Have you ever had a fun idea for an art project, then realized that you don’t have the materials or supplies you need? I know that has been an issue for a lot of my friends and family during the last two months. With no way to run to the store, we are left to try the many DIY recipes that you can find online. I am always game for trying something new! But I have learned to be careful when trying out online recipes for art supplies. Please be sure to read ingredients and directions carefully. I often look up several different posts and compare the ingredients, just to make sure it is a legitimate recipe. With that being said, I will never post a recipe on here that I have not tried first, in order to make sure it is safe!

Homemade Watercolors

Supplies Needed:

Baking soda

Food Coloring

Toothpicks

Water

Mini Muffin Tray or Ice Cube Tray

What to Do:

Begin by filling each section of the tray about 2/3 full of baking soda.
Add several drops of food coloring to the baking soda.
This is a great time to share a mini-lesson on mixing colors and creating secondary colors. Try combining red and blue to make purple, or yellow and red to make orange. Go easy on the colors and alternate them until you see which one is more dominant in determining shade. You may only need two red drops for every four yellow drops.
Add a little bit of water to the baking soda and food coloring mixture and use the toothpick to mix everything to a smooth consistency. It should be fairly thick, with a think layer of liquid on top.
Let the paints dry. It will take about 24 hours for the paints to dry completely. Below, you can see the before and after.

Now You Are Ready to Paint!

Gather your painting supplies and get ready to make your watercolor masterpieces.

I was afraid that the paints were too dry and would not work, but after adding a bit of water with the paintbrush, I thought they worked very well. I felt that they were easier to use than the store-bought watercolors I used the other day!