Homemade Asteroids - A Failed Experiment

While perusing the local craft shop, I noticed the paint section had some natural sponges for painting with.  They look a lot like little asteroids.

I had a plan.  I took a clear plastic bin I had and put some paint in it.

I mixed it with hot water.

I put the sponges in the water.

And made sure they soaked up the paint.

I then left them out to dry.  When I checked on them a couple of days later, the color mostly ran out of them and it looks like they started growing some unwanted additions.

:-(