Science & Art swirled up into one! This is my favorite project yet, and the last in the series! A huge thank you to Shannon (A Mom’s Year) for suggesting this art project. I was eager to try it, and I’m excited to share it with you!
All you need for this project is the following:
1. A plate 2. Milk (2% or higher) 3. Food Coloring 4. Dish Soap (That’s it!!)
1. Fill the plate with a thin layer of milk. Next, put in drops of food coloring.
2. Then, add a few drops of dish soap into the center of the food coloring, sit back, and watch! (I should mention that I tried this first with eco-friendly dish soap and it didn’t really work, so stick to the hard stuff for this!)
KA-POW! The milk fat instantly reacts to the soap, creating art!
Wow, right?! It will spin for quite a while, and if you add more drops of dish soap into the dark areas of food coloring you can keep the action going for quite a while.
If you want to see milk art in action, you can check out this video that I found:
Looking for more DIY’s to do with kids? Here are some more good ones:
Banana Tattoos / Eyebombing / Make a Volcano / Wire Sculpting
Photo Credits: Rosa Pearson (FlutterFlutter), Video Credit: Evie S
107 comments :
oh wow what a great idea…I guess you will have to take pics & frame them now!
…awesome activity…love your boys intensity in action!
Could you do this on a canvas?
Um, I don’t have kids but I TOTALLY want to try this! What a cool idea, and so pretty!
What a fun idea! Had no idea the milk fat would react with paint to create such beautiful swirls!
That is so beautiful! TFS!!
Happy St Pats!
Happy St Pats to you Anne! I have one question… what is TFS?
tfs= thanks for sharing.
So fitting for today. St Patrick’s Day ……. rainbows, ya know, just sayin.
Haha, yes, of course Tracey. I planned that. Really.
But Tracey, you missed something… notice what is pouring the dish soap?! Yup! I bought them!!!!
That is amazing!! love it – can’t wait to try it with the kids on Tues – enjoy your weekend!
You too my dear!!
That is SO COOL! I wonder if you could lay paper overtop and transfer some of the colour somehow?
Meesh, That’s what I was wondering too!
You can I did it
also sprinkle salt to add more effect 
Wow! Instant art-take a photo and frame it…no two will be exactly alike! My daughter will LOVE this! Great post!!
Oh aren’t you a smarty pants!!!! Aren’t they the prettiest things ever?
so fun!
So much fun!!
so cool! thanks for all the great ideas Rosa!!!
Fun! Will definitely be trying this out with the kiddos next week! Thanks
Did anyone try it on paper or canvas? Did it work?
This looks great! Does ‘dish soap’ mean washing up liquid in UK terms?
I’m not 100% sure Jo. I mean liquid dish soap, so whatever you would use to wash dishes in the sink should work!
Yes.
Pretty sweet Rosa!
i adore this diy! so creative.
I’m with Shelley. And I love how “deep in thought” the little one looks in that image. You can see he totally got into it.
You are such a great Mom!!! This project looks like a lot of fun, and how awesome that you captured it in a photo
That looks amazing! What a craft filled spring break you guys are having. I bet you’re the most fun house on the block!
amazing!! that is so cool!
I love this Rosa!!!! IT is sooooo cool.
Thanks for this wondercfully creative post!
Jodi
I’m so glad you tried it! It’s hard to describe how beautiful the colors look as they swirl around, but your photos really capture the magic.
How pretty! I loved watching the colours merge in the video but think stills of the various patterns would make beautiful wall art. Will definitely try this!
making the grass greener in your own life March 28, 2012 10:33PM
[...] out this easy art project using milk, food coloring, and liquid dish [...]
Thanks so much for putting this up. We tried it on the weekend and the boys absolutely loved it. We went on to make prints on kitchen paper towel from the colour patterns. Super easy and great fun. Thanks
Pete
Pete, thanks for your feedback! I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed it!! I loved doing it with my boys too!
There is a more famous example of this phenomenon called “the Tia Maria Instability” (named for the liquor) that you can do by taking a plate covered in a thin layer of Tia Maria or other dark colored liquor (Kahlua works) and adding small amounts of cream on top. THAT version is for the adults!
