Kid's Homemade Paint - 3 Simple Ingredients! (2024)

This homemade paint is easy, cheap, and fun to make. These non-toxic paints are made from basic pantry items in less than 5 minutes! The color options are unlimited, and because these paints are safe to eat, they are perfect for finger painting, too. Kids of all ages will love them!

“But what can I dooooooooo?????…” Repeat. Repeat again. Endless cycle of repeat.

Those words are like fingernails on a chalkboard, people. And while I don’t believe I should be my kids 24/7 personal entertainment, we still like to have a lot fun discovering together.

I recently learned about the easiest recipe for fun in the history of homemade entertainment… Enter our homemade kids paint. Made with only 3 insanely simple ingredients, I can almost guarantee you have everything sitting somewhere in your pantry right now. And I love it because it amuses everyone from the baby, to my preschooler, and me too! Not to mention it’s 100% toxin free. Win-win.

INGREDIENTS FOR HOMEMADE PAINT

This recipe could not be easier with all items you have in your pantry – flour, water, food coloring. I love to use these squeeze bottles –> buy them on Amazon. And when you are done, just clean them out and they are ready for the next batch of paint!

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE PAINT

1. In a medium bowl, mix together the flour with warm water until the mixture is very smooth. Make sure it is warm water – it mixes in so much better than if the water is cold!
2. Divide into however many containers you prefer and stir in your desired amount of food coloring. Paint away!!

That’s seriously it.

You can use this paint as finger paint or regular brush paint. The measurements for the flour and water are definitely not set in stone. The amount I gave was for the consistency that I liked best, but it’s by no means a science. Feel free to add more water or flour until you reach your desired consistency.

Here is the texture of the paint once painted on paper.

This paint does not store well, so just make enough for what you’ll use that day.

Funny story… I accidentally left a couple of containers on my counter for two days (don’t ask..the husband was out of town and things got craaaazy).

As I was preparing lunch I heard a “POP!” and looked over to find one of the canisters completely bulging and leftover paint bursting through the seal.

Helloooo, fermentation. I guess it could have made a great sourdough start for dyed bread, but not so great for painting with toddlers. Lesson learned. (But if anyone uses theirs as a sourdough start, let me know!)

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

Flour: $0.07 (a 25lb bag of flour costs roughly $8 at my local Costco)
Water: Free
Food Coloring: Depending on how much you use, anywhere from $0.05-$0.20 worth.

Total Cost: $0.27 if we’re guesstimating on the high end. With an average 16oz bottle of Crayola paint costing between $3-$4, that’s an at least 90% savings. Now how’s that for being thrifty?

PRO TIPS

• If the paint is too thick to squeeze out easily, add a little more water.
• No squeeze bottles? Use any bowls or even small cups for the paint.
• Use sponge brushes, paint brushes or even your fingers!
• Parchment paper is fun to finger paint on with little kids.
• Put down a big waterproof tablecloth for easy cleanup.

PS – I bought these cool squeeze bottles on Amazon here and I LOVE them.

Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we did! It’s a lifesaver for summer and rainy days.

OTHER HOMEMADE RECIPES

• Best EVER Homemade Carpet Cleaner Solution
• Natural Crayon Remover For Walls
• Easy 3 Ingredient All Purpose Spray
• Homemade Kids Toothpaste
• DIY Poo Fragrance Spray

Next time you make this homemade paint for kids, I would love to see what they create! Snap a picture and share it with me onInstagramusing the hashtag #happymoneysaver and tagging me @happymoneysaver!