Add a “dipping cup” to any sidewalk chalk activity so your kids can create creamy-smooth, vibrant works of art in the driveway!
Drawing with wet sidewalk chalk is one of my favourite outdoor art techniques for kids, but creating art with wet chalk is so much more fun drawing with dry chalk. It’s a whole different experience!
Dry chalk is, well…. dry and chalky. The feel of it on my hand, and that hollow clinking sound it makes gives me the heebie jeebies.
Wet chalk however… Ahhh, wet sidewalk chalk is creamy and vibrant. It goes on so slick and smooth, and I love it!
We only ever used to have wet chalk when we left it out in the rain, but now I just go ahead and add water to our chalk activities, either with the garden hose or with individual “dipping cups” like you see here.
For our wet sidewalk chalk activity, you’ll need:
- sidewalk chalk
- plastic containers or cups
- Jug of warm water (for re-fills)
I like to use yogurt pots for our dipping cups. They fit nicely in a little hand, and they hold the perfect amount of water for this activity.
No need to pre-soak your chalk; just dip and draw!
Fill your dipping cups with water, and pop a stick of chalk into each cup. Have the kids participate here because you may hear some fizzing.
The chalk will absorb water quickly. It will be ready to draw within a couple of minutes.
When the chalk starts looking dark, you’re ready!
Go forth and create!
Isn’t it amazing? The coverage is amazing and the colours are so vibrant.
Of course, when it all dries, the colours don’t remain as vibrant, but the thick coverage is still there so your art will really stand out!
So, what do you think? Will you add some water to your next chalk activity?
More outdoor art activities for Kids:
Chalk and Water Painting Activity
3- Ingredient Homemade Sidewalk Paint
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Jackie is a mom, wife, home daycare provider, and the creative spirit behind Happy Hooligans. She specializes in kids’ crafts and activities, easy recipes, and parenting. She began blogging in 2011, and today, Happy Hooligans inspires more than 2 million parents, caregivers and Early Years Professionals all over the globe.
multitestingmommy
I love what you use for dipping cups! We accidentally discovered this beautiful trick due to rain as well!
mybuddiesandi
My buddies just discovered this the other day. I don’t always encourage it because they can go through chalk so quickly this way, but it’s really cool to watch them figure this out on their own the first time 🙂
Vivian Kensington
For the going through it quickly I would recommend hopping on Amazon. You can get 148 big sticks of sidewalk chalk for $20! And they are packaged so well, guaranteeing to show up unbroken and with SOOOOO many colors.
Charndra Pile
Yes, I’m preparing for my first collaborative Chalk Painting Festival, and we will use this technique – perhaps in preference to creating chalk paint, this looks simpler.
Jackie Currie
Awesome! Have fun!
Zee
Yes thanks for the great fun tip will use it with my school agers I will tell them we are going to have an art contest with wet chalk ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jackie Currie
You’re welcome! Have fun with your art contest!