This is a physical reaction, not a chemical one, driven by differences in surface tension in the two liquids. Surface tension is what makes watery liquids try to “climb” the sides of the container. It causes the liquid surface to be like a trampoline. (If you have seen “A Bug’s Life” you know what I mean.) For a liquid at rest, the surface tension is the same everywhere. But if the liquid is mixing with a different liquid, the tension will vary from place to place because the proportion of one liquid to the other is not the same. That tension will pull them to intertwine with each other until both liquids are thoroughly mixed and the surface tension is the same everywhere.
There is a paper on the subject (with pictures of the Tia Maria Instability) here. It is a PDF file:
http://www.lec.csic.es/~julyan/PDFs/46_2002_PhysA.pdf
Every once in a while I pull out a fun “craft” for my boys (ages 5 & 8)
This one will be next on the list… they will LOVE this!
This works perfect and when u finish the art, you can put a piece of paper on it and leave it to dry—nice paper to write on.
Susan Hansen
Do you know if you can bake the plate to permanently seal the color on it after?
Milk Art | this heart of mine July 17, 2012 12:30PM
[...] Love Bug and I did our first Pinterest project together. After seeing this post on milk art, I knew we had to try it. This pin was a total win. The project was quiet, required few [...]
Fabulous, fascinating. nature in art.
Was wondering how you can transfer this to paper and what kind of paper, so that it can be framed. What a great thing for anyone to say they made a beautiful piece of art!
I haven’t tried to transfer this onto paper myself, so I’m not sure. Would love to hear if you find a way!
wonder what would happen if you painted dish soap on a canvas and then dripped color on it from there?
I think the milk plays a big part in the whole reaction, so I don’t think it would react. But I’d love to know if I’m wrong! Let me know if you try it!
I used to do this all the time when I was at school. It was one of my favourite crafts because you always got a fantastic result. We would drop a sheet of blotting paper over the top and the image would transfer beautifully, although it came out as a pastel version. The problem with trying to keep this type of art is that it starts to smell pretty bad after a couple of days.
Good to know Giselle! Thanks for the tip!
Wonder how it would do laminated after it dries…
TFS Is thanks for sharing. This really s great. I nanny fir a couple families and I am always looking fir unique projects for the kids. So TFS
)
So, this can dry and be hung or something? I saw Susan Hansen’s comment.
Lisa, I think the best option if you want to preserve this as art is to take a picture of it and have it blown up. From the comments it sounds like smell would be an issue otherwise. I like the fleeting nature of it myself, and so I haven’t tried any other options.
File it Friday: Milk Art, S’mores in a Jar + More August 3, 2012 6:22PM
[...] Milk Art: This is another fun idea for a kids art craft. I think I will try to use the milk leftover in the kids cereal bowls! [...]
You could put card stock over the design. It should pick it up. Let dry, frame it!
Good idea Paige! Even watercolour paper might work well. Thanks for the idea!
I want to try this with a twist. I keep seeing “colored
smoke” pillows and such. I will try to transfer the “milk
art” onto fabric, maybe white pillow cases. Then try to set it with various techniques. Then hopefully it will become
washable, thereby overcoming the “spoiled milk” issue.
Please share if this (& what techniques) works. I was thinking it would be beautiful on a white silk to make a skirt or dress. Obviously after washing the milk out.
Serena Mitnik-Miller | flutterflutter.ca August 8, 2012 5:12AM
[...] have had lots of comments lately from readers wanting to take my milk art tutorial one step further and transfer it onto paper somehow. When I saw this painting by San Fransisco [...]
I like the idea taking pictures and framing the! I wonder if there is a way to keep the design on the dish and preserve it? I saw someone posted that you could writ on plates with a perm marker and bake it. It would stay on! Kind of the same idea. Let me know if any of you know if it is even possible,
Marla
Hi Marla! I can’t imagine that baking the milk and colour onto a plate would work!? I agree that taking a picture is probably the best way to preserve all the colours as they are. When I try some of the options people have mentioned I’ll be sure to blog about it!
