I don’t know about you, but we go through a lot of paint! My girls are all about the paint…and the mess….and the creations. We do stock up on poster paints in bulk, but it can also be fun to make edible paint, or other paints that are non toxic, safe, fun and cheap. 

WHY EDIBLE PAINT?

So, why would we want a paint that you can eat? Of course there are paints you can use on food, but if you have small children having a paint that tastes good or won’t hurt them if they get it in their mouth (ask me who I know!) is valuable. While these paints might not all be ones you could just sit and eat, they are completely safe for your children. 

DIFFERENT RECIPES

There are a few different recipes you can use to make edible paint. Some require a bit of stove top work, but they are not difficult. 

Sugar Finger Paint

You will need:

• 4 tablespoons sugar
• 1/3 cup corn starch
• 2 cups water
• food coloring
  
• Whisk
• Small saucepan 
• Small bowls

What to do:

1. Mix the sugar, cornstarch and water in a saucepan.
2. Heat the mixture over medium heat while stirring with a whisk. As soon as it begins to thicken, remove from heat. If you find the mixture is too thick for your liking, add water.
3. Divide mixture between the bowls and add four drops of food coloring to each bowl. Stir to mix the color.
4. Store in an airtight container. You can store the paint in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Flour Finger Paint

You will need:

• 1/2 cup flour 
• 1 cup hot water
• food coloring

• Small saucepan
• Whisk
• Containers for the paint (small bowls)

What to do:

1. Add the flour and water to a saucepan then whisk over medium heat until you see the mixture start to thicken on the bottom. 
2. Turn the heat off and continue to whisk until smooth. The mixture shouldn’t be too thick. You can add more water to make it a runnier consistency if needed.
3. Divide the mixture into the bowls/containers.
4. Add drops of food coloring and stir.
5. Let the paint cool before painting. You can use it as a finger paint or with paintbrushes. 

Cool-whip Paint

You will need:

• Cool Whip (whipped topping)
• Food Coloring or Kool-Aid drink mix packets

• Small bowls

What to do:

1. Put about half a cup of whipped topping into each bowl
2. Add several drops of food coloring and mix. Add more food coloring to get to your liking. Or you can add one packet of Kool-Aid drink mix to each bowl. 

Note: the colors will be muted with the white whipped topping

WAYS TO USE THE PAINT

You can use edible paint on paper, of course, but they are great on other “canvasses”. We like to use them in the bath, letting the girls paint all over the walls and then washing it off. 

My girls are also ones to not let the bounds of paper confine them. 95% of the time, art time becomes body art time. This is when these types of paint are ideal! They paint themselves and then hose off. 

These paints are great on trees, driveways, and walls because they are washable. 

What a great way to explore color and design! Let the world be your canvas, without worries about it staying there. You can paint, wash it off and paint again!

Here are some other fun summer activities:
Fluffy Sidewalk Chalk Paint
Watermelon Sun catcher