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Finger Paint




Source of Recipe


Sonya Versluys


Recipe Introduction


When you consider just how much paint that you can go through with a few children in your home, it may just be cost effective to learn how to make your own. There are some very simple and inexpensive ways that you can get some great paints with things that you already have in you home and perhaps the minimal purchase of some other ingredients.




List of Ingredients




What you need:


A few teaspoons of cornstarch

Some cold Water

Some Boiling Water

Vegetable Food Coloring



Recipe



Put the cornstarch into a bowl and mix it with enough cold water until you have a smooth paste. It will only require a teaspoon or so. Then, while stirring, pour in the boiling water until you get the desired consistency.


Remember, this recipe will not work if the water is not boiling. Hot water from the sink simply won’t work. The mixture thickens up as soon as the hot water hits the paste so remember to stir it quickly to avoid big lumps.


Add some vegetable food coloring and you have a great finger paint.


(If you want to make prints from the table painting, just place a piece of paper over the area on the table to make an impression!)



EASEL PAINT


Make the paint exactly as above only use a few drops of paint tempera (found at your local craft store) in place of the vegetable food coloring. The reason for this is that while the vegetable food coloring makes a great color for finger paint, it tends to fade after awhile. You will get more vibrant color from tempera. But please remember to check for non-toxic tempera and that when it is in a concentrated form that it stains VERY easily. Take much care in using it because a little goes a long way and if you spill some on the bench and then try to use a wet cloth to wipe it up…uh oh! Paint everywhere!



WATER COLORS


Sometimes you get a great effect from just using watercolors. This is so simple when you want to whip something out quickly to amuse the kids. Put a drop or two of tempera in the paint pot and fill the rest up with water. Mix it well and you have some great paints. Experiment with colors and mix them to make others. Get the kids involved by keeping a color chart handy with simple directions on how to mix their favorite colors up!



SPRAY PAINTS


Take the watercolor painting further and put the paint into a spray bottle. Then affix some paper or material to a fence outdoors and let the kids spray the paint onto it. This has a great effect. You can buy some spray bottles just about anywhere (supermarket, hardware store or craft store) and store them for just such a purpose.


This is a really good way to make curtains for the playroom! Sew up some simple calico curtains and let the kids get to work. It has the added bonus of being able to wash out later when you want to do them again!



JAZZ UP YOUR PAINT


Take it a step further! Mix up the basic finger painting paint, use the tempera instead of the vegetable food coloring and then experiment with adding different things to it. Use some colored glitter in the paint or some paper cutouts.


JAZZ UP YOUR PAPER


Remember to use all different surfaces to paint on. Paints have different effects on different papers and textures. Paint on foil, tissue and other such surfaces.


JAZZ UP YOUR BRUSHES


Also use varying types of paintbrushes to get some neat effects. Try using cotton swabs for some fine details on paper and a fly swat for a bold splatter effect.


Get creative!