Salt Painted Spider Web Craft

This spider web craft turns a few simple supplies into a fun, hands-on art project for your preschooler. Glue, salt, and paint come together to create a textured web that’s just as fun to make as it is to display.

If you’re looking for easy spider activities for preschoolers, this one is perfect for a fall, Halloween, or spider theme. Kids can practice fine motor skills as they squeeze the glue, sprinkle the salt, and add color to their webs, all while getting a little creative along the way.

Salt-Painted Spider Web Craft

This salt-painted spider web is an easy hands-on art activity that uses just a few basic craft supplies. Preschoolers get to work with glue, salt, and watercolors to create a colorful, textured web of their own.

No two webs will turn out exactly alike, making this a fun choice for a fall, Halloween, or preschool spider theme.

Supplies You’ll Need

You only need a handful of basic craft supplies for this spider web project:

• Black construction paper
• White school glue
• Table salt
• Tray or baking sheet to catch the extra salt
• Plastic spiders

How to Make a Salt-Painted Spider Web

Place a sheet of black construction paper on a tray or baking sheet. The tray will help contain the extra salt and make cleanup much easier.

1. Create the spider web. Use white school glue to draw a spider web directly onto the black paper. Start with several lines extending from the center, then connect them with curved lines to form the web.
2. Cover the glue with salt. While the glue is still wet, sprinkle a generous layer of salt over the entire web. Make sure all of the glue is completely covered.
3. Remove the extra salt. Gently lift and tilt the paper over the tray so the loose salt falls away. The salt that sticks to the glue will leave behind a raised, textured spider web.
4. Let the web dry. Lay the paper flat and allow the glue to dry completely before moving or handling the craft.
5. Add the spiders. Once the web is dry, place a few colorful plastic spiders on or around the web to finish your spider scene.

The finished web doesn’t need to be perfectly even or symmetrical. Let your preschooler squeeze the glue and create their own web as much as they’re able. The wobbly lines are part of the fun.

Tips for Making Your Spider Web

This craft is simple, but a few small tricks can make it easier and keep the mess under control.

• Use plenty of salt. Cover the glue completely so you get a thick, textured web once the excess salt is removed.
• Work over a tray. A tray or baking sheet catches the extra salt and makes cleanup much easier.
• Keep the glue lines fairly thick. Thin lines can be harder for the salt to stick to and may disappear once the web dries.
• Let kids create their own webs. Preschool spider webs don’t need to be perfectly straight or symmetrical. The goal is to let kids practice controlling the glue bottle and enjoy creating.
• Let it dry flat. Give the glue plenty of time to dry before adding the plastic spiders or displaying the finished craft.

More Spider Activities for Preschoolers

Want to keep the spider theme going? Try one of these simple spider activities for preschoolers to add a little math, literacy, crafting, or reading to your plans.

• Counting Spider Eyes Halloween Math Activity – Practice counting and number recognition with a hands-on spider-themed math activity.
• Spider Books for Preschoolers – Choose a few engaging spider stories and nonfiction books to read together.
• Spider Preschool Craft – Make another simple spider craft using basic supplies you may already have on hand.
• S is for Spider Printable – Add a little alphabet practice to your spider theme with this letter S activity.
• There Was an Old Mummy Who Swallowed a Spider Activities – Pair a fun Halloween story with preschool activities inspired by the book.

Make This Spider Web Craft Your Own

This simple spider web craft is an easy way to add a hands-on activity to your fall or Halloween plans without a lot of prep. Give your preschooler the glue and salt, let them create their own web, and don’t worry about making it perfect.

When you’re finished, choose another of our spider activities for preschoolers to keep the theme going with a little math, literacy, or creative play.