Giant Tape Resist Art Outdoor Activity

A giant tape resist art activity for friends and siblings to paint together. This surprisingly quick and easy outdoor activity is fun for all ages. Using the tape resist technique means toddlers and big kids can paint together.

Table of Contents:

1. What is a giant tape resist art activity?
2. Supplies
3. The set-up
4. Tip – You don’t have to hang this on a fence
5. Tip – How to peel off the tape
6. Frequently Asked Questions

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What is a giant tape resist art activity?

Tape resist art is an awesome technique for all age.

Here are the basics: use tape as a border and an outline to create a negative space against the paint.

And this works for big kids AND little kids (because the tape sets the boarder, littles can be really successful in making a special piece of art).

RELATED: Looking for more fun outdoor summer activities? This list is full of them.

Supplies

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• Cardboard box – just grab whatever you have
• Washable paint – this is my favorite brand and it’s actually washable
• Large paint brushes – I’ve never found a better set than these
• Painter’s tape – I think this tape works the best for tape resist art

The set-up

I couldn’t help myself: I had to go big with this activity. I made a smaller version of tape resist art for my son to do all by himself.

I love a giant activity.

I love a collaborative activity.

I love any activity that invites a multi-age of children to play. This activity allowed my 4, 6, and 8 year old to work together (and toddlers can do this activity too).

Steps:

1. Flatten a large box
2. Use painter’s tape to create lines, shapes, or even words.
3. Let kids paint freely
4. Allow to dry
5. Slowly pull up the tape (alternating and going slowly)

If your child is old enough, let them help or be the lead at creating their tape design – since this was collaborative art, I took the lead. But big kids could definitely take over instead!

RELATED: Need more tried and true art activities for kids? Check out my amazing list.

Tip – You don’t have to hang this on a fence

Truth time: I hung this on the fence because that lets me take a better photo of the art and action for this website and Instagram.

BUT YOU DON’T HAVE TO.

In fact, it’s really great to just leave this on the ground and let the kids move and work around it. This is especially true if you have kids of varying sizes.

If you do try it on the fence, use washable paint, hose the fence down asap, and use dawn + water for any paint that’s being fussy.

Tip – How to peel off the tape

I have learned from the past to WAIT on peeling up the paint. Whenever I rush it, my paint and the cardboard peel.

Rude.

Instead, let the paint fully dry: a full 24 hours just to be safe. Makes a HUGE difference. I also go slowly, alternating directions to avoid tearing.

Once, when I was being EXTRA, I added a little heat via a hair dryer and that was like magic for peeling off the tape. But that’s a lot of work so I only advocate for it in special cases, like if you are giving this art as a gift.

Frequently Asked Questions