Big Art
SciencePreschoolers42 Comments
Grab the how-to for our essential fizzy sidewalk paint recipe! It's a must make for summer!
This sidewalk paint recipe has come in handy a number of times. It’s great for the kids to paint with, but its also easy for me to use when I’m setting up an activity and need something more exciting than just sidewalk chalk.
Homemade Fizzy Sidewalk Paint Recipe
I made a variation of this sidewalk paint recipe without the fizzy part to do big maze with Henry outside.
To DIY your own fizzy sidewalk paint, you’ll need:
- recipe from Kids Activities Blog
- cornstarch
- baking soda
- food coloring
- very warm water
- tubs
- paint stirring sticks or spatulas
- painting tools: basters, grill brushes, paint brushes, etc.
- squirt bottle
- white vinegar
With the fizzy part is where all the fun is for the kids though. You can find the fizzing sidewalk paint recipe on Kids Activities Blog.
I made three colors of the paint recipe and added painting tools. We used a basting brush, sponges, as well as a “spice” container.
Creative Painting with Fizzy Sidewalk Paint
Using his green “paintbrush” aka the basting brush, Henry started to paint the driveway.
At first, he let the paint drip and run off the paintbrush. He liked to fill the holes in the driveway.
After it thickened up, he had to paint with it as an actual paintbrush. It thickens up quite a bit, so make it thin to begin with and you may need to add water to it as you go.
I drew outlines of shapes for Henry to color in with paint.
Henry already knows his shapes pretty well, but this is still great practice! For us, it was more to learn to color within the lines.
I also filled a spice container with red paint. Henry shook the paint out.
Ours was actually a sprinkles container from the bakery. you could also just punch holes in the lid of any jar you have on hand.
Red probably wasn’t the best color to choose for the shaker. It looked like a bloody mess!
The paint lightened as it dried and made it really stand out against the blacktop. Better than it would on a sidewalk, I think.
Make Your Fizzy Sidewalk Paint Fizz!
After we painted with our entire batch of homemade sidewalk paint, then the fizzy fun began.
We filled a squirt bottle with vinegar and sprayed the drawings we made!
Fizzy fun is always fun! Just plain baking soda and vinegar is a good time!
It’s a fizzy good time!
Henry spelled his name as he sprayed it with vinegar. Y-R-N-E-H
Getting there…
The squirt bottle was a huge hit.
Henry continued to play with it long after he was done with the paintings. He even cleaned his big backhoe with it with the vinegar still in it.
I find its almost as easy to just make your own craft recipes most of the time. Especially when you’re in a pinch.
But I did just find that you can buy sidewalk paint (affiliate link) too! Crayola makes it, of course.
Though, without the built-in fizz, I bet some baking soda could be added to it to get the same effect!
What’s your favorite twist on a childhood classic? We’d love to check out your creative ideas!
Click the image below for our sidewalk paint recipe without the fizz.
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Amy Davis says
To me this sidewalk chalk would be more fun for them to learn with than doing it on paper. Like tracing the abc’s, numbers or their names, etc. Water and a paint brush. I saw a craft, not sure if it was from you or someone else, you get water guns and add paint! let them squirt paint on a canvas or just use cardboard or the sidewalk if its the kind of paint that comes off with water. Maybe could use watered down chalk to spray with instead of paint??? Idk.
Ellyn Roberts says
How do you remove it from the driveway. As it has rained ours remains with out color.
Tabitha Lightfoot says
Hi Ellyn! Jamie just removed it with a hose!
Tina says
Fantastic ideas love it, thank you.
Kit says
This is a definite must-try! Love the spray-bottle idea…
Art + Science + Fun = great idea!!
Jamie Reimer says
Thanks Kit!
Bizzy says
I used food coloring, the red came off, but the blue stained the sidewalk immediately. That being said the entire family (from 1 yr to 26!) enjoyed this!
Lisa M says
Hi! Just how much is 1/2 a box of baking soda? I have three boxes of baking soda right now and they are all different sizes (12 oz, 1 lb. and 4 lbs) Thanks!
Fuquan says
This seems like a cool project, though teaching children to color within the lines isn’t a great lesson. It would be better to just let him color, that way he learns to express creativity rather than how to fit in the tiny box of expression men are allowed.
