make your own sidewalk chalk with these free recipes

Spending the afternoon creating a sidewalk chalk masterpiece is a great way for your kids to enjoy a spring day. But long after their fantastic artwork has washed away, your kids will remember making their own colored chalk!

Sidewalk Chalk Stick

3 tablespoons plaster of Paris
2 tablespoons powder tempera paint
wax paper cups
water

Mix paint powder and plaster powder in paper cups. Add water slowly to dry mix, mix until creamy. Dry 1 hour. Remove cups. Can also pour mixture into bathroom tissue rolls.

Note: This stuff won't work very well on chalkboards (it's to hard), but it works great on sidewalks and lasts much longer than the store bought stuff.

Large Batch Sidewalk Chalk

2 cups water
2 cups plaster of Paris
2 tablespoons tempera paint
Toilet paper tubes (one end taped closed on each)
1 sheet of cardboard or medium cookie sheet

In a large mixing bowl, combine the water plaster and paint. Mix with a large wooden spoon. Allow the mixture to stand for 5 minutes. Place toilet paper tubes on a sheet of cardboard or cookie sheet, open sides facing up, then carefully pour chalk mixture into the tubes. If there is any mix left discard in the trash - Not down the drain! When chalk is just about dry, peel off the paper tubes and allow chalk to dry thoroughly for about 1 to 2 hours.

Note: try splitting this recipe into batches and make each a different color.

For more frugal tips check out these great recycle ideas

Great Gift Idea
Birthdays Gift Basket for Kids: Jump rope, Play Dough, Silly Putty, yo-yo, balloons, bubbles, books, favorite DVD and/or CD, puzzles, stickers, crayons, markers, paste and glue, sidewalk chalk

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