Using Homemade Paint for Child Face Painting

Preparing for a children's event could be fun but also a hassle if you don't know where to start. Child face painting can make a child's party ten times more interesting and enjoyable. Craft paints are often used in child face painting, but if you are on a budget or don't have enough time to purchase new paints, then using homemade paint is a great alternative for you.

Preparation:

Before child face painting, you will need some materials for you and the children. Provide mixing containers for the base. These containers can be margarine boxes, plastic cups or bottle caps. You will need around 3 to 6 pieces for each individual, depending on how many colors will be used and mixed together. For handy mixing tools, you can use toothpicks, Popsicle sticks, paintbrushes or plastic spoons.

Making your own paint:

When making your own paint, try to involve the kids. This way, they can enjoy the party even before child face painting begins. You'd be surprised to know that you can find paint recipes in your very own kitchen!

Home ingredients:

1. Cold Cream - Use cold cream as a base along with cornstarch, water and food coloring. Since cold creams are usually designed for skin application, they are generally safe to use on a child's skin.

2. Cornstarch - To cook up your own paint, you can use cornstarch in boiling water so that you get a thick mixture. To thicken the base even more, add talc and soap flakes and mix with an electric beater (when the mixture is cool). Add your food coloring and you're all set for child face painting.

3. Soap Flakes, Water and Food Coloring - A similar mixture that is quick and easy would be a combination of soap flakes, water and food coloring. The ingredients make for an absolutely cheap paint and are readily available in your own kitchen.

4. Starch, Water, Tempera - For a more fluid mixture, simply mix starch, water and dry tempera.

5. Detergent - For easy-to-wash and non-staining paint, use liquid dishwashing detergent with your other basic mixtures. Caution though: liquid detergent can irritate. Care must be taken that the mixture does not get into the children's eyes. It is best that this type of homemade paint be used sparingly on the skin and used only on the body to accentuate your face designs.

Edible kitchen ingredients:

Edible kitchen paint mixtures are best for younger children. Use food coloring, solid food shortening and cornstarch for your homemade paint.

Here are some homemade paint ideas for child face painting:

1. Mix red food coloring with your homemade paint mixtures to create fake blood for Halloween events.

2. Add more white tempera into your mixture to create pale colors for clowns, vampires, witches, fairies, tigers and snowmen. Pale colors include mint green, powder blue and butter yellow.

3. Use brighter colors and less white coloring for nature-inspired themes like flowers and butterflies.

When child face painting, the possibilities are endless. All you need is creativity and resourcefulness. Find instructions and more information on recipes and safety tips online.