Parenting can be tough, but it’s also one of the greatest joys I’ve ever experienced. My girls are 8.5 years apart, unintentionally. We struggled with infertility for over three years before being blessed with our youngest. Even being 8.5 years apart, I just knew they would both love these awesome ways to use dissolving paper.

Our first born, Sawyer, is 13 years old and she’s amazing. If we were both kids at the same time, we would have been besties – she’s just that cool. And Quinn is 5 and she’s a wonderful ball of energy and emotions. I’ve never experienced a child who is so in touch with her emotions and feels so free in showing them – even in public when I wish she wouldn’t. Both girls are super affectionate, kind, fun, funny, smart, and so much more. It’s hard to not fall in love with them more every day – even when I want to pull my hair out sometimes!

Awesome ways to use dissolving paper

Our girls are growing up fast, too fast, and I feel like I’m missing it. So this year, I’m taking off Christmas break to spend time with them and make some memories. I’m planning some activities for us and hopefully we find some spontaneous things to do as well. One of the activities we will try involves water-soluble dissolving paper. This isn’t edible paper, but it completely dissolves which is still really fun to play with. I tested out my activity ahead of time and while one idea sort of flopped, the other idea turned out pretty awesome!

Dissolving paper crafts

I used Dr. Bronner’s unscented soap and mixed in some soap dye to paint dissolving paper sheets. Then I used a paper punch and made confetti. This idea was a DIY fail for me. My paper punch barely made it through this small batch of confetti and painting dissolving paper isn’t as easy as it sounds – you have to be quick because well, it’s designed to dissolve in water.

Once one side is painted and dry, you’ll have to paint the other side too. The pink and purple colors started fading after a week and the confetti likes to stick together. Of course it did, it’s coated with smooth liquid soap. I think it looks pretty when completed, and maybe with better tools it wouldn’t have been so time consuming and irritating. But my plans to make a bunch of bath confetti for Sawyer’s friends is a no-go. Sorry girls!

Dissolving Origami

However, my second idea is super cute, easy, and much faster. I painted only one side of a dissolving sheet of paper with multiple colors, allowed it to dry, and then cut out a perfect square. Then I folded the square into an Origami crane. I found this video by Ashley Jeena Paik to be super easy and helpful. The cool thing about the crane is that it can float in the bath and add to creative bath time play – well at least until it dissolves. There are so many cool Origami shapes to try, but Quinn and I love birds so the crane won out. I also folded a butterfly for Quinn to paint and she loved it (see video below).

This activity can take up as much or as little time as you want. I’m going to have the girls paint their pages whatever colors they want, then the next day when they’re dry, I will cut out squares for them and we’ll fold Origami. Then later that evening, into the bath they go. They can make great handmade gifts as well – one crane is good for one hand washing!

This activity isn’t too messy, it’s just soap and washable dyes, and it’s artistic and unique. The supplies can be used for other uses as well. I use Dr. Bronners to make our foaming hand soap, and the dye can be used for bath bombs, shower melts, bath salts, and bubble bath.

Another idea for this cool paper is to print your favorite images or photos and then cut them out and add to homemade glycerin soap. I love this idea, and I’m sure there are a lot more creative ways to use dissolving paper… if you can think of any, please share in the comment box below. I know we’d all love to be inspired!

Resources

Homemade bath gifts – label download – Avery label #22856
Christmas break activities for kids – coming soon
Shower melts – coming soon

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