A wonderful way to add kindness and color to our communities while we shelter-in-place is by creating chalk drawings and writing uplifting chalk messages on driveways and sidewalks. In fact, chalk art is so popular right now, it’s making chalk hard to come by. That’s when knowing how to make homemade chalk comes in handy.
When 8-year-old Belle Brum and her mom ran out of chalk in the middle of making a driveway mural, they decided to make their own – not just for themselves but for the whole neighborhood.
“I wanted other people to add art and to be able to go outside and do something fun like me and my mom,” said Belle. “I hope that it makes them happy and makes them want to draw something for other people to smile, too.”
So far, Belle and her mom have chalked an under the sea mural, a carriage, a lion and started an “art walk” in their community. That’s where neighbors will find a bucket of newly made chalk with a sign inviting them to create their own works of art.
Want to make your own chalk? Here’s how:
Materials
- Measuring cups
- Medium bowl
- Plastic cups
- Something to stir with
- Plaster of Paris
- Water
- Tempera paints, various colors
- Cylinders to pour the mixture into, like empty toilet paper rolls or silicone molds like those used for baking
- Duct tape
- Wax paper
Instructions
- If using toilet paper rolls, duct tape one side to keep the chalk mixture from leaking, then line the cylinder with wax paper
- In a medium bowl, mix the Plaster of Paris and water in a 2-to-1 ratio (ie: 1 cup of Plaster of Paris and 1/2 cup of water)
- Pour off smaller amounts of mixture into as many plastic cups as colors you’d like to make. Make sure it’s enough to fill one toilet paper roll or one mold
- Add colored paint to each cup and mix thoroughly
- Pour or spoon mixture into molds or cylinders
- Tap the mold or cylinder to set the mixture
- Allow mixture to dry for at least 24 hours
- When mixture is dry, peel away the cardboard cylinder or simply turn out the molds
- Have fun chalking!
Now that you’ve got your very own chalk, you’re ready to spread kindness messages wherever you go!
Share this: