Mess Free Painting: Kid's Initial Tape-Resist

We’ve partnered with The Pencil Grip Inc. to bring you this easy and mess free painting project for kids of all ages.

I’m so excited to share what the girls and I created with Kwik Stix paint markers! These kid’s initial wall art pieces are easy enough for all ages, mess-free, and make beautiful kid’s room decorations or gifts for family.

Mess Free Painting Supplies

Links provided for your convenience in re-creating this craft; read our disclosure policy here.

Kwikstix Thin Stix Solid Tempera Paint 24 Pack
Smooth Cardstock (or canvas)
Painters Tape, 0.5″ width

STEP ONE: Start with a clean piece of card stock or smooth, sturdy paper. We used cardstock because that is what we had on hand, but this would be a gorgeous project to do on canvas too! (And the tape would peel even easier).

Gently place invisible tape or painter’s tape in the shape of a letter. Try not to press down the tape too much so you’ll be able to peel it up later.

Tips for best results

Choose smooth paper to allow tape to peel off better
Lighter colored paper is ideal to show the true colors of the paint, though Kwik Stix are thick and vibrant and my girls’s designs. You can actually paint on a lot of different surfaces with Kwik Stix: wood, canvas, cardboard, and more!

Love these faces of concentration!

STEP TWO: Color your entire paper using Kwik Stix Thin Stix paint markers. You can paint over the tape, just try not to press the tape down hard.

STEP THREE: Once you’ve colored in your design, make sure the paint is completely dry before removing tape. This should only take a minute or two tops, even if your kid piled on the paint. (Kwik Stix dry in 90 seconds or less!)

Slowly and carefully, peel back the tape to reveal your monogram. Depending on how old your kids are and their fine motor skills, you might help them with this step to prevent tape from sticking or ripping the paper.

Watch our quick demo video here:

What are Kwik Stix?

Kwik Stix are real solid tempera paint sticks that dry in less than 90 seconds, so they are virtually mess-free! (You can see our first review and demo video here.) Kwik Stix are AP Certified, meaning they are non-toxic and perfectly safe for young children.

For this post we got to try out the new Thin Stix, which are an an even easier-to-handle shape (about the same size as a regular marker). They also feature a thinner tip which allows kids to create more detailed designs.

The Thin Stix 24 Pack is a rainbow of vibrant colors, from metallics to neons. We especially loved the vivid neons! Grab a pack for an easy indoor activity or a gift that any kid will enjoy!

Purchase Kwik Stix Thin Stix on Amazon:

More of our favorite kids art activities:

Stomping Bubble Wrap Painting

Be sure to pin this mess free painting activity on Pinterest:

You might also like:

Spray Bottle Handprint Art

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Stacey aka the Soccer Mom

Stacey is the creator of The Soccer Mom Blog, a Houston Texas mom blog that focuses on positive living for women and families. She loves to share real food recipes, money-saving tips, parenting encouragement, kids activities, DIY tutorials, home hacks, fitness, and so much more! To get to know Stacey even better, click here.

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