Do you have a young artist in your household? Maybe you’ve noticed that she’s taken a liking to crayons or that she’s begun scrawling murals over the walls of your house. Looking for a fun and easy way to bring out her inner Picasso? Spend the day finger-painting! But instead of using real paint and worrying about toxins and strange ingredients, make your own edible finger paint that’s toxin-free  and tasty! You won’t have to worry about anyone swallowing harmful ingredients and can focus on bringing out your child’s inner artist!

RECIPE 1

This may not be the tastiest recipe, but it’s easy to follow and quick to make!

You’ll Need

2 tablespoons sugar

1/3 cup flour

2 cups water

Plastic cups

Food coloring

Sauce pan

Instructions

1. In your sauce pan, combine the sugar and flour.

2. Mix in 2 cups water and whisk until the mixture becomes smooth. Turn on the heat and stir continuously until your mixture thickens.

3. When you’re satisfied with the thickness of your mixture, pour it equally into plastic cups. You’ll need one cup for each color of paint you want.

4. Mix in a couple of drops of food coloring and stir until dissolved completely. Let cool and then you’re ready to paint!

RECIPE 2

This recipe creates flavored finger-paint that’s great for sensory play and activities!

You’ll Need

1 large container of plain vanilla yogurt

Duncan Hines Frosting Creations Flavor Mix, in desired flavors

Food coloring

Containers

Instructions

1. Separate yogurt into equal parts in your containers.

2. Mix in the powdered frosting mix, following instructions on the packet.

3. Add a few drops of food coloring until your mixture reaches your desired color.

4. Let the mixture chill in the fridge and then you’re ready to paint. When you’re done painting, make sure to keep the yogurt finger-paint in the fridge to prevent spoiling.

RECIPE 3

For simple and very bright paint, try this recipe!

You’ll Need

A large bowl

3 cups powdered milk

1 cup water

Containers

Food coloring

Instructions

1. In your large bowl, mix the powdered milk and water. Stir the mixture until smooth.

2. Separate the mixture into your containers, then add a few drops of food coloring. Mix the food coloring in until you get your desired color. Now you’re ready to decorate with edible finger paint!

FINGER PAINT CRAFT IDEAS

When you’ve selected on a edible finger paint recipe, try these finger paint craft ideas:

Footprint Ducks

Let your child get his feet dirty! Have him paint his foot and then stand on a piece of paper to leave the shape of his foot (it should be vertical). On the opposite side of where their toes are, have him paint a neck and a head onto his duck.

Handprint Pirate

Have your child paint her hands in three different colors. For the fingers, use black paint. For the middle of the palm, use pink paint. For the bottom of the hand, use red paint. Have her press palms upside-down on a piece of paper. When they lift up, you’ll have a pirate wearing a red headband with a black beard! Decorate the pirate’s bandana and face.

Picture frame keepsake

Pick up some cheap picture frames from the dollar store and let your kids go wild with them! They can smear, dab, blot or paint their own unique and creative picture frame! When they’re completed, let them dry and have each child pick out a favorite photo to frame in it.

Halloween crafts

Using kids’ footprints, create creepy ghosts and monsters! To create a ghost, paint feet with white paint and step on a piece of paper to leave an imprint. The toes end up looking like parts of the ghost floating around! To create the face and mouth, use black paint or black thumbprints.

Mabel Sterritt is an intern with Boston Parents Paper.