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You are here: Home / Projects / DIY and Projects / 10 Recipes for Homemade Art Supplies

10 Recipes for Homemade Art Supplies

April 17, 2017 By Angie Kauffman · PRINTABLES TIP: Always go toward the end of a post to find the printable. · Disclosure: This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. {I may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.}

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Ten Recipes for Homemade Art Supplies is a post by Tanya of Homeschooling x 3.

Art projects can be a mom’s best friend! I know they are for this homeschool mama. Art projects give us something to do on days when we are stuck inside, and keep the kids off of the television and video games when they are bored.

Want to make homemade art supplies at home? Here are recipes for ten homemade art supplies you can make today! | Real Life at Home

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While it is important to have store-bought, quality art supplies at times, having recipes for homemade art supplies using household ingredients is great (especially for my little one) because the supplies are inexpensive, and I can keep making more when we run out!

Easy Recipes for Homemade Art Supplies

I’ve included some links for items you might not have on hand for your convenience when making your homemade art supplies. These are affiliate links, which don’t change how much you pay. We might receive a small compensation when you shop through them though. Thanks!

How to Make Homemade Finger Paint

In a small saucepan, mix together 1/4 cup cornflour and 2 cups of water. Add food coloring to get to desired color.

Boil until mixture thickens, then allow to cool. Pour into lidded containers to store (these are inexpensive and disposable).

How to Make Homemade Watercolor Paint

Simply mix together 3 tablespoons corn starch, 1 and 1/2 teaspoons corn syrup, 3 tablespoons baking soda, and 3 tablespoons white vinegar.

Pour into separate containers with lids for use & storage.

Mix in a few drops of food coloring into each container to make different colors.

Explore: Art Projects for Small Children

How to Make Homemade Puffy Paint

In a bowl, mix together equal parts of flour, salt, and water. Mix in food coloring for color.

Pour into squeeze bottle for use and storage.

How to Make Homemade Playdough

Combine 2 cups of flour, 1/2 cup of salt, 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, and a cup of boiling water until you get a playdough consistency.

Store in a Ziploc bag when not in use.

You can add a few drops of food coloring for color, or a packet of Kool-aid for color and scent!

Explore: Playdough Recipes and Mats

How to Make Homemade Flubber or Slime

In one bowl, stir together 3/4 cup warm water, 1 cup of glue, and food coloring to get the color you want.

In a second bowl, stir together 1/2 cup water and 2 teaspoons of Borax (in the laundry aisle at the store).

Pour the first mix into the second bowl and you have slime / flubber! Just reach in and pull out the chunk of flubber (pour out the extra liquid).

How to Make Homemade Bath Crayons

Grate a bar of soap until you have about 1 cup. Mix with 1 cup of hot water until the gratings are melted and you have a stiff dough.

Mix in a few drops of food coloring for color.

Press the dough into molds (you can use candy or soap molds) and allow to harden.

Explore: Recycling Old Crayons: Fun Art Project

How to Make Homemade Lick and Stick Stickers

Pour 2 tablespoons of cold water into a bowl and sprinkle 1 packet of plain gelatin over it. Whisk in 3 tablespoons of boiling water until gelatin is dissolved.

Add 1/2 tablespoon corn syrup and a few drops of flavored extract for taste.

Apply a thin layer of this solution to the back of whatever you want to make into a “sticker”.

Let it completely dry, and there you have it – your child can simply lick and stick when ready!

How to Make Homemade Bubble Mix

Mix together 6 cups of water, 2 cups of liquid dishwashing soap, and 3/4 cup corn syrup or liquid glycerine.

Allow to sit for a couple of hours before using to blow bubbles!

How to Make Homemade Sidewalk Chalk

In a bowl, mix together 1/3 cup quick-setting plaster of paris, 1 tablespoon of powdered paint for color, and 3 tablespoons water. Quickly spoon mixture into (soap or candy molds), or into cookie cutters set on wax paper. Tap to remove air bubbles.

Allow to dry for 45 minutes, then carefully remove from mold or cookie cutters.


How to Make Homemade Chalkboard Paint

Paint a chalkboard on your wall, a kids’ tabletop, anywhere you want to be able to write with chalk!

Mix 2 tablespoons of tile grout for every 1 cup of paint.

Apply at least 2 coats of paint to your surface, and when it dries smooth it with 150-grit sandpaper.

Before using any chalkboard, its best to turn a piece of chalk sideways and color the entire surface once, then wipe off with a damp cloth. This “conditions” your new chalkboard.

Explore: Thankful Chalkboard Art Tutorial

Source: These recipes come from my manilla folder filled with cut-out arts & crafts recipes saved over the last decade of homeschooling! Enjoy!

