Bubble Wrap Rain Craft

This outrageously fun Bubble Wrap Rain Craft is as fun to make as it beautiful and clever to display! This umbrella craft is perfect for toddler, preschool, prek, kindergarten, and 1st grade students to make this spring.

The long, cold winter is finally over and spring is making it’s presence known. I love seeing the crocous, daffodiles, and tulips peaking up through the snow. The small, new green leaves on the trees, the greening grass, and the warmer days make me HAPPY! It is so nice to finally get outside to play, hear the birds chirping, run on the grass, play at the playground, feel the gentle breeze, and get out of the stuffy house.

But…. spring also means lots of rain. Now we need the rain to make everything get green and for flowers to burst forth (I can’t wait for my peonies and lilac bushes to bloom). But the kids are so excited to finally get outside that these rainy days make the kids so sad to be inside.

Don’t worry – I have such an adorable, rainy day craft for you and your kids to make you just make forget all about playing outside…. at least for a little bit.

Rain Craft

This rain bubble craft couldn’t be cuter or easier to make. Whether you are a parent, teacher, homeschooler, grandparent, or daycare provider – this EASY spring craft for kids is sure to be a hit with your children.

Here are the materials you need to make this simple craft for kids. This engaging craft is truly one of my all-time-favorite-crafts to make with toddlers, prsechoolers, kindergartners, and first graders to welcome spring! Children will love using bubble wrap to make their artwork and it makes such a cool effect!

2 sheets of white printer paper
colored construction paper (one color for umbrella and a different one color for the handle)
glue (we like using stick glue as I find it less messy)
scotch tape
bubble wrap (cut to the size of the white paper) – this is a great way to use up (recycle) packing materials that come in your Amazon boxes
blue tempura or washable paint

Rainy Day Craft

First, cut the pieces needed for this craft. If you are using this as a toddler crafts or preschool crafts, I suggest you cut all the pieces out ahead of time to save on stress as your classroom is making their arts and crafts for April and May.

Make the umbrella by using a cup or small bowl and trace a circle onto the colored paper. Then cut it in half in a scalloped pattern to make an umbrella shape. One circle will result in two umbrellas. I used red construction paper in the example.
Create the handle, I simply cut a “J” shape out of brown construction paper.

make a cover for the umbrella to guide the bubble wrap to not go under where the umbrella would be covering

Next, Make a cover to put over the umbrella before painting. I used the umbrella as a guide to trace onto white paper (you can recycle any paper or cardboard you have laying around for this part). Draw lines straight down, and cut it out.

Umbrella Art and Craft Ideas

Now you are ready to create your raincraft with your students. First, arrange the umbrella pieces onto the blank second sheet of white paper and affix it with glue. Set your craft aside to let it dry.

Make sure to have children wear a smock so they don’t get their clothes dirty.

Time to paint the bubble wrap! Use a paintbrush or sponge to put blue paint on top of the bubble wrap to make it blue. Some kids may want to use their fingers to feel the bubbles. My kids preferred to use the brush.

put cover over umbrella on your paper and then press painted bubble wrap on top

Place the smaller white piece of paper on top of the umbrella to cover it. Use tape to lightly hold it down (don’t press too hard on the tape so it doesn’t tear the paper when peel up later).

Put the bubble wrap over the umbrella, paint side down.

press down on the bubble wrap to make a good print - the popping is just for fun!

Preschool Crafts

Press all over the top of the bubble wrap until the paint is printed onto the white paper. Kids wil love hearing some popping noices as they press on the medium. This is the best part of the craft as it is fun to make, hear, and will produce beautiful results too! I’m telling you, you are going to love this spring craft idea!

pull off the bubble wrap, pull of the white cover

Slowly peel up the bubble wrap and set it to the side or in a garbage can so it doesn’t make a mess. Now carefully peel up the white paper covering the umbrella (and tape if you used it) and discard the paper too as it will be wet and you don’t want to leave it on a child’s desk or table or they may get wet paint on their arms (or clothes!)

Umbrella Craft

Now you have your umbrella and rain! Let it dry before hanging or putting in students back packs. Make sure kids put their names on their artwork. Once it is dried they can use crayons, markers, colored pencils, or gel pens to decorate their umbrellas more if they would like.

My kids were amazed after their umbrella was revealed. My son wants to draw himself under the umbrella. You can also print a photgraph of your students and put it under the umbrella like they are holding the umbrella – super cute!