With just shaving cream, a bit of paint, and some toothpicks, you can create colourful, swirly fireworks that look absolutely stunning! It’s a simple, hands-on activity that’s great for all ages, and it’s guaranteed to bring out lots of “oohs” and “ahhs”, just like real fireworks.
This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a small commission which helps us run this website.
Helpful Tips:
What paint is best for making shaving cream fireworks?
We recommend using acrylic paint. It’s inexpensive (you can even find it at the dollar store!), it works well, and it’s available in so many different colours! You can also use washable tempera paint. Or you can also use food colouring or liquid watercolour paint. Mix one part liquid watercolour with 3 parts water and use an eye dropper to drop the paint onto the shaving cream. Liquid watercolour paint makes really bright and vibrant prints on the paper, but it’s a lot harder to control where it go. (It will easily spread out of place if the shaving cream isn’t completely flat — which is hard to do.)
Can I make shaving cream fireworks without a squeegee?
Yes, you can definitely make this fireworks art without a squeegee. After all, the fireworks look so colourful and fun in the tray, even if you don’t transfer them to paper! If you do want to make prints of your fireworks, we recommend picking up a squeegee from the dollar store. You can use it to make lots of other cool squeegee art! Squeegees are easy to grip, and they give you a lot of control over the pressure used. However you can still make this craft without a squeegee. Try using a plastic ruler or an expired gift card to scrape the paint off the cardstock. A thin piece of cardboard (like from a cereal box) will also work in a pinch, but it can leave streaks and will get soggy after using it once or twice.
Can I use the shaving cream more than once?
Yes, definitely! Your first shaving cream print will look the best, but feel free to press 1 or 2 more papers into the paint and shaving cream. The second print won’t show the fireworks as clearly and will be more smudged, but it still creates a fun and colourful piece of art!
How many trays of shaving cream fireworks can I make with one can of shaving cream?
This will depend, of course, on the size of your shaving cream can and the size of your baking tray. We were able to fill 3 large trays (12 by 18 inches) with an 11 ounce (311 gram) can of shaving foam.
Looking for a creative way to celebrate the New Year with kids? These shaving cream fireworks are just the thing! This art project is definitely a bit messy to make, but you only need a few simple dollar store supplies. And honestly, these painted fireworks are just so fun to make! You can use your favourite colours and get super creative, so each tray of fireworks is unique!
Here’s even more fireworks craft ideas:
Glitter Fireworks Craft
Fireworks in a Vase
Paper Roll Fireworks Painting
Our book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids is loaded with 72 fun and simple craft ideas for kids! The projects are fun, easy and most importantly low-mess, so the clean up is simple!
Where to buy:
