Homemade Sidewalk Chalk

Sidewalk chalk is already a great thing on it’s own, but homemade sidewalk chalk?! It’s amazing! It opens up so many options about what size or color chalk you’d prefer, not to mention making your own sidewalk chalk is SCIENCE!

DIY chalk might not seem like it’s worth the effort at first glance- I mean, chalk is really cheap to buy, right?! The ingredients aren’t super pricey to mix up homemade chalk, so don’t let that stop you! 

Best of all, there is something so magical about making something tangible and useful with your own two hands. Kids are especially impressed by the powerful magic of playing with something that they worked to create! 

DIY Homemade Sidewalk Chalk

Before you start mixing homemade sidewalk chalk, decide how many colors you would like to make!

Ingredients for DIY Sidewalk Chalk:

Cardboard tubes from toilet paper or paper towels
1/2 cup plaster of paris PER COLOR
2 tbsp tempera paint PER COLOR
1/4 cup cold water PER COLOR

How to Make Homemade Sidewalk Chalk

Start by cutting the cardboard tubes to the size you want the chalk to be.

PRO TIP: If you want the chalk to be thinner than the standard tube size, cut down the length of the tube and re-tape it to the size you want. However, giant chalk is fun too!

Completely seal one end of the tube with duct tape.

Line the tubes with wax paper and stand upright in a wax paper lined plastic container. The container you use might get ruined, so choose carefully!

Using one bowl per color of chalk, combine 2 tablespoons tempera paint and 1/4 cup cold water for each desired color.

Working with only one color at a time, add 1/2 cup plaster of paris and mix until thoroughly combined.

Spoon the mixture into the prepared tube and gently tap the tube on the table to remove air bubbles.

Repeat process with all colors of homemade sidewalk chalk.

Allow chalk to set for 2 hours before peeling away all layers of the the tube.

For best experience, allow chalk to cure for 1-3 days before using. You can use it right away if you can’t wait, but the chalk won’t be quite as solid.

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Print

Homemade Sidewalk Chalk

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup plaster of paris PER COLOR
• 2 TBSP tempera paint PER COLOR
• 1/4 cup cold water

Instructions

1. Cut cardboard tube to the size you want the chalk to be.

2. Completely seal one end of tube with duct tape.

3. Line the tubes with wax paper and stand upright in a wax paper lined plastic container. The container you use might get ruined, so choose accordingly.

4. In separate bowls for each color of chalk, combine 2 tablespoons tempera paint and 1/4 cup cold water for each desired color.

5. Working with only one color at a time, add 1/2 cup plaster of paris and mix until thoroughly combined.

6. Spoon into the prepared tube and gently tap the tube on the table to remove air bubbles.

7. Repeat with all colors.

8. Allow chalk to set for 2 hours before peeling away all layers of the the tube.

9. For best experience, allow chalk to cure for 1-3 days before using. But you can use it right away too, if you can't wait!

Recipe Notes

Be sure to discard extras into the trash can, not down the drain. Wash bowls and utensils ASAP for easiest clean up.