DIY | Cornstarch And Vinegar Paint

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Overview

Here’s a quick and simple do it yourself paint idea. We like it because there are only a couple of ingredients, it’s simple to make, and you end up with vibrant colors.

Supplies

You’ll need:

Cornstarch
Vinegar
Liquid water colors or food coloring
Assorted containers
Mixing spoons

Process

First, add two parts cornstarch and three parts vinegar to a container and stir thoroughly. For this test batch, we used 1/4 cup of cornstarch and 3/8 cup vinegar.

Once it was well mixed, we divided the big batch into individual cups for coloring.

Just add color and mix. Less coloring tends to produce more muted colors while more coloring leads to more vibrant paint.

Condiment cups with lids are great for storage

Once your colors are mixed, it’s time to paint. I call this work Orange Kitty Cat Under A Blue Sky Hiding In The Grass Waiting To Pounce.

Notes

The cornstarch will want to separate and settle, so the paint requires regular stirring.
This paint can be stored in air-tight containers indefinitely, but if you leave it sit for a long time the cornstarch will settle and you’ll need to remix each color. It’s probably easier to mix small batches as needed.
You can substitute water for the vinegar if you like. We did some experimenting, and kind of feel the color was a bit richer and the dried paint looked better with the vinegar, but that’s just an opinion. One reason to opt for the vinegar is the smell–the distinct scent of the vinegar adds to the sensory experience.
Condiment cups with lids are ideal for storing small batches of paint.

The cornstarch will settle, but with a bit of stirring you’ll be ready to paint

Conclusions

You’ll find more DIY painting ideas here and an article highlighting five reasons to do DIY projects like this with kids here. We’d love to see pictures and hear about your experiences in the comments if you give this project a try.

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