Learn the best way to dry kids’ arts and crafts projects with one simple tip. As a twin mom, I understand the joy (and mess!) that comes with having two little artists in the house. In this blog post, I’ll share my personal experiences and advice on how to dry your twins’ masterpieces while keeping them safe from smudges or damage.
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Why to Dry Kids Arts and Crafts Projects
With my former career being mainly in elementary schools, I am very familiar with the huge drying racks for kids’ art projects that every classroom seems to have. They are awesome but super expensive.
Once I had children who made messy art I realized I needed something similar but didn’t want to spend hundreds on a huge contraption that I would only use occasionally. Not to mention needing somewhere to store it.
After racking my brain for something that would work, it hit me! Baking cooling racks! (see what I did there?! ha!) The three-tiered cooling racks I use for baking would be perfect! Not only are they able to fold up individually, I can use just one or up to 3 stacked on top of each other, to dry up to six 8-1/2 x 11 pieces of paper…or rather, art.
Plus, they’re multifunctional since I can use them to dry kids’ artwork AND to cool the muffins, cupcakes, and pancakes I often make for my littles. Of course, I try to remember to wash them in between uses…
As you can see above, it doesn’t have to be just for acrylic, tempura, and water paints, even bingo daubers soak through papers when littles don’t realize they don’t need to push so hard. It’s amazing how much quicker the papers dry when placed on a rack instead of just laying on the countertop.
One of my twins kept pushing down so hard on the bingo dauber today that the ink had formed several puddles on the page. I put it on the drying rack and it was dry and ready to be put in his work binder by the time I was done getting him and his brother down from their highchairs. I actually had put a similarly inked page on the table while getting them down and that one was still quite wet when the one from the rack was dry.
When all their art was dry I just wiped down the racks with soap and water and put them back in the cupboard next to the cutting boards until I need them again, either for drying art or cooling baked goods.
Below is a link to the one that we have and love if you’re looking for a cheap and multifunctional solution. There is also a link for the bingo daubers that we love.
- Space-Saving Efficiency: Stack your baking creations effortlessly with this 3-tiered cooling rack, optimizing space while cooling dozens of cookies or treats at once.
- Generous Dimensions: Each cooling grid measures 15.9 x 9.9 in., providing ample space for your baked goods to cool evenly. Whether cookies, cakes, or pastries, this cookie cooling rack accommodates all your creations perfectly.
- Compact Storage Solution: Embrace practicality with the collapsible design of our baking rack, allowing for easy storage when not in use. Save valuable kitchen space without compromising on functionality.
- Effortless Cleanup: Enjoy hassle-free baking with the non-stick coating cookie rack, ensuring quick food release and effortless cleanup. Spend less time scrubbing and more time indulging in your culinary delights.
- Convenient Maintenance: Dishwasher safe for your convenience, these baking cooling racks offer easy maintenance. For optimal longevity and performance, simply wash in warm, soapy water before and after use.
- Set includes 3 cooling grids each measuring 15 7/8 by 9 7/8 inches
- Collapsible for easy storage
- Dishwasher safe
- Stackable for easy set-up
Homeschooling
Now that we’re homeschooling, I’ve been keeping one of these racks out in our classroom for whenever we have kids art that needs to be dried. It works really well to always have it out and I have put it on top of my son’s school iPad so it works as a little shelf where the iPad can be on the bottom and the art on top. Granted, typically when he creates art and it’s still wet, his iPad isn’t below the art.
As a mom of identical twins and a son two years older, I have gained invaluable experience in the realm, and chaos, of parenting. With a Master's Degree and Education Specialist Degree in School Psychology, I spent years as a school psychologist, helping children navigate through their educational and emotional challenges. Now as a stay at home mom and professional blogger, I combine my areas of expertise to help you in your parenting journey.