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How To Make Outdoor Chalk Paint – Help Keep Kids Busy This Summer

Do you want to learn how to make outdoor chalk paint? It’s such a great DIY craft to have in your back pocket – especially now that the summer is here.

outdoor chalk paint

The kids are always spending so much time outside and looking for things to do. Messy things! And if you have a wide variety of chalk paint colors for them to choose from, you will keep them busy for hours.

The best part about this outdoor DIY craft idea? Endless ideas = endless fun. Seriously, chalk paint is something that can be used over and over again whenever they feel like it.

It is also so easy to whip up. All you need are a few key ingredients and some bored kids. I’m sure you have both right now. LOL!

Can chalk paint be used outside?

I love to get the kids outside when the sun is shining. Anything I can do to get these kids off the Internet!! Am I right? One thing we love to do is paint on our sidewalk. We have a big driveway and everyone takes a corner a creates a little work of art.

And chalk paint is such a fun tool to use to keep their little hands busy. We love to try to make as much as we can on our own because it’s cheaper and quicker that way. One less trip to the craft store, right?

Chalk paint can be used on your drive way with ease if you stick to the following ingredients listed below.

Related: 10 Sidewalk Chalk Games For Kids – Outdoor Play Fun

How to Make DIY Sidewalk Chalk Paint

How To Make Outdoor Chalk Paint

At the end, our house ends up looking like a museum! I love it. If you want to learn how To make outdoor chalk paint, check out my instructions below. It’s so easy to make! Your kids will be painting in no time.

DIY Sidewalk Chalk Paint Ingredients

Outdoor Chalk Paint Ingredients

  • 2 cups Cornstarch
  • 2 cups Water
  • Food Coloring, misc. colors
  • 8 small plastic cups
  • Paintbrushes

How To Make Outdoor Chalk Paint – Directions

How To Make DIY Sidewalk Chalk Paint

In a mixing bowl, combine the water and cornstarch and stir until the cornstarch dissolves and it is smooth. It will be kind of runny. So, don’t worry about that.

Divide the mixture evenly into the small plastic cups. Use the food coloring to make a different color paint in each cup. You can even mix the food coloring to come up with your own custom colors.

exterior chalk paint

Then, use paintbrushes to paint pictures on the sidewalk or driveway outside. The mixture is thinner and runnier than regular paint, but just paint your pictures like you would with any other paint.

The paint dries quickly, and it will resemble sidewalk chalk. The colors are very bright once they dry! It washes off very easily with rain or the hose. So, don’t worry about permanently staining anything.

This is so much fun to use and a nice change from traditional sidewalk chalk. Happy Painting!

Does sidewalk chalk paint wash off?

As noted above, with a bit of rain or a running hose, this mixture will run clear. It is not permanent. So, you do not have to worry about seeing the chalk drawings your children make for the rest of your life.

What Should My Kids Draw?

By the way, if you are looking for suggestion, here are 100 Easy Things To Draw With Chalk! I love to print out this suggestion list and just hand it over to my littles. Keeps them going for a while!

sun painted on driveway with chalk paint

What do you think about this DIY idea? Are you going to give this summer activity a try? I think your kids will love it! My 13-year-old does this on her own without any of my help.

OF COURSE, all of the mixing takes place OUTSIDE. There is no way any of this science will take place anywhere near my rugs. But it certainly is a great thing to do on concrete. LOL! How to make outdoor chalk paint isn’t so bad, right?!  Give it a shot.

outdoor fun for kids

To be honest with you, I love to work on outdoor activities that have a bit of fun and a bit of learning. Mixing ingredients, measuring, being careful about making a mess, cleaning up = life lessons!

exterior chalk paint

While this outdoor chalk paint craft is a really enjoyable activity for the kids, it is also one that has some solid takeaways. Of course, make sure you are around to supervise!!

Is This The Same Chalk Paint Used On Furniture?

While it is the same term, this DIY craft is not chalk paint that can be used to stain furniture. Exterior paint used to stain benches and breathe new life into outdoor furniture is more permanent.

If you are taking on a paint job like that, good luck!

fun for kids with paint
outdoor chalk paint

Outdoor Chalk Paint

Do you want to learn how to make outdoor chalk paint? It's such a great DIY craft to have in your back pocket - especially now that the summer is here.

Materials

  • 2 cups Cornstarch
  • 2 cups Water
  • Food Coloring, misc. colors
  • 8 small plastic cups
  • Paintbrushes

Instructions

  1. In a mixing bowl, combine the water and cornstarch and stir until the cornstarch dissolves and it is smooth. It will be kind of runny.
  2. Divide the mixture evenly into the small plastic cups. Use the food coloring to make a different color paint in each cup.
  3. Use paintbrushes to paint pictures on the sidewalk or driveway outside. The mixture is thinner and runnier than regular paint, but just paint your pictures like you would with any other paint.
  4. The paint dries quickly, and it will resemble sidewalk chalk. The colors are very bright once they dry! It washes off very easily with rain or the hose.

Did you make this project?

Did you make this project? Tag me on Instagram (@VeraSweeney) so I can see your wonderful creation! I would love to see your project.

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