We love using aluminum foil in unexpected ways to create art. From foil drawing to simple sculptures, these art projects let kids experiment with a material they probably already have at home.
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Why We Love Foil Art Projects
BUDGET-FRIENDLY – You don’t need expensive supplies to create something fun and unique.
EASY TO MANIPULATE – Kids can bend, crumple, wrap and shape foil in all sorts of ways.
EXPLORE THE ART ELEMENTS – It’s such an easy material for kids to experiment with lines, patterns, and textures.
🎨 Art Teacher’s Take
Don’t be shy about asking families to donate cardboard and aluminum foil for these projects. Every school’s situation is different, but I’ve found families often appreciate donating inexpensive supplies they can easily pick up almost anywhere. Even a few donated rolls of foil or pieces of cardboard can help stretch your art room budget.
Easy Foil Art Project Ideas for Kids
Below you’ll find some of our favorite aluminum foil art projects and craft ideas for kids, including projects I’ve used with different ages and ability levels.
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Creative Embossed Aluminum Foil Portraits
Kids can take inspiration from Picasso while creating these fun foil portraits. Start by practicing Cubist portrait drawings, then choose a favorite design to turn into embossed aluminum foil art. This is a fun way to combine drawing, texture and a little art history.
Preschoolers through middle schoolers can have fun making these simple foil sculptures. Inspired by artist Alberto Giacometti, kids learn to divide and shape one piece of aluminum foil into a standing figure. I love how easily this project adapts to different ages and abilities.
Create a simple Christmas tree or stained glass design with our easy step-by-step lesson. This is a great upper elementary art lesson for Winter (that doesn't have to be too Holiday-themed).
Grab that aluminum foil and cardboard for a fun Spring art idea that is great for kids in grades 2 and up. Beginners can add many different details and make artistic choices with simple flower designs. It is a perfect art lesson for all abilities.
This foil project will help students easily understand the concept of warm and cool colors. Look at artists like Romero Britto or even Jim Dine for inspiration when creating foil heart art.
Kids can create colorful foil artwork featuring a word, message or simple holiday design. Let them personalize their artwork with their own lettering, colors and patterns. This project can easily be adapted for different ages or used to create other seasonal foil art.
Aluminum foil is a easy sculpting material for adding extra sea plants, rocks, and more to diorama crafts and school projects. Combine other craft materials to create a one-of-a-kind animal habitat school project.
You can see in-progress plaster cloth masks where the students altered the mask form with tin foil before using the plaster cloth.
ADD DETAILS TO SCULPTURES – Use aluminum foil as an easy way to build up areas underneath plaster cloth. My students found it much easier to create structures and add facial features to plaster cloth masks with foil before covering them with plaster cloth. (see above image)
MAKE DIY ORNAMENTS – Wrap foil around cardboard shapes or experiment with adding lines and textures to create simple Christmas ornaments.
TRY FOIL PRINTING – Crumple a piece of foil, dip it lightly in paint, and stamp it onto paper or other surfaces to create interesting textures.
Whether kids are drawing, embossing, sculpting, or adding details to another project, aluminum foil is such a fun material to experiment with. Grab a roll of foil and see what they create!
As a former art teacher, artist and mom, Erin knows how important expressing your creativity is. Even the youngest children can enjoy the process of artmaking with their families.
