Lazy summer afternoons are simply perfect for feeling relaxed around the kitchen table engaged in arts and crafts activities that awaken one’s senses and creativity. The homemade fingerpaint recipe shared below uses 4 common pantry staples, and dries to a beautiful shine. Scented and colored with a classic seasonal drink, it is the quintessential summer play recipe.
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Why Make Homemade Paint?
I make homemade paint because I can. There is something awesome about never having to say no to an activity due to a lack of art supplies. Learning to make basic craft materials is like learning to make your own DIY Prepared Foods (like Ranch Dressing, Taco Seasoning, etc.). It feels empowering to me because I can control the ingredients, save money, and have several boredom-busting tricks up my sleeve for rainy days.
Taste-Safe Rainbow Fingerpaints
The bright rainbow paints I made for my children feel smooth and smell amazing. Unfortunately, they did stain our fingertips (the stains washed out by evening bath-time, so it wasn’t a big deal to me). They are taste-safe, but my oldest son discovered they taste extremely sour! If your little one licks the paint, he won’t want to a second time!
My oldest son painted fruit. His red fingertips are proof that he mostly used red, creating large, shiny strawberries with sesame seed seeds. He found this art activity to be very soothing (which was just what he needed – he was rather cranky today!).
My youngest son didn’t care for the slick feel of the fingerpaints and opted to use a paintbrush. He thickly blobbed the paint onto his paper in his new favorite color combination, half blue and half green. He told me, “These are islands and this is water, and those are rocks. It’s half blue and half green, my favorite.”
Want to make your own? Of course you do! It’s easy and fun, and the kids can help too!
Materials and Directions:
- 1 envelope of unflavored gelatin
- 3 1/4 cups cold water
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 7 packets of Kool-Aid (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink)
- 4 oz. regular mouth mason jars (7)
- 7 popsicle sticks (for stirring)
1. Distribute 1 packet of Kool-Aid per mason jar.
2. Combine the gelatin and 1/4 cup of water in a small bowl. Allow the solution to rest for several minutes.
3. Pour the cornstarch and 3 cups of water into a small saucepan. Heat and stir constantly until the mixture thickens. Whisk in the gelatin solution with a fork until combined.
4. Divide the mixture evenly among the jars. Stir well with a popsicle stick.
We my youngest child used all of our paint, so I can’t estimate a shelf-life. If I was to store this paint, I would refrigerate it. My guess is that it would gel slightly, if not completely, so you may have to reheat and/or add additional water before reusing.
More Playful Paints
Paint with Ice by Fireflies and Mud Pies
Kids will love figuring out how to thaw this frozen ice paint. Perfect for any season!
Milk Painting by Babble Dabble Doo
In this post, you will learn how to create lovely marbled milk paintings.
Squirt Gun Painting by Fireflies and Mud Pies
Create some wicked works of art by blasting liquid watercolors through squirt guns.
Salt and Flour Paints by Tinkerlab
See how to create homemade paint using basic pantry staples.
Mud Painting by A Mom with a Lesson Plan
In this paint recipe, Nature provides the ingredients!
Theres Just One Mommy says
Love this recipe! I have a feeling my youngest would be using a paintbrush, too, but my daughter will get a kick painting with her fingers! Pinned!
Namaste says
This may seem like a silly question, but are they washable as well?
Fireflies and Mud Pies says
As washable as drinkable Kool-aid is the best answer I can give to this. My kids aren’t incredibly messy painters anymore, so their clothes were paint-free!
Ashley says
This looks like a fun recipe to try out! Especially good for those that love to stick things in their mouths!