How to Use Scratch Notes for Creative Play
By Little Toy Tribe | Published: 2026-10-29
Category: How-to Guides
Learn how to use Scratch Notes for fun, screen-free creative play. This guide covers simple steps, tips, and a great art activity for kids and adults.
Quick answer
Scratch Notes let kids and adults create colorful messages and art by scratching away a black coating with a wooden stylus. Use them for doodles, secret notes, or mini artworks—no mess, no setup.
Why Scratch Notes work for creative play
Scratch Notes combine the surprise of hidden colors with the satisfaction of drawing. Each note reveals rainbow or metallic hues underneath, turning every scratch into a mini discovery. This makes them ideal for reluctant artists who might feel intimidated by a blank page.
Because the set includes 50 notes and two scratch pens, you can share the activity with siblings or friends without running out of materials. The reusable desktop dispenser box keeps everything tidy and accessible for spontaneous play.
What to keep in mind
The notes are designed for ages 3 and up, but younger children may need help holding the stylus correctly. The scratch coating can create fine black dust—use the included wipe-off fabric or a soft cloth to clean the surface between drawings.
Scratch Notes work best on a flat, hard surface. Avoid using them on soft or uneven surfaces like carpet or bedding, as the stylus may not scratch evenly.
Step-by-step: How to use Scratch Notes
- Prepare your workspace: Place the Scratch Notes dispenser on a flat, hard surface. Remove one note and set it in front of you. Hold the wooden stylus like a pencil. Working on a hard surface prevents uneven scratching and helps the stylus glide smoothly.
- Start scratching: Press the stylus tip gently onto the black coating and drag it in a line or curve. The color underneath will appear immediately. Experiment with different pressures: light scratches create thin lines, heavier pressure reveals wider bands of color. If the stylus skips or leaves white marks instead of color, you are pressing too lightly. Increase pressure gradually until the coating lifts cleanly.
- Create a simple design: Try drawing a basic shape like a star, heart, or flower. Scratch the outline first, then fill in sections by scratching closely spaced lines. You can also scratch away larger areas to reveal a solid color background. Avoid scratching the same spot repeatedly—it can damage the paper underneath. Plan your design before you start.
- Add text or a message: Write a short note or a friend's name by scratching letters one at a time. Leave a small gap between letters so the message is readable. Use the tip of the stylus for fine details. Write the message in pencil on a scrap paper first to check spelling and spacing before scratching.
- Finish and share: Once your design is complete, wipe away any loose black dust with the included fabric. Your scratch note is ready to give as a card, hang on the fridge, or tuck into a lunchbox. Store unused notes flat in the dispenser to prevent the coating from cracking. Avoid bending or folding completed notes.
Product details
- Scratch Notes: A set of 50 scratch notes with hidden colours revealed by scratching with a wooden stylus, for sending creative messages, doodles and miniature artworks to friends and family. You get 50 notes plus two pens and a wipe-off fabric in one box, so you can start playing right away without buying extra supplies.
Scratch Notes
