recipe

DIY Sidewalk Chalk Paint

by Stacy on July 14, 2010

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.

how to make sidewalk chalk paint

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.

diy sidewalk chalk paint

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).

sidewalk chalk paint

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)

{ 18 comments }

Autumn Almond Bark

by Stacy on October 6, 2009

Autumn Bark

Autumn Almond Bark

Nothing says Hello to Fall quite like a decadent, autumn inspired almond bark. Take this one for instance, it’s chock full of dried cranberries, cherries, apricots, honey roasted almonds, and white raisins.

Cranberry Apricot Almond Bark

You’ll never believe how simple this indulgent treat was to make! My 3 year old actually helped me create this fun snack for a Mommy & Me playdate. First, we microwaved a block of Almond Bark in 30 second intervals until it was nice & smooth. Then, we poured the bark onto a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Next, we took turns drizzling all of our toppings onto the treat. {Use whatever you have lying around the pantry, anything goes here} Voila, that’s it!! That’s all we did. Finally, we let it cool in the fridge and then I broke the bark into fun, disheveled pieces.

Note: Be sure to press your toppings into the bark to keep them from falling off easily after the bark cools

Wrap a few pieces in some fancy tissue paper, wrap with a colored ribbon and bring it along to your next potluck dinner, baby shower, or brunch. You’ll be sure to turn a few heads, but no one has to know the final product took less than 5 minutes to make … Easy, Peasy. And our little secret :)

If you like this idea and would like to see more fun & easy recipes you can Wow your friends with and create with your kids. Leave a comment and let me know, I have tons more ideas like these just waiting to be published.

{ 3 comments }