We have several recipes for taste-safe paints for babies, toddlers, and children who are still liable to sneak a taste. But I often am asked whether the paints will last - whether the art can be kept. I'd designed the other paints with exploration in mind, so I hadn't really gone into those recipes with the intention of keeping the art. But your questions made me wonder if I could figure out a way to create a paint that dried without cracks, without stickiness, and would last without molding. I love a good challenge, and am happy to report that I think I've developed a winning recipe for a taste-safe paint that meets all the above requirements!
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This paint works well as either a fingerpaint or as a paintbrush paint. It's very similar in texture and feel to tempera paint.
Here's a video to get a feel for how quickly you can make the paint, and for what it looks like:
The recipe is nice and simple. You'll need:
small containers
water
food coloring (optional - we used neon)
Add 1 Tablespoon of nonfat dry milk powder to each container (choose a number of containers that reflect the number of colors of paint you want to make). If your nonfat dry milk powder has a lot of large lumps, use a kitchen mallet or something similar to break up the lumps before you start. Add 2 drops of food coloring to 2 teaspoons of water and mix. Add the colored water to the nonfat dry milk powder and mix well. That's it!!!
As you use the paint, if you find that it is drying out, add and stir in 1/2 teaspoon of water at a time. You do want to keep it from completely drying out. If you have leftover paint, you can refrigerate it for a day or two if you keep it tightly covered with plastic wrap. I also recommend adding an additional 1/2 teaspoon of water to protect it from drying out in the fridge.
If you don't have or don't want to use food coloring, check out this post that I shared from our first book that details how to make a natural dye paint.
Sounds wonderful! I can't wait to try this safe, easy and inexpensive recipe with my toddler. Will it wash out of clothing if used with an all fabric bleach, possibly?
ReplyDeleteThank You! ��
I suspect so. It didn't stain my hands at all, but I didn't get any on my clothes so I can't be positive.
DeleteHello! This is a great idea. Thank you for sharing it. Would there be any problem if I make it with whole powder milk?
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid the fat may spoil. I haven't tried it myself - but that was my reasoning in going for the nonfat. Hope that helps! :)
Deletemy name is Oscar Obando, I am from colombia..... please, please in spanish.... is really, really interesting, but translation in spanish please... I have a child of four year, I wish teach to my little girl. e-mail: oobando2@gmil.com
ReplyDeleteTengo un botón de traducir en el lateral de mi blog que se traducirá cualquiera de los puestos en este sitio. Se ha acabado en la parte derecha a mitad de camino hacia abajo. Esta receta es la mezcla de leche en polvo sin grasa y agua y colorante de alimentos juntos para hacer pintura. Quiero saber si eso tiene sentido! Gracias por leer mi sitio!
DeleteHi! Unfortunately my daughter is allergic to milk ( along with nuts, soy, seafood...sigh) . Is there an ingredient that I can use instead of the milk powder?
ReplyDeleteOh no! Poor baby! Is there a powdered formula or powdered (rice?) milk that she doesn't have a reaction to? You should be able to substitute that, though it might need more or less water, depending on the thickness. I hope that helps!
DeleteThere is powdered coconut milk too. That's what I'm planing to use!
DeleteOh great! I didn't know that!
Deleteand it doesn't spoil even though it's milk stuff? How do you suspect it keeps in the long long-run? It's been months since you made this post, but if a child made this and you wanted to keep it in a scrap book safe for years how long do you think it would hold up?
ReplyDeleteOurs did not after several months. It has no fat and no simple sugars in it, and if kept dry, we had no problems with mold. I have no idea how long it would last in a scrapbook. I'd either do traditional paint or take a photo as a back-up to be extra safe. It's possible it could last fine, but I have no way of knowing for sure. :/
DeleteIt’s been almost 2 years since you did this post. Has this molded at all or is it still mold free?!
ReplyDeleteWe only kept it for a few months -- we have a never ending supply of new art to feature! So sorry.
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