Kitchen Pantry Sidewalk Powder

Summer is here, the kids are bored and they’re looking for something to do. Send them outside and have them make some sidewalk chalk powder. You’ll only need a few things to make this colorful powder and you probably already have them in your pantry!

Step 1: Supplies

You will need:

• Corn Starch
• Food Coloring
• Water
• Measuring Cups
• Fork
• Sandwich Bag
• Baking Sheet with Aluminum Foil
• Paper Towel or Old T-shirt/Rag

Optional:

• Food Processor
• Poly Foam Brush
• School Glue

Step 2: Color Some Corn Starch

1. Measure ½ a cup of corn starch into a large measuring cup or bowl and set aside.
2. In a different measuring cup, mix ¼ cup water with a generous amount of food coloring. The more food coloring you use, the more vibrant your powder will be. I used gel food coloring because the color is more concentrated.
3. Add the ¼ cup colored water to the ½ cup corn starch and slowly mix with a fork until the corn starch is completely colored.

Step 3: Remove Water

1. Take a paper towel or a piece of an old T-shirt and press it down on top of the mixture to absorb some of the water. Do this a few times until the surface of the mixture looks dry. You’ll know its dry enough when you stab it with a fork and it breaks up into large chunks.
2. If you have a food processor, transfer the chunks into the food processor and pulse 5 times to break into down into smaller pieces.
3. Spread the coarse mixture onto a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.
4. Set outside to dry under the sun for at least an hour. After an hour, it won’t be completely dry but if you’re eager to use it and don’t mind a slightly moist, coarse powder, it should work. If you want a fine powder let it dry for a few (2-3) more hours; as it dries you should see it lighten in color.

Step 4: Pulverize

• Once it’s completely dry (or dry enough) you can return it to the food processor. Pulse it a few times until it turns into a fine powder. If you don’t have a food processor, pour everything in a sandwich bag and massage it with your hands until the clumps break down into powder.
• You can store the sidewalk powder in a sandwich bag until it’s ready to be used.
• To spread the powder, use salt shakers or pinch it between your fingers and sprinkle it where you please.

Step 5: Stencil

1. You can make stencils by cutting shapes out of cardboard packaging, like cereal boxes.
2. Put a stencil down and sprinkle the powder over the stencil.
3. Gently lift the stencil up to reveal beautiful sidewalk art.

If you want give your powder a little sticking power, mix 1 cup of water with 2 tsp school glue and brush that down before your sprinkle your powder. If you do this, you should be able to gently blow away any excess powder that remains around the design after the stencil has been removed.