Cheap and Easy Finger Paint Recipe - Eat, Drink, and Save Money

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Finger painting with a baby is fun, except most of the paint ends up in their mouths! Even though all finger paint is non-toxic, I have a hard time feeling comfortable letting my kids stuff their faces with it. This cheap and easy cornstarch finger paint recipe is alright for little tummies to digest. Keep reading to find out how easy it is to make your own edible finger paint.

Edited to add: This is a repost of a blog post from 2014! I had to dig deep into the archives to find this one. I’ve been cleaning up my blog and deleted old posts, but couldn’t delete this one. I love these old pictures of Robert as a baby.

What finger paint is safe for babies?

Technically, all finger paint sold in stores in America is non-toxic and safe for babies. The problem is when they try to eat all of it!

We still use the store-bought finger paint from time to time (this is my favorite even though it is pricey), but I always end up wishing I’d made this recipe instead. It isn’t difficult, it’s cheap, I don’t feel bad when my kids try to eat it, and it is easy to clean.

How do you make edible finger paint for toddlers?

Making edible finger paint for kids and toddlers is super easy. Honestly, it’s just as easy as running to the store or ordering paint from Amazon.

Chances are you have all of these ingredients in your pantry. This is a fun way to start working in the kitchen with kids too! It’s never too early to teach kids to measure and cook.

Cornstarch Finger Paint Recipe

4 c. water
1 c. corn starch
6 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
food coloring (I love this eco-friendly one)

Combine all ingredients in a pan and cook over medium heat for 15 minutes. Stir and let cool for 15 minutes. Divide into separate bowls and add food coloring.

Add anywhere from 10-20 drops depending on how vibrant you want the paint.

This will thicken as it cools so you may find the need to add more water.

Why is this cornstarch finger paint so thick?

If you overcook the finger paint then it will definitely be too think. Don’t worry, you can still save it!

I over cooked one batch and had to add water and mix it with my food processor to get it more watery and less gel-like. You may have to experiment a few times to get the consistency you prefer. This recipe makes more of a gel like substance than store-bought finger paint.

What kind of paper works best for finger painting?

You can go all out and buy finger paint paper, but let’s get real- you probably won’t be keeping these works of art forever.

Don’t waste your money on the overpriced finger paint paper, buy a large roll of craft paper instead. You can get it from the dollar spot at Target, the dollar store, or Amazon.

Baby safe paint for crafts is tons of fun!

We have yet to make a real work of art with finger paints because the kids mostly play with the paint. For this reason, I put in a little less food coloring. Robert mostly uses the paint to decorate himself or smoosh it between his fingers and toes.

Bottom line- this is mostly for fun! Toddler safe and baby safe edible finger paint is a fun sensory activity that costs so little!

Check out this DIY Watercolor Recipe too!

If you like this, you’ll also love this DIY watercolor recipe post.

Check it out here—> DIY Watercolor Paints

More cheap and easy sensory activities for kids

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