Erupting Rainbow Sidewalk Chalk Paint
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We were blessed with such gorgeous weather today that I knew I had to plan an outdoor activity for the boys. Going along with our recent rainbow theme I pulled out a classic favorite. We make sidewalk chalk paint often; it's one of our favorite homemade paint recipes. I made this batch in rainbow colors, and as a bonus I made it erupting sidewalk chalk paint!
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How to Make Erupting Rainbow Sidewalk Chalk Paint
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Supplies:
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Directions: Making sidewalk chalk paint is incredibly simple. The traditional recipe calls for equal amounts of water and cornstarch with added color. To make erupting sidewalk chalk paint I mixed 1/3 cup of water, 1/3 cup of cornstarch, and 1/3 cup of baking soda with each color. Remember that the base of this paint recipe is white, so add a good amount of color to achieve vibrant shades of paint. For easy preparation I mixed the ingredients in a measuring cup with an easy pour spout to make filling the squeezy bottles an easy task.
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The boys had a blast painting all over our driveway. It was fun watching how each boy approaching the activity. J-Bug (4) looked for unique places to squirt the sidewalk chalk paint. He was especially fond of painting in the cracks in our driveway. Tank (25 months) stood up and squirted the paint down and even turned in circles while painting. Peanut (25 months) preferred to sit on the ground and paint methodically. Each boy was fascinated with the texture of the paint as it dried. It's super soft and smooth on the sidewalk.
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We frequently use squeezy bottles in our activities, because they are great for boosting fine motor skills.
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Once all the squeezy bottles were empty I pulled out the spray bottles full of vinegar. JZ (6) couldn't get his hands on a bottle fast enough. Watching reactions and making thing erupt are high up on his list of favorites.
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Squeezing the spray bottles is another great exercise for fine motor skills.
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When done, a simple rinse with the hose washes away all of the mess. We've never had any issues with sidewalk chalk paint staining, but you might consider testing a small area before trying this. I prefer washable liquid watercolors over food coloring since it washes clean easily. Here are tips for messy play as well as laundry tips to avoid stains and keep clothes bright.
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We've also made scented sidewalk chalk paint and used it to practice the alphabet.
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For more homemade paint recipes follow me on Pinterest.
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More rainbow activities for kids:
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Oh my gosh this is fantastic! My niece will love it!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for it to get warm so we can try it out!
ReplyDeleteDoes this stain the sidewalk at all?
ReplyDeleteWe haven't had any staining issues, no, but I would recommend testing a small area to be sure if staining is a concern. :)
DeleteI love the idea of putting this in squeeze bottles. We tried the sidewalk paint recipe last week and it was really hard to paint with on our uneven, cracked, old driveway, but squeeze bottles would work great.
ReplyDeleteThank you Thank you Thank you & Thank you for sharing such brilliant ideas. May God continue to bless you. My 4.5 yr old would LOVE this.
ReplyDeleteYou say "washable liquid watercolors", what are those exactly? Like tempera paint?
ReplyDeleteThese are what I use: http://www.discountschoolsupply.com/Product/ProductDetail.aspx?product=16821&utm_source=Affiliate&utm_medium=weblink&utm_campaign=CJ&es=10423400000
Deletewhen do you use the vinegar?
ReplyDeleteAfter they paint they squirt vinegar on the paint to watch it fizz.
DeleteYour sidewalk chalk paint was pretty good. I think it's one of the favorite homemade paint recipes. Thanks for sharing this wonderful blog Allison.
ReplyDeleteDoes it stain clothes?
ReplyDeleteWe have never had a staining issue. Here are tips for keeping clothes clean even with messy play: http://www.learnplayimagine.com/2013/02/laundry-tips-from-busy-mom-of-four.html
DeleteI love the idea of putting this in squeeze bottles. Thank for sharing !
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of putting this in squeeze bottles. We tried the sidewalk paint recipe last week and it was really hard to paint with on our uneven, cracked, old driveway, but squeeze bottles would work great.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for it to get warm so we can try it out!
ReplyDeleteNice tips. I want to make something for my son but I have no idea. Now I guess I found it! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing such brilliant ideas. when do you use the vinegar?
ReplyDeleteAfter the kids are done painting squirt the vinegar on the paint and watch it fizz. :)
DeleteGreat idea! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing such brilliant ideas. Does it stain clothes?
ReplyDeleteGreat idea for my son. Thank for share this post !
ReplyDeletebrilliant ideas!!! Does it stain clothes?
ReplyDeleteThat is so cool! I didn’t know it was so easy to make it yourself. It looks great too 🙂
ReplyDeleteWhat size squeeze bottles did you use? I see that the link for the bottles has options for 4, 6 and 12 oz. :)
ReplyDeleteDo these chalk paints work well for painting exterior walls?
ReplyDeleteThe weather is also just starting to get better over here as well and I think this will be a great outdoor activity for my little boy, too! Glad I found this post, thanks!
ReplyDeleteCute kid having fun with the painting !
ReplyDeleteThat is so cute :)
ReplyDelete