October 1, 2012

Homemade Puffy Paint with 3 Simple Ingredients

Homemade Puffy Paint - Recipe for Play


I am a huge fan of making homemade paint.  It is usually inexpensive, and the possibilities are endless.  When I saw this Dough Paint on Tot Treasures last January I immediately knew I had to give it a try.  Since then I have tweaked the recipe a bit to make it a consistency the boys and I love.  This puffy paint is one of our all time favorite recipes for play.  Here is our complete collection of homemade paint recipes.


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Base Recipe
  • 1 cup flour 
  • 1 cup salt 
  • 1/2-3/4 cup water 

Mix the ingredients until you have the desired consistency. We don't like it too watery, or it gets the paper wet and dries flat. If it is too thick it won't fit through the opening of the squeezy bottle. Mix it well then separate it according to the number of colors you plan to make. Color can be added in many ways: food coloring, liquid watercolors, tempura paint, powdered paint. I most often use food coloring, so my toddlers can safely play with the paint. Spoon the colored paint into squeezy bottles, and get to creating!




Squeezy bottles are great for fine motor practice, and they are just plain fun.



Leave paintings flat overnight to dry.  They will remain raised and firm.



Experiment with color combinations, and have fun!

Other paint recipes we enjoy:

For more homemade paint recipes follow my Recipes for Play board on Pinterest.


*UPDATE*  There are a few notes I'd like to make since originally posting this.
  • Eventually the dried paint will crack and flake.  We still have these same paintings pictured above hanging in our upstairs hallway, and there are little spots that have flaked.  Overall the painting look the same as when they were made.
  • The paints can last for months and months.  I think the longest I have kept a batch is four months.  I store them in the fridge and pull out when ready to use.  I squeeze a little into the kitchen sink, because sometimes water rises to the top.  I squeeze until what comes out is paint like.
  • The amounts of ingredients are really up to the individual.  No two batches turn out the same.  Before adding to squeezy containers make sure you have a good consistency that isn't too thick or runny.  If you've already added the mixture to squeezy bottles before realizing it isn't the right consistency you can still add more water, flour or salt directly in the squeezy bottles then stir with a skewer or something long and straight.
Click the images below for more homemade paint recipes:

Homemade Puffy Paint Natural Watercolors from Fresh Flowers Fall Sticky Paint Recipe






18 comments:

  1. Oh, I have been saying all summer I was going to do this with the boys. Now that I see your fun it makes me want to really do! We will see,lol. pinning for ref. later. Jaime@FSPDT

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  2. this looks so fun! we've gotta try this!

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  3. I love puffy paint! I use it to write my preschooler's name. Once it dries, he traces over the letters with his finger. It is great practice for a pre-writer!

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    1. That's one of the many things we love to do with this recipe! I have a post coming soon about that. Great minds. :)

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  4. This looks like a fun recipe. Please link this to Artsy Play Wednesday on Capri + 3 (now open).

    : 0 ) Theresa
    http://www.multiples-mom.com

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  5. Hi. We tried it, but the paint got stuck in the bottles and didnt squeeze out. Do you know why?

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    1. Oh no! Did you try adding water? The blog I saw the original recipe on used more water than I did. When I used that much the paint was too runny. Maybe more water would work. Maybe the squeezy bottles I used have a wider opening?

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  6. Oh awesome! I have been thinking of ways to get my toddler in on the arts/crafts without worrying about all the toxins. He is 17 months and loves to put things in his mouth still. I'll have to make this so he can participate too. :)

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  7. Thanks for sharing! I just tried this with my little guy and we had loads of fun:)

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  8. How long is the shelf life for this?

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    1. I have kept it for up to four months before. It might have lasted longer, but by then we used it all up. I store it in the fridge. When I use it I first squirt some in the sink, because some water often separates although not always. :)

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  9. This is a great idea! I already have all the ingredients in my kitchen, which is great. What a wonderful way to be creative and still have a craft that's safe to use with kids.

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  10. Can i use this in Fabrics ?

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    1. I'm pretty certain it would wash off, so no I wouldn't recommend it.

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  11. Would this paint work on pumpkins?

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    1. Yep, that's how we decorated our pumpkins last year. :)

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  12. Will the paintings hold up or do they go bad?

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