These rainbow bubble snakes are great outdoor activity for children of all ages. You don't need any fancy materials, it only takes a few minutes to set up, and your child will love blowing out the bubbly, sparkly, colourful results!

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We first spotted the idea on the brilliant hello wonderful Instagram page and our MFM crafter mums Jess and Charlie have been trying it out with their children and sharing pictures with us to show how it works.

My daughter just loved this. She said her rainbow snake was 'amazing'!
Jess, MFM crafter and mum to Charlotte, 4

Here's how to make rainbow bubble snakes

You will need:

  • Plastic drinks bottle (large or small)
  • Scissors
  • 1 old sock
  • Elastic bands
  • Water
  • Bowl
  • Washing-up liquid
  • Food colouring (gel or liquid) in different colours

Step 1: Cutting the Water Bottle

Cut the water bottle in half

rainbow bubble snake bottle
Pic: Jess Howard

Step 2: Preparing the Sock

Cut the ankle end of your sock off.

rainbow bubble snake sock step 2
Pic: Jess Howard

Step 3: Securing the Sock

Put the sock over the cut end of the bottle and add the elastic bands to keep it in place

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rainbow bubble snake 3
Pic: Jess Howard/Charlie Fletcher

Step 4: Mixing Soap Solution and Adding Color

Fill your bowl with a little water, then add a couple of squirts of washing-up liquid and mix.

Dab little dots of different-coloured food colouring along the edges of the sock, working your way around and in, until the whole sock is covered in dots. Don't add too much as the sock is very absorbent.

rainbow bubble snake food colouring
Pic: Jess Howard/Charlie Fletcher

Step 5: Applying Additional Soap

Add a little more washing-up liquid to the multicoloured end of your sock.

rainbow bubble snake washing liquid step 5
Pic: Jess Howard

Step 6: Wetting the Sock

Dip the sock very gently into the bowl of washing-up liquid water. Just wet it; don’t soak it!

rainbow bubble snake step 6
Pic: Jess Howard/Charlie Fletcher

Step 7: Creating Rainbow Bubble Snake

Blow through the cap end of the water bottle – and out of the open end will emerge your rainbow bubble snake!

For more intense colours, you can keep adding more food colouring to the sock.

rainbow snake
Pic: Jess Howard/Charlie Fletcher

TIP: Any activity with food colouring can get a bit messy – and this one's no exception. To keep colour stains to a minimum, we suggest using a cotton bud or something to apply the food colouring. And bear in mind that, if you child touches the bubbles they've blown, they will get stained hand. It will all come off with lots of hand-washing and washing-up liquid, though.

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