A homemade DIY paint recipe for the kids that contains all edible ingredients, zero toxins, and is super cheap and easy to make too!
These homemade paints are so quick, cheap, and easy to make – you can literally create these non-toxic paints from basic pantry items in less than 10 minutes! The colour options are near endless, and because these paints are safe to ingest, they are perfect for finger painting too.
This homemade non-toxic paint recipe is great for quickly whipping up on an afternoon when the kids are bored – it’s quick and easy to make, and you probably already have the ingredients in your pantry! Made from all edible ingredients, you won’t need to stress about someone eating (or pets licking) the paint either.
These DIY paints can be made in just 5 minutes! Simply blend the flour and salt together, and then whisk in cold water until dissolved.
It’s then just a matter of mixing in the colouring of your choosing. I like to put the paints in these squeezable sauce bottles $1.50 from Kmart, because it makes them easier to store and results in less mess and wastage. You will need to give them a shake before using.
These homemade paints are pretty easy to clean, however, I’d avoid getting them on the carpet or couch if you’re using food colouring, it may stain. A big waterproof tablecloth is great for backyard painting, but a canvas and paintbrush at the kitchen bench whilst mum is prepping dinner also works a charm!
This non-toxic DIY paint recipe is a definite crowd pleaser!
PrintNon-Toxic Paint For Kids
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 5 mins
Ingredients
- 1 cup salt
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup cold water
- Food colouring
Instructions
- Blend flour and salt together in a large bowl.
- Add in cold water and mix until smooth
- Add food colouring and mix.
- Increase food colouring until desired colour is reached.
- Use a funnel to pour paint into squeezable bottle.
- Shake before use.
LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF THIS RECIPE! – If you’ve tried this DIY Paint recipe, please leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who’ve made my recipes! You can SUBSCRIBE to receive my newsletters with the latest recipes or FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST for even more fabulous recipes.
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WHAT WILL YOUR CHILDREN CREATE WITH THIS HOMEMADE PAINT?
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33 comments
I had a lot of trouble with this recipe… ended up probably using 5 or 6 cups of water to 1 cup ea of flour & salt. Also as it was boiling water, it ended up extremely lumpy so I spent ages seiving it… but eventually it was lovely edible paint!
Oh no Amy 🙁 Mine came together pretty effortlessly… I am glad it all worked out in the end though. Hope your little ones enjoyed using the paint. Kat x
same here, lumpy and not so smooth, thick ?
How disappointing 🙁 Mine came together very well. Perhaps try with water that’s a little cooler? If you do give this a go, please let me know how it works out for you. Kat x
I’m going to give this a try and have previously made my own paint at home, but I’m womdering if you could give a timeframe on how long it may last before needimf replacing?
Hi Laura, we used ours up pretty quickly so didn’t need to store it. I would imagine that it you gave it a good shake before use it would last a while. Please let me know how you go with this 🙂
ended up needing way more water than it says. turned into a giant ball of dough org just one cup.
Great recipe, thanks!!!! It worked easily. Maybe the others had trouble because they used boiling water/ hot water? The recipe worked just as instructed 🙂
So happy to hear Michela! I did make this with boiling water the first time, but after other people had some trouble with it I created it again with cold water and it worked even better! Have fun painting lovely 🙂 Kat x
Tried this but the amount of food colouring needed… OMG!!!! What did colouring did everyone use to get vibrant instead of washed out colours and how much did you have to use?
Use food colouring paste hun, a tiny amount, 2 drips I used for a vibrant colour, I bought a set of 10 colours on amazon for £12 x
Brilliant! Thank you so much! My daughter works in child care and due to lock down all paint supplies are gone in stores. Just whipped this up , happy days…and kids!
Fabulous to hear! Enjoy your painting 🙂
I ended up using 1.5 cups of water for the paint, I didn’t want it to be so thick and it worked great for us to make at home. Fun and easy!
Fabulous to hear! I hope you guys painted up a storm together 🙂
Thanks for the recipe! This is the second make-your-own paint recipe we’ve tried and so far this one worked better than the last. Paint was a bit gritty and I had to add more cold water than it called for only because we preferred a more liquid consistency. Other than that, worked well. Thanks again!
This is great to hear! Hope you guys painted up a storm 🙂
Thanks for this. I wish I’d read this first before using the standard flower, water, salt mix. Might start again with your recipe if it doesn’t dry properly. Trying to use the gluten-free flour before it goes off and can’t be used for cooking.
Best of luck Danny! 🙂
When the paint is dried on paper can you keep the artwork or does it eventually go bad/mouldy from the flour?
Adrienne I believe that you can keep them. A friend of mine kept some paintings her children painted about a year ago using this paint and they are fine. Hope this helps 🙂 Kat x
I think salt preserves it? Like why you use it in play-dough?
Yes I believe you are correct Isabella
Worked a treat! Thank you for the recipe!
Oh I’m so glad to hear Maddi 🙂 I hope your kiddos had fun painting Kat x
Needed a little more water than recommended to get paint viscosity but worked great! I used a hand mixer to get it really even and smooth. Made purple, pink, yellow and teal ?? thank you!
Those are lovely colours! So glad you liked the recipe. Kat x
Needed a little more water than recommended to get paint viscosity but worked great! I used a hand mixer to get it really even and smooth. Made purple, pink, yellow and teal ?? thank you!
Can these paints be stored for long? I’ve read some things about home-made paints needing to be used up within a day or two or else they ferment.
Ours didn’t work either. We used coconut flour so maybe that was the issue? it looked smooth until we tried painting and it was just coloured lumps on paper. I wonder if it was just down to the flour…
I would say so, coconut flour has quite a different consistency. If you make it again sometime, try the flour in the recipe and see if you have success.
I just made this for my 4yr old grandson. It came out perfect! I can’t wait to paint with him and see if the colors look as good on paper as they do in the bottles! The only thing I’m wondering is how smooth it will be. It feels a bit grainy.
Made this tonight as a post dinner activity for my toddler that’s on a later schedule :)! Turned out great but I did add another 1/4 cup water. Also I used my stick emulsion blender to whip it up before adding colors. I then put it in a silicone cupcake pan and added colors as I desired.