Getting creative with your kids at home and even your teens can be as close as your bathroom drawer. Painting our faces for fun, with creativity or to practice your “look” can all be great places to find connecting and creativity. Let’s talk about creative ideas for projects “the face painting edition”.
If I see one more person I know buys the Snazaroo face painting kit and calls it a day I will SCREAM! Face paint is not the same consistency as acrylic paint you put onto a canvas. There are so many tips and techniques for the proper application of face paints. I’m only half kidding about the Snazaroo kits. They can be great for a carnival and other low key things but when you want to step it up a notch you need to pick and choose the best products available to you.
On its website, Momlovesbest.com, they outline the 7 best products you can use for some face painting fun. There are many factors to consider when buying paints. Cheap products on our face can cause serious reactions or other uncomfortable skin issues.
Hypoallergenic and water based are important when picking your best. You want to also be aware of how to best remove the paint. No one wants half a clown face on their pillowcase the morning after a face painting event. When I was in highschool I used Albolene cleanser to remove the theater paint they used for our performances.
Facepaint and Body Art are Unique and Diverse Creative Ideas for Projects
There are three types of face paints. Mom loves best says,
- “Cake paints: These are the most common and they come in individual colors or multi-color palettes. They are easy to use — you just add some water, mix, and use a sponge or brush to apply to your children’s faces. Cake paints last a long time and often dry quickly.
- Crayons: These are cream based and are used to draw directly on the skin. They are an excellent choice for beginners and younger kids.
- Cream face paints or liquid face paints: This kind comes in bright colors that mellow slightly when applied on the face. These paints come off easily with soap and water.”
Spend a little time deciding what you think works best for your needs and skill level. Young kids who have less developed fine motor skills need larger brushes or applicators to hold onto for best results. Talk to your kids about their goals and what they want the outlook to be.
Are They Creative Ideas for Projects if They Don’t Have Glitter?
Of course you can add glitter! Glitter is the BOMB! I love regular glitter! I love edible glitter! I love body glitter! I LOVE IT ALL! It’s super easy to apply. There are two ways. You can use glitter gel that is wet and can be applied all over with the applicator. You can also buy dry glitter and “blow it” onto wet paint on your body.
The brand UNICORN SNOT is my favorite. It’s vegan, biodegradable and cruelty free AND the name is just so extra. They sell it all over town and it also comes in a sunscreen form. Two for one special if you ask me.
On top of all of this, body jewelry has also become popular. Taking a nod from eastern makeup and decor you can find some beautiful additions to your face/body art fun. You can find self stick accessories on amazon and other places. You don’t need to spend too much on some cute gems for your eyes, shoulders or other body parts. And of course the Glow in the Dark body paint is super super cool!
Creative Project Ideas Can Be Culturally Diverse
While talking about eastern cultural designs we cannot forget to talk about henna art. Another creative idea for kids is trying your hand at henna art. I buy my henna premade in these cute rolled cones ready to apply.
According to my good friend Wikipedia, “Henna or Mehndi is a dye prepared from the plant Lawsonia inermis, also known as the henna tree, the mignonette tree, and the Egyptian privet, the sole species of the genus Lawsonia. Henna can also refer to the temporary body art resulting from the staining of the skin from the dyes. After henna stains reach their peak color, they hold for a few days, then gradually wear off by way of exfoliation, typically within one to three weeks.”
I buy my henna premade in these cute rolled cones ready to apply. I usually shop at a local Indian market and they have the cones for sale near the cashier stand. I buy one or two at a time and keep them in the fridge between uses. I will let it sit at room temperature before using. Be warned, “Practice makes perfect here.” and the henna does stain your skin, so unless you wipe off a mistake immediately you will have some smearing on your body.
I usually practice drawing on paper the designs I want to put on my body. Think about the application of henna like frosting a cake. It’s a bag of henna (frosting) with a tip that you gently apply consistent pressure to while drawing on the skin. (Make sure your skin is clean and dry).
More About Henna
There are many cultures that use henna for ceremonial purposes. You can use henna to dye your hair a rich red. (it has to stay on for HOURS to make sure you have a good new show to binge while you wait for it to set).
Fun facts: According to the St Thomas website, “The art of Henna—called mehndi in Hindi and Urdu—has been practiced in Pakistan, India, Africa, and the Middle East for over 5000 years. It was originally used for its natural cooling properties for the people living in hot desert climates. A paste would be made, in which the palms of hands and soles of feet would be soaked. It was also used for medicinal purposes and applied to the skin to treat such ailments as stomach aches, burns, headaches, and open wounds.
When it was discovered the paste left a temporary stain on the skin—the plant contains lawsone, a reddish-orange dye that binds to the keratin present in skin—Henna’s use progressed to decorative, as it was accessible to people of all socioeconomic levels.
Today, Henna is mainly used in celebration of special occasions such as weddings and birthdays in the joyous gathering of people. The Henna paste symbolizes good health and prosperity in marriage, and in some cultures, the darker the henna stain, the deeper the love between two individuals.”
Hindu Mehndi ceremonies are held the day prior to the wedding to adorn the bride with henna on her arms, hands, legs and feet. The event is intimate and includes close friends and family members who pamper the bride to be by hand feeding her and embracing her in love.
No matter what you decide to do in terms of materials used you can literally google youtube videos for YEARS and never find the same videos twice. It’s best to talk to your kids and teens about their creative ideas for projects related to face and body artistry. Happy arting!