Fourth of July Craft: Sidewalk Chalk Stars
Feeling patriotic this year? This Independence Day celebrate our freedom from those British tyrants with some sidewalk chalk!
The Fourth of July is always a nice time to be outdoors with friends and family. This is a simple summer project with many possibilities for kids of all ages. We made our chalk with a star-shaped candy mold, but you could make chalk in any shape or color. I think that these would make nice little party favors. My six-year-old pointed out that it might be easier to buy sidewalk chalk at the store — but with a large container of Plaster of Paris for $5, a mold for $1.99 and paint we had on hand, I think this is a pretty economical project. You could start a chalk factory!
Supplies you will need
-Plaster of Paris (available at art supply or craft stores)*
-Tempera or acrylic paint
-Plastic or silicone mold
-Containers for mixing
-Mixing utensil (disposable fork or chopstick)
-Water
* I would advise parents to mix the ingredients for this project when the kids aren’t around. Please be sure to read and follow the safety precautions for this or any product recommended here.
Instructions
1. Mix two parts plaster mix to one part liquid. Since I used regular paint (rather than a powdered mixture), I mixed two heaping tablespoons of plaster mix with one level tablespoon of paint then added a dash of water as needed.
2. Stir until all the lumps are gone and your mixture is the consistency of toothpaste.
3. Spoon the mixture into the molds and wipe the edges clean. Tap the mold and poke out any air bubbles that you can see from the bottom.
4. Allow the mixture to dry for several hours, possibly 24-48 hours if using larger molds. Be sure to clean your containers at an outside faucet as you don’t want chalk in your pipes!
5. Turn your mold over and gently tap it to release the chalk. Scrape off any messy edges. Go draw on the sidewalk!
