by Emma Louise Oldham March 06, 2020

Using salt in your artwork feels very special. It’s an ingredient that we don’t often use for crafts, but it gives wonderful results. When your picture is dry, it will look like it’s made from crystals!


What you need:

  • Thick card
  • Glue (preferably washable glue)
  • Two paintbrushes
  • Salt
  • Watercolour paints
  • Pencil
  • Pot of water
  • Messy mat (something to cover your work surface)

What to do:

Step 1: Prepare your work surface. Decide which animal you want to create and draw a rough outline in pencil.


Step 2: Give your glue a good shake. Squeeze out the glue along the outline of your drawing.


Step 3: Use a paintbrush and gently spread the glue to fill the inside of your picture. You may need to add a bit more glue.


Step 4: Pour salt over all the areas covered with glue.


Step 5: Shake off any excess salt. Mix your paint with water and dab your paintbrush into the salt. Watch as the salt absorbs the colour and it spreads across the page.


Step 6: Leave to dry. Once dry, give your picture another gentle tap to shake off any excess salt. Your picture looks like it’s made from crystals!


Leave a comment

Comments will be approved before showing up.


In other Eco Kids Planet News

Monthly competition: Recycled Rocket Craft!
Monthly competition: recycled rocket craft!

by Eco Kids Planet December 02, 2025

What an incredible fleet of rockets you launched into our inbox this month! Each design showed a different way to turn everyday scraps into something extraordinary. Some rockets looked ready for deep-space exploration, others carried alien crews, and a few were so beautifully decorated they could ha...

Monthly Competition: Design a New Zealand Postage Stamp
Monthly competition: design a new zealand postage stamp

by Eco Kids Planet October 31, 2025

Meet the winners of our New Zealand postage stamp competition and explore a gallery of brilliant children’s designs celebrating Aotearoa’s unique wildlife.

🐾 Wildlife News!
🐾 wildlife news!

by Eco Kids Planet October 13, 2025

Here’s a sneak peek straight from our latest issue of Eco Kids Planet, Wonders Beyond Earth. Wildlife News is where Rhona and Rusty round up the wildest real-world stories from across the planet. Enjoy the read! 🌎 Amazing Photo Entries! The Wildlife Photographer of the Year team gave me a sneak...