Uh oh! You're out of paint! And it's COVID so you don't really want to brave the stores just to get more! Or maybe, you want to paint with your baby who sticks ALL things in her mouth. Or maybe you just want a fun kitchen activity to do with your kiddo that doesn't end in you eating all your calories for the day before noon. Here to save the day is this handy, 3 ingredient, taste-safe, paint you can whip up with ease and lasts up to 6 weeks in the fridge. And I've never had trouble washing it out of clothes (or carpets) so it's a double win!
What you need
Salt
Flour
Food coloring
Mixing Bowl
Whisk
Containers
Measuring cups/tablespoon
I didn't want to have to store huge amounts of paint in my fridge, so I made small batches of each color. If you want more, double the recipe!
In a mixing bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup of water and more food coloring than you think you need (I'm talking 20+ drops if you want vibrant colors.)
Then add in 1/4 cup of flour and 2tbs of table salt and whisk it together. That's it! Ultimately, the best consistency I have found is slightly thinner than brownie mix. Thicker is better for finger painting, thinner is better for using a paint brush. The consistency in my pictures is better for finger printing. When it came time to use it with brushes, I added a little more water to thin it out.
Transfer to a container and rinse out your bowl to make the next color. Any unused paint should be stored in the fridge and will need stirring before it is used again.
A few things of note:
This paint is taste-safe, meaning if your little one wants to experiment with tasting it, no harm. But of course it shouldn't be eaten in mass quantities (sooo much salt!) and to be super duper safe you may want to bake your flour at 300 degrees fahrenheit for 10 minutes and let it cool to kill any potential bacteria.
When this paint dries, especially if it's applied in a thick layer on thin paper, it can flake off. So if you are looking to create a keep sake I don't recommend using this. It's great for creating things you aren't going to mind throwing away when they start to crumble.
I'd love to see your art when its done, so tag me @thismommakes on Facebook or Instagram.