How to Make Chalk Paint

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Need something fun to do with your little ones and don’t have any sidewalk chalk? Here’s how to make chalk paint with only simple ingredients!

How to Make Chalk Paint

How to Make Chalk Paint

We’ve been looking for some fun and different things to do this summer during the long days. Since our littles are still little, I need some fun things for them to do that they can handle doing without too much extra help. We have some sidewalk chalk and they like that too, but they really love to paint.

We’ve been lucky enough to have a sliver of concrete at the homes that we’ve owned. I know I make it sound like that’s something special but to me it really is! When I was growing up everything was gravel and dirt, pavement was nowhere to be found. So I was pretty excited for my littles to have a concrete patio place to be able to play on.

Like I mentioned above, sidewalk chalk is fun but chalk painting is fun and just enough of a different activity that it seems like something new. Instead of shaving up our valuable sidewalk chalk, there is a different and easy way how to make chalk paint.

I found all of these ingredients at my local stores (although they are available online as well if you are having trouble finding them). It cost less than $8 for all the paint and plaster I bought and it will last us for many many art sessions. 🙂

How to Make Chalk Paint

What You Need:

  • 1/4 cup Plaster of Paris (Where to Buy)
  • 1/2 cup Water
  • Tempura Paint or another washable paint (Where to Buy)
  • Containers & Brushes

How to Make Chalk Paint

Gather your supplies, and of course, a little helper 🙂

How to Make Chalk Paint

Mix together the Plaster of Paris and the water. Add in the paint until it reaches the desired color.

How to Make Chalk Paint

Let your little one use the brushes to paint the chalk paint on the sidewalk or on concrete. Wash off with water. Art! And don’t worry…it washes off your little one just as easy as it washes off the sidewalk.

My little ones love this little activity and I love that it’s something they can do by themselves and I can sit outside and watch them be artists. 🙂

Need more fun projects to work on with your little ones? Here are some of our favorites!

Find more inexpensive things to do on our Crafts and Homemade Gifts page!

What are some fun, frugal summer activities that you have for your little ones?

merissabio

This article on How to Make Chalk Paint was originally published on Little House Living in June 2014. It has been updated as of April 2020.

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13 Comments

  1. Great post and I have all of those things on hand for making it for the grandchildren. Does it wash out of clothing too? I don’t want to be the bad Nana who ruined the kids clothes!

    I think I must have missed something since I did not know about “baby”!

  2. This looks like fun! Very messy fun, but lots of fun all the same. My little one is only 7 months so we haven’t done anything like this yet. It’s nice to get ideas for the future. 🙂

    I found you through the BeYouTiful link up.

    Jess
    CheapSkateBeautyBlogger.blogspot.com

  3. Thanks so much for this idea! I bet Baby Boy and I might even be able to do this where we live 🙂

  4. What a fabulous idea! Would be such fun for the summer holidays! Would love for you to share it at our linky blog party, on my blog in the morning 🙂

  5. How fun! We had some chalk sidewalk fun but this would be even better I think. I have to make this for the grandbabies!

  6. Ooh – what a beautiful mess your kids made! This looks like loads of fun. We’re featuring you at Family Fun Friday this week at Happy and Blessed Home. Thanks for sharing 🙂

  7. I love, love, love this – apparently, so did the Cook it! Craft it! Share it! participants because you’re this week’s fan favorite!!
    Congrats and thanks for linking up with us again!
    ang

  8. What a fun, cool project. Thanks for linking up to Sweet and Savoury Sunday, stop by and link up again. Have a great day!! Laura@Baking in Pyjamas

  9. What a fun and wonderful activity!! My kids would love this. You are featured on Good Tips Tuesday today. Thanks for linking up!

  10. This looks like fun. Thanks for sharing. Hello from Turn It Up Tuesday!