Need ideas for art projects? Here are some great sites we love to check out:

  • You are An Artist Series from HodgePodge
  • Art for Kids Hub
  • Art Projects for Kids

Other Posts and Projects You May Love:

Fun and Easy Outdoor Splatter Painting Activity for Kids

Ten Quality Art Supplies to Keep on Hand for Your Kids

Want to make homemade art supplies at home? Here are recipes for ten homemade art supplies you can make today! | Real Life at HomeYou can find Tanya doing arts & crafts and other homeschool activities over at Homeschooling x3. 

10 Recipes for Homemade Art Supplies was originally published January 18, 2011; updated April 2017

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Filed Under: Crafts and Projects for Kids, DIY and Projects Tagged With: art, finances and frugal tips

About Angie Kauffman

Angie, mom to three very fun kids, is the founder of Real Life at Home.  With degrees in elementary education (B.A.) and special education (M.S.Ed.), as well as being a former homeschooler, she is passionate about supporting both parents and teachers by providing printables, crafts, and activities to help children learn and grow.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Trina says

    January 18, 2011 at 1:35 pm

    My only problem is I have SO many things I want to make, I’m not sure where this will shake out on the long list. But I love it so much, I had to share it on my own blog. (Hope that’s okay!) Thank you for gathering this info for so long…

    Reply
    • Tanya says

      January 18, 2011 at 7:51 pm

      Thanks, Trina! Of course it is okay to share, and thank you so much for that. Getting the kids to help make the supplies, not just use them, makes it easier and more fun to get done!

      By the way, I love how you talk about everyone getting the same 24 hours in every day. I say that often to myself, and remind myself that how I choose to use those 24 hours is what makes the difference.

      Cheers,
      Tanya

      Reply
  2. Julie says

    January 18, 2011 at 8:46 pm

    Thanks for sharing these recipes, I am definitely going to make some up with my little one.

    Reply
  3. Darcey says

    January 23, 2011 at 3:55 pm

    Thanks for posting these recipes. Some of these art supplies, I didn’t know you could make at home. I’ve found this post very useful! I’ve linked up to your post on my weekly favorites here: http://play2grow.blogspot.com/2011/01/weekly-favorites-for-january-23-2011.html

    Reply
    • Tanya says

      January 25, 2011 at 4:28 pm

      Thanks for featuring the article in your list, Darcy. What a neat idea for a blog – community for childcare providers. Very neat.

      Reply
  4. abbie says

    January 24, 2011 at 9:44 am

    These are great! So many fun things to try. We love making our own supplies.
    Thanks for sharing your amazing finds.

    Reply
  5. Tiffany @ No Ordinary Homestead says

    January 25, 2011 at 9:37 am

    This is great! I’m all for making our own supplies because it means I don’t have to drive all over the place trying to figure out where they’d sell that in Germany 🙂

    Tweeting this later as txblond!

    Reply
  6. Betsy (Eco-novice) says

    January 25, 2011 at 11:40 pm

    Great resource. Always nice to know what’s in the art supplies, esp. since they often end up in the mouth.

    Reply
  7. Aimee @ Chickenville says

    January 27, 2011 at 8:43 pm

    I LOVE this. What great info to have all in one place. I do feel like we are always trying to fit everything in…a science experiment, crafting, cooking or playing a game. So much fun and not enough time.

    Reply
  8. Barbra The Bloggess says

    January 31, 2011 at 2:45 pm

    Great ideas! I’m so glad I found you! I just had to feature you on my facebook fan page!

    Reply
    • Tanya says

      February 25, 2011 at 8:21 am

      Thanks so much Barbra!

      Reply
  9. Heather says

    February 24, 2011 at 2:55 pm

    I work in a daycare and these are perfect for a tight budget! I also have made puffy paint with glue, shaving cream and liquid water color. I dries nice and puffy, just another suggestion in case you would like to try it too. Thank you for some great new ideas!

    Reply
    • Tanya says

      February 25, 2011 at 8:22 am

      Thanks, Heather! And hey, thanks for the puffy paint idea – I am definitely going to try that.

      Reply
  10. Karen says

    February 24, 2011 at 7:03 pm

    Great ideas and so much fun. Karen

    Reply
  11. marilyn jennings says

    February 26, 2011 at 11:02 am

    ty so much. I cannot wait to try all of the homemade art supplies.

    Reply
  12. Sara @ Mom Endeavors says

    February 26, 2011 at 4:56 pm

    We made a version of puff paint this winter and called it “snow paint”. It dries soft and puffy. http://www.momendeavors.com/2011/01/snow-paint.html
    Would be totally fun to try it with some food coloring too! 🙂

    Reply
    • Tanya says

      March 9, 2011 at 10:30 am

      Thanks for sharing, Sara! Now snow paint definitely looks like something my little one would have a blast with. What a great site you have – so many fun ideas!

