Marbled Paper Earth Craft — Genesis 1:1

Marbled Paper Earth Craft

Beautiful marbled paper is a fun (messy) craft for children that yields pleasing results.  By using shaving cream and blue and green food coloring, you can make a beautiful craft to illustrate with children the earth as it was in Genesis 1:1-2.

 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.  The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”  ESV

Our children need to be taught now more than ever that the Bible teaches that God created the heavens and the earth.  This is the opening statement to the Scriptures, and in this statement we are introduced to God.  In just those two amazing verses, we learn that God pre-existed the heavens and the earth, that God is all-powerful in creation to bring forth this universe, and that we and our earth belong to God.  Because these foundational truths are referred to throughout Scripture, it is important to make sure that they are presented to the children that we teach.  Here are over 60 Bible passages referring to God as Creator.

For this activity, especially if you are using it with a large group of children, you will want to have lots of supervision/ help.  You also will not want to leave the shaving cream cans and food coloring anywhere accessible to the children after use.  (Don’t ask me how I know this!)

Here’s how to make the marbled paper earth for Genesis 1:1 craft:

 

Supplies needed:

1. Black Construction paper for background
2. White, off-white or gray construction paper for earth
3. White shaving cream
4. Food coloring, blue and green, liquid
5. glue or glue stick
6. craft stick
7. scissors
8. cotton swabs
9. printed copy of Genesis 1:1 (if desired)
10. gold and silver foil stars (if desired)

 

First, trace and cut out a circle for the earth on the light colored construction paper.  I just used a cereal bowl that was a size that would fit nicely on the black paper for a pattern.  Then, cover your work area.  I covered the table where I was working with plastic wrap for easy clean up.  If you are doing this with a large group at a Sunday School or VBS, you could also cover the table with a disposable plastic tablecloth.  Give a squirt of shaving cream onto the plastic thick enough that it can be spread with the craft stick to the same approximate diameter as the paper circle.  (Kids can do the spreading themselves, it doesn’t have to be exact.)  Add 3 or 4 drops of blue food coloring and 2 or 3 drops of green food coloring, randomly dropped on to the shaving cream.  Use the cotton swabs to gently swirl the food coloring in to the shaving cream.  Kids have a tendency to over mix at this point, so that the colors blend together.  Simple swirling is all that is required.  One of the great features of this craft is that every child’s marbling will turn out unique and very pretty.  There is no “perfect” amount of swirling.

Place the construction paper circle face down on the shaving cream and gently press it so that it contacts the shaving cream over most of the surface.  Then, lift the paper circle and place it, shaving cream side up, on the table.  Use the craft stick to scrape off the shaving cream.  You will be left with a beautiful marbled paper.  Allow this to dry for a few minutes.  (It dries very quickly with the shaving cream scraped off.)

 

 

 

While the paper is drying, you can carefully fold the plastic wrap over the shaving cream and throw it away.

 

 

 

 

 

Use the glue stick to glue the marbled paper circle to the black construction paper.  You can also glue
a printed verse of Genesis 1:1 (like in this picture.)  Last, add gold and silver foil stars to the sky.

 

 

 

 

 

 

With Joy,

Kathleen