This fireworks salt painting craft is one of our popular craft ideas for kids. It’s a 4th of July craft that kids can make at home, daycare or camp this summer.

Salt painting is a super cute craft project that is ideal for kindergarten and elementary age children. Preschool age children can also complete this craft with some assistance.

This fireworks craft is easy to make, inexpensive and a lot of fun!

Kids will love watching the paint spread through the salt granules and seeing how the colors blend. It has such a neat texture to it. I love how it looks like painted crystals!

White text on blue background with a smattering of red confetti says Fireworks Salt Painting Craft for Kids. Beneath text is a picture of three completed salt paintings of fireworks. Middle one is done on black construction paper using blue and red paints. The other two are on white paper and use a colorful variety of paints.

Looking for more fireworks craft? Don’t miss our coffee filter fireworks!

Printable Fireworks Salt Painting Fourth of July Craft

While this is intended to be a printable craft, the instructions can be used to salt paint fireworks on construction paper as well. Just be mindful that more color may seep through with a thinner paper.

If using construction paper, you can use a pencil to hand draw firework lines for easy tracing over with the liquid glue. Use black construction paper to make it look like fireworks in the night’s sky!

Overhead view of fireworks salt painting art on black construction paper. Fireworks painted with blue and red paint. Some salt lines left white. Red and blue construction paper lay behind the project.

This salt painting fireworks craft uses just a few common craft and kitchen supplies and only takes about 20 minutes to complete (plus additional drying time).

Do this craft at home, as a family, or at a school or summer camp. It’s a quick and easy craft to include in an art center.

Making these salt painting fireworks is a fun fine motor activity for preschool and kindergarten children that provides gluing, pouring, and painting practice.

Older children will also enjoy this craft that they can complete mostly independently.

Overhead view of bright and colorful salt painting of fireworks using printable template. White paper with multicolored painted salt with red and blue construction paper underneath.

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Fair warning: this is a fairly messy craft. Having an adult help with the salt pouring is recommended.

Placing this craft on an activity tray or baking sheet with a lip will help contain the mess.

I also recommend having a handheld vacuum or broom and dustpan nearby.

If you don’t have table salt on hand, or if you’d prefer a somewhat less messy art activity, you can still use the printable fireworks for other projects.

For example, kids can still use watercolor paint to color along the lines. They could also decorate them by tracing the lines with glitter glue.

Salt Painting Fireworks Craft Supplies:

Overhead view of printed out fireworks template on white cardstock, a piece of black construction paper, water colors, liquid glue, cup of water, and container of table salt.

Printable Fireworks Salt Painting Template
Cardstock or construction paper
Liquid school glue (white)
Watercolor paint
Paintbrush or pipette
Table salt
Cup (for water)
Craft mat, activity tray or baking sheet (optional)

How to Make Fireworks Salt Painting Art:

First you will need to download and print out our printable Fireworks Salt Painting Template. (available using the form near the end of this post)

I recommend using cardstock for this project. The heavier weight paper holds up better to gluing and painting.

White girl's hand holding liquid glue bottle and squeezing glue along black lines of fireworks template.

Tip: Protect your work space by putting a craft mat, activity tray or baking sheet under your paper before applying glue, salt or paint.

Kid pouring table salt over paper with fireworks glue lines on it.

Next you will need to trace the lines with white liquid glue.

White glue lines in fireworks design on black construction paper.

Once that is completed, pour salt over the glue.

Overhead view of salt covering glue lines and black construction paper before shaking off the excess.

Gently tip the paper to let any excess salt fall off. Doing this over a trash bin will save on cleanup time later.

Next, it’s time to begin painting! It is not necessary to wait for the glue to dry before painting.

Using plenty of water, mix water into paint and lightly dab paint on to salt. It is important to dab so you don’t wipe away the salt.

Overhead view of white girl's hand holding paintbrush and dabbing watercolor paints onto salt that's been glued to white cardstock paper in fireworks design.

Alternatively, you can also apply paint using a pipette. I recommend having premixed watercolor water cups prepared if you use this method, especially for younger children.

Two completed fireworks salt paintings using red, blue, yellow, purple, and orange watercolors. They lay on top of assorted colors of construction paper.

Lastly, allow it to fully dry.

Now you have snazzy salt painted fireworks!

Overhead view of finished fireworks salt painting on black construction paper that has finished drying.

More Fourth of July Ideas:

Fireworks Salt Painting Craft

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Active Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Estimated Cost: $5 or less

Make this fireworks salt painting art project for a fun and easy Fourth of July craft for kids.

Instructions

First you will need to download and print out our printable Fireworks Salt Painting Template. (It is file #153 in our free printable resource library.)
I recommend using cardstock for this project. The heavier weight paper holds up better to gluing and painting.
Next you will need to trace the lines with white liquid glue.
Once that is completed, pour salt over the glue.
Gently tip the paper to let any excess salt fall off. Doing this over a trash bin will save on cleanup time later.
Next, it’s time to begin painting! It is not necessary to wait for the glue to dry before painting.
Using plenty of water, mix water into paint and lightly dab paint on to salt. It is important to dab so you don’t wipe away the salt.
Alternatively, you can also apply paint using a pipette. I recommend having premixed watercolor water cups prepared if you use this method, especially for younger children.
Lastly, allow it to fully dry.

Notes

Protect your work space and minimize the mess by putting a craft mat under your project or using an activity tray or baking sheet with a lip to help contain the salt when pouring over the glue.