Much like the zucchini noodles, I wish to heavens I was the person who invented sidewalk paint.
A friend of mine dropped her kiddos off to play last week, and noticed our (my) extensive chalk drawings on the front steps leading up to our house.
She asked me if we ever did sidewalk chalk paint, which I had never even heard of. Thank goodness for friends with kids, right?
Anyway, she told me to google it, but briefly mentioned it was just water, corn starch, and food coloring. So, instead of looking up (what I can only imagine) is a pretty simple recipe, I just messed around until we got it right.
It is a lot easier for Adrienne to paint than draw right now, and I had some fun with it, too. When it was over, we spent about thirty seconds washing it off with the hose, and then thirty minutes playing in the hose water.
Summer, never leave us.
Homemade Sidewalk Paint
- 1/4 C corn starch
- 1/4 C water
- 4 drops food coloring
Mix all ingredients thoroughly until there are no lumps. Repeat to make different colors.
Oh, so cute! What fun you two are having before the end of summer. I am going to miss summer, too. Enjoy the days before that
“white stuff” comes. I can’t even say it <3!
Me neither!! I don’t even want to think about it.
I’m going to have to remember this for when I have kids. Sidewalk paint would be so much fun. And just look how happy Adrienne is in that last picture. She is clearly having the time of her life.
She’s honestly so freaking adorable and sidewalk paint is a brilliant idea. Just take the credit for this too…
i love this idea…i know i can’t wait til Wes can play with paint and chalk!
Fun! This reminds me of the ‘paint’ that my mom would give us growing up. It was just a bucket of water and some paint brushes. You could see your artwork while it was all wet and the prep and clean up was so minimal everyone was happy. If you haven’t done this one before, it’s a good way for kids of all ages to get distracted playing!
My mom did that all the time when I was growing up…we do it often, too! It’s the little things..
and this is why summer should never end!
Yes. Agreed. Absolutely.
We must try this before summer is over. I also just bought some kids paint that comes in tubes, kind of like bingo markers, that I’m excited to try. I just have to find paper big enough to try to contain the inevitable mess!
I love it! and will be trying it this week!! How fun
PS. I love that pic of her and the kitty…so cute!
Sporting the Target diapers like us! I need to try this with my kids – thanks for the great idea!
How can they be so much cheaper?!?
can i be your daughter?
Only if you sell your house (that you just bought) and move out to Colorado and live with me.
Oh goodness. The photo of A painting her back kills me. SO flipping cute!!
you are the best momma ever! and HI BAGGY!
Baggy misses you. So do I.
Super cute and FUN! I’m going to try this with my son – he’d love it!
BTW: You shsould add a “PIN IT!” button on your posts
I’m always pinning your great stuff!
I need to figure out how to do that…I’m sure google will tell me, huh?
Kiiiiiiiiills me. Kills me she does.
I don’t know what I love more, the cat wanting to be completely involved, or Adrienne’s decision to paint herself as well as the ground. Absolutely precious.
I found this on the internet yesterday and immediately thought of you and baby A.
http://alifesustained.blogspot.com/2012/07/diy-rice-play-table.html
Awesomeness. Thank you!
My kids loved outside painting too and easy clean up. When the snow hits do food coloring paint in a spray bottle for fun times. I also did a portable cheap kids pool in my garage that I filled with cheap beans or rice from costco……my kids played all winter in it. I kept a tarp under it so I could pour the extra back in that they threw out,etc. I put in cups, trucks, shovels,etc. She could do that while you work out.
Good idea…I’m stock piling winter ideas!!
That last picture of her is the cutest thing I’ve seen in a long time. Holy cow, she’s precious.
Thank you! I agree x100.
Love this idea!
A few years ago we had a really big snow storm and after I sent the kids outside armed with spray bottles filled with different colored water (just food coloring) they had so much fun painting the snow
Brilliant.
You have the best ideas! Sam is still a bit young to really get painting and drawing, but you know I am bookmarking it for next summer.
She looks like she’s just having a blast!!
That concoction reminds me of oobleck (which we made at my nephew’s bday party yesterday, actually!), which is 1 part water to 1.5-2 parts cornstarch (and food coloring)…it becomes half liquid/half solid and the kids LOVED playing in it. I love simple, fun things like that for kids! I need to file these ideas away for when I have kids.
Yes, LOVE oobleck! I got it stuck in my hair when I was little and had to cut it out, and I STILL love it.
My daughters LOVE sidewalk paint! So, so much fun. I absolutely love looking at pictures of your cutie all messy and enjoying her childhood. It makes my heart all warm and fuzzy.
Love this! And oh my gosh is that last picture of her the cutest!
So cool! We are going to do this this week. You’ll see photographic evidence, I’m sure.
I cannot wait.
freaking out over how GORGEOUS these colors are!
I love this idea! I’m definitely saving it for my nieces next time I see them
And that last picture of Baby A. Be still my heart.
So creative! Gorgeous pictures
After reading this post yesterday, I made it for my 5 year old daughter. We invited our 1 and 3 year old neighbors over to join us and it was a huge hit! Thank you so much for the fun and easy idea. I’m horrible about coming up with my own creative ideas, so thank goodness for mamas like you!
I love how bright AND messy those colors are. And can I tell how much I LOVE that you let A get messy.
[...] closet floor. Yay! Anyways, my favorite blogger posted a DIY activity and I was on it as soon as I read it… We made sidewalk paint and made a big [...]
HOW AWESOME! Totally sharing this with my mommy friends!
And look at how she holds the paintbrush- you’ve got a future artist there!
Love it!!!!
That is precious. Simply precious!