Homemade paint in 6 easy steps

This is a simple and fun way to make your own paint for the kids. If you already have a selection of food colouring, it's also pretty cheap. Plus, your kids get a chance to stir, mix and make their own potions!

This paint can be brushed onto paper or applied with squeeze bottles, just like normal paint.

Before you start:
Wear old clothes and set up an area away from carpets and decks! Although this paint is water soluble, some food colouring can be particularly stubborn to remove, especially if it dries.

We also found that it temporarily stained our skin, especially the blue. It took several washes with soap and water before our hands stopped looking like Smurf hands!

• Large bowl
• Clean, empty jars or Squeeze bottles
• Old spoon
• Brushes for application

• 1 cup flour or cornflour
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 Tablespoon dish soap (just about any dish soap will work)
• 5-10 drops food colouring or washable paint

Method:

1. In the large mixing bowl stir together the flour and water until there are no lumps.

2. Stir in the dish soap to the flour mixture.

3. Stir in the food colouring of your choice of colour until the desired shade is achieved.

4. Pour the mixture into your squeeze bottle or your jars.

5. Repeat steps 1-4 for as many different colours as you want.

6. Give the kids their new paint and let them have fun!

Variation: Puffy Paint
To make puffy paint, substitute the water for 1/2 cup of shaving foam and 1/4 cup of white liquid glue. 
Apply this version with a squeeze bottle to help the paint dry raised on the paper (this is particularly tactile for young fingers once it has dried!).