Salt and Glue Raised Paint Webs
This project is a classic science-meets-art activity that kids find absolutely mesmerizing. Start by having your children draw a spider web design on heavy cardstock using a bottle of white school glue, making sure the lines are thick and raised. While the glue is still completely wet, place the paper in a shallow tray and pour a generous amount of table salt over the entire design, ensuring all the wet glue is covered. Shake off the excess salt to reveal a beautiful, textured, white salt web. Next, dip a paintbrush into liquid watercolors or water-diluted food coloring, and gently touch the brush to the salted lines. Watch in amazement as the colored water instantly travels along the salt lines through capillary action, coloring the entire web in beautiful, bleeding gradients. It is a stunning visual process that combines art, chemistry, and sensory fun.
