Puffy Paint Recipe

I love a good DIY recipe that I can make with the kids, and puffy paint is one of our favorites! It's simple, fun, and the results are always so cool — the paint literally puffs up as it dries.

What You Need

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 cup salt
  • 1 cup water
  • Food coloring or liquid watercolors
  • Squeeze bottles (optional but recommended)

How to Make It

Mix the flour, salt, and water together until smooth. Divide into separate containers and add your desired colors. If using squeeze bottles, pour the mixture in using a funnel.

A few tips from my experience: follow the recipe carefully — too much water makes it runny, too little makes it hard to squeeze. Getting the paint into squeeze bottles can be messy, so do it over the sink. And let the paintings dry completely before handling — the puffing effect happens as it dries!

The kids love watching their paintings transform from flat to puffy. It's like magic!

Back to blog

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.

View all

Simple, meaningful preschool learning—without the prep.

Sign up to get your FREE G is for Great Books Activity Pack—a full week of print-and-go activities inspired by beloved children’s books. Inside, you’ll find hands-on literacy, counting, movement, and matching activities designed to keep your preschooler engaged while building real skills.

Enter your email below and it’ll be sent straight to your inbox.