Use the microwave to turn three simple ingredients into puffy paint!
Oh, we had fun with this today! I’ve seen lots of recipes for homemade puffy paint online, and it’s been on our to- do list for a while. I picked up a small bag of self-rising flour at our bulk/health food store recently so we could give it a try.
Homemade puffy paint is a great art activity for children and has the added bonus of being a bit of a science experiment as well.
To make your own homemade puffy paints, you’ll need:
- 1 tbsp self-rising flour
- food colouring in the colours of your choice (I used Wilton icing gels) see below
- 1 tbsp salt
- little bit of water (start with 1/4 tsp)
For your convenience, I’ve included affiliate links for some of the products in this post:
How to make your puffy paints:
Combine your flour and salt in a small bowl. Add a little bit of water and stir until you get a smooth, thin paste (about the same consistency of stirred yogurt). Add your food colouring, and mix well.
Ours sat for a bit while we walked to the school bus, and it thickened up again, so I just added a few drops of water to thin it back to the yogurt consistency.
Get some sturdy cardstock or thin cardboard, and some paintbrushes or q-tips, and get creating!
Now for the science! When you’re happy with your masterpiece, pop it into the microwave for 30 seconds and watch your painting puff up! Your artwork will be warm when you remove it from the microwave, but it will be completely set.
Ta daaa…
Isn’t that remarkable? Now I don’t think that these paintings will hold up over the long term.
Update: One of our paintings started flaking within a couple of days. I’m not sure why, because the others held up for weeks on the window sill. I’m not sure how long your project will last for, but as far as a fun art/science activity to do with your kids, this one gets 2 thumbs up from me!
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I haven’t heard of doing puffy paint in the microwave. We did it with shaving cream and glue, but the colors weren’t as vibrant. Must try.
I’ve seen the shaving cream and glue as well. I think we’ll have to try that too!
Those look awesome! Sometimes I think you have more fun than the kids doing all those crafts, lol.
Thanks for the tutorial! We have tried it with kids and it was really fun! And we’re going to try some more things from your great blog soon
You’re welcome, Jana! I’m so glad you’ve been inspired to try some of our ideas yourself! Good luck with them, and have fun!
We did this with space drawings a few weeks ago. So neat!!! Gianne at cowsgomooandducksgoquack.blogspot.com
Thanks for this one. Just did it for a rainy day activity. My girls loved it when they realised they could also draw on the puffy paint with permanent markers when it was dry. Love your page.
Well, that’s cool, Jacki! So we could leave the puffy paint white, and then the kids could colour their creations! Thanks for the tip!
So glad you like the blog! As much as I don’t want summer to end, I am eager to get back to the Hooligans and to blogging again.
This is such a cute idea I think my kids will love doing this thanks for sharing!
Do you think that spraying hair spray or something would keep it from flaking?
You could try. It might work, but then, it might break down the paint as well. I really don’t know. It is only flour and salt and water, so I’m not sure how it would react/hold up after being sprayed. Sorry I can’t be of more help there, but my advice would be, plan to do this as a fun activity, not for a project that you would want to keep for a great length of time.
I love all ! I teach art and am on a tight budget.
I’m on a tight budget here too, Debbie, so all of the arts/crafts/activites we do here can be done at little or no expense.
I hope you find lots of inspiration here. 
It’s so, so, so, so nice! Great!
But, I don’t know what is self-rising flour – can I use yeast with flour?
Thank You!
I wouldn’t try it with yeast, Majet. S.R. flour has baking powder and salt in it. Here’s how you can make it yourself: http://www.food.com/recipe/homemade-self-rising-flour-substitute-29318
Can U tell me, is this picture solid, can I put it on the wall?
It’s very hard once it has dried, Majet. ONe of ours kind of disintegrated, but the other one did not, so I would think you would be able to display it for a while. It might not last forever, but I suspect it would last for a bit.
OK.
Best regards!
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I love this blog!! I have made this with regular flour with the same results:)
Sorry…I did use baking powder as well:)
Do you know what proportions you used, Trisha? I’d love to add that recipe to my post as an alternative.
omigourd, how fun! found you at @Funnermother!