones explore their creativity without turning your home (or patio) into a total art explosion. Let’s focus on learning, exploring, and keeping things low-stress, so everyone has a fun time creating.

Tips for painting outside 🌞

1. Drawing using water

All you need is a clean paintbrush, a bucket of water, and a fence or wall surface. Give the kiddos a brush and a plastic cup of water and let them ‘paint’ the house! Painting with water lets kids explore brushstrokes, shapes, and motion – without any colour to clean up. The best part? It disappears as it dries, so they can start again (and again!).

2. Washable paint on concrete

Mix chalk powder with water to create your own concrete paint. Your child can use a brush to paint pictures, shapes, or even practice writing letters and numbers. This is a great outdoor activity on a sunny day – just wash it away with the hose or a bucket of water once you’re done! We’ll show you exactly how to make the mixture in the video above. 

3. Clay play (non-stick addition)

Try foam-based Creative Clay for a squish-friendly, no-mess craft – it’s super easy to shape, sticks to itself without glue, and doesn’t leave residue behind. Kids can roll, squish, and sculpt all kinds of creations, and when they’re done, you won’t need to scrub the table clean! Have a go at the easy dolphin lesson above!

Tips for creating inside 🎨

1. Paint zip lock bag

Pop paint into a snap lock bag for a mess-free sensory painting experience – just squeeze a few blobs of paint onto a small canvas, carefully place it inside a zip lock bag, seal it shut, and tape it to the table. Kids can squish and swirl the paint around from the outside of the bag to mix colours, explore patterns, and get creative – all without getting any on their hands.

2. Drawing on glass (don’t worry – it wipes off!)

Got a big window or mirror at home? Let your little artist draw directly onto the glass with our Glass Markers. They’re designed for non-porous, shiny surfaces and wipe off clean with a damp cloth. This one’s great for older kids too, especially if they’re into drawing! Just avoid contact with porous surfaces like grout, cork, etc. See the pens in action in the video up above.

3. Upcycling art

Got some cardboard tubes, bottle caps, or egg cartons lying around? Instead of tossing them, turn them into your next art session! Toilet paper rolls can become finger puppets, bottle caps can be used as pretend money, and cardboard can be cut into fun shapes. It’s a great way to reduce waste and show kids how creativity can come from anywhere – even the recycling bin. This way, the mess becomes the art!

Handy no-mess supplies to have on hand ✨

-    Aprons or old shirts – protect clothing with something they can wear and forget about

-    Wipes and a water bowl – for quick hand and brush clean-ups

-    Plastic tablecloth or tray – makes setting up (and packing away) much faster

-    Clipboards or drawing boards – help secure paper so it doesn’t slide around mid-stroke

-    Washable paints – ours are vibrant, easy to use, and wipe off surfaces with water while wet

Let kids enjoy the magic of painting without the clean-up stress. With a few simple tips, you can turn creative time into something that’s just as fun for you as it is for them 🎨✨

Here’s to more art, more joy, and way less cleanup!

If you do try one of these low-mess tips, let us know by tagging us on Instagram or Facebook @montmarteart or use #montmarteart. We’d love to see anything you and the fam create!

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