Sidewalk Chalk Paint

Kim Posted: 03/10/24 Share a comment

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

For a fun twist on traditional sidewalk chalk, try this sidewalk chalk paint recipe. Kids will love creating art on the sidewalk with these paints. You can easily paint pictures, write words or even design your own painted obstacle course with these paints!

RELATED: Puffy Sidewalk Paint

DIY Sidewalk Chalk Paint

This sidewalk chalk paint will make one muffin cup of paint. If you want to fill your muffin tin you will need to repeat the recipe for each color.

You can also double or triple the recipe and make a larger batch and then split it into smaller containers and add the sidewalk chalk in last to save time.

Supplies Needed

Corn Starch
Water
Sidewalk Chalk – the leftover remnants of old chalk are perfect for this!
Muffin Tin
Paintbrushes
Measuring Cup

This recipe will make one color to fill a muffin cup. If you want to fill the whole muffin tin, you need to repeat this recipe for each color.

Notes on Staining:

One of the reasons why we make all of our sidewalk paint recipes with sidewalk chalk is that it is much easier to clean than using food coloring or washable paint. We have tested both ways and using sidewalk chalk has never given us an issue to wash off. It’s also a great way to use up small pieces of leftover chalk too! You can substitute with a drop of food coloring, but be sure to do a test patch first to check if it stains before painting.

Tips: We suggest you have a high pressure spray hose ready to rinse off when you’re done. Do not leave it sitting out in the hot sun for too long. We suggest testing the sidewalk chalk paint in an inconspicuous area and then try washing it away with water.

A note about sidewalk chalk: Sidewalk chalk is designed to be washable but can sometimes stain newer driveways or sidewalks if the surface still has open surface pores in the concrete which can absorb the colorants. Always read the packaging of the sidewalk chalk you purchase.

How long does the sidewalk chalk paint last?

We recommend you use the paint the same day that it is made. The cornstarch will start to settle at the bottom of the muffin tin and harden if not used right away. If this does happen, use a spoon to mix it up again.

Clean-up Tips

When you are finished, simply spray it down with a garden hose on the highest pressure setting. We recommend you spray while the paint is still wet and do not let it dry in the sun. If this happens, get a brush broom to help scrub some of the paint off while spraying with water.

If you are still having difficulty cleaning up, wet the paint and wait 5 minutes. Then spray the area with the highest pressure setting on your nozzle and as close to the paint as possible on a slight angle.

Watch the video tutorial here!

How To Make Sidewalk Chalk Paint

Kids will love helping you make this sidewalk chalk paint!

No ratings yet

Sidewalk Chalk Paint

How to Make Sidewalk Chalk Paint

Prep Time3

Pin it! Print

Save

Materials

▢ 2 tbsp cornstarch
▢ 2 tbsp water If not painting well enough, add 1 extra tablespoon of water
▢ 1/2 tbsp sidewalk chalk Or approx 1/4 to 1/2 a piece of chalk

Instructions

Add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch into a measuring cup.
Add 2 tablespoons of water into the cup and mix. Note: if you find the paint does not paint well, add an additional tablespoon of water.
Grate sidewalk chalk to get approx 1/2 tablespoon of chalk. Add it into the cup. If you would rather not grate the chalk, place the chalk pieces into a ziploc bag and bang with a rolling pin until it turns into a similar consistency. Mix.
Pour the paint mixture into a muffin tin once fully mixed.
Repeat for each color you'd like to make.

Notes

If you would like to make a larger batch, you can double or triple the recipe. It’s a 1:1 ratio of cornstarch to water, so you can make a large batch using that same ratio. If you would like to save time, mix 3/4 of a cup of cornstarch with 3/4 cup of water. Pour this into each muffin tin (6 muffin cups) and then mix in the sidewalk chalk.

If you find the paint to be a little dry when painting, just add another tablespoon of water into each muffin cup and mix it in.

If you do not want to grate the chalk, you can place the chalk pieces into a Ziploc bag and bang it with a rolling pin.

For a faster method, you can skip the cornstarch and mix 1/2 tablespoon of grated chalk with just water.

Note – if you find the paint to be too thick, add a little more water to each cup (about 1 tablespoon) and mix it in. The consistency should be watery so that you can paint with it. If it is too thick then the paint will go on clumpy.

If you are interested in trying a store-bought sidewalk paint, we recommend this kind by Crayola.