Brain Builders: DIY Paint & Stampers

by Heather Davis, MCM Early Learning Manager

Babies and toddlers love to stamp and get messy! But we don’t all have tons of art supplies sitting around home, especially if we used to work outside the home full time and relied on daycare and trips to the museum to expose our kids to painting. Don’t worry, just like sourdough bread, you can DIY this! Try this easy homemade non-toxic paint and stampers.

Materials needed:

• Paper/card stock
• Toilet paper tubes
• Scissors
• For Paint
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup salt
  • 3/4 cup water
  • Food coloring (a FEW drops)

Directions: 

1. Cut the ends of the toilet paper tubes and fold them in or out to make shapes.  I was inspired to make flowers due to the spring weather, but you can make whatever shapes you like.  
2. Mix all ingredients for paint except for the food coloring in a small bowl.  Add water to adjust for consistency as needed.  
3. Split the paint mixture into small bowls and add a couple drops of food coloring (you won’t need much).  Add more food coloring as needed.  
4. Stamp and paint!  

This recipe also works great as non-toxic finger paint if you have a little one who still puts everything in their mouth. (Use as little food coloring as possible to create pastel colors, so you minimize staining their hands. Baking soda and vinegar, non-gel toothpaste, and (sparingly used) rubbing alcohol or witch-hazel can all get food coloring out of skin.

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Brain Builders is part of MCM at Home. Follow us on social media for more tips, games, crafts, and ideas to learn through play at home.

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