We’ve been pretty busy around here crossing things off of our Summer Do list (still need to share it with you, hopefully before summer is over 
). I found this recipe for Sidewalk Chalk Paint on the Family Fun website and knew right away it would be the perfect post nap activity. Bonus points since I already had all the supplies needed for this on hand.
To make your own homemade sidewalk chalk paint, you will only need three ingredients ~ water, corn starch and a little food coloring. Quite possibly the simplest project with the kids ever! So simple in fact, I let them make the whole thing. The kids chose to make our first batch in purple, orange, green and blue but it wasn’t long before we had to come back in for a resupply. That’s when they cooked up some pretty neat red and neon green. The colors turned out so gorgeous, in a pastel sort of way.
To make you own, you’ll need:
- 1/4 cup Water
- 1/4 cup Corn Starch
- Food Coloring in assorted colors
- Paint Brushes
- Leftover Containers
- A clear patch of concrete
I found a great step-by-step photo tutorial for you over at the Petite Elephant. Note: I only used between 6-10 drops of food coloring for each paint color (and made one recipe’s worth of each color). I read later, on at the Idea Room, that adding too much food coloring could potentially stain your driveway.
This was such an easy craft (even Dads could do it) and fun outdoor activity for the kids. The results were so cool I think it would be a great activity for kids, in school, for a play date, a birthday party or any event with lots of kids.
The paint has a nice chalky texture when it dries and can even be painted over again with water (when you run out of paint) to create a new blended look (see pic below).
All three of my children (ages 1-4) were able to participate in this summer boredom buster and the fun lasted for well over an hour so that ranks up there pretty high on my scale of activities for kids.
Let me know if you give this a try, I can’t wait to see pics. (Here’s a few pics of us in action)
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
omg! i love this idea!
hello my friend, do you mind if i re-post this post.. i love it!
Peter Piper´s last [type] ..muster up a mustache
Post Away my dear! I’m typing up a long overdue email to you this week … hope to send it your way over the weekend. Love it when you stop by and say Hi
Great idea… Can’t wait to try this!
Loving your blog.
PS~Erin´s last [type] ..Words To Inspire
Thanks Erin! I’m finding lots of goodies on yours too. I look forward to bumping in to you between here & there
Stacy´s last [type] ..Afternoon Delight
So fun! This post brings back great memories for me. In the summer we would always make sidewalk chalk with my mom. I have drawn with chalk with my own 3 little ones, but we haven’t attempted making it yet. This would be a fun way to start.
What a great, easy idea! Thanks for sharing!
Hi there! I loved this tutorial so much that I linked it up on my blog! You rock!
Kristen
here’s my post:
http://kristenmintz.blogspot.com/2011/07/fabulous-friday-chalk-and-inspiration.html
Yay Kristen!! That’s great news, thank you so much for featuring me, I’m glad you liked this one. My little guys did too, thanks for leaving a comment. I can’t wait to get to know you a bit more.
we did this today! so quick, easy and fun. The kids loved it (and so did neighbours and passers-by!). thanks Stacey x
Oh yay! I am so happy to hear that Bec. We haven’t done this in quite some time, thanks for the reminder! We will have to try this again.
my only question is how long does it take to set up before we can use it ?!
What a great idea. Thank you for the recipe. My kids love sidewalk chalk and they will love the paint. I predict my drive way will be covered in artwork this summer.
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