Homemade Puff Paint

We’re giving potty training another go here at Camp Toddlertown so we’ve been stuck inside the house all week. You add together toilet plus toddler plus mobile baby plus cabin fever and you’re more than certain to get a very frazzled mama! I guess that’s why we’ve been on crafty projects overload over here. Making art with Jack always brings me back from the ledge…well, that and a nice cold beer at the end of the day. Which reminds me…

<opens ice cold Shiner>

As much as I love crafting, I still have to acknowledge the fact that more times than not, I’ll have to do so with a 20 lb baby on my hip. He’s awfully cute in the limiting sort of way. That’s why when we decided to try out the puffy paint recipe from Housing a Forest, I knew I was going to have to adjust the process a bit. So instead of mixing the ingredients in a bowl, I poured everything directly into a plastic bag and then just snipped the end when we were ready. I was able to do the whole thing, from start to finish, while holding Max. Major win.

The recipe is based off of the one from Housing a Forest with the addition of a water measurement. I highly suggest you check out her blog if you’re into making art with your kids. Such a wonderful resource!

Homemade Puff Paint

Materials:
– 1/2 flour
– 2 tsp baking powder
– 2 tsp salt
– scant 1/2 c water
– food coloring
– cardboard

Instructions:

1. Pour dry ingredients into separate baggies and mix thoroughly.

2. Add water and allow your crazy 2 year old 3 year old (!!) to squish it until mixed thoroughly. Add more water/flour until it’s the consistency of paste.

3. Drop approximately 5 drops of color into each bag. More if you want the colors to be more vibrant, less if you want a more pastel look.

4. Use the same Crazy Toddler Method to mix the colors into the paste thoroughly.

5. Once the color is mixed in, squeeze all the paint toward one corner and snip 1/4 inch off the end (like a pastry bag). Allow Crazy Toddler to go to town on a piece of cardboard or chip board.

6. Pop in the microwave for a minute or two (depending on the thickness of paint) and you’re done. That is unless you can resist the temptation to make your own art!