Make Your Own Sidewalk Chalk!
Since I started making my own play dough last year, I’ve been wanting to try out more homemade versions of childhood favorites. Sidewalk chalk is a Springtime favorite for us. We could spend a whole sunny afternoon coloring on the ground.
I found a few recipes, and cobbled together a recipe that yields a firm, but not brittle, quick-drying chalk. I used wrapping paper tubes rescued from the recycling bin as molds, as they have a smaller diameter than toilet paper or paper-towel tubes, better for small hands. You could also use the tubes found inside aluminum foil, plastic wrap etc.
Gather your materials:
- Tempera Paint (use primary,and mix secondary colors)
- Plaster of Paris
- Water
- Wrapping Paper Tubes
- Wax Paper
- Masking Tape
- Sandwich baggies (for piping bags)
- Scissors
Instructions:
Cut the tube into 5 inch segments. Line the interiors with wax paper, tape the base to seal one end, and set aside.
The following is the recipe proportions for one color:
Mix 2-3 tablespoons of tempera paint with 1/2 cup of water. Stir in 3/4 cup of plaster of Paris. Spoon the mixture into a sandwich baggy and snip the end. Squeeze the contents into the tube. Prop straight up (I used the masking tape ring to support my 6 tubes).
Allow to dry at room temperature for at least 12 hours. Enjoy!
