School-aged kids will learn how to create fantasy maps using spill art in this fun project. Our basic techniques can easily be used at home or in the classroom.
Creating Spill Art
Spill Art can be created in a variety of ways with many mediums. Today, we are using coffee for the base of our spill art maps but artists also use watercolor, dyes, or anything else that will leave a stain on paper. It’s important to keep color in mind when creating spill art. The darker your coffee (or other liquid) is, the darker and more bold the spill design will be.
Related: Create more drawings within coffee spills.
Supplies Needed to Make This Coffee Spill Map Art Project
- Dark Coffee – cooled to room temperature
- Cardstock – or other heavy body paper
- Pencil
- Permanent Marker
- Paper Towels
- Protected Surface
Directions to Make A Coffee Spill Map
Step 1
Begin by pouring some room temperature dark coffee into the center of the cardstock. If desired, kids can use their hands to lightly pat the coffee spill to create more splatter.
Step 2
Next, use paper towels to remove excess coffee from cardstock.
To create a darker spill: Lightly touch the top of any coffee puddles with the edge of a folded paper towel. This will soak up excess liquid without removing too much of the coffee.
To create lighter spill designs: Place paper towels over the entire spill and soak up any remaining coffee on the surface of the paper.
Set paper aside to dry.
Step 3
When coffee spill is dry, use a permanent marker to trace around the edges of the spill to create land borders.
Step 4
Then, use a pencil to lightly sketch a map design within the coffee spill. Look for any details within the spill itself that can add to the layout of your map. Be careful not to extend the design past the borders of the spill.
Step 5
Lastly, trace sketch with a permanent marker. Add additional details and any location names onto your fantasy land. Carefully erase any unwanted pencil lines.
Finished Coffee Spill Map Art Project
Our maps turned out great! Since these projects are made on paper, they can easily be framed, clipped, or displayed in your preferred style.
Our Experience Making this Coffee Spill Map Art Project
We had lots of fun creating maps! Kids always enjoy exploring different spill and splatter techniques with the coffee. We even made many extra coffee spill backgrounds that we can use for future projects! I also love seeing kids create fantasy lands. This lesson is a wonderful opening activity that can lead kids into creating their own fantasy lands, characters, and story lines.
Prep Time
5 minutes
Active Time
20 minutes
Total Time
25 minutes
Difficulty
Medium
Estimated Cost
$1
Materials
- Dark Coffee – cooled to room temperature
- Cardstock – or other heavy body paper
Tools
- Pencil
- Permanent Marker
- Paper Towels
- Protected Surface
Instructions
- Pour room temperature dark coffee into the center of the cardstock. Kids can use their hands to lightly pat the coffee spill to create more splatter.
- Use paper towels to remove excess coffee from cardstock.
To create a darker spill: Lightly touch the top of any coffee puddles with the edge of a folded paper towel. This will soak up excess liquid without removing too much of the coffee.
To create lighter spill designs: Place paper towels over the entire spill and soak up any remaining coffee on the surface of the paper.
Set paper aside to dry.
- When coffee spill is dry, use a permanent marker to trace around the edges of the spill to create land borders.
- Use a pencil to lightly sketch a map design within the coffee spill. Look for any details within the spill itself that can add to the layout of your map. Be careful not to extend the design past the borders of the spill.
- Trace sketch with a permanent marker. Add additional details and names of the many locations onto your fantasy land. Carefully erase any unwanted pencil lines.
Notes
Coffee Spill Map Art Variations
- Use other mediums to create spills such as teas, watercolors, or dyes.
- Quicken dry time with a hair dryer or heat gun.
- Explore adding other mediums to your project such as colored pencils or paints.
Coffee Spill Map Art Variations
- Use other mediums to create spills such as teas, watercolors, or dyes.
- Quicken dry time with a hair dryer or heat gun.
- Explore adding other mediums to your project such as colored pencils or paints.
Other Fun Fantasy Art Projects from Kids Activities Blog
Did your kids enjoy creating coffee spill maps? What details did they add to their fantasy land?
