Learn how to make homemade sidewalk chalk paint and keep your children entertained all day long with this quick and easy kids’ art and craft activity! A great outdoor summer craft for kids!
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DIY sidewalk chalk paint is one of our favorite (and inexpensive!) outdoor summer activities! We’ve previously shared our favorite homemade chalk paint recipe before, but it is SO much fun that I couldn’t resist bringing it up one more time. Making your own sidewalk chalk paint is super easy, and it only requires a couple of common household ingredients, so virtually ANYONE can do it!
Our DIY sidewalk paint makes such a fun alternative to traditional sidewalk chalk. Kids of all ages will love playing mad scientist while mixing up their favorite vibrant colors of this fun homemade sidewalk paint!
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Easy Sidewalk Chalk Paint
How to Make Sidewalk Chalk Paint:
Follow these easy, step-by-step instructions to get kid-friendly chalk paint. In just minutes, you’ll have the BEST cure for Summer boredom!
- 1/2 cup of Cornstarch
- 2/3 cup of Water
- Food Coloring
Start by mixing together the water and cornstarch in a large bowl, and stir until the cornstarch dissolves. Our sidewalk chalk recipe generally calls for a 1:1 ratio of cornstarch and water, but since we were painting on the sidewalk instead of paper, I incorporated just a bit more water and found that we liked it even better.
We were able to paint longer brushstrokes without needing to reload the paintbrush with paint, which is always great for younger kids.
Divide the paint mixture into equal amounts in the wells of a muffin tin or similar painting tray, and add food coloring to achieve the desired colors – note that the paint color will dry much lighter on the sidewalk than they appear in the tin!
Large kid’s paint brushes work best, but any paintbrush will do! You can also put your DIY chalk paint mix into a squeeze bottle or squirt bottles, too.
Since the entire batch of paint only costs about $.50 to make, I never have to worry about them ruining expensive paints when it comes time to experiment with color mixing (Sutton’s specialty!).
When the kids were done painting with the paintbrushes, they decided to paint their hands and feet and make hand/footprints on the sidewalk. They had a blast with it! The paint washes off their skin easily with soap and water, and we didn’t run into any problems with the food coloring staining their skin or the concrete.
Of course, around here, you can’t play with sidewalk chalk without making hopscotch! It makes a fun outdoor activity and a great time killer.
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These guys hopscotched and painted with our homemade sidewalk chalk paint for almost two hours! That’s a huge parenting win!
Sidewalk Chalk Paint Recipe Card
Sidewalk Chalk Paint Recipe
What You’ll Need:
- Muffin Tin
- 2 cups Cornstarch
- 2+ cups Water
- Liquid Food Coloring
Instructions:
- Mix together the water and cornstarch, and stir until the cornstarch dissolves.
- Divide the paint mixture into the wells of a muffin tin or similar painting tray.
- Add a few drops of food coloring to achieve the desired colors – note that the colors will dry much lighter on the sidewalk than they appear in the tin!
- Paint your sidewalk or driveway!
Notes:
NOTE:
We didn’t have any problems with staining or clean up (our paint was hosed cleanly away and easily washed off of the children with soap and water), but I cannot guarantee that the food coloring might not stain, especially if you have light or very porous concrete. Please use this at your discretion…it also works great on dark-colored construction paper, so if you’re worried about cleanup, that’s another fun way to try it out!
Once you’re all finished, washing off with the garden hose is a great way to cool down during the hot Summer months. Or, let the rain take care of it for you! If you’ve made a larger batch of outdoor chalk paint, you can save any leftover paint in airtight containers for next time.
This easy recipe is sure to bring you endless hours of fun! If you’re looking for even more fun DIYS for kids, be sure to check out our huge collection of kids crafts & activities for TONS of Summer fun! Happy painting!
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Don’t Forget to Pin This DIY Sidewalk Chalk To Save it For Later!
Heidi Kundin has captivated the hearts of millions with her colorful and inspiring approach to crafting, celebrations, and family fun. With over 15 years of experience, Happiness is Homemade has become a must-visit destination for those seeking quick and easy creative ideas and last-minute solutions. Heidi’s warm personality shines through her posts, inviting readers to join her on a creative journey that’s fun, rewarding, and achievable. Heidi is also the author of Homemade Bath Bombs & More and DIY Tie-Dye.