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Kids love to color, paint, and get their hands messy with creative projects. You don’t need a big box of expensive art supplies to keep them busy, either.

A few simple ingredients from the kitchen can turn into a fun homemade paint project.

A hand holds a paper on a wood table. “CHA CHING QUEEN” is painted in red and blue, with three small bowls of red, blue, and black paint above the paper.

Cornstarch, water, and a little food coloring are all you need to make this easy DIY paint. Kids can use a paintbrush or their hands to create colorful pictures, handprints, and fun designs.

The mixture is made with food ingredients, but it is not recommended for eating.

This guide will show you how to make homemade cornstarch paint step by step, along with other easy cornstarch crafts kids can make at home. We also made Cornstarch Conundrums: 35 Clever Uses for Cornstarch Around the House if you want more clever ways to use cornstarch.

Now, let’s get started and make some homemade paint!

Table of Contents

Materials Needed to Make Homemade Cornstarch Paint

The supply list is short, simple, and easy to find. Here’s what you need:

Two bowls, one with white powder and one with clear liquid, sit on a wooden surface, along with red and blue food coloring and two small empty bowls with wooden stirrers.

Cornstarch
Water
Food coloring
Small containers for the paint mixtures
Wooden spoon or popsicle sticks for scooping and mixing
Paintbrushes
Paper or another surface for painting

You can also skip the paintbrush and let kids use their hands. Handprints, fingerprints, swirls, and colorful shapes can make this activity even more fun!

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How to Make Homemade Cornstarch Paint

Making cornstarch paint is simple, and kids can help with some of the mixing. Get the work area ready first since food coloring can stain some surfaces and clothing.

1. Add the Cornstarch

A hand spoons white powder, possibly cornstarch or flour, from a large bowl into a small dish on a wooden surface.

Use a wooden spoon to scoop cornstarch into a small container. You can make one larger batch or prepare several smaller batches for different colors.

2. Add Water and Mix

A large beige bowl sits next to a small white bowl containing white powder and a wooden spoon on a wooden surface.

Pour a little water into the cornstarch and stir with the wooden spoon. Keep adding small amounts of water and mixing until the mixture is smooth and easy to spread.

3. Add the Food Coloring

A hand adds red food coloring to a small bowl of white liquid next to another similar bowl and a plate of white powder on a wooden surface. — Screenshot

Add a few drops of food coloring and mix until the color is evenly distributed. Use separate containers if you want to make several colors.

4. Adjust the Consistency

A bowl of white powder, a small dish of white liquid with blue dye, and a dish of red liquid being stirred with a wooden spoon are arranged on a wooden surface.

If the paint feels too thick, add a little more water. If it becomes too thin, mix in a little more cornstarch. Small adjustments can make a big difference.

5. Start Painting

A hand points to a paper with “CHA CHING QUEEN” painted in red and blue bubble letters, surrounded by paint splatters. Three bowls of red, blue, and black paint are above the paper on a wood surface.

Grab a paintbrush and let the kids get creative. You can also use fingers and hands for handprints, fingerprints, swirls, and other fun designs.

The best part is that there is no need to make the activity complicated. Let kids mix colors, try different brush strokes, and see what they can create with their homemade paint.

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Other Easy Cornstarch Crafts for Kids

Why stop at paint? Cornstarch can be used for several fun little craft projects, and kids can get creative with colors, shapes, textures, and even sensory play. Here are a few easy ideas to try:

Cornstarch Sensory Dough: Make a soft dough that kids can squeeze, roll, flatten, and shape into animals, letters, flowers, or anything they can imagine.
Cornstarch Texture Art: Mix cornstarch into a thicker craft mixture and let kids spread it onto paper. They can use spoons, forks, fingers, or craft sticks to make lines, swirls, and patterns.
Cornstarch Sidewalk Paint: Make a colorful paint for outdoor art. Kids can paint flowers, rainbows, shapes, hopscotch designs, or simple pictures on suitable outdoor surfaces.
Cornstarch Ornaments: Turn a cornstarch-based dough into simple ornaments. Kids can use cookie cutters to make stars, hearts, animals, or holiday shapes, then decorate them once dry.
Sponge Painting: Dip small sponges into the cornstarch paint and press them onto paper to create circles, clouds, flowers, or repeating patterns.

Tips for Making and Using Cornstarch Paint

A few simple tips can make this homemade paint easier to mix, use, and clean up. Kids can have fun with the process, but a little preparation can save you from a bigger mess.

Add Water a Little at a Time

It is easier to thin the mixture than fix paint that has become too watery. Add small amounts of water and stir after each addition until you get a smooth, paintable consistency.

Make Several Colors

Divide the cornstarch mixture into small containers before adding food coloring. This makes it easy to create several colors without having to make a separate batch for each one.

Start With a Small Amount of Food Coloring

A few drops can give the paint plenty of color. Add more as needed until you get the shade you want.

Protect Your Work Surface

Place newspaper, an old tablecloth, or a washable mat underneath the paper. Food coloring can stain some surfaces, so it is also a good idea to have kids wear clothes that can handle a little mess.

Try Brushes and Hands

Paintbrushes are an easy choice, but hands can make the activity even more fun. Kids can make handprints, fingerprints, swirls, dots, and other simple designs.

Let the Artwork Dry

Place finished artwork somewhere flat and let it dry before moving it. Thicker areas may need extra drying time.

Supervise Young Children

The ingredients may be common kitchen ingredients, but this homemade paint is a craft mixture, not a snack. Watch young children during the activity and remind them not to eat the paint.