Making your own sidewalk chalk is a wonderful blend of messy fun and creativity! The end result is perfect for patio, poolside and walkway doodles. Below is everything you'll need to know.
Supplies:
- Plaster of Paris (dry mix in a tub / look for Dap brand in a 4 lb tub at a hardware like True Value or crafting store like Michaels)
- Disposable cups or bowls
- Popsicle sticks or disposable spoons/forks for stirring
- Toilet paper tubes (or paper towel tubes cut into 3 sections)
- Duct tape
- Colorant (craft paint, acrylic paint, tempura paint, even food coloring)
- Tray or box lined with wax paper or aluminum foil to contain possible leaks
Optional:
- Glitter
- Fun shaped silicone molds (that won’t be needed for food in the future)
Be Advised: Plaster of Paris should NOT be put down your sink or toilet. Any clean up should be done over a large bowl that will catch the Plaster of Paris. Carefully pour out the water and then dispose of the sediment at the bottom of the bowl into a garbage can.
Directions:
- Using the duct tape, seal off one end of the toilet paper tube so it has a “bottom” and can be used as a mold to make a chunky piece of chalk.
- Cover your work surface with something that can be easily cleaned or thrown away.
- Decide how many sticks of chalk you will make. This will depend on how many tubes and color options you have. It’s actually kind of fun to pour 2 or 3 different colors of chalk into ONE toilet paper mold so you end up with a fancy multi-colored piece of chalk. That can be done either in layers or swirled around. If you like that idea, then you will make more colors than you have tubes.
- Once you have a game plan, measure out ⅓ cup water into your disposable bowls and add ⅔ cups Plaster of Paris. Use a popsicle stick or plastic utensil and stir thoroughly, making sure to get ALL the little lumps out. The consistency of pancake batter is the goal but don’t worry too much about it until after the color has been added in the next step. When it’s all said and done, you should end up with a set of bowls each with their own batch of plain white “batter” and their own stirring implement.
- Add the colorant to each bowl. If you want to make a white piece of chalk, don’t add anything. If you want a piece of chalk that is white and another color swirled together, just barely mix the two (they will swirl up more when you pour the mixture into the TP mold). When in doubt, add more color so your finished chalk is vibrant. This is also the time to add a little more Plaster of Paris or water as needed to get that perfect “pancake batter” consistency. Now you have several bowls each with their own color mixture and stirring implement.
- If you want Glitter Chalk, this is when you can add glitter! Not required but fun. (FYI, adding essential oils with kid friendly scents is also an option.)
- Carefully pour the mixture into the toilet paper tubes you have prepped. If you want multiple colors in the same tube, drizzle them in at the same time for the swirled look. Layering them is also an option. Or just do all one color. It’s these options for customization that are half the fun of this project! If the chalk does not fill the tube, that’s OK. If you have enough to reach the top, that works too.
- Set them, open side up in the box or tray that is lined to catch leaks. Let them dry completely - which could mean 2, maybe 3, days.
- Clean up - Plaster of Paris is fun but wreaks havoc on plumbing. That is why you used disposable items as much as possible! Plaster of Paris should NOT be put down your sink drain or toilet. Any clean up of hands or measuring cups should be done over a large bowl that will catch the Plaster of Paris. Carefully pour out the water and then dispose of the sediment sitting at the bottom into a garbage can. Leftover “batter” should be put in the garbage and not poured down the drain. The bowls/cups/popsicle sticks/plastic utensils can all be thrown in the trash.
- When the chalk is dry, simply peel away the cardboard of the toilet paper roll and you should have chunky sized pieces of chalk that will draw many pictures, hop scotch courses, and tic-tac-toe games!
