Today we are making a really easy homemade watercolor paint recipe that you can do with your kids. Making watercolors requires a few common ingredients that you probably have in your kitchen already! Your kids will be painting with homemade watercolor paints within minutes without a trip to the store or spending money.
DIY Watercolor Paints
This easy watercolor paint recipe can be made ahead and saved for later just like regular store-bought water color paints. This is an easy way to make homemade paint. Making watercolor paint gets kids involved in conversations around making paint, creating colors, mixing colors and other color subjects.
Related: Lots of How to Make Paint ideas for Kids
Homemade paint recipes like these watercolors is great because not only is it an easier project to make paint at home than you might think, but it is also inexpensive and can be part of the crafting fun. Now let’s move on to the actual homemade paint recipe including what you will need to get started watercolor painting…
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How to Make Watercolor Paint
Supplies Needed – Homemade Watercolor Paint Recipe
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Light corn syrup
- Cornstarch
- Half-dozen egg carton (or another container of your choice)
- Assorted food coloring 4-pack (if you are looking for natural food dye alternatives, check out those ideas!)
Directions to Make Homemade Watercolor Paint Recipe
Short Video Tutorial: How to Make Homemade Water Color Paint
Step 1
In a mixing bowl, mix 4 tablespoons baking soda with 2 tablespoons vinegar until fizzing stops.
Step 2
Stir while adding 1/2 teaspoon corn syrup & 2 tablespoons cornstarch — it is a crazy texture that feels solid until you stir it. Continue mixing until a uniform consistency.
Step 3
Divide the mixture by pouring into individual egg carton cups, filling each about a third to halfway full.
Step 4
Add five to 10 drops food coloring to each cup, mixing in thoroughly with a craft stick. To reach a more vibrant color, you may need to add more drops of food coloring.
Step 5
Allow paints to set overnight. Use paints on watercolor paper with a wet paintbrush.
Psst…if you want to use the watercolor paint immediately, it still works! It just will be a watery paint consistency. Be sure to let them dry overnight before you store them!
Storing Your Homemade Watercolors
Before you put away the watercolor paints, make sure they dry out. Once they are dried they are as hearty as a regular store-bought set. Each time you go to use them again, just put your brush under water and then make a light layer of water on the dry paint.
Have fun painting with your new watercolors!
Easy Watercolor Paint Recipe
This easy watercolor paint recipe is perfect for making with kids because it is quick and uses ingredients you already have at home. You can store this homemade paint just like regular watercolor paints and it is a fraction of the cost.
Materials
- 4 tablespoons Baking soda
- 2 tablespoons White vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon light corn syrup
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- food coloring
Tools
- spoon or something to mix with
- egg carton or other paint holder
- mixing bowl
Instructions
- In mixing bowl, combine baking soda and vinegar until the fizzing stops.
- Add corn syrup.
- Add cornstarch.
- Mix.
- Divide into egg carton cups filling each 1/3rd full.
- Add 5-10 drops of food coloring to each cup.
- Allow to dry overnight.
Notes
When you want to use them, add a little water to your paint brush and skim over the dry paint to make watercolors.
More Information on this Watercolor Paint Recipe
This idea also appeared on Shannon’s blog, Everyday Best and was featured in Body+Soul Magazine May 2010. It was inspired by Jackie over at Happy Hooligans who created some beautiful primary colored watercolor paints you need to check out.
More Watercolor Paint Ideas from Kids Activities Blog
- Use your homemade watercolor paints with a white crayon to make crayon resist watercolor art…such a fun watercolor art project for kids of almost any age.
- These watercolor Valentines are the cutest thing ever to send to school! So simple and full of artistic fun.
- These surprise watercolor art ideas fit really well with our secret codes for kids ideas…shhh, don’t let anyone in on the secrets!
- This is another way to make homemade watercolor paint…watercolor marker art. Genius!
- Make watercolor spider web art — it works year round, but is especially fun around Halloween.
- Watercolor butterfly pasta art. Yep, all those wonderful things come together for fun. Or check out all our easy butterfly painting ideas!
- Print these 14 original flower coloring pages and use your new homemade watercolor paints to create a beautiful bouquet!
- Upgrade your watercolor technique using crayon resist!
- Check out this cool bubble wrap watercolor painting art project for kids!
How did your homemade watercolor paint turn out? What watercolor paint colors did you create?
This us one of the recipes we haven’t tried yet. I’m excited to use it because we’ve not tried any with these ingredients! Thanks for the VIDEO too!