About This Video

In this craft activity, Kate and Nicole show participants how to make marbled paper using shaving cream, color, and paper.

The video begins by explaining that paper marbling creates a swirly design that can look a little like stone or marble. Each page comes out differently, which makes the process playful and surprising.

Kate and Nicole demonstrate how to spray shaving cream onto a tray, add drops of food coloring, and use a fork, chopsticks, or another tool to swirl the colors together. They also talk about color choices, including harmonious colors that feel gentle together and contrasting colors that make each other stand out.

Participants then learn how to press paper gently onto the shaving cream, lift it up, and scrape away the extra shaving cream to reveal the marbled design. The video also shows how finished paper can be used for cards, bookmarks, name cards, gift tags, collage, or framed pieces.

This video gives participants a hands-on craft activity focused on color, pattern, texture, swirling, experimenting, creative choice, and turning decorated paper into something useful or beautiful.

Supplies Needed

• Shaving cream

• Food coloring, liquid watercolor, or ink

• Cardstock, poster board, cardboard, or thicker paper

• Tray, cookie sheet, box lid, or another flat surface

• Fork, chopsticks, spoon, or another tool for swirling

• Cardboard or another flat scraper

• Paper towels

• Newspaper, butcher paper, or table covering

• Optional: gloves, smock, apron, or old shirt

• Optional: scissors for turning finished paper into cards, bookmarks, gift tags, or other projects

Good For

• Adults with IDD who enjoy crafts, color, sensory materials, paper projects, pattern, texture, or making something by hand.

• Caregivers looking for a creative activity with everyday materials, flexible steps, and room for experimentation and choice.

• Adult day programs, home routines, or group activities about crafts, color, marbling, paper projects, texture, pattern, creative expression, and gift-making.

• Participants who benefit from visual modeling, hands-on exploration, color choices, repeated steps, and permission to experiment without needing a perfect result.

How to Use This Video

Use this video as a guided craft activity for a home routine, day program, small group, or creative session.

Caregivers can help participants gather shaving cream, coloring, paper, a tray, swirling tools, a scraper, paper towels, and a covered work surface. Participants can choose colors before they begin or experiment with different color combinations as they go.

This video can be paused often while participants spray shaving cream, add color drops, swirl the colors, press paper gently onto the surface, lift the paper, scrape away extra shaving cream, and set the paper aside to dry.

The finished marbled paper can become a card, bookmark, name card, gift tag, collage material, framed piece, or decorative paper for another craft. Participants can also compare different color choices, swirls, patterns, and amounts of white space.

Because this activity involves shaving cream, food coloring, wet paper, scraping, table covering, and possible mess or staining, caregivers should provide support with setup, clothing protection, safe materials, pacing, cleanup, and any needed visual or hands-on assistance.

At the end, participants can choose their favorite marbled paper, describe the colors or patterns they made, decide how to use the finished paper, or make another version with different colors.