Any idea if you can lay white/art paper on top of this and will the colors stick to the paper? this would make really beautiful art work or stationary paper/cards…would love to know if you know this or not! Thanks you in advance!
Milk Art: Take Two | flutterflutter.ca August 20, 2012 6:58AM
[...] minds want to know! My Milk Art post brought many questions about whether or not I’d attempted to transfer the effect onto [...]
Could you preserve it if you bake the plates? I’d love to make a set of them with my daughter and be able to use them
Fun idea! Let me know if you give it a try! I’d love to know how it works.
Arte no leite - Blog Unimed August 23, 2012 9:24PM
[...] Fonte e Foto Tweet comentar » [...]
Arte no leite - Blog Unimed August 23, 2012 10:09PM
[...] Fonte e Foto [...]
Thank you so much; it’s beautiful! K.
Milk Art – Musings of the Dings September 2, 2012 12:58AM
[...] I saw this milk art post via Pinterest, I knew it’d be a winner to do with my children. However, there was only [...]
Lovely!!!!
But, how to fix it? I would know the way to dry the picture and then use the plate as usually.
Thanks!!
-Jéssica.
It looks like fun, just for the art! We used to use the same idea in a scienc lesson about spreading pollution iand other things in the air. We drew the earth on a paper plate, covered it with wax paper, added the milk, then each of the food colors represented things in the air, smoke, pollution, ash from volcano, etc. then, we added the dish detergent! The kids loved it, and it got the point across!
I’ve seen those ones on pinterest where you can bake the plate and it will be permanate….. What would happen If you baked it when this was on there?
I’d love to know, so please email me a picture if you give it a try!
i am having a problem finding food coloring that is NOT gel. All they are selling now are gels and powder. Thoughts?
I’ve had that same food coloring for 15 years, until I used it all up for this project. (You can tell I don’t do a lot of cake decorating! Ha!) I haven’t gone out to replace it yet, so I didn’t even know that there was such a thing as gel coloring! Hmm, weird. I’ll let you know if I find a source.
Hi, what a fun post this is! I am wondering if one could use water for this project. Because even though it says to use milk with 2% fat or more, in the explanation by “Andy June 6, 2012 3:16AM” it says it has to do with surface tension of the liquids, in which case it should be doable with water as well, and then it at least wouldn’t begin to smell after a few days. The milk will inevitably get sour if just left to dry and will turn brown when baked. this is because THe heat will caramelise the milk sugars, turning them brown, And then you will also lose those lovely colours.
I’m curious to fnd out if anyone has tried it with water? I live in such a back water, that it will be hard to come by food colouring full stop…
é interessante tirar fotos a medida que vai mudando…assim da para fazer quadros com as fotos,isso é arte.
HERE IS WHAT i’M THINKING FOR HANGING THIS ART. I’M GOING TO DO THE ART PROJECT WITH MY BOYS (2 & 4), TAKE PHOTOS, AND THEN TRANSFER THE PHOTO ONTO CANVAS. I THINK IT WILL BE AWESOME, AND I’LL LET YOU IF IT WORKS
Great idea Ashley! Please do let me know how it goes!
Sorry about the weird formatting on in the comments section, it’s not just you, it’s happening to everyone!
sorry about the caps lol, i had no idea…
Beautiful Things Friday « EZRA ZOE February 1, 2013 10:08PM
[...] Here’s a fun kid activity to do while indoors – some science with food [...]
As a Photographer, I want to do this and photograph it!
i AM DOING SOMETHING WRONG. DID THIN THIN LAYER OF MILK, ADDED DROPS OF FOOD COLORING, THEN LIQ SOAP IN MIDDLE. DOESNT SPREAD AND CREAT THE PICTURE HERE;( WHAT I’M i DOING WRONG!!!!
The only things that I have heard other people say is that some of the new food colorings are made with gels and apparently don’t work the same. Also, if you use higher fat milk it will work better. And you need to make sure that the liquid soap isn’t eco-friendly, just a cheap, regular dish soap. Hope that helps!
