Making marbled paper is a fun summer, outdoor activity for kids to do. It's quick, inexpensive and easy—just how I like my crafts. But what to do with the paper once it is done? Oh the possibilities! My son and I decided to use the marbled paper to make mats (or paper borders, if you will) for a few of our picture frames. Just another way to make the colors of both the picture and the frame pop! For those rainy summer days, have your kids try these watery watercolors!

Materials

• 1 baking pan
• shaving cream
• spatula
• 1 toothpick
• food coloring in various colors

• card stock (I used manila file folders to make a thicker photo mat)
• scissors
• picture frame
• photo of a loved one (that will fit into your picture frame, leaving room for the cardstock background to show through as a border)

Instructions

1.
Spread shaving cream all over baking sheet a ½ -inch layer thick. Use the spatula to spread the shaving cream out and flatten it, so it forms an even layer.

2.
Using your food coloring, dot the shaving cream all over. You can use one color, a few colors or combine; it's completely up to you and depends on the look you prefer.
3.
With your toothpick, swirl the food coloring in the shaving cream.

4.
Place your cardstock down onto the colored shaving cream and press lightly.
5.
Lift the cardstock up and, using your spatula, gently scrape the excess shaving cream off.
6.
Set your cardstock aside and let it dry.

7.
Once your cardstock is dry, cut it to fit your picture frame. If you have a photo mat lying around, you can use that as a guide: trace its outer borders onto the cardstock and cut; otherwise, use a ruler (or your best guess).

8.
Use double stick tape to affix your photo in the center of your cut, dried cardstock.
9.
Place the cardstock with the photo affixed to it in the picture frame making sure that the cardstock borders shows through like a photo mat.