Homemade Puffy Paint fun!!

I'd like to formally thank Pinterest for helping me keep me busy, keep my kids happy, and for adding to my never-ending "to do" list! Last week I checked another Pinterest To Do off of my list: HOMEMADE PUFFY PAINT!! How rad does that sound?! I got the idea from the One Crafty Mumma blog. It is very easy, slightly messy, and boat loads of fun! Her recipe calls for self-rising flour, but if you are like me (and most people, I think) you don't have that.  You have All Purpose flour.  So... I will post the ingredients I used and it worked beautifully.

Supplies needed: 
Flour
Salt
Baking powder
Food coloring
Water
Small bowls
Q-tips (or paintbrushes)
Sheets of thin carboard, cardstock, or thick art paper (the thicker, the better for this project)
Newspaper or something to cover your work area (I use a plastic table cloth from the Dollar Tree)

For each bowl you will add:
1 Tbsp flour
1 Tbsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
a few drops of food coloring (depending on how bright or dark as you want it)
4 tsp water (approximately- add until you have a spreadable paste)

To Do:
Mix each color. Pass out the cardstock (or whatever you are using) and Q-tips. Get to work unleashing your creativity! When done, pop your masterpiece into the microwave for 20-30 seconds (start at 20 and see how dry it is). You want it to dry the paint out and puff it up.. but don't want it to burn.

Here is our journey through the puffy paint experience. I included the first few pictures just so you could see what I'm working with when it comes to photographing a 17 month old boy and a 3 year old girl (who loves having her picture taken!)... Good stuff, I tell ya!

Okay, here is my Pampered Chef plug: If you don't have one of these mini-whisk things, you NEED one! Talk about a versatile little tool! It worked like a charm for mixing up this stuff, but it also is amazing for whisking up gravy (no lumps!), getting all those dry clumps out of hot chocolate (I think I just perspired writing that as it is 100+ outside.. again..), and even for scrambling eggs!

The blue bowl is already mixed, green is in process, and yellow is up next.

Here are my little artists hard at work!

Here they are, before puffing.

And again with the Benjamin expressions.

What the frig?

Cook, cook, cook, puff, puff, puff.

Well hot dog! Lookie there! Can you see the puffy greatness?

Before & After

I got in on the action! I couldn't help myself! :)

It's pufftastic!

Minimal mess and destruction!

Brooke gave her seal of approval and asked if we could "do this art project togain (again) soon!" How can I say no to that adorable face?!