DIY Fingerpaint Recipe & Spaghetti Painting!

 This DIY Fingerpaint Recipe is kid safe and perfect for painting with spaghetti, yes you heard correctly... spaghetti, check it out. Such a fun way for your toddler to paint.

colorful jars of DIY fingerpaint.

DIY Fingerpaint Recipe

Plus Spaghetti Painting!

When my girls were little I was extremely particular about my house (and them) being clean.  I know, let kids be kids! It was all new to me. Arts and craft projects always stressed me out, instead of having fun I was worrying about the mess. I grew out of it, but not before I created this NO MESS DIY fingerpaint recipe.  The girls never knew it, but I did! I vowed not to take that approach with my grandson Connor. We get dirty all the time and love it. After all, don't cry over spilled milk right?

Getting dirty and loving it

Connor and I love the getting dirty part. His mommy is not a fan, apparently taking after me. To keep myself out of trouble I have extra clothes here and change him before she comes. The problem is that my extra clothes end up over her house and she often forgets to bring them back. A new, young, busy working mom, it is expected!

Enough rambling.

On to the fun- Our DIY Fingerpaint Recipe & Spaghetti Painting

I mastered a microwave version to skip the stove top, it is so much quicker. Here is how to make these easy, kid safe fingerpaints:

Materials

  • ¼ cup white granulated sugar
  • ½ cup cornstarch
  • 2 cups cold water
  • Microwave safe dish
  • Food coloring The NO STAIN kind, it is the coolest thing (found at most craft stores)
  • Storage containers with covers

DIY fingerpaints

Instructions

  1. Mix the sugar and cornstarch together in your microwave safe dish.
  2. Slowly pour the cold water, stirring constantly.  Mix until combined.
  3. Microwave on high for 1 minute, this will slightly warm the water, continue stirring until sugar is fully dissolved.
  4. Microwave again for 1 minute, stir, repeat 1 minute intervals and stirring until mixture begins to thicken.
  5. Once mixture has started to thicken remove from microwave and separate into containers.
  6. Add food coloring to reach desired color, mix. Cover and let cool.
  7. Paints will thicken upon standing.

spatula in bowl with jars.

 NOTE* this batch came out a bit clumpy, totally my fault. I did not mix it well between intervals, I accidentally popped it in the microwave for 3 minutes and forgot all about it.  

spatula mixing.

Painting with spaghetti

Boil noodles just until they are pliable, about 3-5 minutes.

Note* Do not cook noodles the same as you would to eat, they may break apart while painting.

Pour into strainer, rinse with cold water and set aside.

Prepare painting area-  set out paper.  Tip* tape edges down to hold in place

Add dabs of paint on the paper.

Allow children to pick up spaghetti and splatter, twirl, slap and drag the noodles across the paint.

For another great project to do with the kiddos, try our Paper Plate Turtle Craft!

paper plate turtle craft

DIY Fingerpaints recipe

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20 thoughts on “DIY Fingerpaint Recipe & Spaghetti Painting!”

  1. What a fun way to paint! We've never tried spaghetti painting, but it looks like a blast! The all did a great job cleaning his little shirt, too! #client

    Reply
    • He had so much fun and it was equally as fun to watch him. I had food coloring on my hands that I could not get out, yet every single stain came out of that shirt. AMAZING stuff! 🙂
      Thank you for visiting!

      Reply
  2. Those paints will be so fun to play with! They'll definitely create a mess though so it's nice to have some strong detergent.

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  3. I love these new all POWERCORE OXI pacs! They work so well. Painting with spaghetti is such a fun idea. I'm going to have to have the kids try that.

    Reply
  4. I need a detergent like all POWERCORE. My kids are mess magnets. I like to set up a big area for the kids to fingerprint outside.

    Reply
  5. My kids are going to love spaghetti painting. I will have to get the supplies we need to do it this weekend. I will add some all POWERCORE to the shopping list.

    Reply
  6. My girls love playing with paints! I can't believe the shirt came out so clean. That's amazing!

    Reply
    • I was pretty surprised too! A lot of detergents claim to whiten and brighten, this one seriously did AND it smells SO fresh.

      Reply
  7. I had no idea you could make your own finger paint! Plus, the whole spaghetti painting sounds pretty fun!

    Reply
  8. I Love it! Totally fully all the way around, I love to hear I could buy white things again! And the activity looks so fun!

    Reply
  9. What a fun summer activity. I love this idea! My kids always have stains on their shirts - I need to give this a try.

    Reply
  10. I love that you made your own finger paints! I'm sharing your recipe with a friend who runs a daycare.

    Reply
  11. My toddler twins are going to love this! I love how easy it is too make so it's a win win!

    Reply
  12. Painting with spaghetti sure sounds like fun and messy. You can't even tell he was using paint by how white his shirt came out.

    Reply
  13. My kiddo is a lot older than this but he loves fingerpainting, I am totally going to do this with him because I think you have a lot of fun making it and then using it.

    Reply
  14. Boy oh boy! This is amazing! I have a thing about clothes coming out of the laundry clean and bright. And the finger paints are so easy and fun! A great activity for my grandkids!

    Reply
  15. Oh wow! His little shirt came out so bright and white! I need to give that Power Core stuff a try. My kids are absolute MURDER on their white clothes.

    Reply
    • Oh Audrey, I hear you completely! To be honest, I am pretty hard on white myself. Maybe I can actually start buying some white clothes again 😉

      Reply

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