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Kids should not be spending summers indoors staring at screens, right? Instead, get them to help you whip up a few bottles of this simple sidewalk squirt chalk! All you'll need are some squeeze bottles, water, and a couple of common pantry items to create hours of artistic outdoor fun for the whole family.
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Things You'll Need
Mixing bowl or large measuring cup with spout
Funnel
Step 1: Mix Starch and Water
The base recipe is simple as can be: one part corn starch to one part water. We used one cup of each, and this was more than enough for a few hours of painting for two little sidewalk artists.
First, add the cornstarch to a mixing bowl or large measuring cup.
Then, gradually add the water while mixing at the same time. This allows you to get rid of lumps as they're forming. Continue adding and mixing until your liquid chalk is lump free.
Step 2: Add Food Coloring
If using one cup of starch to one cup water, you'll need about 10 - 12 drops of food coloring to create a pretty pastel shade.
Mix well.
If making less squirt chalk, use less drops of food coloring.
Tip
We recommend not going overboard (stay in the pastel territory) as the more food coloring you use, the harder it will be to remove the color from the sidewalk if you choose to let the chalk completely dry out in the hot sun. We recommend you experiment with less food coloring first and see how the cleaning-up process goes.
Step 3: Pour Into Squirt Bottle
Insert the funnel into the condiment squeeze bottle and pour in your liquid chalk. Make as many colors as you'd like.
Step 4: Paint!
You're ready to spruce up your sidewalk with some original works of art. We told you it was simple!
Tip
If you allow the bottles to sit for a little while, the cornstarch will settle to the bottom. If you see a layer of starch sediment, make sure you shake vigorously to mix it back in before starting to paint.
Once it dries, the liquid will become a chalk-like texture. Take photos of your creations for posterity, and simply spray the sidewalk with a hose to clean up, as with regular chalk. If you've used more food coloring to create vibrant hues, we recommend that you not allow the paint to dry completely in the hot sun so it doesn't stain the concrete.
We can't wait to see the sidewalk paintings you and your little ones create!