      Reply
  13. Nicole says

    February 26, 2011 at 5:53 pm

    These are all such great ideas! I just wanted to say we have made the puffy paint you mention in this post and used regular tempera paint, not the powdered kind. My son LOVED it! It was a lot of fun and I had to make another batch that same day. I think tempera powder would work too, but might make it a bit thicker. Ours was a good consistency, but if you use the powder you could always add a bit more water until the consistency is just right.

    Reply
    • Tanya says

      March 9, 2011 at 10:34 am

      Ooh, thanks soooo much for clarifying this for us all! I was hoping someone would chime in. I’m glad you had fun! And I love your site – so many great activities.

      Reply
  14. Janet from Creative Writing says

    March 5, 2011 at 6:27 pm

    Thanks so much for these art recipes! Commercial supplies can be so expensive, and these certainly help those of us on tight budgets! Hmmm…I wonder now how I could spin these recipes into science lessons on color and light? 🙂

    Reply
  15. Amanda says

    June 2, 2011 at 10:22 am

    So excited to try some of these! How inexpensive and easy they seem! Thanks!

    Reply
  16. Allyson says

    August 19, 2011 at 9:01 pm

    I am going to school to become a teacher, and these are great recipes to have on hand! Love it!

    Reply
  17. Connie says

    February 29, 2012 at 11:24 pm

    Thank-you so much for these recipes! I’ve seen others, but your list is the most comprehensive and easiest to follow. Thanks again! My babe is only 6 months old, but I can’t wait to share these projects with him. 🙂

    Reply
  18. Shirley says

    March 9, 2012 at 9:41 am

    Can someone who’s made the bath crayons chime in? I tried making them and they turned out all wrong. Help?

    Reply
  19. amber says

    March 27, 2012 at 12:26 pm

    Hi! Any idea how long some of these items last for? I am looking for party favors for my son’s birthday and was hoping I could make them ahead of time by a few weeks to save myself stress!

    Reply
  20. Keshia says

    July 31, 2012 at 2:34 pm

    thank you for this site!!
    with the chalkboard paint, is there a certain kind of paint or color to use?

    Reply
  21. Miss D says

    September 9, 2012 at 1:08 pm

    Tempra paint may be purchased as a liquid or a powdered paint. We use the liquid kind in my classroom. It is washable and nontoxic.

    Reply
  22. Sophie's World says

    July 26, 2013 at 4:19 pm

    Awesome recepies! I can’t wait to try these 🙂 Wanted to share one of my personal favorites – Ice Chalk! Perfect for your aspiring artist or budding scientist and lets kids experiment with temperature, color and texture: http://www.sophie-world.com/blog/you-made-it-i-love-it-ice-chalk

    Reply
  23. Karly - Pullingers says

    March 18, 2014 at 8:42 am

    Fantastic suggestions Tanya! Making art supplies at home will not only be easier on your purse but it’s more environmentally friendly. You can also have a lot of fun making them! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  24. Art Supplies says

    February 24, 2022 at 9:21 pm

    This is very helpful for many artists, especially to all beginners. Unfortunately, being an artist is a bit expensive, buying all the art material you need. When I started, I saved money from my salary, and by the end of the month, I would search for discounted art supplies, and fortunately, there’s a lot you can find online.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Tweets that mention 10 Recipes for Homemade Art Supplies -- Topsy.com says:
    January 18, 2011 at 10:04 am

    […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Erin Ulrich, Colleen . Colleen said: RT @HSClassroom: 10 Recipes for Homemade Art Supplies http://goo.gl/fb/tfMtJ (New Blog Post) […]

    Reply
  2. Great things 3.1.11 « parentplanet.info says:
    March 1, 2011 at 10:47 am

    […] art supplies to make at home…we are so trying the lick and stick stickers…my son loves stickers! […]

    Reply
  3. 40 Art Materials You Can Make at Home says:
    July 18, 2013 at 12:46 pm

    […] Jello Art from Lalymom 37. Lick ‘N Stick Stickers from the Homeschool Classroom 38. Glowing Glue from Growing A Jeweled Rose 39. Recycled […]

    Reply

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Meet Angie

Angie, mom to three very fun kids, is the founder of Real Life at Home.  With degrees in elementary education (B.A.) and special education (M.S.Ed.), as well as being a former homeschooler, she is passionate about supporting both parents and teachers by providing printables, crafts, and activities to help children learn and grow. Read More…

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