Crayon Blackout Sketches

To get started all you need to do is color a piece of blank paper with crayons, in a rainbow of colors. It doesn’t really matter how good it looks, just make sure that the colors are varied and the entire sheet of paper is covered.

Once you have the paper covered in color, now take a black crayon and color over it completely. This process can be a little time consuming, so younger children may need help to get their paper ready for their creation. When the colors have been completely blacked out, your kids will be ready to draw. 

The kids can use a variety of different tools to scratch away the black crayon and make colorful pictures by exposing the colors on the paper. Try using popsicle sticks, forks, toothpicks or even things like combs to make different types of lines and designs. Children will be amazed at how pretty their pictures look against the black background.

For an added bonus, use a thinner sheet of paper, no heavier than standard copier or printer sheets. With a lightweight paper, you can hang the pictures on the window and the sunlight will shine through the scratched away drawing, making the colors seem to glow with the sunshine. 

This activity is a great way to spend a rainy summer day or can keep kids occupied when they are home sick from school. The combination of creativity and the magical effect of making the colors appear make this one a sure hit with any child who has an artistic eye.