July LeBoeuf says
thanks for the quick reply….I didn’t see the other comments that already answered that question…sorry! can’t wait to try this on the playground at our preschool!
July LeBoeuf says
How did this homemade paint wash away? Easily? Thanks for reply….
Jamie says
It washed off with a hose.
Shirree says
How much vinegar did you use or the Fizzy Sidewalk Paint? I love the idea :) Thanks for sharing this <3
Jamie @ hands on : as we grow says
Shiree — I just used vinegar in a bottle to let him spray. No measurement.
anonymous says
That is my concern too. Cornstarch settles and then is like sticky glue that you have to stir vigorously to get it to become soupy again. I hate that too. So why cornstarch? is there an alternative?
becca says
that sounds like fun! but just as a caution– be sure to keep the vinegar off your lawn and plants…this project would be great to use as adding fun to natural weed control on a patio!
i’ve use the cornstarch, food coloring, and water recipe. anyone whose tried both of these…does the baking soda aid in the mixture staying together? i hate how the cornstarch settles….
Susan Syddall says
My boys absolutely LOVE playing with vinegar and baking soda. I haven’t seen this recipe for sidewalk chalk, using baking soda, before, so we’re are definitely going to give it a go. Can’t wait. Thanks so much for sharing it.
jamesavery says
This looks like so much fun; I can't wait to try it out with my kids..!!
Brooke says
I really love this idea of making it fizzle! I wish I would have seen this before my sidewalk paint project nearly flopped! I'm going to have to try this!
-Brooke @ Let Kids Create
Sweet Peas and Bumblebees says
Such an amazing idea! We loved it so much, we are featuring you tomorrow at another start of our What I Made Wednesday Linky Party! Come and grab a button and join the fun again this week!
Alisa @ Sweet Peas and Bumblebees
sweetpeasandbb.blogspot.com
Anonymous says
Love it! Can't wait to do this, and I still want to paint the sliding glass door too. Just shared it on fb. Thanks for giving me so many fun ideas every week.
Kelli- Adventurez In ChildRearing says
I am wondering if I could use food coloring – in the driveway I think it'll wash off (eventually)! looks like great fun- coming from Outdoor Play! new blog friend-
Art For Little Hands says
I already commented, but I am coming back to this today. It is really such a fun idea. Thanks for sharing at art 4 little hands. Hope you come back again tomorrow.
Michelle says
Have to give this a shot :)
Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas says
How fun – I love the fizz by adding vinegar! :)
Did it come off fairly easily?
Would love for you to link up w/the Sunday Showcase Jaime!
Bernadette
http://momto2poshlildivas.blogspot.com
Kate @ An Amazing Child says
Jamie this looks so very cool. I love the science twist. How did the paint wash off in the end? I like the shaker bottle too – J will love this. Now all we need is for it not to be freeeeeezing and we can go outside and paint :)
Thanks for sharing with us again – always great to have you :)
Rachel says
That's so fun!!!
Erin says
How totally fun!!!
Sweet Peas and Bumblebees says
What a great idea…my kiddos would LOVE this!!!!
I would LOVE if you would link up this project to our {{What I Made Wednesday}} Linky Party!
Briana @ Sweet Peas & Bumblebees
RedTedArt says
Oooh nice to add the squirty bottle to the play. Bet that made it even more fun! Love it!
Thank you for linking to Kids Get Crafty.. much appreciated!
Maggy
Play-based Classroom says
Excellent! I can NOT wait to try this with my kids! I wonder how well this will work on outdoor walls? :)~
Art For Little Hands says
I love the vinegar idea with it. Fizzing is always fun!
Little Wonders' Days says
This looks like fun! Does it come off the sidewalk fairly easily? We're planning on making the fizzy sidewalk chalk sometime this summer.
Stacy@{share and remember} says
http://shareandremember.blogspot.com/2011/06/cornstarch-sidewalk-paint.html
Stacy@{share and remember} says
I added a new post about the cornstarch paint because it was even more colorful last time with the liquid watercolors. Love your idea to add the baking soda & vinegar spray bottles!
Anonymous says
we use chalk paint to practice spelling words. Will have to try the vinegar – fun science!
Blessings,
Zalyndia