Why we started looking how to make Homemade Window Paint…
Our journey to figuring out how to make Homemade Window Paint started with a call to the boys Gigi.
Every morning while dad is prepping breakfast they boys call their Gigi on FaceTime and persuade her in giving them a tour of her house. This morning while she was giving them the video tour they noticed that some of her windows were decorated with paint.
This of course lead them to excitably ask what it was! Gigi mentioned their cousin had been over and played with Window Paint. Naturally, their next question was “mom can you buy us some…”
For the first time ever, I completely struck out on my google search for DIY homemade window paint. There were some options that we tried that involved just flour and water, or cornstarch and water that worked okay. However, I was positive we could create something better!
So,we set off to create our own. After we tried the flour and cornstarch separately, we tried combinations of flour and cornstarch. My husband saw us spraying the window down between each test and suggested, we add some dish soap and wash the window while we were at it (sarcastically). Well it worked like a charm!
If you are looking for more craft ideas, check out our homemade sidewalk chalk paint!
Ingredients we use to make Homemade Window:
- 1/2 Tablespoon dishwasher detergent
- 1 Tablespoon flour
- 1 Tablespoon corn starch
- 2 Tablespoons water
Next we added food coloring, lots of fun to see how the colors mix together. I suggest limiting kids to picking out two colors to avoid brown. This is great to teach the kids how primary colors make secondary colors!
We then mixed the colors into the paint mixture.
Once mixed the ingredients together, you are ready to start painting! We choose to paint our outside sliding glass door for the ease of clean up (spray everything down with the hose afterwards). However, you can paint indoors as well. If you do I would suggest laying down a towel that can go through the laundry as there will be drops.
When you are done the paint washes right off (and cleans the window in the process!)
Benefits of Art in Toddlers:
We love finding different art projects for the kids to do around the house. Using a paint brush is great for fine motor skill development.
There are so many other benefits as well , according to Penn State Extension it also helps children to do things like convey ideas, express emotion, use their senses, explore color, explore process and outcomes.
“Children form many connections and ideas of how the painting process works for them, as well as what they enjoy about it. Watch a child painting and you will see a fully engaged child. We can almost see children’s thoughts, such as, “When I push my brush flat, my line gets bigger”, or “I like stirring this, but I don’t want to put it on paper or touch it”, or “I mixed red with more red and orange, and got fire color red!”
If you are looking for more craft ideas, check out our homemade sidewalk chalk paint!
Window Paint
Equipment
- Muffin tin
- paintbrushes
Materials
- 1/2 tablespoon dishwasher detergent
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
- 2 tablespoons water
- 5-10 drops food coloring per color
Instructions
- In a muffin tin or other non-breakable container mix together the dishwasher detergent, flour, corn starch, water.
- Once thoroughly mixed add in the food coloring and mix together.
- Grab your paintbrushes and find a window!
- When you are done wipe the window clean with a rag or if outside spray with a hose.