Snowy Day part 2 « EZRA ZOE February 12, 2013 5:49PM
[...] we spent indoors this weekend – thawing toes – we had a few dolly tea parties and did this very cool trick with milk, dish soap and food [...]
i’m wondering if you could “lift” this to watercolor paper?
Wow what a fun project!!! Must try this soon, i have been doing a lot of kitchen based art experiments lately and this one fits right in! thank you!!
Good to hear! You’ll love this one!
Thank you SO MUCH FOR THIS. wHAT FUN IS WAS TO DO WITH MY KIDS AND SOME FRIENDS. WE TOOK SOME WHITE TISSUE PAPER AND LAID IT gently ON TOP OF THE MILK. IT SUCKED UP SOME OF THE PRETTY COLORS. tHEN LAY IT FLAT ON NEW PAPER AND EITHER LET IT DRY OR TAP THE TOP WITH A PAPER TOWEL. nOT YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO KEEP. tHANKS AGAIN.
We tried this – I had some 1/2 & 1/2 and some skim milk so I mixed the two & used that. We found that once it stopped moving a lot, we could gently blow on the soap dots or the dark spots & it made beautiful patterns too.
do you have to throw out after? being that milk is being used?
Yes, you do have to throw it out. It is more of a temporary art… unless you take a picture of it!
I am doing this and photographing it to frame for my cubscouts mothers day gifts!! Its is easy to do and the kids LOVE it!!
Why not try it with a clear fat liquid -like coconut oil, so it doesn’t smell bad when it dries… And then…. instead of food colouring- use permanent pen inks so that you can do the ‘Bake the Plate’ trick. Don’t know how the dish soap will turn out though?? Even if it burns/flakes away, the rest could still look fab!! I haven’t tried this but I couldn’t help but think of something for all you doers: )
Good idea! I’d love to know if that would work!
Wednesdays with Handmade Charlotte: DIY Projects for Kids | Paint Me Plaid April 17, 2013 6:33PM
[...] DIY Milk Art [...]
What would you do with this after it is done?
handmade savvy saturday | the handmade home April 20, 2013 12:52PM
[...] This super fun art project [...]
Will it dry like this how can keep it forever
I wish it would dry like this Charity! Unfortunately I think the best you can do to capture the exact look is to take a picture. But, if you find some other way I’d love to hear it!
Sunday Shares~ #7 | Doomestic ProductionsDoomestic Productions April 22, 2013 12:54AM
[...] things other than paint to make art with! I mean it just sounds so much fun using milk. “FLUTTER FLUTTER” shares how to make some pretty snazzy art with milk! I think my kids are going to love [...]
DIY – All you need is milk, food coloring and dish soap | DiyReal.com April 22, 2013 1:17PM
[...] Source: flutterflutter.ca [...]
Thank you so much for this idea, I can’t wait to make some art with my kids
I’ve included this in my weekly roundup of useful sites at http://www.doomestic.com Thanks again!!
Milk Painting | threefunnyvoices April 22, 2013 11:14PM
[...] and occupy every possible second of his day. I stumbled across “Milk Paintings” (http://flutterflutter.ca/2012/03/17/spring-break-diy-milk-art/). These were fun and a great way to use up some old milk that we had sitting in the fridge. They [...]
I use food coloring in milk (sans soap) at Halloween time to make “Monster Toast” with the kids. For each color paint that you want, you mix a little food coloring with a little milk and then paint it onto white bread. I use one brush for each color. Toast the bread and the colors get very vibrant. You can still put butter on it also. The kids love this and it is their own creation that they are eating.
when you do it, does it stain the plate with the colors and design that it makes once its done???
I am a Sunday School Teacher. We are studying friendship this week and how each of your friends have different skills, abilities, opinions, etc. that they bring to the table. I am going to use this with the different colors being different friends and “when you mix all of the characteristics to each friend together, what a beautiful thing you get.” Thanks for sharing this activity…always looking for something that I can link to a lesson.
Did this with my three year old granddaughter she loved it