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Easy Homemade Paint Recipe

September 30, 2011 by Anna Ranson

We have made this easy homemade paint before, about 6 months ago now, and it was time to try it again with some new, delicious, candy colours! This time Pop was able to get in on the action too and it made for a nice combination of mixing and concocting, creativity and sensory investigation.

 Recipe:

  •  1 cup water
  •  1 cup plain flour (all purpose)
  •  1 cup washing up liquid (dish soap)
  •  A big squeeze of food colouring per colour required

 Method:

  • Start by mixing the flour and water in a big bowl until it’s completely smooth and no lumps are left
  • Stir in the washing up liquid
  • Pour the liquid into as many different containers as the number of colours you want. We used 4 jam jars
  • Add a big squirt of food colouring to each individual jar and mix it up!
  • It will be all frothy and bubbly to begin with, but settles down soon.

 Please note:

  • The nicer the washing up liquid brand, the better this seems to work. Eg last time we used Ecover (which has no SLS and therefore creates few bubbles) and that worked much better than this time, when I used a cheap supermarket own brand that was VERY bubbly! Still lots of fun but not as smooth and liquid-y. Experiment and see what happens! After all, that’s part of the process of investigation and learning!

 We took this outside, in the stunning 28 degree C late September weather (what on earth?!) and the girl had a fabulous time colour mixing and laying down the paint with paint brushes and old toothbrushes.

 Pop demonstrating the double-handed painting method. Fantastic for cross brain training!

And then they found some pine cones and started decorating those too, just for fun.

The paint is foamy and light, smells delicious and is very easy to make. The more colour that you add, the better it will show on paper. It looks lovely in the jars but I have found it doesn’t stay thin and ready to use for long. Perhaps adding a bit of hot water and giving it a vigorous stir after a couple of days would work? Try it and see!

Edible non-toxic paint recipe

If you would like to try our edible, non-toxic paint recipe instead ( suitable for babies from 6 months) then see this post!

Learning Links:

Creativity: colour mixing, exploring patterns and textures using a paint medium
Knowledge & Understanding of the World (Science): mixing substances together, talking about liquids and bubbles, investigating using the sense of touch and smell
Maths: measuring out cup fulls

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Filed Under: Art and Craft, DIY, Homemade, Painting, Play Recipes, Preschooler, Toys, Toys & Games Tagged With: Preschool Ideas, Recipes

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Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    September 30, 2011 at 12:09 pm

    Love this Anna. I will try it soon with my children. Is it safe for a 7 month old baby. I am wanting him to join in the fun with his big sister but I worry he might taste ordinary paints etc.

  2. House of Prowse says

    September 30, 2011 at 2:36 pm

    Great idea – love it!
    Must try soon and thanks for the tip on the detergent!

  3. Anonymous says

    September 30, 2011 at 3:49 pm

    Hi.
    This is a neat idea! Is “washing up” liquid a dish soap, laundry soap, hand soap…? Thanks.

  4. Anna @ The Imagination Tree says

    September 30, 2011 at 4:01 pm

    Washing up liquid is dish soap in the US, if that’s where you are from 😉 Whatever the bubbly liquid is called that you use to wash dishes with!

  5. Anna @ The Imagination Tree says

    September 30, 2011 at 4:02 pm

    First anonymous poster: if he will taste it then no, you probably want to wait a while as it’s very soapy. But I have added a link at the end of my post now to our non-toxic and (potentially!) edible finger paint recipe that’s great for little ones. Enjoy!

  6. Beyond Autism says

    September 30, 2011 at 4:23 pm

    I love this! Thank you!

  7. Julia Deering says

    October 1, 2011 at 12:08 am

    How lovely to be painting outside at the end of September. Lovely ’50s colour palette there. Enjoy the sunny weekend.x

  8. happyhooligans says

    October 1, 2011 at 11:06 am

    We’ve used this as finger paints before, but I didn’t think to add brushes. I love your colours! Also LOVE the painted pinecones. We’re so used to seeing pinecones either au naturel, or in christmas colours, but your pastel pinecones are gorgeous!! We’ll definitely make some!

  9. maggy, red ted art says

    October 7, 2011 at 3:39 pm

    Oooh how lovely!! And Pip Squeak would ADORE the bubbles in it. Lovely indeed.

    Thanks for sharing on Kids Get Crafty!

    Maggy

  10. Toddler Approved says

    October 11, 2011 at 8:24 am

    Love this! It is beautiful! I’m totally going to try this with my 3yr old and the edible paint with my 10 month old. Thanks!!

  11. Kurt n Sarah says

    February 6, 2012 at 11:42 pm

    i’ve noticed in several of your painting posts your daughter’s cute smock. can you tell me how to make one or where you purchased it? in this post she is the one wearing a green-yellow barret & painting w/ two hands. that smock is adorable! of course i need one for my son, but we’ll see what you send me.

    • Anna @ The Imagination Tree says

      February 9, 2012 at 10:50 pm

      I know!! It’s gorgeous but alas it was made by a friend who hasn’t got the time to make them to sell on Etsy (even though I’ve asked her to!) I can tell you how she did it if you like? She cut material in an A-line shape and lined the front with a thin shower curtain material! (genius) Then she added arms. She made the neck elasticated and added a few poppers so that it could be adjusted. This has lasted both girls since age 2 so far.
      Sorry not to be of any more help. If she ever goes into business I’ll let you know!

  12. Cassandra says

    May 2, 2012 at 2:15 am

    Thanks so much for this recipe! My 13 month old had lots of fun with this for her first time painting 🙂

    I’ve blogged about it(and linked to you) here http://casscansew.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/today-we-paint.html

    Cass x

  13. kari says

    May 23, 2012 at 7:48 pm

    thanks so much for this recipe i did this with my 4 yr old and we both loved it her bc she loves to paint and me bc its so easy and it got her out of my hair for a lil bit and i got many “masterpeices” lol thank you so much 🙂

  14. Anonymous says

    July 27, 2012 at 10:31 pm

    i dont have flour at the moment.

  15. Forgetful Momma says

    September 17, 2012 at 3:46 pm

    Great idea painting pine cones! That is something we have on hand at the moment that’s for sure.
    I found you on Pinterest. 🙂

  16. Anonymous says

    January 25, 2013 at 7:36 pm

    Can u use this in the bath tub ?

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About The Imagination Tree Hello and welcome! I'm Anna, Mama of 4, early years teacher and play enthusiast from the UK! Click here to read more about me.

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