How To Make Outdoor DIY Puffy Paint

This DIY Puffy Paint recipe takes less than 10 minutes to throw together and is a great summer pastime to get the kids outside in the fresh air. Learn how to make puffy paint – and teach the kids this easy recipe too!

I grew up in the era where puffy paint was all the rage (I won’t tell you how many years ago that was). 😉 We used puffy paint to decorate our clothes, book bags, cards and more. We thought we were pretty cool. LOL

This DIY recipe is a little different take on the puffy paint of days gone by but the kids are going to go love it!

This recipe is a nice change from my DIY outdoor sidewalk chalk paint recipe. They’re both fun and perfect for encouraging outdoor play. This DIY puffy paint will look more thick and full – but the both wash away super easily!

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The kiddos can easily make a batch of homemade puffy paint with just a couple simple ingredients….and with your help of course. Then just slather on the sunscreen and head outside for some ultra-fun in the sun and fresh air!

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Ingredients Need for Puffy Outdoor Paint

When you want to learn how to make puffy paint, all you need is to just gather this list of ingredients.

• Flour – the flour mixed with the water will give the paint its ‘puffiness’
• Water
• Washable Kids Paint – washable paint is best so the puffy paint will wash off the surfaces you paint
• Large Mixing Bowl – a glass bowl might work best so it can be easily washed and not stain
• Whisk
• Silicone Spatula – the silicone spatula may stain a little but can easily be washed in the dishwasher
• Disposable Spoons
• Clear Plastic Squirt Bottles w/lids
• Funnel (optional)

NOTE: For the full recipe, including the ingredient amounts, please refer to the handy printable recipe card at the bottom of this post!

How to Make Puffy Paint

Take playtime outside after just a few minutes of prep time. This DIY puffy paint is SO much fun!

Step 1

In a large mixing bowl, add 1 cup of all-purpose flour and 1 cup of water. Mix very well with a whisk until there are no clumps.

Step 2

With a disposable spoon, add 2-3 spoonfuls washable kids paint of your choice to the flour and water mixture. Stir well with whisk until mixed thoroughly.

Step 3

Pour mixture into a clear plastic squirt bottle. Pour directly from bowl into the bottle or use a funnel if that works better for you.

A silicone spatula will aid in getting all of the paint mixture out of the bowl and into the bottle.

Step 4

Repeat the first 3 steps with different color paints until you have as many colors as you desire.

How To Make Puffy Paint: Recipe Notes and Tips

The paint should be used the same day it is made. The flour being mixed with water can very slowly continue to expand, as natural yeasts will activate when the water meets flour. If the bottle is full with the lid on, the bottle could pressurize, causing the lid to pop off and the paint to overflow.

This puffy paint is made with 1:1 ratio of water to flour. You can adjust the amounts made as long as your ratio is exactly the same. This will also help in making only what you need in one day or session.

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Variations To Try

Here are a couple options with different ingredients to try making puffy paint:

• Add equal parts of glue and shaving cream using food coloring as the colorant.
• Add equal part of cornstarch and water using food coloring as the colorant.

Also, why not try different colors of paint such as primary, pastel or neon colors. OHHHH, and how much fun could be had with glow in the dark paint.

Learning how to make puffy paint is simple, and the possibilities are endless!

How To Make Puffy Paint: FAQs

Here are some common questions that I often see readers ask about how to make puffy paint.

What surfaces are best to use this puffy paint on?

Our suggestion would be to use this puffy paint on a surface outside such as a sidewalk, cement, wood fence, or rocks. Of course, it is always best to check to see how it will wash off on a test surface.

A large piece of cardboard would be another option or the inexpensive painting canvases from the hobby store would work great too.

Can I use food coloring instead of washable paint?

Yes, you can. Just keep in mind that food coloring may not come off outdoor surfaces as easily or quickly as the washable paint. It’s a more concentrated color and may stain.

How long will it take for the puffy paint to dry?

That will depend on the surface you are painting on. If you are painting outside on a sunny day, it will obviously dry faster than a cool, overcast day.

If you are painting a canvas or cardboard, it will likely take longer to dry. But you can expect it to take at least a couple hours for your puffy paint to dry no matter what surface you choose.

I hope you and your kids love this outdoor DIY puffy paint recipe! It’s so easy to make, that you can easily teach the kids how to make puffy paint themselves!

More Fun, Kid-Friendly Craft Recipes to Try

If you love this recipe for how to make puffy paint, you’ll love these other fun activities too!

• Easy Glow in the Dark DIY Bath Bombs
• Rainbow Walking Water Experiment
• Build Your Own Bristlebot
• How To Make Sidewalk Chalk Paint

Love crafts and easy DIY projects? Grab this mini activity book for more by clicking the image below – free!

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