Do you love getting fun and unexpected designs when painting? These DIY marbling techniques are the perfect way to get a really cool paint pattern with little effort. Here are 9+ marbling crafts to inspire your next marble painting project.
*Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. Read our full privacy policy.
Materials To Use To Marble Effect
- Shaving Cream and Paint: You can print off of shaving cream and watercolor, acrylic or food coloring to get a marble paper or item (see the eggs in this list).
- Water and Spray Paint: Several of the marbling crafts in this list are done by adding spray paint to water and dipping the item in.
- Water and Nail Polish: This technique can be done super quickly and if you mess up, just wipe those areas up with a little nail polish remover.
- Acrylic Paint Pour
- Hydro-Dipping Acrylics On Water
- Oil and Food Coloring
- Liquid Starch and Paint
How To Water Marble
Water marbling is a creative technique where paint (or nail polish) floats on the surface of water. You are able to use tools or let the materials naturally swirl together before dipping paper or other items into the mixture.
Elaborate designs can be created with specific acrylic hydro-dipping paints & mediums. However, you don’t have to spend a fortune to do basic water marbling.
Basic Steps
Here are the basic steps we follow, no matter what paint material we are using.
Step 1: Fill A Container With Water
You want to make sure that you are not using a container you like. You will end up with paint or nail polish on the sides.
Step 2: Add Drops Of Color
Whether you are spraying in paint, dropping nail polish or acrylic paint you want to work quickly.
Step 3: Swirl Colors
You can take a skewer or other tool to quickly swirl colors to make a design you like. This step is optional, as the materials naturally will give you a cool effect.
Step 4: Dip Your Item
Step 5: Pull Out and Let Dry
Optional: Seal Your Project
Depending on what you are marbling, it might make sense to use dishwasher-safe Mod Podge or clear spray.
Marbling Crafts For Beginners
These beginner crafts are the perfect way to practice getting a faux marble effect. Whether you want to use contact paper, spray paint, nail polish or acrylic paint this list has a fun DIY idea for you.
Easy Spray Paint Marbling Tutorial
Use this tutorial to get all the details about how to do spray paint marbling on terracotta flower pots. This easy-painted flower pot design still amazes people with how cheaply this craft was done.
DIY Shaving Cream Art Cards
Tape out a simple shape with painter's tape then use a shaving cream marble technique. Add your own designs once the paper dries for a fun look.
DIY Nail Polish Dipped Mugs
This fun craft uses nail polish in water to create a cool marbleized design on white ceramic mugs. Just make sure that you only dip the bottom of the mug to keep it food safe. Read more about how to also make these dishwasher-safe mugs.
Easy Handmade Watercolor Christmas Card Idea
This simple card prints a blue and marble shaving cream background and then uses a gold paint marker to repeat a simple design. You could modify this marble craft and personalize it for any holiday.
Easy Painted Faux Pumpkin Craft
Are you looking for a cheap Fall decor idea? These painted faux pumpkins are so fun to make. Get step-by-step instructions with another craft on spray paint marbling.
Paint Laminate Countertops (Not Using A Kit)
Did you know that you can paint your counters to look like marble? Follow this step-by-step tutorial to learn how to get the look for marble on your laminate countertops.
Cheap DIY Halloween Decoration
Use your old glass jars and spray paint marbling to create a cheap Halloween decoration. Add spooky eyeball candies to complete the fun jar. The best part is that if you mess up, you are only using an old jar and can just try again.
How To Dye Easter Eggs With Shaving Cream
Use food coloring and shaving cream to dye your Easter eggs this Spring. Kids will love experimenting with different color combinations.
Shaving Cream Paper Marbling
Instead of using liquid watercolor color or food coloring, you could try to add acrylic paint to shaving cream for a fun effect. These make a great art project as is or as part of a collage.
DIY Easy Paint Pour Pumpkins
Create a marble look by doing a paint pour on a pumpkin, canvas or wood. This fun painting technique will for sure give you some unexpected results.
DIY Faux Marble Table Lamp Makeover with Contact Paper
Instead of trying to paint a faux marble finish, you could use marble contact paper to makeover all sorts of items. This lamp makeover shows how contact paper can really modernize old home decor.
Marbling FAQs
It depends on what you are marbling. For 3-d crafts, spray paint marbling or nail polish marbling is your best bet. For paper crafts, you can use any method that you like best. If working with kids we would just consider picking the safest and least toxic method.
If you are dipping an item into the water, then you need to work quickly. Spray paint, acrylic paint, and nail polish can get “goopy” in the water. Make sure you completely clean out the old paint before doing another item.
For basic water marbling, you will need a shallow container filled with water, nail polish, spray paint or acrylic paint, a skewer, and the item you plan to marble.
Follow us on Pinterest, Youtube or Facebook for more DIY inspiration!
More Fun Craft Posts
- 25+ Spray Paint Ideas To Try
- 20 Painted Flower Pot Design Ideas
- How To Paint A Computer Case A Fun Artwork
- Clever Painted Patterned Accent Wall Ideas
We love creating a marble effect on all sorts of crafts. Not only is it fun, but can be done in no time at all!