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How to Make Sidewalk Chalk Paint

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I love to get outside and do things with my kiddos. My favorite days are when we are outside playing. We love to jump on the trampoline, run through the sprinklers and we especially love to make chalk paint and paint our driveway all sorts of vibrant colors before washing it away with a hose.
There was a time when it was a lot harder for me to get outside and play with my kids. I have arthritis and sometimes every single step hurts. I didn’t want to make chalk paint and jump on the trampoline because frankly, it just hurt too much. I wasn’t very good about making sure I took Advil right in the morning and it would send the whole day in a tailspin. I grew up with a mom who had arthritis and until she got things under control, we left things early a lot, we skipped things, anything to make the day a little less painful for my mom. One day I finally decided I was sick of always saying no to my kids. Now I make sure to stay on top of the arthritis pain and now we are out jumping on the tramp and making chalk paint! Some days are still harder than others, but by making pain management a priority, our whole family is a lot happier.
There are two different form of chalk paint that we like to make. The first is a paint variety that the kids paint on to the sidewalk with a foam brush and the second is a spray that we put into spray bottles and they spray it on to the sidewalk. I am going to show you how to make both kids, and the best part? It is all going to wash off with water!

 You will need for Sidewalk Chalk Paint:

 

  • 1 Cup of Corn Starch
  • 1 Cup of Water
  • Food Coloring
  • A Muffin Tin
  • Foam Paint Brushes

Mix the corn starch and the water together really well. It will be tough to stir at first, but as the corn starch mixes with the water it will get much easier to stir.  I like making this in a container with a spout, so it is easier to pour it into the muffin tin.

Pour some of the mixture in each cup of a muffin tin. This amount of mixture will let you fill an entire 12 cup muffin tin most of the way full. Don’t fill it all the way to the rim, because you need room to mix the colors in.

 

Add a few drops of food coloring to each cup and stir it with a spoon until the colors are well blended and vibrant.

 

You will need for Sidewalk Chalk Spray Paint:

 

  • 1 Cup Corn Starch
  • 1 Cup Baking Soda
  • 2 Cups Water
  • Food Coloring
  • Spray Bottles

 

Mix the corn starch, baking soda and water together in a container with a spout until well blended. Pour some of the mixture into various spray bottles. Add a few drops of food coloring to each spray bottle and then shake it side to side until well mixed. You don’t want the straw in the spray bottle to touch the bottom or it will get gummed up.

My kids can seriously spend hours outside painting with these different paints. The paints are so much more vibrant than normal sidewalk chalk and it is much easier to fill in their drawings with color.

We also love to take it a step further and play some games with the paints too. We will mark lines on the sidewalk and then do a bean bag toss game to see who can toss the beanbag the furthest. Then we will start making up silly stipulations, like who can toss the bean bag the furthest while hopping on one foot, or throwing it backwards over their shoulder.

My 7-year-old also loves to play tic-tac-toe with the paints too. She is always pine cones and I am rocks.

This paint really does just wash away. My kids usually end up coated in it and I have never had it stain any clothes, even the really vibrant colors. The paint also comes off the bricks and other items my kids have painted outside.

Arthritis affects 53 million Americans in all ages and demographics. It can be so a frustrating thing to deal with, but for most people it is very manageable, especially if you stay on top of it. For minor arthritis pain nothing is recommended more among over the counter drugs than Advil**. I personally love the liquid gels with the EZ open cap. I feel like it works fast and really well for me and it doesn’t hurt my swollen morning joints to get it open.
**Based on a survey of monthly doctor recommendations.

If you are like me and are one of the 53 million who suffer from arthritis, download your Better Living Toolkit here to help you learn to manage your arthritis pain.

Do your kids love chalk as much as mine do?
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Comments

  4. says

    What a fun activity! Love sidewalk chalk and all the fun memories it brings! It also brightens up the boring sidewalk, so thats a win-win!
    Karen | GlamKaren.com

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  7. says

    I'm one of the 53 million but I have the lesser common rheumatoid (or autoimmune) arthritis. I totally hear you about popping the Advil and keep on going. As a mom of 3 boys, I've had to turn to Advil plenty of nights after long fun busy days when my body just couldn't take anymore. Advil definitely helps me!

    And that chalk paint looks fun. My little guys love sidewalk chalk.

    Reply

  15. says

    Oh my gosh, sorry to hear about your arthritis. I'm glad to hear you found something that works. We definitely like sidewalk chalk paint. We haven't made it this year yet, but I use the same recipe cornstarch, water and coloring.

    Reply

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