Finger painting may look like simple, messy play, but there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye—or hand.
When your mini Michelangelo is globbing, smearing, and patting paint onto the canvas, they’re learning color theory, improving hand-eye coordination, and boosting brain development. As your little one experiments with different colors and techniques, they learn to take risks and be curious and brave.
Working with your hands to create something beautiful is good for the mind, body, and soul—and finger painting is no exception!
Want to get even more out of your homemade finger paint? Include aromatherapy by adding essential oils to the paint recipe. Lavender comes in handy, but you can totally use any child-safe essential oil!
Bonus: No kids needed to enjoy this DIY! If you don’t mind getting your hands a little messy, you can have some sophisticated fun with a finger paint and sip date night. Might we suggest these mocktails to get the creativity flowing?
How do you make homemade finger paint?
This finger paint recipe is super easy to make and takes only four ingredients. We’re willing to bet you have them in your cupboard already. Prep the paint while the little ones nap or involve tweens and teens in the creating process too!
Ingredients
1½ cups all-purpose flour
1½ cups salt
1─3 cups water
Natural food coloring
10 drops Lavender essential oil
Instructions
1. Combine flour and salt in a bowl.
2. Add 1 cup of water and stir to mix. Continue to slowly add water a little bit at a time until the paint reaches a liquid consistency with no lumps. You may not need to use the full 3 cups—just use enough to make the paint pourable.
3. Add your desired essential oils and mix in.
4. Separate paint into smaller containers to add food coloring.
YL tip: Rinse your tools and bowls while the mixture is wet. The flour-saltwater combo is easier to clean up before it dries.
To use
Dip fingers in the paints and create!
Our homemade finger paint has a unique, sandy texture, thanks to the salt. This lends to a fun sensory experience during painting and a unique textured look when it dries.
For best results, use canvas or watercolor paper, as these are sturdier than regular coloring paper and the paint goes on pretty thick—almost like puffy paint.
Even though it’s called finger paint, you don’t have to limit yourself to your hands. Try mixing things up with paint brushes or sponges. Let kids experiment with a dry brush and a wet brush and have them compare the results!
YL tip: Lay down newspaper or an old sheet to make cleanup fast and simple.
FAQs
A Truly Non-Toxic Finger Paint Made With Just 2 Ingredients- Yogurt and Food Coloring. If you have a little artist who's still too young to know that paint isn't food, you might want to consider making your own safe and edible paint.
What are the two ingredient edible finger paint? ›
A Truly Non-Toxic Finger Paint Made With Just 2 Ingredients- Yogurt and Food Coloring. If you have a little artist who's still too young to know that paint isn't food, you might want to consider making your own safe and edible paint.
How do you mix finger paint? ›
Homemade finger paint recipe
Put the cornstarch into a large, heat-proof bowl with a little cold water. Mix into a smooth paste with a whisk or fork. Slowly add the boiling water while whisking continuously. You can add more or less water to get the consistency you prefer.
What can I use instead of finger painting? ›
Texture Painting
Texture painting allows children to create paintings of various textures, using simple tools and materials from around the classroom, offering new alternatives to the age-old methods of finger painting or painting with brushes.
How do you make your own finger paint? ›
Ingredients
- 1 cup cornstarch.
- 1/2 cup cold water.
- 2 tablespoons dish soap.
- 1/2 cup hot water.
- Red, yellow, green and blue food color.
Directions
- Mix together sugar, corn starch and water in a saucepan.
- Heat mixture over medium heat while stirring with a whisk. As soon as it begins to thicken, remove from heat. ...
- Divide mixture equally between four bowls and add four drops of food coloring to each bowl.
- Store in an airtight container.
Crayola® Washable Fingerpaint washes easily from skin and most fabrics (not for use as body/face paint).
What paint can you use for finger painting? ›
I typically paint with heavy body acrylic paints. The Liquitex Basics acrylics are some of my favorites to finger paint with, but you can use whatever you have on hand. You'll also need a canvas of some kind. This can be an actual canvas, glass, or even just a piece of printer paper.
How do you thicken finger paint? ›
Cornstarch and flour are the magic ingredients that control how thick your finger paints are, so add more if you want.
How to make cornstarch finger paint? ›
Mix together sugar and cornstarch in a small pan, then slowly add cold water. Cook over low heat, stirring until the mixture becomes a smooth; almost clear gel about 5 minutes. When it's cool, stir in clear dishwashing liquid.
How to Make Homemade Acrylic Paint
- Mix 1/3 cup of white glue with 1/3 cup water in a container that has a lid or cover. Stir the mixture until it is well-mixed.
- Add food colouring or other colourants until you have the desired shade. ...
- Pour the paint into another container for storage.
What you need to make edible cornstarch paint:
- 2 C cornstarch.
- 1 C cold water.
- 2-3 cups Boiling Water (approximately). Add 1 cup at a time until the consistency is similar to acrylic paint.
- 1 tablespoon glycerine (optional but highly recommended)
- Liquid food coloring, or gel food coloring for more vibrant colors.
Instructions
- Combine flour, salt, and 1 cup water in sauce pan.
- Heat flour/water while whisking. ...
- Once it has become thick and pasty, remove from heat.
- Whisk in cold water a few tablespoons at a time until desired consistency is reached.
- Color with food coloring or water colors.
- Allow to cool completely, then paint!
Edible Body Paint
- 3 Tablespoons beeswax.
- 3 Tablespoons coconut oil.
- 1 Tablespoon honey powder.
- 3 Tablespoons cocoa butter.
- ½ teaspoon flavoring.
- Natural food coloring.
